Marsha Bailey. Courtesy photos.
SANTA BARBARA —The National Association of Women Business Owners, Santa Barbara chapter, will host its 2023 BRAVO Awards ceremony on March 16th to celebrate the achievements of eight women community, industry, and business leaders.
This year’s luncheon and awards ceremony, titled “Dream Big, Power On,” is the largest since the BRAVO Awards launched nine years ago. The event will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn Santa Barbara/Goleta from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The BRAVO AWARDS were created to recognize local women leaders who have enriched Santa Barbara economically, politically, philanthropically, and socially. Award recipients have taken the initiative to make an impact, brought new ideas to their industries, and motivated, educated, and inspired others to become better.
Winners of this year’s awards include Marsha Bailey, founder and CEO Emerita of Women’s Economic Ventures, who will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award for her decades-long work to improve society through the economic empowerment of women.
Other winners are Pam Tanase, owner of Workzones, the first coworking club in downtown Santa Barbara, who will be honored as Woman Business Owner of the Year; Kate McHale Jensen, owner of shirt design company KMJ Designs and winner of the Entrepreneur to Watch award; Kathryn Martin, president and CEO of the Santa Barbara Symphony and founder of The Career (Life!) Breakthrough Academy, who is this year’s Philanthropic Champion; and Robin Elander, executive director of Downtown Organization of Santa Barbara, to be awarded Public Policy Leader of the Year.
Ana Guerrero, founder of FirstGen_Resilience, a bilingual coaching service for first-generation college students, will receive the Education Advocate of the Year award; Certified Public Accountant Annika Jensen will be recognized as NAWBO-SB Member of the Year; and Awan Haj, a senior at Dos Pueblos High School, is the Rising Star of the Year.
The Madame of Ceremony is Anne Pazier, owner of Santa Barbara Gift Baskets. Kathy Odell, CEO of Women’s Economic Ventures, is keynote speaker.
Tickets for the 2023 BRAVO Awards must be purchased in advance.
—For more information about the 2023 BRAVO Awards visit https://nawbo-sb.com/upcoming-
–For more information about NAWBO-SB and to become a member go to https://nawbo-sb.com
What: 2023 BRAVO Awards
When: Thursday, March 16, 2023, from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm
Where: Hilton Garden Inn Santa Barbara/Goleta
Tickets: https://nawbo-sb.com/upcoming-
Annika Jensen
Robin Elander
Pam Tanase
Kathryn Martin
Kate Mchale Jensen
Ana Guerrero
Awan Haj