Women business owners honor their own

Jodi Davis The National Association of Women Business Owners celebrated its 10th anniversary last week at its annual Bravo Awards, which honors local women and their service to the community.

Seven women received awards at the luncheon last Friday at Moorpark Country Club.

Aly Covington runs The Empowered Place in Westlake Village, where she and her partners teach children healthy living strategies and promote fitness and fun. Covington was named Youth Advocate of the Year.

"I had worked with adults for over a decade," Covington said. "I saw what's going on with childhood obesity- there's some alarming statistics- and I felt like something had to change."

Sonia Cohen, president-elect of NAWBO Ventura County, served as the 2008 Bravo Awards committee chair.

"These are seven women who have touched lives in our community in one way or another," Cohen said. "They understand what it means to reach out and be supportive and to reach out and take action."

Sandy Allan, who runs Technology and Operational Solutions, Inc. in Simi Valley, was named Member of the Year for her work with NAWBO.

"I appreciate this award. . . . But what NAWBO has given to me has been tenfold," Allan said.

Allan was singled out because of her commitment to the organization even while her husband was ill. She now serves as secretary of NAWBO Ventura County.

Tatiana DiDonato was named Community Advocate of the Year for the work of her Newbury Parkbased nonprofit, The Orphan Foundation, to make child adoption more affordable.

Jodi Davis, who owns Crossroads Staffing Services in Thousand Oaks, was named Woman Business Owner of the Year.

Other honorees included Jan Marholin of San Cayetano Elementary School, Sandy Lipkin of A Professional Law Corporation and Robin Martino of Contract Employment Management, Inc.

"NAWBO is about women coming together with a single voice to help shape public policy," Cohen said. "But what's more important than being involved in business are the friendships we make."

NAWBO Ventura County helps women business owners grow through education and encouragement. There are 82 chapters of NAWBO and more than 9,000 members.