Boiling Point—Leading When the Heat Is On
Thanks to everyone who attended the Second Annual Spill the Tea event, hosted by The Foundation for Fresno Unified Students. This high tea event honored and recognized International Women’s Month, with proceeds going to support students. We hope you enjoyed engaging with our panel of students and women in leadership from a variety of industry sectors, and their empowering, uplifting discussions.
The Foundation thanks everyone who attended, as well as the generous sponsors who helped bring this enlightening event to life.
Thank You to Our Esteemed Panelists
Graciela Moreno
Graciela Moreno is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and news anchor for ABC30 in Fresno, California.
Graciela began her journalism career at the age of 19 when she was hired as a producer at Univision’s Sacramento affiliate. While working full-time, she continued her studies at night and graduated from California State University, Stanislaus with a degree in Communications.
Just months after graduation, Graciela became the main evening anchor at KFTV, Channel 21 in Fresno.
In 1997, Graciela joined the ABC30 Action News team where she currently co-anchors the weekday editions of Action News Midday and Action News at 4 and 5 p.m., for which she has received three Emmy Awards.
Some of her most memorable stories include covering Pope John Paul II’s visit to Mexico City for the Canonization of Saint Juan Diego, reporting from the Arizona desert on the plight of undocumented immigrants crossing the US-Mexico border, and visiting a maximum security facility in northern California where juvenile delinquents volunteer to knit clothes for premature babies.
For ten years, Graciela also hosted Latino Life, a half-hour weekly program that focused on the issues and people making an impact in the Central Valley’s Latino community.
Graciela was the first person in her family to attend college and is a big supporter of education. She currently runs ABC30’s internship program and is a frequent speaker at valley schools and adult programs where she encourages students of all ages to set goals and pursue their academic dreams.
Graciela was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to the state’s Alzheimer’s Task Force, and for the past several years she has volunteered with the Fresno chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association as a member of its first Latino Council. In that capacity, she has helped raise funds for Alzheimer’s research and helped launch the first Spanish Alzheimer’s Caregiver Conference.
Graciela’s work has been recognized by California’s Hispanic Caucus with the Latino Spirit Award. In 2023, Graciela was also named one of the Marjaree Mason Center’s Top Ten Professional Women, and was honored by the California Chicano News Media Association (CCNMA) as one of the Ten Most Influential Latina Journalists in California.
Graciela Moreno
Graciela Moreno is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and news anchor for ABC30 in Fresno, California.
Graciela began her journalism career at the age of 19 when she was hired as a producer at Univision’s Sacramento affiliate. While working full-time, she continued her studies at night and graduated from California State University, Stanislaus with a degree in Communications.
Just months after graduation, Graciela became the main evening anchor at KFTV, Channel 21 in Fresno.
In 1997, Graciela joined the ABC30 Action News team where she currently co-anchors the weekday editions of Action News Midday and Action News at 4 and 5 p.m., for which she has received three Emmy Awards.
Some of her most memorable stories include covering Pope John Paul II’s visit to Mexico City for the Canonization of Saint Juan Diego, reporting from the Arizona desert on the plight of undocumented immigrants crossing the US-Mexico border, and visiting a maximum security facility in northern California where juvenile delinquents volunteer to knit clothes for premature babies.
For ten years, Graciela also hosted Latino Life, a half-hour weekly program that focused on the issues and people making an impact in the Central Valley’s Latino community.
Graciela was the first person in her family to attend college and is a big supporter of education. She currently runs ABC30’s internship program and is a frequent speaker at valley schools and adult programs where she encourages students of all ages to set goals and pursue their academic dreams.
Graciela was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to the state’s Alzheimer’s Task Force, and for the past several years she has volunteered with the Fresno chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association as a member of its first Latino Council. In that capacity, she has helped raise funds for Alzheimer’s research and helped launch the first Spanish Alzheimer’s Caregiver Conference.
Graciela’s work has been recognized by California’s Hispanic Caucus with the Latino Spirit Award. In 2023, Graciela was also named one of the Marjaree Mason Center’s Top Ten Professional Women, and was honored by the California Chicano News Media Association (CCNMA) as one of the Ten Most Influential Latina Journalists in California.
Captain Jordan Beckford
Captain Jordan Beckford began her service with the Fresno Police Department in 2006 after serving as an officer in the City of Reedley. Throughout her career, she has held a variety of assignments, including the District Crime Suppression Team, Investigations, Internal Affairs, K-9 and Mounted Patrol, Civil Liability, Field Commander, and Patrol Administration.
Before rising to the rank of Captain, Beckford was assigned to the Personnel Bureau, overseeing critical functions such as hiring, recruiting, field training, cadet and skill bridge programs, and background investigations. Captain Beckford is currently the Northwest District Commander in the patrol division.
Beyond her duties with the Fresno Police Department, Captain Beckford has been an active member of the California Women Leaders in Law Enforcement (WLLE) conference since 2017. She was honored to serve as Chair of the state-wide conference in 2023. Additionally, Captain Beckford serves on the governing board of the WLLE Foundation, where she chairs the Chapter Advisory Committee and acts as a formal mentor, showcasing her commitment to advancing women in law enforcement.
Captain Jordan Beckford
Captain Jordan Beckford began her service with the Fresno Police Department in 2006 after serving as an officer in the City of Reedley. Throughout her career, she has held a variety of assignments, including the District Crime Suppression Team, Investigations, Internal Affairs, K-9 and Mounted Patrol, Civil Liability, Field Commander, and Patrol Administration.
Before rising to the rank of Captain, Beckford was assigned to the Personnel Bureau, overseeing critical functions such as hiring, recruiting, field training, cadet and skill bridge programs, and background investigations. Captain Beckford is currently the Northwest District Commander in the patrol division.
Beyond her duties with the Fresno Police Department, Captain Beckford has been an active member of the California Women Leaders in Law Enforcement (WLLE) conference since 2017. She was honored to serve as Chair of the state-wide conference in 2023. Additionally, Captain Beckford serves on the governing board of the WLLE Foundation, where she chairs the Chapter Advisory Committee and acts as a formal mentor, showcasing her commitment to advancing women in law enforcement.
Edythe Woodruff Stewart, MD, FACS
Dr. Edythe Woodruff Stewart was born and raised in Kissimmee, Florida. Her early education was in the setting of Orlando, Florida and very early in her life, she decided that she wanted to be a veterinarian. As a child, she was very involved with her family’s cattle ranch and loved to ride horses. After high school, she obtained an undergraduate degree in Animal and Dairy Sciences from Auburn University in Alabama. She then went to the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine for two years before she decided that although she loved and cared about animals, particularly cows, she wanted to treat patients who could talk back to her.
After matriculation at the University of Alabama School of Medicine, Dr. Stewart completed a surgery internship at Carraway Methodist in Birmingham, Alabama, and then a general surgery residency at the University of California San Francisco Fresno program. For several years she practiced general surgery and owned a medical spa in the southern Central Valley of California. During this time she was awarded the Soroptimist Sapphire Award for Breast Care and the Excellence Award for General Surgery. Currently, she serves as a locum board-certified general surgeon.
She is the founder of SurgicApp, which is a corporation for developing applications. Her first app, PrefCardPro, designed to help surgeons have the instruments and supplies they need in the operating room, is set to launch soon. For many years, following in the footsteps of her mother, she has motivated and mentored young people with speeches and talks to groups large and small. Most recently, she has started coaching women who are yearning to reset, rejuvenate, and transform their lives and careers after a major life transition. Her most recent venture is a podcast that she is co-hosting with her sister based on resilience in life.
Civic duty has always been of the utmost importance to Dr. Stewart. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated, and The Links, Incorporated. She is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the California Medical Association.
Of all the things in life that she has accomplished, Dr. Edythe Stewart is most proud of her family. She resides in California with her husband, Robert, a cardiothoracic surgeon, and her son Hagan, while her older son Thomas is a sophomore at Columbia University in New York.
Edythe Woodruff Stewart, MD, FACS
Dr. Edythe Woodruff Stewart was born and raised in Kissimmee, Florida. Her early education was in the setting of Orlando, Florida and very early in her life, she decided that she wanted to be a veterinarian. As a child, she was very involved with her family’s cattle ranch and loved to ride horses. After high school, she obtained an undergraduate degree in Animal and Dairy Sciences from Auburn University in Alabama. She then went to the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine for two years before she decided that although she loved and cared about animals, particularly cows, she wanted to treat patients who could talk back to her.
After matriculation at the University of Alabama School of Medicine, Dr. Stewart completed a surgery internship at Carraway Methodist in Birmingham, Alabama, and then a general surgery residency at the University of California San Francisco Fresno program. For several years she practiced general surgery and owned a medical spa in the southern Central Valley of California. During this time she was awarded the Soroptimist Sapphire Award for Breast Care and the Excellence Award for General Surgery. Currently, she serves as a locum board-certified general surgeon.
She is the founder of SurgicApp, which is a corporation for developing applications. Her first app, PrefCardPro, designed to help surgeons have the instruments and supplies they need in the operating room, is set to launch soon. For many years, following in the footsteps of her mother, she has motivated and mentored young people with speeches and talks to groups large and small. Most recently, she has started coaching women who are yearning to reset, rejuvenate, and transform their lives and careers after a major life transition. Her most recent venture is a podcast that she is co-hosting with her sister based on resilience in life.
Civic duty has always been of the utmost importance to Dr. Stewart. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated, and The Links, Incorporated. She is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the California Medical Association.
Of all the things in life that she has accomplished, Dr. Edythe Stewart is most proud of her family. She resides in California with her husband, Robert, a cardiothoracic surgeon, and her son Hagan, while her older son Thomas is a sophomore at Columbia University in New York.
Raji K. Brar
Chief Operating Officer Countryside Corporation
Born and raised in the Central Valley, Brar is a first-generation Sikh American. Her parents immigrated to the United States from Punjab, India. She was born in Fresno County, where her parents started their lives in the States working in the fields as farm workers. Her family eventually made the move to Bakersfield, where she attended junior high, followed by West High School. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Master of Science in Health Care Administration from CSU Bakersfield. After college, she worked as a chemist for BC Laboratories and at Clinica Sierra Vista. Today, along with her family, she owns Countryside Corporation, a real estate acquisition, construction, farming, and retail development firm. They employ over 500 people throughout Kern and Tulare Counties and have been in business for over 30 years.
In the past, Brar has had the privilege of being the first Sikh woman ever elected to a City Council Seat in the state of California. In 2006, she was elected to the Arvin City Council. Due to this historic achievement, she was named a “Woman of the Year” by the California State Senate. Brar is a four-time Gubernatorial Appointee. Last year she was appointed by Governor Newsom as the first Sikh Trustee ever to serve on the CSU Board of Trustees and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Cal Chamber, CSUB Foundation, Kern High School District Foundation, Kern Venture Group, and KERO Channel 23 Community Advisory Board.
Of all the boards she serves on, the one dearest to her heart is the Bakersfield Sikh Women’s Association, which is a nonprofit she co-founded. The mission of the Association is to give back to the community through its various programs. They have also created a toll-free, first-of-its-kind Bi-Lingual (Punjabi/English) Resource Line, which helps folks in crisis. Since its inception in March of 2015, they have given out over $465,000 in scholarships and were recently selected as “Nonprofit of the Year” by the California State Assembly.
She has received numerous awards and accolades including being inducted into the CSUB Hall of Fame and honored as a Woman of the Year for both CA Senate District 16 and CA Assembly District 32. She is happily married to her college sweetheart and husband of over 23 years, and loves being a mother to her three children, Davin, Dylan, and Imanni.
Raji K. Brar
Chief Operating Officer Countryside Corporation
Born and raised in the Central Valley, Brar is a first-generation Sikh American. Her parents immigrated to the United States from Punjab, India. She was born in Fresno County, where her parents started their lives in the States working in the fields as farm workers. Her family eventually made the move to Bakersfield, where she attended junior high, followed by West High School. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Master of Science in Health Care Administration from CSU Bakersfield. After college, she worked as a chemist for BC Laboratories and at Clinica Sierra Vista. Today, along with her family, she owns Countryside Corporation, a real estate acquisition, construction, farming, and retail development firm. They employ over 500 people throughout Kern and Tulare Counties and have been in business for over 30 years.
In the past, Brar has had the privilege of being the first Sikh woman ever elected to a City Council Seat in the state of California. In 2006, she was elected to the Arvin City Council. Due to this historic achievement, she was named a “Woman of the Year” by the California State Senate. Brar is a four-time Gubernatorial Appointee. Last year she was appointed by Governor Newsom as the first Sikh Trustee ever to serve on the CSU Board of Trustees and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Cal Chamber, CSUB Foundation, Kern High School District Foundation, Kern Venture Group, and KERO Channel 23 Community Advisory Board.
Of all the boards she serves on, the one dearest to her heart is the Bakersfield Sikh Women’s Association, which is a nonprofit she co-founded. The mission of the Association is to give back to the community through its various programs. They have also created a toll-free, first-of-its-kind Bi-Lingual (Punjabi/English) Resource Line, which helps folks in crisis. Since its inception in March of 2015, they have given out over $465,000 in scholarships and were recently selected as “Nonprofit of the Year” by the California State Assembly.
She has received numerous awards and accolades including being inducted into the CSUB Hall of Fame and honored as a Woman of the Year for both CA Senate District 16 and CA Assembly District 32. She is happily married to her college sweetheart and husband of over 23 years, and loves being a mother to her three children, Davin, Dylan, and Imanni.
Diane Phakonekham, MS
Born in Vientiane, Laos, Diane and her family immigrated to the United States when she was a young girl, fleeing the aftermath of the Vietnam War. Diane has been married for over 23 years and is the mother of three adult children—a daughter and twin boys with autism.
Diane has been the current President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central California (BBBSCC) for nearly 14 years, overseeing programs across Madera, Fresno, Tulare, and Kings Counties. She brings over 25 years of management experience spanning both the private and public sectors to her role. Diane is a proud alumna of California State University, Fresno, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Child Development and a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling, with minors in psychology and criminology.
Diane is heavily involved with her community and has been recognized numerous times for her accomplishments: Marjaree Mason Center’s Top Ten Professional Businesswomen of the Year in 2017; ABC Action News 30 Pacific Asian American Heritage Month honoree in 2018; Business Street’s “40 Under 40” Class of 2019, 2024 Women of the Year for District 31, Fresno State 2024 Top Dog Alumni Honoree.
There are 153 Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliates nationwide, and for the past seven years, BBBSCC has been nationally recognized for meeting and exceeding the goals set by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Under Diane’s leadership, the agency has become a trailblazer in the site-based High School Bigs Program, expanding its reach from one to twenty school districts. Diane is passionate about serving children and believes that “giving a child hope and helping them see their full potential is the greatest achievement we can strive for.”
Diane Phakonekham, MS
Born in Vientiane, Laos, Diane and her family immigrated to the United States when she was a young girl, fleeing the aftermath of the Vietnam War. Diane has been married for over 23 years and is the mother of three adult children—a daughter and twin boys with autism.
Diane has been the current President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central California (BBBSCC) for nearly 14 years, overseeing programs across Madera, Fresno, Tulare, and Kings Counties. She brings over 25 years of management experience spanning both the private and public sectors to her role. Diane is a proud alumna of California State University, Fresno, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Child Development and a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling, with minors in psychology and criminology.
Diane is heavily involved with her community and has been recognized numerous times for her accomplishments: Marjaree Mason Center’s Top Ten Professional Businesswomen of the Year in 2017; ABC Action News 30 Pacific Asian American Heritage Month honoree in 2018; Business Street’s “40 Under 40” Class of 2019, 2024 Women of the Year for District 31, Fresno State 2024 Top Dog Alumni Honoree.
There are 153 Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliates nationwide, and for the past seven years, BBBSCC has been nationally recognized for meeting and exceeding the goals set by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Under Diane’s leadership, the agency has become a trailblazer in the site-based High School Bigs Program, expanding its reach from one to twenty school districts. Diane is passionate about serving children and believes that “giving a child hope and helping them see their full potential is the greatest achievement we can strive for.”
