A number of women in the Ceres community were singled out for special honors by the Soroptimist International of Ceres last week at an evening “Women of Distinction” ceremony.

Club President Shelly Madrigal said the service club is committed to supporting and empowering women.

“We know that with the right support, tools, and encouragement, women and girls can overcome obstacles, break barriers and achieve their dreams,” said Madrigal. “As this year’s club president my theme was been ‘Together we thrive, empower, inspire and achieve.’ It’s been an incredible experience in watching our members and our community come together, lift one another up and help each other grow.”

The club honored females who were recently honorees at the January Chamber of Commerce banquet: Dr. Sonia Sofia Arevalo of Ceres Pediatric Dentistry who received the “Small Business of the Year”; Brandie and Seal Montes of Howard Prep which garnered the “Large Business of the Year” award; and Evette Garcia who was designated “Young Citizen of the Year.”

Prominent Business Women

Five Ceres business women were honored:

• Reyana Burciaga of Cupcake Boutique;

• Connie Escobedo of Doghouse Taproom;

• Vickie Gonzales of a Ceres-based Kona Ice franchise;

• Kim Parsons of Embroidery Plus;

• Yelena Tsymbal of Loza’s.

For a little over a year, Escobedo and her husband have owned the Doghouse Taproom.

“It’s been fun, it’s been great,” Escobedo said. “We’re not just a tap room, we’re not just serving beer and wine, we’re there building community and we’ve made quite a bit of friendships.”

Kona Ice businesswoman Gonzales got her mobile business started in Ceres in 2016 and enjoys partnering with school to help raise funds.

“Ceres is been a very special place for everybody and especially for us,” said Gonzales. “We get to work with the schools with the kids that’s so much fun, we enjoy what we do so much, and we are growing.”

Kona Ice is one of the largest mobile food service businesses in the nation. Gonzales explained that her business now includes a truck selling Tom’s Coffee and will also be expanding with all fruit smoothies. 

SET supporters honored

Also honored were three Ceres Unified School District employees who assist in putting on workshops for junior high school girls in a program called Soroptimist Empowering Teens (SET):

• Ann Perez, the learning director at Blaker Kinser Junior High School;

• Lorena Rivas, Cesar Chavez Junior High School’s learning director;

• Gina Louis, Mae Hensley Junior High School’s learning director.

The SET program allows members to offer a variety of presentations, workshops and activities with the girls to help in their lives.

The club also recognized three young women who are involved with the Ceres Unified School District Board of Trustees. Alondra Reyes, who is attending California State University Stanislaus, was elected to the school board last November. Emcee Amy Peterman, also the CUSD superintendent, said that Reyes is “doing an outstanding job.”

Also honored were: Alana Inahara, a student representative to the board representing Ceres High School; and Valeria Torres, Central Valley High School’s student rep to the board.

Past Soroptimist presidents who attended the meeting and present for honors were: Emily Harry (2023-24), Amy Peterman (2020-21), Beth Stochl (2017-18), Brandy Meyer (2016-17), Arlene Vilas (2011-12), Carol Nelson (2001-03) and Carol Nelson (2001-02 and 2013-14).

Guest speaker

The guest speaker at the event was Dominica Escatel, an Empire native and first generation college graduate who earned a master’s degree in organizational leadership. She has written a book titled, “A First-gen guide to echale ganas!”

She explained how growing up in the impoverished community of Empire she realized that education was her key to elevating her standard of life.

“I was told that if I was from 95319 in Empire that I was destined to not make it,” said Escatel, who grew up on South Abbey heavily populated with gang activity.

She grew up without support and resources and now wants to help lift up other women.

“I didn’t know about groups like this. No one told me about networking and I didn’t know there was Chambers, so I share that because I wanna also uplift the women in the room of how this work is so essential because if I would have had it early on, um I probably would have had a little bit of an easier pathway. So I was the kid that got missed. I didn’t know about going to college and touring and all that. I kind of just applied because everybody else was. I just knew I needed that degree to have a little bit of a chance where I did a live paycheck to paycheck.”

She worked her way through San Jose State University with no real career plans. 

Escatel got involved in skin care and makeup which led her to an event where she was exposed to high achievers who earned a lot of money.

“It influenced me to recognize that there was more out there.”

She got involved in a non-profit fellowship based in Washington, D.C., funded by Estee Lauder. She was chosen as one of 25 women chosen to attend a round table event mentored by executives and global leaders. Born out of that experience Escatel is working on launching her own beauty brand.

“I’m in the pursuit of my small business and part of the small business is the beauty aspect of it of just sharing confidence,” she explained.

“I want to be a part of being able to help other women have a little of a better life.”

Escatel sponsors leadership speaker series where she invites the “hidden gems” of the community to encourage and support women through talks and workshops.