2021 Fernando Award Finalists
Tamara Gurney
President, CEO, Mission Valley Bank. Nominated by Charles Crumpley and Marianne Haver Hill.
Tamara has helped countless small businesses in the Valley stay in business by offering financing when they couldn’t get it anywhere else especially during the recent pandemic. She also helped establish the Community Foundation of the Valleys (CFV) and has been actively involved with The Valley Economic Alliance, Valley Economic Development Corp. and Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corp. as well as the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita.
Carol Loweree
North Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce. Nominated by Nancy Cartwright and North Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Carol is a big part of the chamber’s efforts to connect its members with schools in the community and has tutored hundreds of at-risk kids. She has volunteered with several local organizations and causes including LAPD programs, San Fernando Coalition on Gangs and the Parents Center at Glenwood Elementary and East Valley High.
Louise Oliver
Regional Operations Officer, Goodwill Southern California. Nominated by The Valley Economic Alliance and San Fernando Community Health Center.
Louise has many decades of service at many local non-profits. Her role as a mentor at the San Fernando Community Health Center has helped that organization grow. Other non-profits she has served include The Valley Economic Alliance, Century Housing Corp, Salvation Army, Shelter Partnership, Harry Pregerson Childcare Center, Mission Community Hospital and Boys & Girls Club Los Angeles.
Diana Sanchez
Public & Community Relations Director, Los Angeles World Airports-Van Nuys. Nominated by Encino Chamber of Commerce and Mid-Valley YMCA.
According to one associate, Diana is “the consummate volunteer that every organization wishes they could clone.” She is always the first to volunteer for a project or event. She has been involved with many organizations including the Mid-Valley YMCA, Encino Chamber of Commerce, Valley Presbyterian Hospital, Valley Family Center, Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce, The Valley Economic Alliance, Greater Van Nuys Rotary and Valley Cultural Center.
Kathleen Sterling
Publisher, Valley News Group. Nominated by Sherry Keowen and Gail Brow.
Through her four newspapers, Sterling supports almost every non-profit in the Valley – donating both ad and editorial space to promote their programs and events and gets the word out about important issues. She has also been a volunteer for local organizations such as Valley Cultural Center, American Heart Association, Louisville High School, Valley Women’s Center and Pacific Lodge Boys Home.
