Wonder Women of San Joaquin

WONDER WOMEN

CELEBRATING THE WOMEN MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN SJC

As in years past, April marks our Wonder Women feature, profiles of San Joaquin County women of courage, integrity, leadership, and vision. While the individuals we’ve selected have all led different lives, what each one has in common is that their past experiences have propelled them to their calling.

Whether it’s within the field of education, community outreach, agriculture, or policy making, these dedicated wonder women have committed themselves to making a difference in our community. It’s been our honor to learn more about each one, and to share their stories, struggles, and successes, with you.

ANNIE CUNIAL

— THE PROPONENT

Annie Cunial was born to parents who met living next door to each other when they were kids.

Growing up, she attended school in Stockton and Manteca, so perhaps it’s kismet that she’d return to her educational roots to work in the same school system she was a product of.

Following her graduation from Chico State, Annie began a teaching career in Manteca. After her work with grade school, high school, and ESL students, she eventually “graduated” to working for the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) as an events coordinator, then moved into her current role as the division director of the largest STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) office of any county educational district in the state.

Is there someone you consider a mentor or that you look up to for inspiration?

“My parents were my first role models. They wanted me to have opportunities they didn’t, and my work ethic comes from them. They gave me the gift of encouragement and unconditional confidence. It doesn’t matter if you’re 3 or 53, there’s no better feeling than your parents being proud of you.”

What are your goals for the future of STEM in SJC?

“Working in the STEM program at SJCOE, where we serve about 52,000 students, is probably the most fun you can have in education. The program prepares students for (and exposes them to) jobs in growing fields like computer science, data analytics, and coding, as well as environmental and sustainability roles.

As a testament to our commitment and dedication, our STEM program was recently awarded a $50M grant from the California Department of Education.

“I hope our students will recognize the opportunities around them and want to stay or return to this area to live, invest, and make a positive impact.”

TONI MCNEILL —THE ACTIVIST

Born and raised in South Stockton, Toni McNeill experienced a myriad of problems wreaking havoc on her community. Many of the societal determinants such as underresourced schools, over-policing, and the “war on drugs” were negatively impacting the young people growing up there, creating a seemingly unsurmountable barrier.

But out of that chaotic concrete environment, a rose bloomed.

Rather than allowing her situation to define her, Toni sought to change the narrative. Escaping from poverty, homelessness, and a lack of foundational resources, she focused her energy on what she’s always done best: mentoring, leading, and advocating.

Today, she’s the founder and executive director of Concrete Development, an organization of formerly incarcerated, inactive gang members who seek to influence positive change within their communities. Not one to stop growing, Toni recently participated in a first-of-its-kind, six-month intensive on community violence intervention training and was honored at a White House graduation ceremony.

What are the building blocks of the program at Concrete Development?

“It’s based on a three-tiered approach consisting of mentors, peers, and mentees. The first tier asks you to have one-to-three mentors you can reach out to and count on. The second requires that you have three-to-five peers who you’re accountable to. And the last is to have three-to-five mentees that you work with to help them navigate their personal journey. If any tier is missing, you won’t succeed.”

What is something unexpected about the San Joaquin Valley community?

“We’ve endured economic depression, bankruptcy, natural disasters, and more—yet we’ve overcome. We learn from our mistakes as a community, and we seek to become stronger and better, and to create a welcoming place for all.”

MELINDA WILSON —THE INTERPRETER

If you’ve ever seen the movie CODA, in many ways it mirrors the life of Melinda Wilson, who’s also a Child Of Deaf Adults.

Melinda’s parents are both deaf, as is her brother. Growing up in a home where she was the only hearing person in the family meant that a lot of communication with the outside world happened through her. As a child, she remembers having to take phone calls and relay the information back-and-forth to her parents, who she learned sign language from so they could communicate as a family.

This lifelong connection to sign language eventually led to her occupation as an Educational Sign Language interpreter for deaf children within the San Joaquin County school system.

What is your role within the classroom?

“I learned that many deaf children were being raised without the use of sign language at home, which we call ‘language deprivation.’ Within the San Joaquin system, deaf students are mainstreamed into public education classes with a sign language interpreter to facilitate communication between the student and their teachers and peers.

“One of my joys is to teach hearing families with deaf babies American Sign Language through the SJCOE because it’s also important for parents to learn ASL so they can create a loving, supportive relationship with their child.”

Do you have a mentor or someone you look up to?

“My life-long friend, Barry, is also CODA. He’s the one who encouraged me to take the test to determine my signing abilities, then helped guide me to take classes and attend workshops so I could eventually retest and get to the level the state required for working with students in deaf education.”

MONICA STELMACK —THE ADVOCATE

Living in California as a young, single mother who’d immigrated from Mexico without knowing English, Monica Stelmack wasn’t exactly set up for success. Then, after moving to the San Joaquin Valley, her second child was diagnosed with autism—news made especially difficult due to language barriers, a lack of family nearby, and no real-world experience with the condition.

But she resolved to learn English and everything she could about autism. She focused on finding better employment and worked her way up in pay and position. After meeting and marrying her second husband, she returned to school and obtained a bachelor’s in business science.

In 2021, with her husband’s support, Monica quit her fulltime job to focus on something she’d always wanted to do: help other parents like her. With that in mind, she co-founded Wide Horizons, a program designed to help young adults with autism and other neurodiverse challenges. Since its inception, the non-profit has welcomed 19 participants to their program providing scholarships, helping them find employment, and teaching them the skills they need to live independently.

Why is the work you’re doing at Wide Horizons necessary?

“Because our participants need to learn how to become more self-reliant. We’re focusing our energy and attention on identifying and planning what’s most important—like money management, organization, communication, or even how to cook for themselves. But we’re also helping parents and caregivers find the services their children need. As another mother of a disabled child once said to me, ‘We are the voices of our children, and we must fight for them.’”

What are your goals for the future of the organization?

“To increase the number of people we serve. We’re working on securing funding that will allow us to hire more staff and find a permanent location to provide a space for our participants to practice vocational and employment skills.”

NATALIE COLLINS —THE ADVOCATE

When Natalie Collins was growing up in San Joaquin County, she was surrounded by the agricultural fiber of the area and became involved in 4-H and Future Farmers of America, which undoubtedly influenced her decision to pursue a college degree in agricultural business.

That passion to be part of the agricultural industry led Natalie on the path to her current position as president of the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG), a lobbying organization for winegrape producers in the state—many of whom live and farm in the San Joaquin Valley. (There are approximately 90,000-100,000 acres of planted wine grapes with vlue of round $450-500 million annually).

As only the fourth president in the 50 years of CAWG’s existence, Collins is poised to take California winegrape growers into the future. Under your administration, will there be a shift in focus on issues concerning the industry?

“One example of what’s changing is that we’re more concerned with wildfires, which now have their own ‘season,’ and are deeply impacting growers all over the state. As a result of recent governmental policy, which CAWG had a hand in, millions of federal dollars will go towards research on the impact of smoke from those fires, including how tainted grapes can affect the taste of the wine that’s made from them, and what growers can do to mitigate the damage.”

You’ve been selected as a 2024 “Wonder Woman,” but which superhero do you admire most?

“For me, it would be Captain Marvel. She exudes confidence and clarity in action, doesn’t waver from her internal moral compass, and inspires women to embrace their strength and fight for what they believe in.”

KATHRYN SIDDLE – THE BARRIER BREAKER

Despite your best efforts, oftentimes it’s hard to see your way out of the forest when there are so many trees. Such is the case with the homeless crisis; the hurdles can seem so vast that nothing ever really changes.

In her hometown of Lodi, it was becoming apparent to Kathryn Siddle that the homeless situation was untenable. But because no one was offering comprehensive, accessible services, there was no way for most of them to break out of the cycle.

With the support of the Lodi Committee on Homelessness, Kathyrn, a career social worker, started working out of her car to gain access to benefits for people living in the city’s parks. She started by helping them obtain social security and disability benefits, then began picking up and delivering medications, scheduling healthcare appointments, making sure they got where they needed to go, and took the time to get to know them.

As a reflection of the impact her community service has had on Lodi, Kathryn recently received the 2024 San Joaquin Susan B. Anthony Award.

Tell us about your work with the unsheltered in Lodi.

“When I first got involved, one of the major issues was that services weren’t being received. The idea of ‘whole-person care’ is a way of dealing with people as individuals with different needs.

So, I started with a question: ‘What is your situation and what’s the barrier?’

And many times, it was as simple as finding shelter for them and their 3-P’s: possessions, pets, and partners.

“After I realized that was an issue, I worked to create a low-barrier shelter. The result was a large tent that was set up inside an abandoned building. The shelter we created provides a home for 80 people on a 24/7 basis, and offers a secure location, mobile showers, and food.”

You’ve been recognized as a Wonder Woman, but which superhero do you admire most?

“Peter Quill, leader of the Guardians of the Galaxy. He loves the music his mother raised him on, he often suggests ‘dance-offs’ to solve problems, he’s resourceful, and he became captain of a ship with an amazing, special crew— including a raccoon as his co-pilot!”

LACY ESTRADA

Lacy Estrada, Owner/Chef at Vine and Fig Provisions

Chef Lacy Estrada learned to love cooking at a young age through family gatherings. That combined with a passion for leadership and an agricultural background has led her to open Vine and Fig, a catering and meal prep service serving San Joaquin County.

Chef Lacy served as her chapter president of the FFA and was on the state championship Livestock Judging Team. Raised on a Clements ranch, she has a background in competitively raising sheep and showing across California. She fueled her passion for food by studying at the Culinary Institute of America, Greystone, in Napa Valley. There her affection for service blossomed as she worked in kitchens around the valley, including The Restaurant at Meadowood.

Back to her roots, Vine and Fig Provisions is putting into action her commitment to serving locally sourced, carefully prepared fine food with outstanding service. At Vine and Fig, every event is custom. Providing endless styles of events like winery lunches, special occasion dinners, birthday parties, and weeknight dinners, Chef Lacy and her staff provide everything for a full-service fine dining event or more intimate gatherings, delivered right to your door.

Chef Lacy has several missions when it comes to food, taking pride in serving those with special diets and allergies, prioritizing locality and sustainability and remaining connected to neighborhood farms. Chef Lacy is also passionate about community and service and works with nearby nonprofit organizations to give back to the community that has helped bring her dream to reality.

TRACY CANNABIS COLLECTIVE

Like the Altamont Pass on a busy commute day, the road to cannabis legalization has been a hard fought battle, and we aren’t there yet. However, women have truly led the way when it comes to this feat. It is simple. We are born caregivers. And TCC is blessed to be a majority women-owned small business. Meet our team:

Dr. Jenkins holds a Doctorate in Naturopathy and is a Master Herbalist and member of the American Herbalist Guild. After her daughter passed away from cancer treatments, she founded The Kiona T Jenkins Foundation of Natural Health in order to spread the word of natural medicines and endogenous cannabinoid system education.

Kimberly Cargile has been working in the cannabis industry for over 20 years, first as a cultivator, then managing dispensaries and advocating for patient’s rights and industry regulations.

Michelle Trew, a 30-year Tracy resident, joined the cannabis movement more than five years ago. She acquired her cannabis business leadership experience through the A Therapeutic Alternative Management Program.

Deanna Garcia also completed the management program at A Therapeutic Alternative and graduated from the Cannabis Reinvestment Opportunity & Equity Program. Since then, she has been working with city and state governments to help spread safe access to medical cannabis.

Jennifer Noska is a 20-year Tracy resident who has replaced pharmaceuticals with cannabis and now works for the maker of her medicine, Proof Extracts.

Haley Andrew also started out at A Therapeutic Alternative and is now CEO of Dixon Wellness and a consultant with Tracy Cannabis Collective.

JOYCE J. TAYLOR OWNER A

s the owner of No Time Cleaning Services, Joyce has 33 years of cleaning experience and expertise. Her number one goal is for clients to stay satisfied with services. “My clients became like family,” she says. “I have clients that have been with me 15 to 31 years. I’ve always took my job to heart no matter what that job was.”

Married young to her high school sweetheart of 45 years and having three children, education was always a top priority, urging her kids to go to college. “I was working at American Savings as an Insurance Processor when in 1990 my mother passed away. During that time off a friend asked for us to start up cleaning,” she recalls. In January of 1991, the duo worked their first place and before Joyce knew it, word of mouth grew their gig into a full-time business. And then, Joyce was able to put all three of her kids through college.

After 28 years, in 2019, Joyce expanded the business and hired employees. That’s when No Time Cleaning Services was started. “I have grown into 12 employees. We are licensed, insured and bonded, and all employees are background checked.” Joyce says she has as high of expectations of her employees as she does of herself. “If you believe in yourself, anything is possible,” she says.

In addition to homes and offices, No Time Cleaning Services also cleans for events and move-ins and -outs. Simply call for a free quote.

eiter Eye Medical Group staffs a team of fierce female doctors to serve its diverse population. Dr. Pham obtained her Doctorate of Optometry degree at the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico, where she graduated among the top 10% of her graduating class and earned awards for student academic excellence (Cum Laude) and for clinical excellence. Dr. Krishna Patel was born and raised in Stockton. She has always been fascinated with the sciences, and as she furthered her education, she found great passion for optometry. She attended Pacific University College of Optometry in Forest Grove, Oregon and during her last year of training she completed her clinical rotations at the Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, at multiple private practices in Eugene, at the Roseburg VA Medical Center, and at the Eye Care Associates of Nevada as India and Malaysia Dr. Katelyn Balancio, also born and raised in Stockton, decided on optometry as a career when she was fifteen years old upon receiving her first pair of glasses. While continuing her studies, she went on to volunteer and work in the field for the next ten years. Dr. Balancio completed her education at the UC Berkeley School of Optometry in 2019 and has been proudly serving the people of her hometown since. Dr. Erin Doxtader graduated from Midwestern University Arizona College of Optometry as a member of Beta Sigma Kappa, the International Optometric Honor Society. She is delighted to be serving the community of Lodi, her hometown. She has a particular interested in specialty contact lenses.

AUDREY SCHMIERER REALTOR

In the bustling world of real estate, where every transaction holds the potential for something new, having a knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide can make all the difference. Enter Audrey, a Realtor with a passion for helping clients achieve their dreams and a deep understanding of the market, Audrey stands out as a trusted ally for anyone navigating the complexities of buying or selling a home.

At the core of Audrey's approach is a genuine love for what she does. "I'm truly passionate about real estate," she says. "It's not just about closing deals for me; it's about making meaningful connections and helping people find that perfect place to call home."

This passion translates into every aspect of her work, from the initial consultation to the final handshake and beyond. Whether working with first-time buyers or seasoned investors, Audrey brings an unwavering commitment to excellence and a genuine desire to exceed expectations.

One of the hallmarks of Audrey's success is her dedication to her clients. "I believe that every client deserves personalized attention and tailored solutions," she explains. "That's why I take the time to really listen to their needs and understand their goals. By investing in my clients, I can deliver results that go above and beyond their expectations."

Whether it's identifying the perfect neighborhood, negotiating the best price, or navigating the intricacies of the buying or selling process, Audrey is a trusted advisor every step of the way. In this industry, challenges are inevitable, but it's how you approach them that makes all the difference. By staying positive and focusing on solutions, I can turn obstacles into opportunities and help my clients achieve their goals."

For Audrey, every transaction is not just a business deal; it's an opportunity to make a positive impact in someone's life. Whether it's helping a young couple find their first home, assisting a family in upsizing to accommodate their growing needs, or guiding retirees through the process of downsizing, Audrey approaches each client with the same level of enthusiasm and dedication.

In a world where trust and integrity are paramount, Audrey is a shining example of what it means to be a professional in the real estate industry. With her passion, commitment to clients, and knowledge of the market, she continues to make a lasting impression on everyone she encounters. So, if you're in the market for a positive and upbeat real estate experience, look no further than Audrey. With her by your side, your real estate dreams are closer than ever to becoming a reality.

SYCAMORE LANE KENNELS AND FARM OWNER AND STAFF

Michelle, Isabel and Sharline conduct their grooming business at Sycamore Lane Kennels demonstrating unique skills meeting the needs of clients, dog breed and a variety of grooming styles. They are calm, patient and understand how to communicate with a squirming dog or cat.

They are all excellent groomers, each with a specialty and affinity for perfection.

Michelle loves grooming Doodles and is known for the beautiful chrysanthemum-like heads she sculpts on Bichon Frises.

Isabel’s specialty is the Cocker Spaniel but can groom any breed needing a makeover.

Sharline mastered hand stripping, has developed a following in the Terrier community and can make any dog look like a celebrity.

Purebred or a mixed breed, each groomer is skilled to work with you creating the look you desire.

Book a SPA DAY when making your next appointment. Your dog will be treated to a spacious kennel, play time, then off to the warm, bubbly tub for a luxurious bath and pampering. After the pampering your dog will return to his kennel awaiting your return in comfort.

JAIME SMITH OWNER

At Smitty's Wings & Things, Jaime Smith ensures every customer feels right at home the moment they step through the door. Recognizing patrons by their names and where they like to sit, she fosters an inviting, family-like ambiance. Together with her husband Steve, Jaime has been the cornerstone of this local treasure since its opening in 2013, pouring her soul into creating an unmatched dining experience at Smitty's. Her extraordinary dedication to excellence is evident in every handmade sauce and pizza dough, essential components of Smitty's signature dishes. Garnering national fame in 2016 by appearing on "Diners, Drives and Dives," Jaime's hard work gained a spot in the limelight. Moreover, Smitty's has been named the Best Wings in San Joaquin County for seven straight years! Jaime Smith exemplifies the influential role women hold in business, embodying the spirit and dedication that make Smitty's more than a restaurant—it's a community hub shaped by her leadership and care.