20th Annual BRAVO Awards – (Meet the Honorees)

Catherine Von Burg
Co-Founder & CEO
SimpliPhi Power
Oxnard

Under Catherine’s leadership, SimpliPhi has deployed energy storage and management systems in more than 40 countries, providing access to power in some of the most remote,  harsh environments and use-cases globally since 2010. The company has grown to offer a full range of mobile, residential and commercial storage solutions that combine non-hazardous lithium ferro phosphate (LFP) energy storage chemistry with proprietary manufacturing processes and materials, battery architecture, power electronics and Battery Management System (BMS) to create safe, reliable, durable and highly scalable on-demand power. Catherine has also lead partnerships that have earned endorsements from the U.S. Army and Marine Corps and exclusive ‘Special Permission’ from the FAA to air-ship anywhere in the world.

In 2017, representing SimpliPhi, Catherine was nominated to participate in an exclusive entrepreneur program hosted by the U.S. Department of State and the Unreasonable Impact Group. Global business leaders were carefully selected as being the best positioned to solve each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations. SimpliPhi’s energy storage and management solutions were chosen to represent UN SDG No. 9, ‘Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure’. Collaborators and mentors in this program included USAID & the World Bank, among others.

Catherine graduated from Columbia University in New York and holds a Master’s degree from University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy.

Michelle Wilner
VIRTIS
Newbury Park

Michelle Wilner is the CEO and Co-Founder of VIRTIS, a full-service, woman-owned cybersecurity firm that is reshaping the dynamics of the cybersecurity landscape with globally unique solutions and services. Dually headquartered Newbury Park, CA and Auckland, New Zealand, a country known for being early adopters of leading-edge technology, VIRTIS taps into some of the world’s most advanced technology long before the US is even aware.

VIRTIS combines their game-changing shielding technology with their fully managed web application protection service which now has the ability find and fix vulnerabilities in hours, even minutes, much faster than the current average time to remediate of 4-6 months. Proprietary solutions that others cannot deliver on, combined with a boutique, white glove customer service, enable VIRTIS to provide strategic roadmaps, leading-edge technology, and support services to some of the most technically advanced organizations in the world. In 2018, CIOReview recognized Michelle’s vision to modernize vulnerability management by naming VIRTIS among the Top 10 Most Promising Cybersecurity Solution Providers.

Dedicated to making a difference in an industry with only 11% women, Michelle has championed diversity and inclusion for women and minorities. Knowing that women are incredibly underrepresented in technology, generally, and cybersecurity, especially, is what inspires Michelle to promote STEM careers and cybersecurity certification paths to young girls.

Michelle was recently announced as a finalist for the Women in IT, 2019 Entrepreneur of the Year award.

Breanne Cochran
The Vent Human Performance Center
Ventura

Breanne Cochrane started coaching in Ventura in 2010 where she was given the opportunity to bring a different kind of training to a typical “globo-gym.” She quickly saw that members and management embraced her functional training as she noticed a massive shift in the culture. By February 2017, with the help and support of many, Breanne opened, The Vent: Human Performance Center.

From elite athletes, to ex-athletes, to 80 year olds, to children and teens, The Vent helps all people realize their potential.

Operating with core values of Education, Connection, and Innovation, The Vent guides and shapes client lives and the community every hour of every day. The focus isn’t simply to help people reach a fitness goal, teach a movement or even a skill, but also to be sophisticated and innovative to help clients understand the “why” behind their journey. The Vent is dedicated to helping its clients truly understand their bodies and minds, so they can continue to use them at maximum potential for years.

“The entire team at The Vent: Human Performance Center will never cease to challenge and evolve our thinking; meet and raise the standards set by our predecessors; and work enthusiastically and with integrity, to live up to and deliver on our core values for our clients and successors,” said Breanne Cochran.

Alison Kenis
Sugar Lab Bake Shop
Ventura

Alison Kenis is the owner and lead decorator for Sugar Lab Bake Shop. She has been baking and decorating with her mom and business partner Kelly since she was 3 years old. Her love of cake decorating began during college, where she obtained her degree in Biology.

Shortly after graduation, at age 22, Alison Kenis opened Sugar Lab Bake Shop. Seven years later, Alison’s passion has flourished into a successful business, allowing her to participate in community events and organizations. She is currently the president of the Ventura Chapter of the National Association of Catering and Events. She is recently married, and “fur” parent to two German Shepherds and two tabby cats.

Christina Shaffer
The Law Office of Christina Shaffer
Thousand Oaks

Christina Shaffer has been practicing Family Law since 2004, during which time she has received numerous awards for her family law advocacy, including the 2018 Ventura County Star Reader’s Choice for the Best East County Law Firm.  Ms. Shaffer has also received the Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce 40 Under 40 Award based on her advocacy for victims of domestic violence, and complex family law issues.  Ms. Shaffer’s volunteer experience includes assisting litigants at the local Self Help Center and Free Legal Clinic, and providing the local judiciary with assistance as a Settlement Officer.

Ms. Shaffer earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of La Verne College of Law and her Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Law and Society from the University of California, Santa Barbara. While in law school, Ms. Shaffer participated in National Moot Court competitions and interned for both the District Attorney’s Office and well-respected judges.

Ms. Shaffer is skilled and experienced at representing cases ranging from mediation to high conflict litigation.  As a certified Collaborative Family Law Attorney, she assists clients in reaching out of court settlement agreements.  Ms. Shaffer’s mediation training and compassionate, yet down to earth, attitude give her the ability to effectively represent clients through extremely turbulent times.  She takes pride in her ability to provide free services for victims of domestic violence by assisting them with document preparation and court appearances.

Ms. Shaffer enjoys spending her free time with her husband and three young children.  Along with her family, Ms. Shaffer is actively involved in local youth athletic organizations, and has enjoyed the opportunity to sponsor a variety of local youth sports teams.

Lisa Barreto
Ribbons of Life Breast Cancer Foundation
Ventura

A three-time breast cancer survivor, Lisa Barreto is the founder of the Ribbons of Life Breast Cancer Foundation (RoL) in Ventura, California. A native Bostonian born and raised in Arlington, Massachusetts, Lisa is also a breast cancer navigator-mediator, educator, speaker, published author, artist and Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT).

At age 44, in 2002, Lisa was diagnosed with her first breast cancer while attending Ventura College (VC) as a new re-entry student. This experience served as a springboard to her starting VC’s first Breast Cancer Education & Advocacy Support Group in September 2002. Under Lisa’s leadership, in 2007, the support group evolved into the Ribbons of Life Breast Cancer Foundation–an “all volunteer” 501(c)(3) non-profit charity foundation–the only foundation within the county whose mission is to provide breast cancer education, advocacy, emotional, and social support to women, their families and organizations.

By 2014, Lisa and founding board members realized their 12-year vision of opening RoL’s Breast Cancer Resource Center. Now, well-known within our county, the community breast cancer group she started stands in providing support to her. And this year, she has helped open a Create 4 Life Studio so that survivors have an area to create masterpieces while learning fun and relaxing ways to be themselves.

Lisa has a BA degree in Interdisciplinary Studies focusing on English, Anthropology and Sociology, enhanced with a Certificate in Mediation and Negotiation from the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB). Lisa also has earned a Certificate in Therapeutic Listening Care from the Adventures in Caring Foundation in Santa Barbara.

Brenda Terzian
Doug Terzian Construction
Camarillo

Brenda is a lifelong Ventura County native.  Running the office of her and her husband’s construction business since 1983, she and Doug have been building single-family custom homes for the last 35 years.  Throughout that time the company has maintained an extremely busy schedule. Most recently they have worked night and day to help homeowners rebuild after devastating fires.

Brenda is an active member of the Thousand Oaks AAUW, the Ventura Toastmasters Club 24, the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce, and sits on the Women’s Economic Ventures Advisory Council as well as being a member of WEV’s League of Extraordinary Women.

Brenda LOVES NAWBO. She is often found attending both State and National Conferences.  She says that she loves connecting with like-minded business women and enjoys supporting women-owned businesses. Her Motto: “Women Business Owners Empower me!”

This June, she and her husband Doug, will be celebrating their 35^th wedding anniversary.  They live in Camarillo, where they raised their two daughters. They enjoy the outdoors, traveling, cooking and playing with their dog, Zeus.

Brenda received her Bachelors of Science degree in Business from California State University Channel Islands in 2006, going on to earn her Juris Doctor from Ventura College of Law in 2011.

Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, 19th District
Betsy Berkhemer-Credaire, 2020 Women on Boards, Inc.

Hannah-Beth Jackson is a former prosecutor and practicing attorney, educator, and small business owner. She was elected to the California State Senate in 2012 to represent the 19th Senate District, which includes all of Santa Barbara County and western Ventura County. A graduate of Scripps College in Claremont, California with a joint major in government and sociology, she received her law degree from Boston University Law School before returning to California to work as a deputy district attorney for Santa Barbara County. Eventually, she became the managing partner for the Law Offices of Eskin and Jackson, with offices in Ventura and Santa Barbara.

In the Senate, she is chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and serves as a member of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water, the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee, Senate Human Services Committee, and the Senate Public Safety Committee. She is immediate past chair of the California Legislative Women’s Caucus. She is the author of Senate Bill 358, the California Fair Pay Act, landmark legislation to strengthen California’s equal pay law, and was named by Huffington Post as one of 11 women around the country “blazing new trails” in American politics. 

Betsy Berkhemer-Credaire co-founded Berkhemer Clayton Inc. 25 years ago, specializing in senior management Communications, Marketing, Finance and Board searches for corporations, universities and large nonprofits.

As of January 2018, she became national CEO of the 501c3 nonprofit public awareness campaign called “2020 Women on Boards” dedicated to achieving at least 20% of all public company board seats held by women by the year 2020. Its website 2020WOB.com informs the general public which companies have women directors, how many, and which companies don’t.

Since 2000, she has served on the statewide board of the National Association of Women Business Owners-California (NAWBO-CA), representing the issues and interests of 1.5 million women business owners in CA. She was on board of Southern California Leadership Network (SCLN) for 25 years, and the advisory boards of Edison (SCE) and UCLA Medical Center.