The Future of Business in the Santa Maria Valley
From healthcare to hospitality, the Santa Maria Valley is fortunate to have strong women leadership across our local industries. Research has shown that diverse leadership brings a wealth of benefits, including broader perspectives, enhanced creativity, and more effective problem-solving. In the pages that follow, you’ll hear about local leaders who prioritize patient-centered care, enhance team dynamics, elevate the customer experience, and inspire our next generation of business leaders. These profiles are just a sampling of the many female professionals who make the Santa Maria Valley a great place to live, work and do business. Join us as we dive into their stories, discovering the unique ways they're shaping a more inclusive and dynamic future for the Santa Maria Valley.
Name: Sandra Dickerson
Business: Your People Professionals & HR Your Way
Position: CEO
Biography
I began working for the founder of Your People Professionals in 1987 and bought the company in 1997. In addition to becoming an attorney during that ownership transition, I devoted a lot of years to industry work at the state and national level that enhanced the knowledge and skills I bring to our clients.
What does it mean to be a woman in your industry/field today?
Human Resources is a traditional field for women, but companies doing full HR outsourcing have had fewer women owners, like many industries. So I learned to hold my own and obtain credibility working with clients, boards, and others where I might be the only woman in the room.
What can younger generations learn from successful women professionals?
How to navigate business situations and challenges successfully, as those more often take different skills than pure technical knowledge and are difficult to attain without experience.
How are you thinking out of the box?
I have added services that are not “normal” for my industry, but meet the needs of my clients. I’ve also recognized that not all employees have to be in my corporate office to be productive and effective, allowing me to hire the best possible talent.
What are you doing to stay connected to the community and inspire the next generation of leaders?
I have participated on the boards of multiple local nonprofits in our community, most often assuming executive leadership roles.
What advice do you have for younger women/generations looking to pursue a career within your field?
Take the time necessary to develop the depth of knowledge and skills necessary to be a truly exceptional HR professional and/or business leader, and be willing to do the work that will require. It takes much more than memorizing some fundamentals to accomplish that.
Name: Tere Paredes
Business: Maya Restaurant
Position: Owner
Biography
Tere Paredes (Cadena) is the 3rd Generation to carry on her family’s legacy as a Restauranteur. The Maya Restaurant has over 57 yrs of being in business along the Central Coast and over 40yrs here in the Santa Maria Valley. She has always wanted to follow her fathers footsteps since she was a little girl and can now say she has accomplished such a dream. She is also a proud Board Member of the Chamber of Commerce and loves to serve her community with all her heart.
In 1989, Tere and her family relocated from Santa Barbara, where their family-owned restaurants first started, to the Santa Maria Valley. It was here, at the Santa Maria Airport, that her father, Francisco Cadena, established the Maya Restaurant in 1979. Tere spent her formative years in this environment, and it was here that her passion for the service industry was kindled.
Being the youngest of four siblings, Tere decided to stay back and uphold the Maya name. While her two brothers also remain in the restaurant business, they operate establishments in different states, demonstrating that the restaurant industry is indeed a deeply ingrained part of their family legacy.
Tere tied the knot with her childhood sweetheart, Manuel Paredes, and their love has blossomed into a beautiful family with two sons, Angel (19) and Manuel (11), who represent the 4th generation. She nurtures the hope that they will carry forward the heritage of their family business.
In 2015, Tere and Manuel teamed up as business partners to take the reins of the Maya Restaurant, allowing her father to enjoy a worry-free retirement, with the assurance that the business was in safe hands. Manuel, in addition to being a business owner, admirably serves in the Air Force and holds a civilian job on the base. His dedication and hard work, juggling multiple roles for the sake of his family, are sources of immense pride for Tere.
Their business is a beacon of veteran ownership, and they hold a strong commitment to supporting all First Responders and Military personnel. Their dedication extends beyond their immediate family, creating a sense of community and support for those who serve and protect
What does it mean to be a woman in your industry/field today?
Carrying the mantle of being the first woman in my family to independently operate and own the business, I hold this title with immense gratitude and pride. The responsibility has been lovingly passed down to me, and I carry it with the utmost respect and honor.
What can younger generations learn from successful women professionals?
Don’t ever think little or less of what you aspire to become as a young girl. There is nothing a woman cannot do that is not within her will. Never believe the lie that you “cannot” or are “not good enough”. Because you are!
How are you thinking out of the box?
I try to keep up with the times. As the years fly by many advancements are made and if we are not ready to adapt to or accept them we can easily fail. Marketing is key in this industry.
What are you doing to stay connected to the community and inspire the next generation of leaders?
I enjoy actively participating in our community, whether it’s through social media engagement or promoting new businesses and our community leaders. I’m always ready to contribute, be it by volunteering my time, donating resources, or assisting in fundraising efforts for their organizations. When it comes to our community, I firmly believe in the philosophy that giving is more rewarding than receiving.
What advice do you have for younger women/generations looking to pursue a career within your field?
Don’t give up! Have Faith. Be strong. Start from the bottom up and take it all in. There is lots to learn and retain but if this is where your heart is then do it. Do it for the guests/customers who will eventually grow to be part of your family. With all hard work put in, there is great reward!
Name: Sue Andersen
Business: Marian Regional Medical Center
Position: President & CEO
Biography
I have lived on the Central Coast for the last 30 years and for 22 of those years I have worked for Marian Regional Medical Center. I served as a divisional CFO for many years and moved into the CEO role 5 years ago. I have a BS in Accounting and an MBA. I have worked in hospitals my entire career and spent time teaching at Cal Poly. It is an honor to serve as the Marian President and to serve Santa Maria and the broader community.
What does it mean to be a woman in your industry/field today?
Healthcare is an interesting and rewarding field for women with much opportunity for growth. It is interesting to think of the early days of hospital care in Santa Maria. The Sister’s saw the need, recruited physicians and worked at the hospital to care for the community. Our history is rich with women leadership. When I started as a female Chief Financial Officer there were very few women in the field, but that has definitely changed, as has the Hospital CEO role. Many more women than ever before. I also see medical staff leadership today greatly changing. We used to have maybe one or two female physicians on the Medical Executive Committee and now over a third are women.
What can younger generations learn from successful women professionals?
I have been so fortunate because of women that paved the way for me. I think of Judy Frost who was one of few female CPAs in the 1960’s and had to endure discrimination with everything from the clothes she wore (skirts had to be several inches below the knee, nylons required and heels at all times) to the way she was excluded from certain male lunches. Without people like Judy paving the way, I would not be where I am today. The message is believe in yourself, work hard, fight for what you know is right and take every opportunity offered to you.
How are you thinking out of the box?
We need to change healthcare and make it easier to access, more affordable, and more open to all. We are working to connect the computer systems used throughout our entities so wherever you are seen they have your records. Our portal should be easy for you to access your results. We want to get to where you can do online registration, telehealth if desired, have easy access to physicians, and get fast and efficient emergency room care. Additionally, we have been involved in a workforce development group with our local colleges and all the local hospitals. Together we can make a difference in the career development offered in our community.
What are you doing to stay connected to the community and inspire the next generation of leaders?
I am very involved in many activities in the community and try to speak about our hospital to many organizations and schools. I think that all leaders within the community should give back. In addition to serving on the Chamber Board, I serve on the Boys & Girls Board, am Chair of the REACH Board, serve on the CenCal Board, serve on the Dean’s Council for AT Still, the Santa Maria Police Council, Shower the People and End Kids Cancer Boards.
What advice do you have for younger women/generations looking to pursue a career within your field?
We have many avenues for young women to enter the healthcare field. You can volunteer to see what goes on in a hospital or enter our Mentor Program. Then think of careers as physicians, nurses, clinical lab scientists or technicians in radiology, emergency room, operating room, cath labs, or work in food services, environmental services, plant operations or finance. Get your foot in the door, see if the field interests you and then look for opportunities to grow and move up. Hospital CEOs and leaders come through any of the above mentioned professions.
Name: Susan Salcido
Business: Santa Barbara County Education Office
Position: Superintendent
Biography
While growing up in Santa Maria, I attended Adam Elementary, El Camino Junior High School, and Santa Maria High School. If not at school, you would have found me working with my family at our motel on South Broadway, checking out books from the Santa Maria Public Library, or playing sports at the Minami Center. I later attended UC Santa Barbara, earning my bachelor’s degree in English and master’s degree in education. I earned my doctorate in 2018 from the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education, where I focused on organizational change, leadership, and student equity.
With nearly 30 years in public education, I first started out as an English teacher at Dos Pueblos High School, served as assistant principal of San Marcos High School, and then principal of Santa Barbara Junior High School. I joined the County Education Office in 2006 as a director in the Curriculum and Instruction division and later served as assistant superintendent for the Instructional Services division. From 2012-17, I was the County Education Office’s deputy superintendent.
It is my honor to now serve as the Santa Barbara County Superintendent of Schools since 2017. We support 20 public school districts and 10 charter schools serving nearly 70,000 children throughout Santa Barbara County.
What does it mean to be a woman in your industry/field today?
Education is one field where women have always been well represented. However, women are far less represented as superintendents–but that number is evolving and increasing each year. In recent decades, women not only make up the majority of the teacher workforce but they are also seen thriving in leadership roles such as school administration. Being a woman in this field is an honor and significant responsibility. From my early years as a high school English teacher to now leading the county public schools, I have the opportunity to lead and collaborate across the county, across all sectors, working fervently to support one another, lift each other up, and root for each other’s successes. I am grateful and fortunate to truly love what I do, as a professional at work, as well as a mom and wife at home.
What can younger generations learn from successful women professionals?
Personally, I have long sought out mentors– from the time I was a pre-professional, considering teaching as a profession, to today, I continue to learn from leaders, learners, friends, and colleagues. Mentorships aren’t always formal. In fact, for me, they have more often been informal. Observing, listening, inquiring, engaging – I have found that by doing these things, I have learned so much from those who have led before me. As more and more women expand into leadership roles across all industry sectors, I encourage younger generations to seek out opportunities to learn from their experiences, perhaps through mentorships, internships, networking events, or even sitting down for a conversation. Building authentic relationships are so important for all of us; we have so much to gain and learn from one another.
How are you thinking out of the box?
Growing up, working at my family’s business in Santa Maria, I learned the importance of being resourceful, hard-working, and open to meeting new people from a wide array of backgrounds and perspectives. One way I continue to challenge myself to think outside of the box is to remain a lifelong student and learner and to stay curious and vulnerable. When I connect with people - whether at work or out in our communities - I get inspired by learning from different perspectives–it’s imperative to stay open to new ways of thinking, working, leading, and problem-solving. From mathematics support to school safety, from student and employee wellness to how we communicate to the community, we are continually evolving, adapting and creatively thinking outside the box - it’s an exciting time in education right now.
What are you doing to stay connected to the community and inspire the next generation of leaders?
Last year, I was honored to create our county’s first-ever Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council, a unique opportunity for high school students throughout Santa Barbara County to share feedback, experiences, and perspectives on a variety of issues affecting schools and communities. Council members meet with me throughout the school year and also have the opportunity to present at County Board of Education meetings. The council has provided me with valuable insights and perspectives, and their ideas and concerns are incorporated into the work we are doing at the county schools level.
As Superintendent, I am always looking for ways to stay connected to our communities, including regularly visiting schools, appearing in radio and other media interviews, writing editorial commentaries in local newspapers, sharing a monthly Superintendent’s Newsletter, and hosting informational forums and meetings to keep the community informed of critical issues related to public education, schools, children, and families. I invite you to learn more about me and our organization at www.sbceo.org.
Name: Michelle Lee Graham
Business: Children’s Resource & Referral of Santa Barbara County
Position: CEO
Biography
Growing up on the Central Coast, I am keenly aware of the beauty, diversity and the challenges that we face. I am the mother of 5 successful children, CEO of a $23 million dollar nonprofit organization, and the Best Selling author on Amazon of - “Undefined More Than the Sum of My Losses: A Birthmom’s Journey from Tragedy to Triumph.” I have also authored five children’s books addressing important topics including: adoption, overcoming shyness, parent-child bonds, aging and loss, as well as created five keepsake journals, titled- “Our Story to Tell.”
I hold a BA in Psychology and a MEd in Education. With more than 30 years in the Early Education field, I am proud of the work experiences I have had and most importantly the lives I have had the honor to support. Making an impact to better the lives of others is what motivates and inspires me the most.
What does it mean to be a woman in your industry/field today?
Women in Early Education is not new to the child care field. However, as the CEO of Children’s Resource & Referral for the past 15 years, I have certainly seen the immense value that being a strong woman in leadership can bring. My work begins-and-ends with my Team, because of their strength, I am able to spend dedicated time to advocate both at the state and local level for children and families, being a voice for those who are unable to speak for themself.
What can younger generations learn from successful women professionals?
My success did not come for free. Rather, as a teenage mom, on welfare and food stamps, I worked diligently day-and-night, to ensure my children were fed, clean and healthy; then I focused on my education and work, in an effort to better all of our lives. With significant lack of sleep, money, and time, it was pure determination that nudged us forward. Ultimately, I did reach my career goals, I have even superseded personal goals, I continue to create new ideas and dream bigger dreams to always strive toward. I believe that if we aren’t moving forward, we are stagnant and with stagnation comes blurred vision.
My encouragement to youth would be, work hard, stay focused, celebrate the small and big success, put in your time and prove your worth, first to yourself and then others will see!
How are you thinking out of the box?
To think out of the box means that my pathway and results will surprise you. I lead with integrity and honesty with a strength based philosophy to help navigate my Team. When I started 15 years ago, we were a $5 million dollar non profit that dropped even lower after the recession in 2009, but with out-of-the box strategizing, actions, leadership, came failures and much success. We now hold a $23 million annual budget with 53 Team Members, more than 30 local and State Contracts, 3 large Program Departments and 1 WINGS Preschool.
Through many good, and bad, life choices, I have lived a life full of passion, vulnerability, professionalism and success. I believe that we all have the possibility to experience the freedom to truly love, forgive, grow, heal and live a life of joy!
What are you doing to stay connected to the community and inspire the next generation of leaders?
Children’s Resource & Referral is very connected to the community through a variety of the programs we offer. For me personally, it’s important to stay connected locally, to not ever forget the pathways, challenges, obstacles, and steps that got me here. I honor the people, my family, my CRR Team and my own hard work, that launched this career. A career that has been able to impact the lives of so many employees, families, teachers, students, child care providers and children!
What advice do you have for younger women/generations looking to pursue a career within your field?
The early education field is broad. Much broader than one could imagine. For me, within this field I have been able to: Teach Preschool, Teach College, Operate a Preschool, be a Social Worker for - Child Protective Services, the CEO for this ambitious and strong organization, and the author of 15 books on Amazon. In a world where technology, products and influence changes daily, careers in early education will always be needed, children are here to stay!
Name: Lacy Litten
Industry: Agriculture
Business: Facts from Farmers
Position: Founder/President
Biography
In addition to being the Founder/President of Facts from Farmers, Lacy is the Assistant General Manager at Teixeira Farms. She holds a BA in Mass Communication and Media Studies from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University and a MA in Organizational Leadership from Brandman University. Lacy has served on many non-profit boards and committees, including Past Chair of Leadership Santa Maria Valley.
What can younger generations learn from successful women professionals?
The fruit you reach for is sweeter than what falls at your feet.
How are you thinking out of the box?
I was once told that “feelings don’t belong in farming,” which, in my opinion, is a very close-minded and traditional (old) way of thinking. Feelings absolutely did not belong in farming when my grandfather was in the business. But we live in a different society today with more knowledge of how our feelings affect decision-making, attitudes, interactions with others, and a whole bunch of other things. Soft skills are leadership skills that I would like to make more relevant in our industry. Being brave enough to share what we feel can lead to vulnerability, empathy, humility, and other actions that foster connections with others. I want to tap into that to build a community of trust and transparency among food producers and food consumers.
What are you doing to stay connected to the community and inspire the next generation of leaders?
The advice I would give to younger generations is that networking is key. The Santa Maria Valley is still a small place. Who you know matters. More importantly, take initiative. Be ambitious. Follow through. Volunteer. People want to help, but they won’t be willing to put their hard and well-earned reputation on the line for someone who doesn’t show up (literally and figuratively).