In one of the Valley’s most important awards programs recognizing women leaders of the San Fernando Valley, the United Chambers of Commerce’s (UCC) board of directors has announced its 2024 10th Annual Inspirational Women honorees.
The United Chambers Inspirational Women Awards annually recognize women of outstanding achievement who have inspired others with their individual stories and accomplishments.
This year’s honorees are Paula Boland, Jill Mather, Susan Pomerantz, Dr. Iris Stone and Judith Verduzco.
Paula Boland has been a long-term stakeholder for over 50 years in the San Fernando Valley. Paula was first elected to the 38th Assembly District and served the maximum under California term limits.
Boland made history as the first woman and non-lawyer to chair the State Assembly Public Safety Committee. She and her staff were active in crafting the “Three Strikes Law of California,” as well as Megan’s Law, which pioneered the registration of sex offenders nationwide. She also created laws that remove the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse and many others to protect victims’ rights, including “One Strike and You’re Out” sentencing for child molesters.
Boland earned the respect of law enforcement officials and victims’ groups throughout the State and among her many awards was “Legislative Award of the Year from the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association. She is a strong supporter of local police who serves the LAPD as a member of its Oral Review Board. She helped create its business watch, which served as the model for the successful “Neighborhood Watch” program that was formed later.
She was a champion for small business and the concepts of the free enterprise system. She served on the Board of Granada Hills Chamber of Commerce. She also helped, found, and served as Vice President of the United Chambers of Commerce of the San Fernando Valley.
Her achievements have earned her numerous citations for her also serving on the board of Chatsworth Kiwanis, Chatsworth Neighborhood Council, Keep LA Beautiful, Diamondhead Homeowners Association and Chatsworth Women’s Club.
VCC, created by Mather, helps to ameliorate the visible effects of the issues many of our communities are experiencing, while also creating and inspiring an army of caring volunteers. She is out there working side by side, for our community, and right along with her volunteers!
Prior to her role as Director of Volunteer Services at the Jewish home for the Aging, Sue Pomerantz began as a volunteer herself. Since her start she has created an intergenerational program between high school students and the residents that is beloved by all.
She then went on to pioneer the field of assisting families to find options for seniors needing residential care.
As a founding Board Member of MAPS Charities, Susan spent the next 15 years dedicated to the mission of assisting vulnerable seniors in Los Angeles County. She served first as Secretary and is now serving as Vice President of the Board.
She recently created an Advisory Council to further enhance the presence of the charity throughout the community.
In her role as CEO of “Concepts for Living,” she inaugurated and ran “NAG,” a Networking Organization for Professionals in the field of Geriatric Services. The services that she and her team created provided a security blanket for families and their seniors as their circumstances change. “Concepts for Living” offers guidance and consultation for the seniors of LA and Ventura Counties with a primary focus on the San Fernando Valley.
As a former member of the Board of OPICA, as well as a current member of their advisory council, Sue has fostered and developed community interest and service among many individuals. With the help of the creation of the Advisory Council with MAPS Charities, Pomerantz continues spreading the good word as to the purpose of these organizations.
Dr. Iris Stone shifted her career path to Audiology once she found herself as a single parent, wanting to prioritize being present, while raising her two young children, while continuing to offer healthcare to pediatrics and patients of all ages.
She earned her master’s degrees from New York University and St. John’s University in Education, Health Administration and Audiology. She earned her Doctorate in Audiology from A.T. Still University in Arizona. She is a Fellow of The American Academy of Audiology, The Academy of Doctors of Audiology, and the California Academy of Audiology.
Dr. Stone, AUD.FAAA, holds licenses in Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensing in the states of New York and California.
She has a unique style of listening to the concerns of each individual patient and helps to find solutions based on their acoustic and cosmetic needs while also considering their budget. Her focus is on her patients’ lifestyles, always delivering professional, unhurried care with a complete follow-up.
She provides the deeply rewarding experience of a child hearing for the first time with a cochlear implant.
Dr. Stone is also an active member of the Calabasas Chamber of Commerce. She hosts educational seminars and offers complimentary hearing screenings for the community members. She is a consistent volunteer, promoting local businesses as well as making financial contributions to non-profit organizations along with support.
Dr. Stone was recently awarded the prestigious 2025 Chairman’s Award by the Calabasas Chamber of Commerce. This distinguished honor recognizes her outstanding contributions to the community and chamber alike while highlighting her role as a key figure in shaping our local landscape!
Judith Verduzco, LCSW, MPA is a compassionate mental health therapist, advocate, and community leader dedicated to helping individuals heal, grow, and thrive. As the founder of Monarchs Therapy, a virtual mental health practice in California, Verduzco specializes in supporting adults navigating trauma, anxiety, grief, life transitions, and more. Her warm, integrative, and culturally inclusive approach honors each client’s unique story, empowering them to reconnect with their inner strength and resilience. Judith’s own lived experience with anxiety and trauma deeply informs her empathy, insight, and commitment to walking alongside clients on their healing journey.
Outside the therapy room, Judith is also the co-founder of Palomas Ink, a creative space where she co-authored the children’s book Maral & Lupita: A Celebration of Friendship, exploring themes of kindness, belonging, and acceptance. Her passion for storytelling reflects her belief in the power of connection and healing through shared experiences and creative arts modalities.
A lifelong learner with a Master of Social Work from USC and a Master of Public Administration from CSUN, Verduzco’s impact extends far beyond individual sessions. She is a founding member of the Rotary Club of Mental Health & Wellness, part of Rotary District 5280, which spans across LA County including the San Fernando Valley and surrounding cities. Through her leadership, the club has launched numerous community-based projects that promote mental health awareness and support underserved populations.
She has played a key role in developing and implementing mental health initiatives in schools, mentoring emerging social workers, and distributing coping kits to pediatric burn survivors and elderly residents in nursing home facilities. She also led efforts to revamp a local American Legion post—transforming it into a welcoming, inclusive space for community gatherings and creating a designated room focused on emotional wellness for veterans. While the club does not provide direct mental health services, Veruzco ensures that each project thoughtfully incorporates mental health principles and advocacy into its design and impact.
Her commitment to social change, cultural humility, and equity in care continues to foster sustainable systems of support for individuals and families across diverse communities.
. At the heart of everything she does is a belief in the ‘butterfly effect’—that even the smallest acts of compassion can create ripples of lasting change.
The 2025 nominees will be honored at a luncheon May 8 at The Odyssey in Granada Hills. Tickets at unitedchambers.org.
