Amber Honored as Finalist for SDBJ Business Women of the Year

Dec 30

On Thursday, December 13, 2018, the San Diego Business Journal (SDBJ) held the annual Business Women of the Year Awards. Celebrating its 25th year, SDBJ’s women’s award program is the longest running in San Diego. Formerly known as "Women Who Mean Business", this ceremony honors San Diego's top 100 most impactful women leaders. At SKY, we are incredibly proud of our Vice President and co-founder, Amber N. Yoo, M.B.A. for being selected as a finalist for the FIFTH year in a row!

The panel of judges — Joyce Glazer, Lidia Martinez, Catherine McCullough, Nancy Rohland, and Bettie Youngs — reviewed more than 200 nominations to select the finalists. The selection process was based on professional achievements, contributions within the community, and what the nominee has done to empower, inspire and mentor others.

"I am honored to be considered one of San Diego's top business leaders by such an accomplished panel of judges," stated Amber. "We are only as strong as the people we surround ourselves with and in that regard, I have a long list of women to thank for their support and inspiration. At work, I have nine talented women who amaze me daily with their positivity, drive, and good humor. In the community, I'm incredibly grateful for the deep friendships that've been forged through four diverse groups of women: the Del Mar Unit of Rady Children's Hospital Auxiliary, the Country Friends, United Way's Women Leadership Council, and my own small group of women business leaders with whom I meet on a regular basis."

Among Amber's recent accomplishments lauded by the judges:

Making the Gator100 list for the past two years. The University of Florida launched the Gator100 as a way to recognize and celebrate the 100 fastest growing businesses owned or led by UF alumni. Growth was independently calculated by Ernst & Young.
Early this year, Amber led on the successful re-credentialing of SKY’s surgery center, resulting in SKY obtaining the highest level of accreditation from the State of California’s Institute for Medical Quality.
In 2017 and 2018, Amber was a part of the founding group for the Nine Months Matter Coalition, a volunteer group whose goal is to start a “movement” to change society’s thinking about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD) - much like MADD did with drunk driving. The Coalition raises funds for treatment of children with FASD and raises awareness that no drinks are safe during pregnancy. On July 14, Amber was on the team that coordinated an inaugural fundraiser featuring a fashion show, and a live and silent auction. The event raised $20,000 for the cause.
In 2018, Amber joined the event committee for The Country Friends’ Art of Fashion annual fundraiser, which raises money for local human care agencies with a special focus on women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. In addition to helping plan and coordinate the event, Amber served as the Technology director, helping streamline the event’s online marketing and transition the nonprofit from paper to online forms. The event raised more than $130,000.
For the 2017-18 fiscal year for Rady Children’s Hospital Auxiliary, Amber served on the Executive Committee of the Del Mar Unit as Secretary and served on the event committee for the Unit’s multiple fundraisers, raising more than $28,000 for the Foundation.

In honor of its 25th anniversary, SDBJ awarded the title of “Business Women of the Year” to 25 winners. According to SDBJ Publisher Barbara Chodos, the "superb roster of finalists" made "it difficult for our judges to narrow their choices to just 25 deserving women." Congratulations to the winners:

Maria Baldwin
Cathy Baur
Sarah Boyce
Kate Broderick
Jennie Brooks
Nisha Bunke
Kristin Carroll
Lisa Churchill
Dr. Ann Clark
Jennifer Farnham
Jane Finley
Joni Flaherty
Sallie Giblin
Michele Goetz
Jodie Grenier
Teresa Halleck Campbell
Danielle Humphries
Jennifer Kearns
Marie Kenny
Cecilia Kucharski
Kalyn Maher-Walker
Cindy Marten
Patty Mayer
Jeanne McAlister
Kim Perell

The Lifetime Achievement award went to Nyda Jones-Church, president & COO of Pacific Sotheby's International Realty, who recommended that women “be your word,” “lead passionately” and reach your goals by taking one step at a time.

We were honored to hear Former Chief of Police Shelley Zimmerman as the keynote speaker. Zimmerman joined the police force in 1982 and in 2014 was hired as the first female police chief in San Diego. A first that Zimmerman calls “unfortunate” in that it should have happened sooner. Zimmerman feels she’s proof to young girls that "you can be anything you want, as long as you are willing to work hard." Zimmerman’s hard work certainly paid off. In 2017, San Diego was named the safest “big city” in our country with the lowest crime rate despite more than doubling its population!

The event benefited American Heart Association.

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