Women Shaping the Future - A "Speaking of Women" Event

Speaking of Women is proud to present “Women Shaping the Future” featuring three extraordinary women leaders laying crucial foundations for future generations. Through their leadership, mentorship, and groundbreaking achievements, these women are empowering countless others and forging a path towards a more prosperous tomorrow.

Judge Jenifer Howson
Skagit County District and Municipal Courts
Appointed as District Court Judge in January of 2021. Elected in 2022.  Served as District Court Commissioner January 2017-January 2021. Presiding Judge (Mount Vernon, Anacortes, and Burlington Municipal Courts and Skagit County District Court) January 2021-2025. Created a highly successful network of five drug and mental health courts operating as therapeutic courts called community court in Skagit County since 2020.
 
Attorney 1991-2016. 2007 recipient of the Hugh Ridgway Professionalism Award (Skagit County Judiciary/ Bar Association). Downtown Mount Vernon CEO and business owner of multiple businesses.  SWIB (Skagit Women In Business), past membership chair;   President SWAN (Skagit Women’s Alliance and Network) 2020, and SWAN Woman of the Year in Transformational Leadership 2021; Skagit Rotary 2017-Present; Scholarship Chair Skagit Rotary; 2017-2020 Hospice Foundation Board of Trustees (executive committee 2018-2020); DCMJA (District/Municipal Court Judges Association): Therapeutic Courts Committee 2017-Present: Co-Chair 2021-Present, Court Recovery Committee (Therapeutic Courts-Pandemic Response w/Chief Justice Stevens). 2025 Skagit Legal Aid LAW DAY recipient of Community Partner award. 

Yadira Rosales
Skagit Valley College Vice President for Equity and Inclusion
Yadira Rosales is currently serving as the Vice President for Equity and Inclusion at Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon, Washington. As a proud first-generation college student and community college graduate, Rosales’ professional journey is deeply rooted in expanding access to higher education—especially through non-traditional pathways. She is driven by a strong commitment to dismantling systemic barriers and creating more equitable outcomes for historically excluded communities.

Rosales’ work centers on frameworks for Hispanic-Serving Institutions, building community-driven partnerships between higher education and local organizations, and leading diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) professional development for faculty and staff.

Rosales holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies and a master’s degree in Adult and Higher Education, both from Western Washington University. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Management in Community College Policy and Administration at the University of Maryland Global Campus.

Anne Schwartz
Blue Heron Farm
Anne Schwartz lives and farms in Rockport and graduated with a degree in Animal Science from Washington State University, (WSU) in 1978.  Blue Heron Farm produces certified organic berries marketed regionally and in Mt Vernon at the Skagit Food Coop. 
 
Anne participated in the development of organic certification laws and regulatory development at the state and national levels for over 25 years.  She was an active advocate in the creation of the Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources (CSANR) at WSU, and has served on their Advisory Council since 1989.

Anne was the first woman and organic farmer to serve on the NW Agriculture Research Foundation Board, where she served as secretary for nearly 25 years. For several years she has served as an Advisory Board member for several of the Deans of the College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Resources at WSU.  She served on the Boards of Tilth Producers and Tilth Alliance for 38 years and has been especially active in advocating for organic research and public policy through the creation of and as a Governing Council member of the Coalition for Organic and Regenerative Agriculture (CORA).  

 
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Events are held at various locations