JHBC ShEconomy

• Date: October 23rd, 2025
• Time: 5:30PM - 8:15PM
• Location: SMSU South Theater

• Guest Speakers: Yutong Liu, Paniz Herrera, Dr. Dora Mejia, and Ginger Ontiveros
• Summary: The 8th Annual ShEconomy explores the theme: "ShEconomy & AI: The Future of Work and How AI Will Impact Women's Careers." The event brought together experts, community leaders, and changemakers to discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping industries where women are most heavily represented, including administrative support, retail, customer service, and healthcare support roles. As automation grows, these sectors face disruption, but the future also offers opportunities in emerging areas such as AI, robotics, and data science, fields where women remain underrepresented. The ShEconomy highlights both the challenges and strategies for ensuring women not only adapt to but also thrive in an AI-driven economy. Attendees gain practical insights into how women can pivot into roles requiring AI literacy and leadership, while also exploring the importance of representation in decision-making. together, we will examine how education, mentorship, and policy can shape an inclusive future of work that advances equity and creates better opportunities for women in the Inland Empire and beyond. 

ShEconomy 2025 spotlights women’s leadership in an AI-driven future

• Date: October 24th, 2024
• Time: 5:30PM - 8:00PM
• Location: SMSU South Theater

• Guest Speakers: Majorie L. McPike, Magdalena Zepeda- SeLegue, Christine Glass, and Charee Gillins
• Summary: The Jack H. Brown College of Public Administration (JHBC) Office of Academic Equity (OAE) recently hosted the 7th Annual JHBC OAE ShEconomy event themed around "Self-Advocacy, Confidence Building, and Personal Branding in the Digital Era." Organized and led by Dr. Francisca Beer, the JHBC OAE ShEconomy event provided a powerful platform for women to share insights on advancing empowerment and equity in business, Dr. Beer, a distinguished leader in finance and academic equity, holds a Ph.D in Finance and serves as a dedicated advocate for fostering inclusive educational environments. With extensive experience in academia and a commitment to equity, Dr. Beer has established herself as a driving force for initiatives that advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). Her leadership within JHBC is instrumental in creating programs that support students, faculty, and staff members and professionals in navigating barriers to success. through her vision, the ShEconomy event has become an impactful tradition, drawing attention to the importance of self-advocacy and personal branding as tools for resilience and growth. 

• Date: October 18th, 2023
• Time: 6PM - 8PM 
• Location: SMSU South Theater

• Guest Speakers: Karen Resendez, Jackie Scott, Carla Panzera, Dezzarae Henderson, Evelia Carmona

• Summary: On October 18th, 2023, the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration’s (JHBC) Office of Academic Equity hosted its 6th Annual ShEconomy event at the SMSU South Theater on the campus of California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB). The event, structured as a hybrid of online and in-person participation, brought together 220 attendees to explore the crucial theme of "Negotiating for Women's Economic Empowerment." 

  The evening kicked off with a dynamic presentation by Dr. Francisca Beer, shedding light on the state of the ShEconomy and the pivotal role that negotiation plays in bridging the gender pay gap and fostering career advancement for women. Dr. Beer's insights set the stage for a thought-provoking and empowering Q&A session featuring a distinguished panel of accomplished professionals. The panel, comprised of industry leaders and experts, included Jackie Scott, the Director of the Inland Empire Women's Business Center, Carla Panzera, a Business Finance Consultant and Director for the State Guaranty, Dezzarae Henderson, CEO of 4HiRe HR Solutions, Evelia Carmona, Senior Manager for Southern California Edison, and Karen Resendez, Human Resources and Risk Manager for the San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District. This section was facilitated by Michelle Skiljan, Senior Director of Philanthropy, Foundation and Corporate Relations. 

  The overarching theme of the event focused on the significance of negotiation as a vital skill for women, given the unique challenges they often face in the professional landscape. The panelists shared their experiences, expertise, and insights into the art of negotiation and its transformative power in addressing disparities in salary, benefits, and career progression. The panelists delved into real-world scenarios, offering practical advice on effective negotiation strategies and sharing success stories from their own journeys. Scott emphasized the importance of mentorship and building a strong support network, while Panzera highlighted the financial aspects of negotiation and understanding the value women bring to the workforce. Meanwhile, Henderson brought a fresh perspective from the HR realm, shedding light on how negotiation skills can be honed to not only secure better compensation but also create a positive impact on workplace culture. While Carmona and Resendez shared thoughts from the corporate and public sectors, illustrating the versatility of negotiation skills in various professional settings. 

  The event not only provided a platform for education and discussion but also fostered a sense of community and solidarity among attendees. The diverse backgrounds and expertise of the panelists offered a well-rounded view of negotiation's role in empowering women. 

  As the 6th Annual ShEconomy event concluded, it left the students, staff, faculty and community members in attendance inspired and equipped with valuable insights and advice to navigate their professional journeys. The lessons learned from this gathering will undoubtedly contribute to breaking barriers and fostering a more equitable ShEconomy for women in the years to come.

  

• Date: October 20th, 2022
• Time: 6PM - 8PM 
• Location: SMSU North Events Center

• Guest Speakers: Rachel Jimenez, Margeaux Mernick, Justina Loeun, Erika Santillan

• Summary: The 5th Annual JHBC ShEconomy conference, held on October 20th, 2022 at the Santos Manuel Student Union North Event Center, began with a short introduction by Dr. Francisca Beer. The event is hosted by the Jack H. Brown College of Business & Public Administration (JHBC) Office of Academic Equity. The host, Dr. Beer, introduced JHBC Dean, Tomas Gomez-Arias who gave a warm welcome to a diverse audience comprising students, faculty, staff, and community members.

  Dr. Beer then set the tone with an insightful overview of the ShEconomy's current state. Her presentation highlighted various disparities that still need work. 

  The main event featured a dynamic panel discussion moderated by Michelle Skiljan, with panelists including Margeaux Mernick, a transactional business law attorney; Rachel Jimenez, renowned blogger and digital creator known as Money Hacking Mama; Justina Loeun, Chief Fiscal Officer at Riverside County Department of Child Support Services (DCSS); and Erika Santillan, owner of Inland Gardens & Tropics. Their expertise and perspectives drew an engaged audience, which brought in approximately 180 attendees both in person and online. The theme of the event, "Is entrepreneurship worth leaving your full-time job?", resonated deeply and sparked meaningful dialogue on the future of women in business.

  Many students and community members came prepared with questions for our panel. A short Q&A session happened before ending the event. Dr. Beer was presented with flowers for her wonderful efforts in putting the ShEconomy together every year. 

  The JHBC Office of Academic Equity looks forward to the next ShEconomy and hope you’ll join this important event. 

• Date: October 21st, 2021
• Time: 6PM - 8PM 
• Location: ZOOM

• Guest Speakers: Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds, Erin Brinker, Manal Iskander

• Summary: On October 21st, 2021, the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration (JHBC) Office of Academic Equity held the 4th Annual ShEconomy: 659 Days with COVID! The ShEonomy event was founded by the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration (JHBC) Office of Academic Equity in collaboration with the JHBC Department of Marketing and the Inland Empire Women's Business Center (IEWBC).

  The first ShEconomy took place during the Annual Year 2018-2019 and, since then, attendance at the event has increased by more than 200%. 

  The event began with the JHBC Office of Academic Equity Director and Associate Dean, Dr. Francisca Beer welcoming our attendees. California State University, San Bernardino’s Deputy Provost, Dr. Clare Weber, and Interim Dean, Dr. Shanthi Srinivas joined her to welcome the attendees. 

  Beer presented about the state of the economy, the impact COVID is having on women and small businesses owned and operated by women. The presentation was followed by this year’s panelists discussing the strategies they used to remain competitive during the pandemic. The panelists were introduced by Michelle Skiljan, Executive Director of the Inland Empire Women’s Business Center. Skiljan also led the Q&A session. 

  Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds, founder of Voice Media Ventures and an advocate for local news media explained that the pandemic has impacted her ability to staff her office. She stated the pandemic has increased the workers’ responsibilities, e.g. to care for a sick relative, help children with school work, etc. Erin Brinker of the Making Hope Foundation mentioned that her organization had to restructure. Restructuring can be a powerful tool to set the foundation for more sustainable growth in the future. Manal Iskander who owns the Green Shack Marketplace, PCTronics IE, and is an Executive Producer of several PBS series, addressed the impact of social distancing on brick-and-mortar retail businesses. 

  All the panelists agreed that the pandemic helps them rethink how they can successfully manage their businesses. It allowed them to revisit the foundation of their businesses and to address pending issues. They viewed the pandemic as an opportunity to re-set their businesses for growth. 

  The 4th Annual ShEconomy was concluded by Dr. Victoria Seitz, Chair of the Department of Marketing and Interim Chair of the Department of Public Administration. The event is another illustration of the resilience of women more specifically the resilience of a woman entrepreneur.

• Date: October 28th, 2020
• Time: 6PM - 8PM 
• Location: ZOOM

• Guest Speakers: Shirley Coates, Maritza Gomez, Karen Saurez

• Summary: The 3rd Annual ShEconomy: The Impact of COVID-19 took place on October 28th, 2020 and for the first time ever, it was held virtually
  via Zoom. 

  ShEonomy was founded by the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration (JHBC) Office of Academic Equity (OAE) in collaboration with the JHBC Department of Marketing and the Inland Empire Women's Business Center (IEWBC). The event began with JHBC’s Dean Lawrence Rose welcoming our participants and thanking them for attending the growing event, The 3rd ShEconomy: The Impact of COVID-19. Dr. Francisca Beer, the JHBC OAE founding Director’s presentation follows the welcome message from the dean. This year, Beer reported on the
  impact of COVID-19 on small businesses owned and operated by women. Beer was followed by Michelle Skiljan, Executive Director of IEWBC who served as the event moderator. Dr. Victoria Seitz, Chair of the JHBC Department of Marketing concluded the event. 

  The panel included three (3) entrepreneurs: Shirley J. Coates who serves as the President and Founder of the Society of Extraordinary Women, Inc; Maritza Gomez, CEO of MG Custom Printing; the Assistant Vice President, Community Relations Consultant of Wells Fargo & Company, Karen Suarez. 

  These panelists agreed that their businesses have generated less revenues than previously anticipated. The entrepreneurs also mentioned that having to operate their business online has been a challenge through this pandemic. They all stated that reducing costs was essential to improve profitability. Some of these women have expressed that managing their businesses while taking care of children was a challenge. Many were forced to change the way they worked by splitting their time between their businesses and homeschooling/caring for their children. 

  Our office will continue to hold ShEconomy events annually! The first ShEconomy took place during the Annual Year 2018-2019. Attendance for this event has since nearly tripled (to reach about 100 participants this year) and has garnered the Media’s attention.

  NBC News Feature

• Date: February 6th, 2020
• Time: 6PM - 8PM 
• Location: New Commons Room 124/125

• Guest Speakers: Mariatu Browne, Wendy Roland, Manal Iskander, Kusam Kavia

• Summary: The 2nd Annual ShEconomy took place on February 6th, 2020 at Cal State, San Bernardino (CSUSB). The event was originally scheduled for October 24, 2019 to celebrate the Women Entrepreneurs Week.  Unfortunately, it was postponed due to the campus closure. The 2nd Annual ShEonomy was created by the JHBC Office of Academic Equity in collaboration with the Department of Marketing (JHBC), Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship (IECE) and the Inland Empire Women's Business Center (IEWBC). 

  Dr. Francisca Beer, the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration (JHBC) Office of Academic Equity Director and Associate Dean welcomed participants and introduced Dean Lawrence Rose.  Dr. Beer provided information about the office of academic equity and statistics about women in the economy. 

  She presented the number of women participating in the labor force, the wage gap and how to reduce the gap. She also talked about the difficulties experienced by women with disabilities and those who are widows. Also discussed in this presentation, is the issues faced by many women who are caregivers.  Dr. Beer ended the presentation by presenting the benefits of education for all women. 

  The panel included four (4) entrepreneurs: Wendy Roland who is the CEO of Specialized Staffing; Manal Iskandar the executive producer of Musicology and the owner of PCtronics and The Greenshack Marketplace; Mariatu Browne the owner of Tu Organics Salon and Spa and Kusum Kavia, the Co-Founder and President of Combustion Associates, Inc (CAI).  Michelle Skiljan, the Executive Director of the IEWBC joined us once again to serve as the event moderator. She highlighted each entrepreneur’s achievement and conducted the Q&A skillfully.

  The Q&A included questions by the audience and answers by the panelists. Participants asked for advice on how to start a business. They also asked what the panelists have personally done to reduce the salary gap.  Participants were also interested in knowing where the panelists found the financial resources needed for their businesses.  They were also interested in understanding the entrepreneurs’ motivations to start their businesses.  A participant mentioned that women’s opinions aren’t valued because they are looked at as women despite their management positions. Wendy’s response was, “often women feel the need to justify their responses.” Wendy states that if women go in with a very authoritative manner and do not justify their statements, they will be heard differently. She mentions that women should always be ready to state facts and to argue when someone thinks otherwise.

  With approximately 60 attendees, the event logistics organized by Dr. Beer and Marina Kamel were well received.  It took place at CSUSB’s new commons.  The survey designed by Dr. Beer’s Graduate Students, Tumblin and Chung, shows that participants were highly satisfied with the event. 

  The office will be coordinating the third annual ShEconomy in October 2020.

  

• Date: October 18th, 2018
• Time: 4PM - 6PM
• Location: Eucalyptus Room in the Old Commons (Now known as the Alumni Center)

• Guest Speakers: Mai Temraz, Rachel Jimenez, Mariatu Browne, Maritza Gomez
• Summary: Four established Cal State San Bernardino alumnae gathered on campus for the first Women’s Entrepreneurship Week panel event on Oct. 18, where they discussed their experiences of starting a business and the challenges they have had to overcome to get where they are today. Francisca Beer, professor of accounting and finance, and director of the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration’s Office of Inclusion and Engagement, opened the event. She acknowledged the joint effort between the office, the Department of Marketing, and the CSUSB Inland Empire Women’s Business Center, and talked about women in the economy. “The more I read, the more I realize that people talk a lot about the economy, but now we are more talking about the she-conomy,” said Beer, who followed her statement with a list of facts about the challenges women are forced to face in the workforce. “Looking at these facts, I am hoping that we will have many, many, many Women’s Entrepreneurship Weeks, and that every single year, I will be able to report … more positive statistics,” she said. The four distinguished alumna panelists, who all graduated with a degree in entrepreneurship and own their own business, included:
  • Mariatu “Tu” Browne, a hairstylist who discovered her passion for hair at age nine while braiding in her native Sierra Leone, West Africa, and owner of Tu Organics Salon and Spa, the only organic beauty salon of its kind in Rancho Cucamonga;
  • Maritza Gomez, who founded MG Custom Printing with her mother, a promotional products and printing company specializing in digital decoration of marketing products and personalized gifts;
  • Rachel Jimenez, a money expert who teaches foundational financial education through keynote presentations and a foundational financial fitness e-course; and
  • Mai Temraz, co-founder of Gaza Geekettes, former head of Gaza Sky Geeks’ women’s programming, TechWoman fellow, former startup founder, and certified mentor. She is the first Palestinian female licensed amateur radio operator. She was also awarded the best entry-level STEM Executive at the Women in STEM conference in Dubai. 

Each panelist explained their business, talked about their overall experiences they have had as business owners, and offered advice to the audience. Temraz highlighted the benefits of creating a business plan. “It’s an important skill. Maybe it’s not going to be important for you personally to follow as there are other tools you can use, but it is a very important skill because banks still need a business plan, other organizations still need a business plan, so you still need that skill.” Gomez agreed. “You do want to create a business plan because it’s going to allow you to do the research … and you want to know if you are going to marry that business, if it’s going to grow,” she said, and urged the listeners to be realistic. “A lot of us want to make a billion dollars in one year, and realistically, a business is going to make probably about $10,000 because the first year all of your money is going into fees.” In the middle of the event, Michelle Skiljan, executive director of the Inland Empire Women’s Business Center and moderator of the panel, highlighted the profound perseverance, competitiveness and passion that all of the women on the panel shared. For Jimenez, she knew from a young age she wanted to be an entrepreneur. “When I was ten years old, my favorite toy was the cash register,” she said. “I was always fascinated by money and passionate about that.” And for Browne, she refused rejection. “I never take ‘no’ for an answer,” she said when describing her tenacity in getting a loan to start her business. “It’s been exciting and a very tough road, but every day I look forward to getting up and going to my business because it’s mine. I walk with pride, knowing that Tu Organics is mine, and I’m looking forward to what the future is bringing.”

Inland Empire Magazine Feature