Name Brand: Business Leader Dolores Canizales Kickstarted Chamber

Dolores Canizales is the go-to woman for local businesses.

The president and CEO of the Poway Chamber of Commerce is also involved in the Poway Unified School District’s Partners in Education and the North County Latino Advisory Board.

The Rancho Bernardo resident said she is most proud of rebranding the chamber’s image and reorganizing events like the Poway Spring Family Festival.

Canizales, who enjoys reading and watching football during her free time, said she looks up to her mother, Alma Olmedo, who passed away in 2001.

“She always stressed education and taught me that I could do anything I wanted to do in this world,” she said. “My mother was a single mom and decided to go back to school at age 35 to get her degree. 

“She graduated from UC Davis in 1980 and became a high school teacher. I learned to work hard and enjoy life because it is short.”

What does Women’s History Month mean to you?

“I believe woman are natural born leaders and in today’s society more than ever, we need all of the characteristics that women bring to the workplace.

“Woman’s History Month allows us to recognize women who are leading our country in a variety of ways.  Women are creating change and leading our nation in various political positions across the Country. Women work tirelessly in both public and private positions in both large and small organizations, and at the same time may be taking care of the households and families.”