Four women entrepreneurs and a real estate executive turned business promoter were honored Thursday at the Business Journal’s 12th annual Women in Business Awards luncheon in Irvine.
The five winners shared stories of how they built their businesses and careers, in some cases overcoming personal and professional setbacks. There also were plenty of jokes about lipstick, handbags and jewelry.
The winners:
Ruth Beardsley, founder and president of Santa Ana’s All American Lock Corp., who started her company with $150 and a key cutting machine she ran out of the back of her car.
Lucy Dunn, chief executive of the Orange County Business Council in Irvine, whose career includes stints with developer Don Koll and most recently as director of the California Department of Housing and Community Development under Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Camille Jayne, president of consulting firm Matters at Hand and former chief executive of Cypress-based remote control maker Universal Electronics Inc.
Cookie Lee, founder and chief executive of Irvine’s Cookie Lee Jewelry, which sells jewelry through independent representatives & #341; la Avon Products Inc. or Tupperware Brands Inc.
Gloria Zigner, publicist and Orange Coast society columnist, who rebuilt her business after a trusted employee embezzled $1 million from her.
Christie Hefner, chief executive of Playboy Enterprises Inc., was the event’s keynote speaker. She talked about how far women have come in business, though they still make up a fraction of Corporate America and get only a small amount of business funding.
