Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce Presents Phenomenal Women 2023 Event

The annual Phenomenal Women event is presented by the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce (MBCC), and online registration is now available to the community. On Thursday, May 11, 2023, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, it will take place at the Kinecta Campus. The event’s keynote speaker, fitness expert, author, and columnist Denise Austin, will be moderated by Latrice McGlothin, executive director of the Kinecta Community Foundation and a board member of the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Denise Austin, a recognized fitness guru and health advocate for more than 40 years, will be the main speaker at the event. a supporter of women.As one of the most well-known and successful health professionals in the world for forty years, Denise has assisted millions in changing their lives. She is renowned for her famous material, which has sold over 25 million copies and introduced fitness into the house via VHS and DVDs. In addition, Denise has written twelve best-selling books, presented the #1 fitness program in TV history for 24 years, and currently publishes the popular magazine “Fit Over 50”!

Denise’s enthusiasm for helping others live healthier lifestyles and demonstrating how simple it is to do so gives her a special touch and an effect that is unmatched. Millions of women throughout various generations have been motivated by her knowledge and outsized personality to make modest adjustments that have great effects and help them stay youthful, active, and beautiful every day. With her membership program at DeniseAustin.com, she keeps developing her strategy for connecting with women via digital formats. She is also in demand as a speaker and media pundit for the country. She frequently appears with Katie Austin, who, like her mother before her, is a fitness instructor who is changing the lives of Millennials and members of Generation Z.

Joining the panel are four phenomenal women from different professional and diverse backgrounds with a common achievement.

Joining the Phenomenal Women 2023 panel are: 

Kashi Walmer, Brand Management KCW Consulting Group

As a former USC student-athlete, Kashi has been involved in all manner of networking circles for over 20 years. While still at USC, Kashi was given an opportunity in the mortgage industry. Though housing wasn’t her passion, she spent 3 valuable years learning the art of contract negotiation and how to fight for your client. She then found emerged into fields closer to her innate skill set and began creative consulting in high fashion and later evolved into developing and implementing marketing strategies in the spa industry, researching art, fashion, marketing, technology and purchasing trends for a niche market; she became a leader in marketing discussions around implementation and analysis. She started KCW Consulting Group with one athlete to manage and no corporate partnerships. Today, she represents a growing portfolio of athletes and has initiated and developed tight-knit relationships with various, major brands.

Rachel Johnson, Manhattan Beach Police Chief

Chief Rachel Johnson became the Chief of Police for the City of Manhattan Beach on August 8, 2022. Chief Johnson is a United States Marine Corps Veteran. She served in the military from 1997 to 2001 where she attained the rank of Sergeant. During her time of service, she was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa, Japan and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, CA as an Air Control Electronics Operator. In 2001, she began her career in law enforcement at the Orange County Sheriff’s Department before transferring to the Newport Beach Police Department in 2005. During her tenure in Newport Beach, she worked a variety of assignments which have included; DARE Officer, Field Training Officer, Honor Guard Member, Volunteer and Reserve Coordinator, and Crisis Negotiation Team Member. She was promoted to Sergeant in 2012 where she became a Field Supervisor. She would later supervise the Traffic Division, Special Events and the Major Accident Investigation Team. In 2014 she was awarded the Lifesaving Medal. In 2017, she promoted to Lieutenant where she oversaw Jail operations, the Mounted Unit and the Explorer program. Chief Johnson served as Police Captain of the Laguna Beach Police Department from January, 2020 to August 2022, leading the Field Services Division.

Hibah Samad, Manhattan Beach Unified School District (MBUSD) Public Information Officer

Hibah Samad has nearly 8 years of experience in broadcast journalism. As a former, anchor, reporter, and producer, Hibah has worked for local affiliates and Torrance CitiCABLE for the City of Torrance Cable and Community Relations Office. Some of her experiences also include working at KTLA’s news desk and also segment-producing their weekend morning show to have worked as a reporter for KVRR-FOX News in Fargo, North Dakota. During her experiences as a journalist, Hibah had a passion to cover stories in education, which has led her to where she is today. As a lifelong Manhattan Beach resident and former MBUSD student, Hibah is honored to serve as MBUSD’s first Public Information Officer under the Superintendent’s Office. She has been in this position for more than a year and says her favorite part of her job is showcasing the amazing staff and students that make MBUSD great! Before working at MBUSD, Hibah was part of the Glendale Unified School District’s Communication Office as a communications specialist.

DeAnn Chase, Founding Attorney Chase Law Group, P.C.

DeAnn Chase is DeAnn Flores Chase has been practicing law for over 25 years and founded South Bay Business Lawyers in 2007 (changing the firm’s name to Chase Law Group in 2015) with a mission of working with entrepreneurs, business owners, and professionals to create a strong legal foundation for their businesses. She spent the first ten years of her career defending small and medium-sized businesses in complex litigation matters in virtually every courthouse throughout Southern California. With her years of experience litigating business disputes, DeAnn brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective to advise entrepreneurs, business owners and professionals on the appropriate structure for their business, and in many cases, advise on the process of moving from a sole proprietor or general partnership to a Corporation or a Limited Liability Company (LLC). She specializes in the creation of comprehensive and customized legal structures and contracts, ensuring her client’s interests are suitably protected. DeAnn has been recognized for her commitment to businesses and her local community. She served as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce in 2012-2013, and recently completed her third term as President of the Manhattan Beach Kiwanis Club, where she was the first female president since its inception in 1956.

These 4 phenomenal women leaders will discuss many fun topics for women of all ages to enjoy.

Event Sponsors 

The event is sponsored by Kinecta Federal Credit Union,Chase Law Group, Skechers