Portland, OR - Soroptimist International Northwestern Region along with many other agencies will come together to host the annual Northwest Conference Against Trafficking on Saturday, January 9, 2010 at the Red Lion Hotel on the River in Portland, Oregon.
Among the Conference Keynote Speakers include Cathy Standiford of Garden Grove, California; Standiford is serving as president of the board of directors for Soroptimist International of the Americas.
Soroptimist is an international volunteer organization for business and professional women who work to improve the lives of women and girls, in local communities and throughout the world. As president, Standiford oversees strategic planning and program development for the organization. She will also help Soroptimist meet the goals of its Renaissance Campaign, a plan launched in 2004 to strengthen the organization's brand.
Standiford is a member of Soroptimist International of Garden Grove, Calif., one of 3,100 Soroptimist clubs that exist to improve conditions for local women and girls. A member since 1989, Standiford has held several leadership positions including region governor and club president.
Standiford obtained a master's degree in business and public administration from the University of California at Irvine. She currently works as a senior manager for Management Partners, a government-consulting firm. She has more than 25 years' experience in the public sector, including serving as city manager and deputy city manager, and is also a credentialed manager for the International City/County Management Association.
Standiford will be joined by Jane Velez-Mitchell, host of "Issues" on HLN, William Hillar (whose story was seen in "Taken"), Dallas Jessup, founder of "Just Yell Fire" organization, Dale Archer, host of the "Dale Archer Show" on Fox, and United States Senator Ron Wyden who will all come together on January 9, 2010 in Portland to have a voice for women, girls, and trafficking victims in the Greater Portland Metro region.
This year's conference emcee is Priya David, host of "Keep it Local" on KOIN. To register or for more information log onto www.NWCAT.org or call (626) 644-3472.