MEG
WHITMAN
ANNOUNCES
LEADERSHIP
OF
STATEWIDE
WOMEN’S
COALITION


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Sarah Pompei

Wednesday, April 29, 2009 408.457.1369

SACRAMENTO
–
Meg Whitman, Republican candidate for governor, today announced the leaders of
her women’s coalition, called MEGaWomen. These women, from the worlds of politics, education,
business, philanthropy and the arts, are launching a movement to engage tens of thousands of
women to help solve the state’s enormous challenges. Among their top goals are restoring the
state's economy and improving the quality of life for all Californians.

“Women are critical to the renewal and success of California," Whitman said. “Our campaign will
serve as a catalyst for women throughout California to be leaders in the effort to create jobs,
improve public schools and strengthen our economy.”

MEGaWomen will encourage California women to get involved in public service and give them an
interactive forum, online and in live roundtable discussions, where they can present their ideas and
share feedback with Whitman and her supporters.

Whitman is naming two prominent Republican activists to lead the coalition. Jillian Manus,
president of Manus & Associates Media and Literary Agency in Palo Alto, will serve as statewide
chairwoman. The Grassroots Coordinator is Julie Vandermost, CEO of the Orange County
environmental firm, Vandermost Consulting Service, and president of the California Women’s
Leadership Association Political Action Committee. Last month, the association endorsed Whitman’s
candidacy.

"Meg wants to empower and unite the women of California to create critical change,” Manus said.
"Women will get to know her as the strong, pragmatic and authentic leader she is. She is running
for governor not because she can win, but because she knows that she can successfully govern.
That speaks volumes to me,'' Manus added.

Among those advising MEGaWomen are Marian Bergeson, former state education secretary,
Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack, Assemblywoman Connie Conway, Sacramento County District
Attorney Jan Scully, former Ambassador Susan McCaw, former Assemblywomen Sharon Runner
and Charlene Zettel, Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen, San Diego County Supervisor
Dianne Jacob and Silicon Valley entrepreneur Heidi Roizen.

As Whitman travels up and down California, she is hearing from many women who are encouraging
her to run. They say California needs a new leadership style and believe a woman with Whitman's
experience and solutions-oriented approach is the right person for the job. Thirty-one women have
governed U.S. states, but California has yet to elect a woman governor. For more information on
MEGaWomen and how to join, go to www.megwhitman.com. The MEGaWomen webpage will have
links to upcoming events at which people can meet and talk to Meg Whitman and online forums
where ideas can be shared.

MEGaWomen Statewide Leadership

Honorary Board:

Honorable Marian Bergeson, former state Child Development and Education Secretary and
California School Board Associations President

Anna Bryson, Capistrano Unified School District Board Member

Assemblywoman Connie Conway, chair of California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley

San Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob

Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack, member Energy and Commerce Committee

Former Ambassador Susan McCaw, President COM Investments, Santa Barbara

Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen

Marie Thérèse Royce, Managing Director Global Strategic Initiatives, Public Affairs, Alcatel-Lucent

Former Assemblywoman Sharon Runner, Antelope Valley

Sacramento District Attorney Jan Scully

Former Assemblywoman Charlene Zettel, former director California Department of Consumer

Affairs, San Diego

Advisory Board:

Maryles Casto, CEO & President, Casto Travel, Inc., San Jose

Lucy Dunn, CEO & President, Orange County Business Council, member California Transportation
Commission

Mindy Tucker Fletcher, President, Marian Bergeson Series for Excellence in Public Service, San
Diego

Cathy Foster, government affairs executive, Los Altos Hills

Janet C. Jones, President, Elkins/Jones Insurance, Santa Monica

Linda Law, Founding Partner Law & Associates, member of national board of Susan G. Komen for
the Cure, Palo Alto

Jillian Manus, President, Manus & Associates Media and Literary Agency, Atherton

Janet Nguyen, Orange County Board of Supervisors, Garden Grove

Heidi Roizen, CEO, SkinnySongs, Atherton

Cynthia Ringo, Managing Partner, DBL Investors, Menlo Park

Sharon Runner, former California Assemblywoman, co-author of Jessica's Law, Antelope Valley

Jaynie Studenmund, corporate board member, Orbitz, eHarmony, WAMCO, former Internet
executive, Pasadena

Julie Vandermost, CEO, Vandermost Consulting Service, Laguna Niguel

Erica Zohar, entrepreneur, Los Angeles

(Titles are for identification purposes and do not imply an endorsement from any company or
organization.)

Paid
for
by
Meg
Whitman
for
Governor
2010


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