Libby Pataki will speak at local seminar
By: Andrew Edwards
Newport Beach Councilwoman Leslie Daigle announced Monday that Libby Pataki, the wife of New York Governor George Pataki, is scheduled to
take center stage Wednesday at the inaugural Orange County Conference for Women.
Daigle, who organized the conference, described Libby Pataki as a national leader on women's issues, particularly with regard to health. "She's done a lot to address women's health issues," Daigle said.
Pataki's official biography states she has spoken at breast cancer benefits throughout New York State and has advocated for early cancer detection and prevention at various health clinics in her state. Daigle selected Pataki to give the conference's keynote address after ESPN broadcast analyst Ann Meyers-Drysdale, the scheduled speaker, became unavailable. Daigle said Meyers-Drysdale wanted to speak at the event but had an obligation to call the WNBA Finals.
The conference's lineup includes panelists drawn from fields including politics, medicine and business. The event's slate includes Dr. Dipti Itchhaporia, medical director of disease management at Hoag Heart and Vascular Institute, and Susan Tobiessen, founder of Body Design, a Newport Beach gym that targets a female clientele.
The conference will likely be similar to the California Governor and First Lady's Conference on Women and Families, though with a smaller geographic focus, Daigle said. She wants Wednesday's event to be a place for women to network with each other and learn from the speakers.
One speaker drawn from the Orange County area is former state legislator and state education secretary Marian Bergeson. She said such conferences did not exist when she began her career in public life.
"There wasn't much of a support group around when I first started," Bergeson said. Mary Ree, president of the Assistance League of Newport-Mesa, is also a featured speaker for the event. She said she hopes to inspire women attending the conference to find time for volunteer work.
"I come to the table with a lot of ideas about how anybody can do it," Ree said.
Daigle expects about 400 women to attend the event, which is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Balboa Bay Club and Resort, 1221 West Coast Highway, Newport Beach. Admission is $90. For more information, visit www.ocwomen.org.
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