Mona Andrews

Founder & CEO Stay In The Game

Mona Andrews has been an entrepreneur for the past 25 years, founding two successful companies that operate today. She was inspired to start her second company, Stay In The Game, when she saw a widespread dilemma faced by professional women. Though she had the ability to set her own schedule to balance working and raising two young children, it was rare for her to encounter other women with the same options. Most were forced to leave their jobs to care for their families because their workplace would not provide the flexibility they needed. Andrews saw that under these conditions, companies lost experienced talent and women lost the opportunity to professionally advance and provide for their loved ones.

Andrews founded Stay In The Game as her passion project, providing flexible, remote job opportunities for educated women seeking a healthy work-life balance. She continued making her dream a reality, securing new clients and expanding Stay In The Game’s reach even further. Not only is the company bringing women back into the workforce, it specializes in placing graduate students in social work in internships around the country. Master’s programs in social work typically require 900 hours in a fieldwork placement, giving the student frontline experience in the community they intend to serve.

Andrews’ team is excited to not only have flexible work but also be a part of providing important resources for families across the U.S.

As a start-up, Stay In The Game depends on the dedication of its team, and Andrews is the kind of leader who collaborates with her employees and inspires them to work just as hard as she does. Her passion for the organization’s mission is contagious.

With each new client, Andrews’ commitment to and passion for keeping women engaged in the workforce has increased. She worked tirelessly this year to ensure that Stay In The Game is positioned to win more new business and create flexible, remote opportunities for as many women as possible.

FINALISTS | CEO OFTHE YEAR: SMALL COMPANY

President & CIO Preservation Equity Fund Advisors (PEF Advisors)

With over 19 years of experience in commercial real estate, Ann Caruana has a diverse background in multifamily investments, including acquisitions, market research and value-add repositioning. In May 2022, she became president and chief investment officer of PEF Advisors, after serving as the company’s senior VP of acquisitions. Caruana now leads the company’s efforts to preserve affordable multifamily communities nationwide. She oversees all aspects of PEF Advisors’ acquisitions, investor relations, asset management, operations and market research, and contributed significantly to the growth of the Fund series.

Founding & Managing Partner The Graves Law Firm

Certified family law specialist Demetria Graves opened her own family law practice, The Graves Law Firm, at the age of 25 – just six months out of law school. With offices in Pasadena and Beverly Hills, she is considered a leading family law attorney and has received accolades for her dedication to family law as well as to the community. Graves hosts a podcast, “Legally Uncensored with Attorney Demetria L. Graves,” addressing family law topics. In addition, she wrote and released a book in 2021 titled “When Women Run the Firm: How to Successfully Launch and Manage Your Law Practice with Confidence.”

Founder & CEO SDS Capital Group

Deborah La Franchi is the founder & CEO of SDS Capital Group, a national leader in impact investing with over $1 billion in assets under management. Under her more than 20 years of leadership, SDS Capital Group has grown to manage six different impact funds, each with a unique geographic focus and investment strategy that generates positive impacts for low-income communities, families and individuals. In the past 24 months, SDS has demonstrated accelerated growth and cutting-edge innovation in the impact investing space.

President & CEO Western States Petroleum Association

Catherine Reheis-Boyd has served as the president of the Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA) since January 1, 2010. She oversees the trade organization’s operations and advocacy in five western states – California, Arizona, Nevada, Washington and Oregon. Over her 31-year career at WSPA, Reheis-Boyd has held a variety of leadership roles, including a 2003 appointment as chief of staff and subsequent promotions to executive vice president and chief operating officer. As part of her 37 years of experience in the oil industry, she worked for an environmental consulting firm.