The Santa Monica Chamber's Organization of Women Leaders OWL presents the 2017 International Women

SANTA MONICA, Calif. - Feb. 14, 2017 - PRLog -- The Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Santa Monica Commission on the Status of Women, is proud to present the International Women's Day Breakfast kicking off Women's History Month. The OWL International Women's Day Breakfast will be held Friday, March 10th - 7:00 to 9:30 AM at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, 1700 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90401. The event is proudly sponsored by Water Garden, Santa Monica Place, and Kaiser Permanente, and Tickets (http://www.smchamber.com/owl) are $55.00 for Chamber Members and $70.00 for Non-Members.

The annual breakfast gathers professionals from throughout the community to network and celebrate women leaders in Santa Monica.  This year "OWLIE" honorees are Elaine Polachek and Amy Ziering.

"The Chamber holds this event annually with a dual focus: to highlight outstanding women leaders in the city and surrounding county, and to unite women in business in all levels of the community," states Laurel Rosen, President and CEO of the Santa Monica Chamber. "The Organization of Women Leaders (OWL) feels this breakfast now more than ever highlights the importance of female entrepreneurs and business champions! This year's Owlie nominees are two fantastic representatives of our thriving women entrepreneurs and leaders across the county.  All should feel welcome to attend the breakfast in honor of Women's History Month!"

Elaine Polachek is the Assistant City Manager for the City of Santa Monica, where she supervises eleven city departments and leads the City's economic development efforts. In this role, she focuses on developing, enhancing, and sustaining relations with residents and key business partners, such as the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, Convention and Visitors Bureau, Downtown Santa Monica, Inc., and the Pier Corporation. With over 30 years of public administration experience, she has served in several key positions with the City.  In 2014, Ms. Polachek received the John H. Nail Award from the League of California Cities. Last year she was awarded the "Woman of the Year Award at the State Capitol.  Ms. Polachek holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science from USC and a master's degree in Public Administration from USC.

"We must never lose sight of the importance of gender-balanced leadership. It's why I'm proud to be a woman in government, particularly now," says Polachek. "It's an honor to receive an Owlie with Amy Ziering who has dedicated her career to shining a light on social justice and women's issues.   I am proud to have worked alongside strong and accomplished people, both in City Hall and our community. As we celebrate International Women's Day, I'm particularly thankful to all the trailblazing women who boldly demanded better outcomes for women and helped make my path to leadership possible."

AMY ZIERING is an Academy award nominated and two-time Emmy award winning documentary filmmaker. Her most recent film, THE HUNTING GROUND— a piercing, monumental exposé of rape culture on college campuses— premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, is the 2016 recipient of the Producer's Guild of America's Stanley Kramer Award, shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song as well as the 2016 Emmy for Exceptional Merit - Documentary Filmmaking, and won the Emmy for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics. Her previous film, THE INVISIBLE WAR, a groundbreaking investigation into the epidemic of rape in the U.S. military, won the Audience Award at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, the Independent Spirit Award 2012 for Best Documentary, was nominated for an Oscar and won the 2014 Emmy Awards for Best Documentary and Outstanding Investigative Journalism.

Says Ziering, "I am so very touched and grateful to receive this award along with Elaine Polachek who has been such an outstanding leader in our local government. I am honored to accept it on behalf of my colleagues and all the women and men who have spoken out in our films not for personal gain or self aggrandizement but simply to help make the world safer for others. A gender balanced world is one that is more equitable and just. Deep thanks to the Santa Monica Chamber and the Santa Monica Commission on the Status of Women for creating the Owlies and recognizing the importance of championing the important and unique contributions women make to our communities and world."

The Organization of Women Leaders (OWL) celebrates and inspires women to join and develop personally and build success for their business through networking and partnerships, enhancing the wellbeing of each other and the community.

For more information, please visit www.smchamber.com/owl.