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Sharon Fisher, President
Patricia Donohue, President-elect
Raquel Arreola Ruiz, Secretary/Treasurer
Leigh Wintz, CAE, Executive Director

Sharon Fisher, President
Sharon Fisher of Western Canada began her one-year term as president on September 1, 2010. As the president-elect, Fisher will assist the president with overseeing the strategic planning and program development for the organization.

Fisher has been a member of Soroptimist International of The Langleys, British Columbia, Canada, since 1986. She has held several leadership positions, including club president and region treasurer. Fisher currently serves the director and chief financial officer of a crime-analysis software company.

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Patricia Donohue, President-elect
Patricia Dononhue of Salinas, California began her one-year term as president-elect on September 1, 2010. As president-elect, Donohue will assist the president with overseeing the strategic planning and program development for the organization.

Donohue is a member of Soroptimist International of Watsonville, California. A Soroptimist since 1974, Donohue has held several leadership positions at all levels of the organization, including club president; region governor and leadership development chair; and federation board director and Program Council member. She is a self-employed entrepreneur and works as a consultant for local government and non-profit organizations.

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Raquel Arreola Ruiz, Secretary/Treasurer
Raquel Arreola Ruiz of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, began her one-year term as secretary-treasurer on September 1, 2010. As the secretary-treasurer, Ruiz will prepare minutes for board meetings and conventions, as well as oversee Soroptimist's funds and financial accounts.

Ruiz is a member of the La Mesa, Mexico, Soroptimist club. A Soroptimist since 1984, she has held several leadership positions, club president, vice president and treasurer; region governor; growth and development chair; and as a member of the Program Council and Latin American Extension Taskforce. Ruiz is the accountant and co-owner of a gas station.

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Leigh Wintz, CAE, Executive Director
Leigh Wintz has served as executive director for Soroptimist International of the Americas since 1991. She is responsible for the overall operation and services provided by Soroptimist headquarters. Hired to implement a new organizational strategic plan, Wintz assisted in the total restructuring of Soroptimist International of the Americas' governance system.

Her expertise includes international structure and governance issues, program development, development and international meetings. She has traveled the globe sharing ideas on how women can help other women; discussing issues such as domestic violence and pay inequity; and speaking about Soroptimist's Women's Opportunity Awards. As a member of the Soroptimist International of Center City, Philadelphia, club, she also participates in local projects that improve the lives of women and girls.

Prior to joining Soroptimist, Wintz served as president of Health Management Resources, Inc., in Falls Church, Virginia. Her background also includes serving as executive director of the General Federation of Women's Clubs in Washington, D.C., and as administrative director of patient services for Prince George's Hospital in Cheverly, Maryland. Wintz received a bachelor's degree in nursing and a master's degree in administration from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.

In 1992, Wintz earned designation as a Certified Association Executive (CAE) from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). ASAE later honored her as a member of the 1997 of Fellows, one of the highest honors bestowed upon association executives.

Wintz recently served as chairman of the board of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA). She also volunteers for several volunteer organizations, such as the Easter Seal Society, the General Federation of Women's Clubs and Operation Smile.

Wintz has published work in journals including Non-Profit World, Governance & Management of the Non-Profit Organization, Journal of Nursing Administration, Wingspread Journal and The Nursing Spectrum. She has received honorary mentions in 2000 Notable American Women, Outstanding Young Women in America and Who’s Who in Professional Nursing.

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