Kondos Field to Receive Women of Inspiration Award
November 02, 2017 | Gymnastics
UCLA Gymnastics head coach Valorie Kondos Field will be honored on Nov. 8 as a Women of Inspiration Award recipient by the Los Angeles Chapter of Women in Sports and Events (WISE Los Angeles). Also receiving honors are President & Chief Operations Officer of the Los Angeles Sparks and fellow UCLA alumna Christine Simmons and swimming legend and LA2028 Committee Board Member Janet Evans.
The WISE Los Angeles Women of Inspiration Awards will be held at the organization's eighth annual gala on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at TAO Los Angeles. The honorees were selected the WISE Los Angeles's nominating committee for demonstrating extraordinary leadership in the sports industry and for being professional and personal role models for all women.
In addition to being recognized for their outstanding achievements, Kondos Field, Evans and Simmons will become members of the WISE Los Angeles Advisory Board Committee for 2018, serving as valuable sources of expertise and experience for the members of WISE's Los Angeles chapter. In that capacity, they will be called upon to provide guidance in the growth and direction of the Los Angeles Chapter such that WISE may continue to support its mission within the community and across the country.
"We are thrilled to honor Janet, Valorie and Christine as WISE Los Angeles' Women of Inspiration. These remarkable women have made a huge impact in the sports industry at large through their hard work and achievements, and we are proud to recognize their efforts as this year's honorees," said Shelley Taniguchi, president, WISE Los Angeles. "Our annual gala is not only a chance for us to honor these trailblazing leaders who have paved the way so that other women can reach their own professional goals, but also to celebrate the achievements of all of our members who are committed to furthering the success and growth of women in the sports and events industry."
Kondos Field has served as head coach of the UCLA Gymnastics team for 27 years and has led the Bruins to six NCAA Championships, 22 NCAA Regional Championships and 17 Pac-12 Championships. She was named the Pac-12 Gymnastics Coach of the Century and was inducted into the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010, becoming just the second active coach ever to be inducted. Kondos Field has used gymnastics to teach valuable life lessons to her young student-athletes, lessons she learned from her mentor and friend, the late Coach John Wooden. A breast cancer survivor, Kondos Field's positive outlook throughout her journey has resonated profoundly with her student-athletes and with fans, leading to her mantra "Life is Short – Don't Wait to Dance." In addition to coaching gymnastics, Kondos Field is currently developing a live theatrical musical, and she was the co-executive producer for the TV special "Jump, Jive & Thrive", which combined gymnastics, dance and music to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Her first book, with the working title "Winning in Heels", is being published by Hachette Book Group to be released Fall 2018.
Simmons is President & Chief Operations Officer of the three-time WNBA Champion Los Angeles Sparks. In her third season with the team, Simmons leads all aspects of the team's business operations, including ticket and sponsorship sales and service, marketing, game operations, communications, community relations and finance. Under her leadership, the team has seen a 34 percent increase in ticket sales, doubled ratings on Spectrum SportsNet and impacted nearly 30,000 lives through community programs. Prior to joining the Sparks, she was an Executive Vice President with Magic Johnson Enterprises where she would evaluate investment opportunities and was responsible for business development. With over a decade of leadership experience in creating strategic alliances, leading business development and driving corporate initiatives, Christine has worked with many Fortune 500 corporations and multi-million dollar companies. A proud UCLA graduate, she serves as President of the Board of the UCLA Alumni Association, and in 2012, she was named Alumnus of the Year by the UCLA Black Alumni Association.
Evans, a four-time Olympic gold medalist, has established herself as one of the greatest female distance swimmer in history. She has created a significant impact, not only in the world of swimming, but in all sports, as she was selected in 2015 to be the primary athlete voice for the Los Angeles 2024 Olympic Bid. As the Vice Chair of the Bid Committee and Head of the Athletes' Commission, she worked closely with Paralympians and Olympians to ensure they were effectively represented in the city's bid for the Games. She will continue her role with the newly formed LA2028 Organizing Committee, as her team works to ensure that the athletes of the world have the best possible athlete experience at the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Out of the pool, Evans has made a name for herself as a commercial spokesperson, author, reality television personality and a highly sought after motivational speaker.
The WISE Los Angeles Women of Inspiration Awards will take place at TAO in Hollywood on Wednesday, November 8. To purchase tickets or sponsorship packages, please visit wiselosangeles.org.
In its 12th year, WISE Los Angeles is the leading voice and resource for working women in the business of sports. The organization strives to offer members the opportunity to gain valuable insights and connections that can provide them with competitive advantages in their current positions and as they advance in their careers.
