Muratsuchi Names Women of Distinction

A Redondo Beach resident and an official with the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce were honored Saturday as Assembly District 66 Women of Distinction by Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi.

Michaela "Mickey" Marraffino of Redondo Beach and Dinah Lary of Torrance were among the dozen recognized in honor of Women's History Month.

"The Women of Distinction award recipients were each nominated by the community for their extraordinary achievements," according to a news release from the assemblyman's office. "From this impressive list of nominees, 12 women were selected for their distinguished involvement and leadership in the community."

As the West Coast regional marketing director for Forest City Enterprises, Marraffino oversees marketing operations for more than five shopping centers, including the South Bay Galleria in North Redondo Beach. Marraffino is a member of the Redondo Beach Visitors Bureau, Civic Light Opera, the Leadership Redondo Class of 2011 and the North Redondo Beach Business Association, among others.

"Mickey is involved in a wide range of local organizations, but she is especially recognized as an innovator and for her communication and motivational skills, especially with diverse groups," according to Muratsuchi's office.

Though she lives in Torrance, Lary is a board chair for the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau and the president of the Redondo Beach Roundtable. She was the founding president of the Redondo Beach Citizen's Police Academy Alumni Association and of the Association of Celebrity Personal Assistants.

"Dinah considers herself a 'jack of all trades, master of none' kind of person who does not miss anything life has to offer, especially civic involvement," according to the assemblyman's office.

Marraffino, Lary and other honorees were recognized Saturday by Muratsuchi and Soroptimist International of Manhattan Beach at a luncheon at the Clark Building in Hermosa Beach.

Other winners include Dora de la Rosa of Rancho Palos Verdes; Angi Ma Wong and Barbara Saltzman of Palos Verdes Estates; Paula Boothe of Rolling Hills Estates; Leanne Huebner and Jan Dennis of Manhattan Beach; Pat Kromka of Lomita; Jane Parisi of Harbor City; Mary Lou Weiss of Hermosa Beach; and Jan Tokumaru of Torrance.

"I am very grateful and fortunate to have such amazing women in District 66 that serve as role models to everyone in our community," Muratsuchi said in a statement. "Their tireless efforts with civic and community endeavors are invaluable and they serve as shining examples of selfless giving."