PRESS RELEASE
Office of California Senator Dave Cogdill (R-Modesto)
CONTACT: MaryAlice Kaloostian
March 6, 2007
Tel: 559-253-7122
SENATOR COGDILL NAMES DEBBIE POOCHIGIAN AS 2007 WOMAN OF THE YEAR
(Sacramento)-Senator Dave Cogdill (R-Modesto) named Debbie Poochigian of
Fresno as 2007 Woman of the Year for the 14th Senate District, in a
ceremony honoring all the Women of the Year in the Senate chambers
yesterday.
Debbie Poochigian is a life-long resident of Fresno County where her
family has farmed for three generations. She is the daughter of former
Fresno County Supervisor Deran Koligian, proud wife of former State
Senator Chuck Poochigian and loving mother of her children, Mark and his
wife Jennifer, Kirk, and Laura, and her grandson, Deran.
Debbie has provided stellar leadership as a member of numerous
charitable boards and civic committees. She is a participating member
of the Board of Directors of the CSU Fresno Alumni Association,
California Women for Agriculture, Fresno County Farm Bureau, Henry
Madden Library Leadership Board at CSU Fresno, and Secret Garden Party
Committee for the Arne Nixon Center for the Study of Children’s
Literature at CSU Fresno. Additionally, she has been a member of the
Board of Trustees at Saint Agnes Medical Center, Board of Directors of
Fresno Area Crime Stoppers, Board of Directors of the Fresno County and
City Historical Society, and Ag One Tribute Committee to establish the
Bill Jones Leadership Development Program. Recently, she also served as
Co-chair of the CSU Fresno Alumni Association Homecoming Tailgate and
Co-chair of the 1999 Civil War Reenactment 10th Anniversary Gala hosted
by the Historical Society. Debbie’s commitment and dedication is also
apparent in her faith life. She has kept herself immensely busy
teaching Sunday school for most of the past 30 years and is a past
Sunday school superintendent.
"Debbie Poochigian embodies what a Woman of the Year should be," said
Cogdill. "She has devoted herself to philanthropic causes and has made
considerable contributions to her community. It was a privilege for me
to honor her this way. She is a terrific example of how one person can
make such a profound impact on a community through leadership and
dedication."
Please see page 2 for photos from the ceremony.
Senator Cogdill proudly represents part or all of the counties of
Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne.