Staff Report
Tracy Lavery Beard, the executive director of the Solvang Chamber of Commerce, has been elected president of The Association of California Commissions for Women (ACCW).
She has served on the Santa Barbara County Commission for Women since 2012 and on the board of directors for the National Association of Commissions for Women since 2015.
The purpose of the ACCW is to build commissions for women throughout California and advocate for policies and legislation on behalf of women and girls. The goals are to ensure that commissions for women exist in every county or city and that they are fully funded, permanent and independent government entities that give California women a voice and the best possible quality of life.
Tracy Lavery Beard
For more than 50 years, the ACCW has identified and worked to eliminate inequitable practices and conditions that affect California’s women and girls. Established in 1965, the commission regularly assesses gender equity in health, safety, employment, education and equal representation, the military, and the media.
For more than eight years, Beard served as a board member for Girls Inc. of Carpinteria and has been active in the Santa Barbara area. A social entrepreneur and businesswoman, she was honored as the 2012 Woman of the Year by the International Women’s Festivals, where she held the title of executive director and co-produced its 2012-2015 festivals.
“I have a passion for girls and women’s programing issues; through our actions, we can show girls that they can accomplish anything,” Beard said
“I am excited to announce that Tracy scored a hat trick victory when she became the president of the Association of California Commissions for Women, was re-elected to the board of directors of the National Association of Commissions for Women, and when the Santa Barbara County Women’s Commission received a national achievement award for the ‘Women Speak Up’ events hosted by the county of Santa Barbara,” said Margaret Fitzwilliam of the Santa Barbara County Commission for Women.
With a passion for women’s issues, mental health issues and charitable children’s programs, Beard has helped to raise $1.5 million for various organizations, including Girls Inc., over her 15 years in Santa Barbara County.
She has also served on the Hancock College Bond Measure I Citizens’ Oversight Committee, as board vice president for TV Santa Barbara (“TVSB”), and as chairwoman of the Santa Barbara County Commission for Women.
She has received Volunteer of the Year and Presidential Awards from the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Barbara and a merit award from the Carpinteria Valley Chamber of Commerce, among other recognitions.
She has been executive director of the Solvang Chamber of Commerce since 2015. Previously, she was special events and human resource director for The Dreier Group and executive producer of the International Women’s Festivals, founded in Santa Barbara and now celebrated around the world.
