Folsom’s Cristina Mendonsa leads a stellar lineup of speakers at highly successful Choose Folsom event
The Harris Center for the Arts buzzed with energy Friday as a sold-out crowd gathered for the 2026 Folsom Women’s Conference, a full day devoted to empowerment, connection and personal growth built around the pillars of health, entrepreneurship and relationships.
Known widely as the HER Women’s Conference, the annual event brought hundreds of women from across the Sacramento region to the Harris Center on the campus of Folsom Lake College for a carefully curated program of speakers, wellness conversations, leadership insights and networking opportunities designed to inspire attendees both personally and professionally.
Guests began arriving early Friday morning, enjoying coffee, continental breakfast and mimosas while browsing vendor booths from local businesses and connecting with fellow attendees. Music from DJ Nesss filled the lobby and helped create a celebratory atmosphere before the program began.
By 9:25 a.m., the theater was filled as the conference officially opened.
Cristina Mendonsa returns as emcee
Guiding the audience through the day’s program was returning emcee Cristina Mendonsa, a longtime Northern California journalist, documentary filmmaker and storyteller who has hosted the conference since its inception.
Mendonsa, a Folsom resident, currently anchors and co-manages the KFBK Morning News for iHeartRadio. She previously spent more than three decades working in television news for ABC, CBS and NBC affiliates across Northern California, earning multiple Emmy and Edward R. Murrow awards for her journalism.
Beyond broadcasting, Mendonsa is also the founder of Mendonsa Media and an accomplished documentary filmmaker. Her film “Sacred Texts of War,” which explores the role of faith among military service members, has aired nationally on PBS stations and has screened at film festivals across the country.
Despite the national reach of her work, Mendonsa said returning to the Folsom Women’s Conference each year remains deeply meaningful.
“Every year, stepping onto the stage at HER Women’s Conference feels like coming home,” Mendonsa said. “As the emcee since its inception, I’ve had the incredible privilege of watching this event grow into something truly extraordinary.”
She said the event’s continued growth reflects the powerful connections formed within the community.
“What I love most is the beautiful mix of familiar faces I’ve come to cherish and the new voices that walk through the door and remind me why this community is so special,” she said.
As she introduced the day’s speakers, Mendonsa also emphasized the impact of the conference lineup.
“With powerhouse keynote speakers like Sarah Wells and Amy Jo Martin, alongside thought-provoking workshops and conversations designed to ignite something real within every woman in that room, I couldn’t have been more excited to take the stage again,” she said.
“The HER Women’s Conference isn’t just an event, it’s a movement, and I am so honored to be a part of it again.”
With that, the conference began.
Michelle Watts launches the day with HER Best Energy
The first presentation of the morning, “HER Best Energy,” was delivered by Michelle Watts.
Watts shared insights drawn from a 24-year global career at Intel, where she held leadership roles spanning finance, sales and marketing while working with international teams in both the United States and England. During her time with the technology giant she helped lead major initiatives that drove innovation and organizational growth while also speaking to employees and leadership groups around the world about resilience, leadership development and personal performance.
Her corporate career placed her in a unique position to observe how energy, mindset and wellness intersect with professional success. Watts said those lessons ultimately inspired her to pursue entrepreneurship after leaving Intel.
Today she is the owner of YogaSix studios in Folsom and El Dorado Hills, both of which have become among the most successful locations in the national YogaSix franchise system.
Watts is also an accomplished endurance athlete who has completed the Boston Marathon, and she spoke about the discipline, resilience and mindset required to balance demanding careers with personal wellbeing.
Her message encouraged women to invest in their health and energy as a foundation for leadership and long-term success.
Following Watts’ presentation, the conference welcomed its first keynote speaker.
Amy Jo Martin delivered the keynote presentation “HER Best Action.”
Martin is a New York Times best-selling author, entrepreneur, investor and founder and CEO of Renegade Global and Renegade Global Ventures. Widely regarded as a pioneer in digital marketing and brand leadership, Martin has worked with some of the world’s most recognized companies including Dell, Hilton Worldwide, Nike and Google.
She is also the creator and host of the “Why Not Now?” podcast, where she interviews leaders and innovators about the pivotal decisions that shaped their lives and careers.
Through her Renegade community and leadership platform, Martin works with entrepreneurs and professionals around the world to help them move ideas into action and build authentic influence.
Her keynote encouraged attendees to identify the moments when hesitation prevents people from pursuing opportunities and instead ask the question that drives her philosophy: “Why not now?”
Mindfulness and reflection with Sheree Corbett
Sheree Corbett followed with a presentation titled “HER Best Pause.”
Corbett is a yoga, mindfulness and meditation teacher with more than 22 years of personal practice and more than 1,000 hours of teaching experience. She holds a Master of Business Administration in Organizational Leadership and blends leadership development with mindfulness practices in her work.
Her approach emphasizes practical strategies for integrating mindfulness into everyday life while balancing family, work and personal responsibilities.
As a mother of two, Corbett spoke about the importance of creating intentional moments of pause to maintain clarity and resilience.
Her session encouraged attendees to slow down, reconnect with themselves and embrace reflection as a tool for personal growth.
Doctors discuss HER Best Health
The conference then transitioned to a health-focused panel titled “HER Best Health.”
Dr. Natalie Bulock, regional medical director of specialty care for Dignity Health Mercy Medical Group, spoke about the importance of patient-centered healthcare and empowering women to take an active role in managing their health.
Dr. Ameera Ahmed, an interventional cardiologist with Dignity Health Mercy Medical Group, shared insights into cardiovascular health and the ways heart disease uniquely affects women.
Dr. Kristine Burke, founder and executive medical director of the True Health Center for Precision Medicine in El Dorado Hills, rounded out the panel discussion.
Burke is a triple board-certified physician and TEDx speaker focused on identifying root causes of chronic illness and advancing precision medicine approaches to brain health.
Her work includes serving as co-principal investigator for the EVANTHEA clinical trial studying precision medicine strategies for reversing early cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. Burke has also developed clinical decision-support software through her company TruNeura.
Financial empowerment with Tiffani Vargas
The morning program concluded with “HER Best Finances,” presented by Tiffani Vargas.
Vargas serves as executive vice president and chief operating officer of SAFE Credit Union, where she oversees retail banking, lending, marketing, member services and community engagement.
She brings more than 30 years of experience in the lending industry and more than 25 years of executive leadership experience.
Earlier in her career she spent 16 years serving as vice president for a private mortgage loan servicer.
In addition to her professional work, Vargas is actively involved in community organizations including First Tee – Greater Sacramento, the National Charity League and the Folsom Tourism and Economic Development Corporation.
Her presentation focused on financial literacy and empowering women to build long-term financial stability.
Afternoon sessions bring music, leadership and movement
Following lunch and vendor shopping, attendees returned for the afternoon program beginning with “HER Best Fun,” where DJ Nesss energized the room with music.
With more than a decade of experience performing at weddings, corporate events and large celebrations, DJ Nesss is known for her ability to read a room and create an engaging atmosphere.
Next, Brin’na Rollins-Williams presented “HER Best Communication.”
Rollins-Williams is a Folsom-based leadership mentor and former Fortune 30 executive who previously served as one of Target’s youngest district senior directors at age 28. In that role she oversaw more than $580 million in operations and led more than 2,000 employees.
After more than a decade in corporate leadership she launched her leadership development company, Legacy Fulfilled, which focuses on helping organizations build resilient leadership cultures and develop high-performing teams.
She is also co-author of the Amazon bestselling book “Be You Brand Volume 2” and host of The Legacy Lounge podcast.
The afternoon continued with “HER Best Movement,” presented by Ronit Jackson and Kate Gonzalez.
Jackson has been dancing professionally since the age of five and began touring internationally with the Keshet Chaim Dance Ensemble at just 13 years old.
Gonzalez is the owner and director of Arthur Murray Ballroom Dance Studios in Folsom, Rocklin and Davis and has spent more than a decade building successful dance studios while blending her background in theatre arts, dance and entrepreneurship.
Together the two demonstrated how movement and dance can help build confidence, creativity and connection.
Olympian Sarah Wells closes the conference
The final keynote of the day was delivered by Olympian Sarah Wells, who presented “HER Best Performance.”
Wells is a Canadian Olympic hurdler, speaker and performance strategist who has dedicated her career to helping individuals and organizations develop resilience and achieve peak performance.
Her keynote introduced the concept of the “hurdle mindset,” encouraging attendees to view obstacles not as barriers but as opportunities for growth.
The conference concluded with a raffle drawing followed by a celebratory happy hour where attendees continued conversations sparked throughout the day.
For many participants, the Folsom Women’s Conference has evolved into more than a single-day event. It has become a gathering place where women across the region support one another’s leadership, health and growth — and where the inspiration sparked during the conference continues long after the final speaker leaves the stage.
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