OCEA Board Member Receives Woman of the Year Award in Sacramento Today

Dear OCEA member,

Please join OCEA in congratulating Board Member Samantha Maria Soto (everyone calls her Sami) as she will be honored today as the Woman of the Year for the 34th Senate District in Sacramento.

"In appreciation for her dedication to emergency response and public health and safety in Orange County, I am proud to honor Samantha Maria Soto as our Woman of the Year for 2023," Senator Umberg said. " Ms. Soto's skills and compassion were on display for the community during the Coastal Fire last year where she and her colleagues were the single point of contact for those seeking relief."

Sami has been a Fire Communications Supervisor with OCFA since 2007 and became an OCEA Steward in 2014. Today she serves on the Board of Directors, the budget committee, the negotiations team and the Labor-Management Committee for OCFA. Sami has also been an integral part of the negotiations process at OCFA where members have been out of contract for an extended period of time. Sami's advocacy has helped to keep OCFA members involved in the face of trying circumstances.

"From remotely delivering babies to recruiting female fire cadets and helping to replace smoke detectors, Samantha Soto has dedicated her career to protecting Orange County residents and keeping them safe during times of crisis," Umberg said.

A livestream of the ceremony will be available at 2 p.m. Monday, March 20, by clicking here. Select "View" on the right hand side to view the session, which will include the ceremony.

In Solidarity,

OCEA

Publication Date: March 20, 2023