Gwen Speakes

I spent my earlier career working in the defense industry, but when I retired early, I knew it was time to give back. During those working years, I had very little time to contribute to the community - I had kids, a husband, and a house to manage, so maybe one thing a year was all I could do. For the past 27-28 years, I've been a volunteer with Meadowlark Service League, an all-volunteer organization where I've learned to manage a nonprofit group of ladies. I've picked up skills along the way, like graphic skills and other things. What we do is raise funds for nonprofits in Ventura County - we contribute to local nonprofit organizations and make a real difference in our community. This last year, we contributed to 37 different nonprofits. I may not be fancy, I may not be the best, but I'm strong and I keep going until I get the job done. At 76 years old, I'm not looking to advance my career - I just care about my little job that I do for our community.