It is with great pleasure that the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce announces the selection of Linda Chin Luna as its 2024 ATHENA Award recipient. Past ATHENA’s, Members of the Stockton Chorale, Stockton Chamber staff and Board Members surprised Linda with the news on Monday, September 16, 2024 at the Stockton Chamber office.
The annual ATHENA Award honors individuals who strive toward the highest levels of accomplishment, excel in their chosen business or profession, have demonstrated support for the advancement of business and professional women, have devoted time and energy to their community, and have actively mentored others.
The ATHENA Award will be presented at the annual ATHENA Awards Luncheon on November 21, 2024, at 11:00am, at the Stockton Golf and Country Club. Tickets and Sponsorships for this high-profile event are available through the Stockton Chamber of Commerce web site at https://stocktonchamber.org/athena-awards/.
Linda's career includes 37 years of public service in education and administration, retiring as a Superintendent of Washington Unified School District in 2021. A Stockton native, Linda served 26 years in Stockton Unified School District starting as a classroom teacher and leaving as Assistant Superintendent in 2010. Linda's children also attended Stockton schools. Her fondest memories of Stockton USD were being her son's 5th grade teacher and teaching the students of her former classmates from high school.
Her musical career includes 25 years as Worship Director leading church choir and worship teams in her home church in Stockton. She currently serves as a church pianist in Roseville and a contracted musician for services as a singer and pianist.
Linda stays in touch with public education as a Consultant with McPherson & Jacobson, Executive Recruitment and Development Firm and recently worked with National Center for Executive Leadership and Board Governance.
“Linda Luna guided me in my career when I was appointed in a role of greater responsibility as the Assistant Superintendent in HR in Contra Costa County Office of Education. I am truly grateful for her continued presence by her mentorship.” (Norma Gonzales, Employee and Labor Relations, UC Merced)
Linda's career leadership accomplishments are acknowledged at state and local levels:
- 2021 CA State Senate Resolution No.479
- 2020 Regional Superintendent of the Year by the California Latino School Administrators
- 2019 Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling from the Central Valley Asian American Chamber of Commerce
- 2018 Regional Innovative Leader from the Association of California School Administrators
Linda's advocacy for young leaders can also be viewed in her Ted Talk filmed in 2020 about exploring how cultural expectations and experiences influence one's future.
Beyond Expectations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Skzkj5ZWvTM
In retirement, Linda gives back to her hometown community serving as the volunteer President and CEO of the Stockton Chorale. Since June 2022, Linda has served as President and CEO of the Chorale in managing the daily operations, guiding the vision of the future, and creating systems throughout the organization to ensure succession of future leadership. Her most notable work for the Chorale includes the reopening plan for the Chorale to return from the global pandemic. This work included the assurance of following state and local health guidelines for the Chorale to physically and emotionally return safely to singing together. Because of the reopening plan, the Chorale was the first arts organization to return to in-person gatherings and performances in the community.
Another work of Linda's leadership includes the facilitation and implementation of the Chorale’s 2022-2025 Strategic Plan that gives opportunity for the organization to reflect and honor its history and dream of a more relevant future in the community. The process focused the organization on meaningful outreach to our community groups, particularly the youth and cultural communities that historically have not heard of or attended Chorale concerts.
Linda has partnered with chambers of commerce in Stockton and West Sacramento. The Chorale has been an active member of the Stockton Chamber, and Linda is active with the Central Valley Asian Chamber of Commerce as a former awardee and now a facilitator for the Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling dinner. In her work as Superintendent in West Sacramento, Linda was an active partner with City leaders (City Council and former Mayor, Christopher Cabaldon), Yolo County Supervisors, and the West Sac Chamber of Commerce. She was awarded the 2020 West Sac Businessperson of the Year.
Advocacy for change and equitable access and opportunities for students in public education allowed Linda to work with local elected officials and at the Capital between 2015-2021. She was on a team of advisors with Assemblymember McCarthy on legislation for Students with Special Needs as well as State Superintendent of Instruction Thurman during the global pandemic. Linda was a key partner with the West Sac Home Run Initiative, a program allowing all students to attend community college for free coupled with studies in industry pathways and placing high school students as interns during the summer months. This became a national movement with Mayor Cabaldon becoming President Obama's Appointee to the College Promise Campaign National Advisory Board to expand this local initiative nationwide.