Celebrating those who advance the next generation of women leaders

August 16, 2022, PORTLAND, OR. – Today, the Portland Business Alliance announced its special honorees for women in leadership: Kathryn Correia, President and Chief Executive Officer of Legacy Health; and, Gard Communications, a creative, digital and public relations firm, specializing in corporate and public policy communications. These honorees will be recognized at the Alliance’s annual celebration, A Place with No Ceiling, on Thursday, September 29, 2022 at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.

Now in its tenth year, A Place with No Ceiling celebrates, connects and inspires women in the business community by honoring a female executive and a company that supports, mentors and fosters the advancement of women.

“From seasoned motivational leaders to companies that lead with equity and advancement, we are incredibly proud to recognize those who help women succeed in the workplace and who actively help promote and foster a vision of a place with no ceiling,” said Jessica Getman, Alliance Board Chair and President of Brown & Brown Northwest Insurance.

Honorees were selected based on a specific set of judging criteria determined by a committee of Portland Business Alliance members. 

For the individual award, now named the Sandra K. McDonough Leadership Award, the committee’s decision is based on mentorship of women in the business community, level of community engagement and public perception of the individual as a leader. Now in her fifth year as Legacy Health’s first woman President and Chief Executive Officer, Kathryn Correia understands the importance of setting the stage for other women leaders in the organization to continue to propel their careers. At Legacy Health, Kathryn makes it a priority to eliminate subtle and overt barriers for women. Kathryn has also made physical, professional and psychological safety a top priority across the organization, and she is appreciated by staff and colleagues for being direct, transparent, collaborative, thoughtful and focused.

For the company award, the committee’s decision is based on programs and activities in place that foster the advancement of women. The committee examines how this is demonstrated in the organizational chart and/or reflected in the make-up of the company’s board of directors, as well as how the company is seen as a corporate culture changer in the community. As a female-owned, female-led agency with more than two-thirds of its employees who identify as women and approximately one-third who identify as members of minority groups, Gard Communications exemplifies a company that is making powerful strides toward equity and advancement for women leaders in the business world. Gard Communications demonstrates this commitment in its everyday operations, leading and inspiring others (both inside and outside of the company) with deep understanding, experience and a subtle confidence that makes it a truly authentic role model for other businesses. Gard Communications President and CEO Liz Fuller was also recognized in 2021 by the Portland Business Journal as a Forty Under 40 leader.


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About the Portland Business Alliance. The Portland Business Alliance – Greater Portland's Chamber of Commerce – was founded in 1870 and represents the largest, most diverse business network in the region. The Alliance brings together more than 2,100 members represented by dynamic and varied employers from around the Portland region, and offers a strong source of support, information, advocacy, engagement and professional development opportunities. Grounded in its mission to create opportunity and advance well-being for all who live and work in the Greater Portland and SW Washington region, the Alliance envisions a healthy and resilient business ecosystem where we work together to increase collaboration in governance; engage community; increase civic leadership; and, advocate for a vibrant, livable region for all.