Welcome to our annual women’s issue, where we’re leaning into the theme of Power and Grace — quite honestly, the women in the North State community make that balance look easy.

Power is found in the heart of Nora McNeill, who has spent 50 years bringing life into the world. We see it in the leadership of Nancy Swift and Araceli Gutierrez, who remind us that knowledge is power and that when women thrive, we all rise.

There’s also a steady grace woven through these pages, which you’ll feel in Anca Marissa Sira’s healing touch and see in awardwinning winemaker Aim.e Sunseri’s artistry. It’s in the hands of Kimber and Corinne Rickey as they piece together family legacies at Blue Iris Quilt Shoppe, and in Robin Lentz’s devotion to preserving the tradition of Don’s Sandwich Shop.

We guarantee you’ll get a kick out of the 105-year-old energy of Giants superfan Margaret Leard, and you’ll marvel at Virginia Margaret Schau’s legendary Pulitzer Prize-winning rescue photo and the incredible story behind it. And as a womanowned business ourselves, we take great pride in this magazine’s leadership.

Cheers to the remarkable women in our beautiful community, and enjoy!