Business Assn. Honors Outstanding Women

The National Assn. of Women Business Owners on Friday honored women from more than 30 Orange County businesses, schools and nonprofit organizations for setting outstanding examples.

Special awards went to Vicki Heston, vice chairwoman of Vicki Heston PDQ Staffing; Cynthia French, chief executive officer at Reprogran Inc.; Ruth Ko, publisher of Orange Coast & OC Women magazines; Carol Stone, president of the Volunteer Center of Orange County; Mimi Birch, assistant principal at Estancia High School in Costa Mesa; and Cristi Cristich, president of the Assn. of Women Business Owners.

The Orange County chapter of the organization presented its second annual awards at the Irvine Marriott hotel.