Nineteen years ago, in the spring of 1988, the idea for a unique conference for professional and business women emerged - the result of another successful Women's Day for San Mateo County women.

Since 1980, the group, inspired and led by then Assemblywoman Jackie Speier, has sponsored the event for women entering or re-entering the job market. The overwhelming response to the event indicated that Bay Area career women desired a larger forum within which to become inspired to break through the glass ceiling and to more quickly reach economic parity with men.

In April of the following year, the Professional & BusinessWomen's Conference was incorporated as a non-profit organization. The board of directors has evolved from its initial membership of long-term volunteers from the public sector to its present composition of corporate executives, entrepreneurs and leaders from the non-profit and public sectors.

In 1998, the organization announced its new name, Professional BusinessWomen of California. This step acknowledges the far-reaching success of our efforts and our commitment to increase PBWC's presence throughout the state.