Bonni Pomush Named Woman of the Year by OC Women2Women

In a room full of bold, brilliant women—and more than a few wearing waterproof mascara—OC Women2Women honored Bonni Pomush, CEO of Working Wardrobes, as Woman of the Year, recognizing her transformational leadership and the extraordinary impact she has made across Orange County.

Surrounded by community leaders, colleagues, friends, and family, Bonni accepted the honor with trademark grace and humility. She reflected on her leadership philosophy: “I lead Working Wardrobes to be the next shoulders to lift somebody up.”

That guiding belief has driven Working Wardrobes through a remarkable period of growth and transformation under Bonni’s leadership. In just the past year:

  • Working Wardrobes reached over 7,600 clients in 2024—doubling its reach in just three years.
  • Bonni was named an Orange Coast Kick Ass Woman (2024) and selected as a Catalyzer of CEO Sisterhood (2025), including a spotlight on KCAL News and FOX 11’s Good Day LA.
  • The organization earned prestigious recognition including:
  • Best Charitable Organization by the Orange County Register
  • A spot on Orange County Business Journal’s Best Places to Work 2024
  • 2025 Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid
  • Bonni led a full workplace culture transformation, with Glassdoor/Indeed ratings jumping from 2.3 to 4.3 and employee retention soaring to 80%.
  • She spearheaded a rebrand for Working Wardrobes’ 35th Anniversary, debuting a new logo and tagline: Your Future. Our Purpose.
  • A new mission, vision, and 3-year strategic plan were adopted to guide the organization’s future.
  • After presenting at a Costa Mesa City Council meeting, Bonni inspired Councilmember Don Harper to donate $50,000—and he issued a public challenge to other officials to do the same. Bonni has since launched a city council “road show” across Orange County to amplify this call to action.
  • And in November, the 2024 Gala, “Infinite Horizons: The Power of Opportunity,” raised over $415,000 to support clients on their journey to meaningful employment.

As Bonni closed her Woman of the Year acceptance speech, she thanked the room for “being the change we all seek in the world.”

We echo that gratitude. Thank you to Karen Butera and OC Women2Women for shining a spotlight on such a deserving leader. And congratulations to Bonni—your courage, compassion, and clarity of vision continue to inspire us all.