Eileen Padberg has managed public affairs and political campaigns for over 25 years from her Orange County office. She has also provided strategic planning and corporate communications for some of the nation’s top corporations and organizations, including several of Orange County’s most prestigious businesses and industries.

As a community activist, she has been recognized for her work with women, encouraging them to participate as elected officials, providing training programs to help them to run and win political campaigns. Eileen believes that critical issues such as health care, immigration, poverty, political ethics, crime and national defense and foreign policy need the studied innovation and commitment to problem solving for which women are known to excel.

When she had the opportunity to go to Iraq in June 2004, she didn’t hesitate. She put her successful consulting business on hold and embarked on a journey to Iraq with the single focus of helping the Iraqi women build and expand their businesses. She tells a vivid account of working with the Iraqi women, living and traveling in a war zone, in addition to speaking passionately about the failure of the U.S. government to invest more in programs that provide the Iraqi women with an economic stake in democracy.

She was a consultant to an international organization that works with emerging democracies, traveling worldwide to provide political training in countries such as the former Soviet Union, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Guatemala. Eileen is a noted author of articles on public policy, business management, and political issues. She is frequently quoted in major publications for her expertise on leading issues and has been honored by numerous organizations. Eileen is a sought after speaker whose presentations are filled with passion, humor, knowledge, and wit — reminding all of us of the importance of investing in women – in public policy, in business, and in community programs.