Grace Whitcomb is the Diversity Manager with Southern California Edison, one of the nation’s largest investor-owned electric utilities, based in Rosemead, California.
Grace works in the Supplier Diversity Program Division of the Equal Opportunity Department. The main focus of her job entails connecting women, minority and service-disabled veterans business enterprises (WMDVBEs) with Edison business opportunities and entrepreneurial development programs.
Grace began her career with Edison in 1983. During her tenure with the company, she worked as a stenographer, office supervisor, and served as the productivity improvement program administrator.
Born in Macau and educated in Hong Kong, Grace moved to California in 1974. She attended school at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising where she earned an Associate Degree in Fashion Design.
Representing Edison, Grace serves on the Asian Business Association Corporate Advisory Council (Los Angeles and Orange County chapters) and the Chinese-American Construction Professionals Corporate Advisory Council. She is a board member of the Asian Business Association (L.A. Chapter), Orange County Chinese-American Chamber of Commerce, and the Asian Community Development.
Grace also serves as the utility’s liaison with the National Association of Women Business Owners, (Los Angeles, Orange County and Inland Empire Chapters), and is a member of the Asian Pacific American Legal Center’s Executive Advisory Board.
Grace is a recipient of the Women’s Enterprise Development Corporation’s 1991-2001 Award for Service to the Community of Entrepreneurial Women, past recipient of Asian Business Association’s (Los Angeles Chapter) Special Advocate Award, the Asian Business Association of Orange County’s Eagle Award, the Chinese-American Construction Professionals’ President’s Award, the Asian Business Association‘s (Los Angeles Chapter) 2002 Corporate Advocate of the Year Award and other commendations for her advocacy for women and minority businesses. In 2005, Grace was the recipient of the National Association of Women Business Owners’ (Inland Empire Chapter) Amazing Woman of the Year Award. In 2006, Grace was the recipient of Asian Business Association of Orange County’s Corporate Advocate of the Year Award and was on the Women’s Enterprise USA magazine’s List of 100 Women Impacting Supplier Diversity. In 2007, Grace was one of the 50 women in Los Angeles honored at the Big Thinking Women’s 50 @ 50 Awards for success in her field and in community involvement.
Grace serves on the Honorary Board of the Center for the Pacific Asian Family, a nonprofit organization that provides shelter for survivors of domestic violence and abused children. She is a board member and mentor of the Asian American Professionals Association, and is volunteering Big Sister to the Big Brother Big Sister organization’s community-based mentoring program. She believes in utilizing her knowledge, experience, and resources to encourage other Asian Americans to realize and develop their full potential. Grace is the past president of Edison’s Chinese American employee’s affinity group. She contributes women and minority business-related articles to trade association newsletters and business journals.
Grace enjoys attending the theater, music, sketching, reading, traveling, calligraphy artwork and glass painting. She resides with her husband Gene in the City of Montebello