This Fresno Woman of the Year Balances Marketing Firm, Family

Kina McFadden has found a way to balance caring for her family while taking care of her clients.

McFadden, founder and CEO of marketing firm Eye Connect Dots, raised her children, helps with her grandchildren, and now takes care of her blind mother.

“I love my city,” she said.

She was one of eight women honored by the city of Fresno during its Women of the Year reception on Wednesday.

“We have been doing extremely amazing, hard work over in the airport district and in District 4 in general, bringing broken neighborhoods back to life, building harmony for families and neighborhoods with entertainment, education, resources, and services that we’re providing over there. You know, I’m very excited to be a part of the growth,” McFadden said.

How does she balance work and family?

“Prayer. Family. Community. Friends. Many hands make light work. And without my friends and my family, I don’t think I would be able to do it,” she said.

Fresno City Council President Tyler Maxwell honors Kina McFadden with the District 4 Woman of the Year award. (GV Wire/David Taub)

Helping Businesses Connect

McFadden’s clients include United Way, Poverello House, and the Vision View Business Center near the airport.

“Kina has earned a reputation as a connector, event planner, marketer, and public relations expert, constantly pushing boundaries to create exceptional experiences for all those she serves,” the city said about McFadden in its program.

McFadden says there are many challenges as a female business owner.

“Because first and foremost, we have to … take care of ourselves and get and motivate ourselves to be all that we can be, so that we can be a better woman for the world and for the other challenges that we have.

“I mean, we’re mothers, we’re grandmothers, we’re mentors, we’re teachers, we’re educators, we’re trailblazers. And so to all the women, that has just paved the way for me and for the other women here today, I just thank them for allowing us to stand on their shoulders to be the very best women that we could be,” McFadden said.

She said also noted that the COVID pandemic changed the scope of her business.

“Since COVID, I’ve become a business social worker, really trying to define and find out what their needs are so that if I can’t directly help them or Eye Connect Dots cannot directly help them, we know someone and we have the resources of other businesses, great businesses here in Fresno that can be connected,” McFadden said.

2023 Fresno Women of the Year

Each of the seven councilmembers and Mayor Jerry Dyer announce a Woman of the Year annually during Women’s History Month.

“The commitment, persistence, and hard work of these women are an inspiration for all of us,” said Council Vice President Annalisa Perea, who co-hosted the reception with Maxwell. “It’s an honor to recognize the contributions and achievements of such exceptional women.  Let’s continue to honor all the women in our lives that make our great city a better and stronger place to live.”

The honorees:

• Dora Westerlund, president and CEO of the Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation (Mayor’s office)
• Ariana Motter, Fresno Police Department detective (District 1)
• Kim Shehadey, president of Assistance League of Fresno’s Assisteens program (District 2)
• Benita Vasquez, resident leader (District 3)
• Kina McFadden, CEO of Eye Connect Dots (District 4)
• Maiyer Vang, executive director of Fresno Unified School District’s Parent University (District 5)
• Deby Hergenrader, executive director of Break the Barriers (District 6)
• Christine Barker, executive director of Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministries (District 7)

In honor of #WomensHistoryMonth, the Fresno City Council and @MayorJerryDyer each recognized a woman for their service and impact on the community.

Join us in congratulating these deserving honorees! pic.twitter.com/MYRQYPbZat

— City of Fresno (@CityofFresno) March 29, 2023