Debra Russell and her family, Jeff and Madison Russell

Debra Montalvo Russell, Director of Community Relations, Signal Hill Petroleum (SHP), was recently honored at Senator Ricardo Lara’s 2015 Women of Distinction Awards, which recognizes women who make a difference in their communities within the 33^rd Senate District.

Russell’s nomination from the City of Signal Hill comes as a result of her philanthropic work and dedication to the communities of both Signal Hill and Long Beach. Throughout her tenure at SHP, Russell has initiated and overseen several outreach programs that benefit children, students, veterans, police officers, families, the homeless, local farmers, city parks, and the environment. Serving as the Director of Community Relations for nearly a decade, Russell and her team have worked around the clock to exemplify excellent corporate and social responsibility to local residents beyond the call duty as well as promote active learning, environmental preservation, ethical leadership, crime prevention, and community outreach in both cities through various organizations, activities, sponsorships, and donations.

Russell has guided her team to put SHP in the spotlight, garnering several awards including 2014 E&P Company of the Year Award, 2013 Oil & Gas Corporate Social Responsibility Award, and 2013 Excellence in Business Award, to name a few. Debra’s own ambition and initiative have seen her serve as Board of Directors for Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, Governing Council for CSULB Ukleja Center for Ethical Leadership, and Leadership Team Member for Long Beach Memorial Medical Center Partnerships in Excellence.

Russell and company have sponsored a multitude of life-enhancing programs and organizations benefiting locals including: The Long Beach Movies in the Park Program, The Long Beach Food for Kids Program, Signal Hill Movies in the Park, The Long Beach Public Library Foundation, WomenShelter of Long Beach, The Guidance Center of Long Beach, Signal Hill Police Department National Night Out program, CSULB’s Environmental Geochemistry Lab, Rancho Los Alamitos and The Los Cerritos Wetlands.

Touching on her history of community development and leadership, Russell has stated, “Social Responsibility has always been important to SHP and me, and partnering with local programs to promote education and unite our community has been an incredibly rewarding experience that we look forward to continuing.” With SHP’s contributions totaling over half a million dollars since her directorship, Russell has cemented her legacy in the 33^rd Senate District as one of charity, generosity, and collective unity.

Debra Russell and Senator Ricardo Lara

Debra Russell and Pilar Alcivar-McCoy, Community Services Director, City of Signal Hill

Debra Russell and Luis Morente