2010’s Honorees

WOMEN’S ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

2019

  • Central Florida Woman of the Year: Leticia Diaz | Barry University

  • Business Honoree: Frances Rios | Women Who Lead, LLC

  • Education Honoree: Karen Willis | Early Learning Coalition of Orange County

  • Emerging Leader Honoree: Kyle Alexandre | Walt Disney World

  • Finance Honoree: Latasha R. Barnes, CPA | Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children / Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies

  • Government Honoree: Diana Tennis | Ninth Judicial Court of Florida

  • Health & Wellness Honoree: Romie Mushtaq, MD | Evolution Hospitality

  • Philanthropy Honoree: Karen Revels | Cannonball Kids' Cancer Foundation

  • Professional Honoree: Peggy Hoyt | The Law Offices of Hoyt & Bryan

  • Public Service Honoree: Laura Bedard, PhD | Seminole County Jail

  • Rising Star Honoree: Faith-Christina Duncan | Imperfect Creations

  • Science & Technology Honoree: Pamela McCauley, PhD | University of Central Florida / National Science Foundation

  • Transportation Honoree: Diane Crews | Orlando Sanford International Airport

2018

  • Central Florida Woman of the Year: Vanesa Echols | WFTV, Compassionate Hands

  • Business Honoree: Aida Lublin | Brightway Insurance

  • Communications Honoree: Paula Hoisington | Government Affairs

  • Education Honoree: Heatherann Antonacci | Herzing University

  • Emerging Leader Honoree: Nicole Benton | The Dollhouse Foundation

  • Finance Honoree: Bernadette Spong | Orlando Health 

  • Government Honoree: Deborah Barra | Chief Assistant State Attorney, 9th Judicial Court

  • Health & Wellness Honoree: Kathy Jones, MD | Orlando Urogynecology

  • Philanthropy Honoree: Ashley Filmon | A Chosen Child

  • Professional Honoree: Ava Doppelt | Allen, Dyer, Doppelt & Gilchrist, PA

  • Public Service Honoree: Daryl Flynn | School Board Member, District 2

  • Science & Technology Honoree: Lisa Schott | Quietly Making Noise, LLC 

2017

  • Central Florida Woman of the Year: Joie Cadle | Orange County School Board

  • Arts & Culture Honoree: Jennifer Quigley | WBQ Engineering

  • Communication Honoree: Eryka Washington | Ninth Judicial Circuit Office of the State Attorney's Office

  • Community Impact Honoree: Karla Radka | Goodwill Industries of Central Florida

  • Education Honoree: Pamela S Carroll, EdD | University of Central Florida

  • Entrepreneur Honoree: Secily Wilson | The WOW Legacy Group, LLC

  • Health & Wellness Honoree: Marni Stahlman | Shepherd's Hope

  • Hospitality & Tourism Honoree: Misty Johantgen | Experience Kissimmee

  • Humanitarian Honoree: Jill Bolander Cohen | The Lifeboat Project

  • Leadership Honoree: Kathy Panter | Junior Achievement of Central Florida

  • Non-Profit Honoree: Shelley Lauten | The Central Florida Commission on Homelessness

  • Visionary Honoree: Jennifer Foster | Foster Productions - One Orlando Alliance 

2016

  • Central Florida Woman of the Year: Chief Cornita Riley | Orange County Corrections

  • Business: Michelle Brady Palmer | SeaWorld 

  • Community Outreach: Kari Conley | Orlando Health

  • Emerging Leader:  Kristen Manieri | Orlando Date Night Guide

  • Entrepreneur: Lourdes Mola | Lourdes Mola Solutions

  • Government: Judge Elizabeth (Liz) J. Starr | Ninth Judicial Circuit Court

  • Health & Wellness: Dana Nicolson Bledsoe | Nemours Children's Hospital

  • Hospitality / Tourism: Maribeth Bisienere | Disney Springs, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

  • Innovation: Diane O'Dell | Universal Orlando Resort & Universal Orlando Foundation

  • Non-Profit Leadership: Robin Maynard | Libby's Legacy Breast Cancer Foundation

  • Philanthropy: Kay Rawlins | Orlando City Soccer Club

  • Public Service: Michelle Alley | Altamonte Acupuncture & Florida Acupuncture Trauma Relief Team 

2015

  • Central Florida Woman of the Year: Wendy Brandon | Central Florida Regional Hospital 

  • Business: Monique Yearger | Tijuana Flats Burrito Company

  • Communications: Ruth Williams | Franklin Covey

  • Community Service: Kim Strong | YMCA of Central Florida

  • Diversity: Cyndia Morales-Muñiz, EdD | University of Central  Florida

  • Education: Kathleen "Kat" Gordon | Orange County Public Schools

  • Emerging Leader:  Traci Smith | CNL Bank

  • Entrepreneur: Denise Bennett-Walls | Vaco Orlando

  • Mentorship:  Jayashree Shivamoggi, EdD | Rollins College

  • Non-Profit Leadership: Maryann Barry | Citrus Council

  • Professional: Jennifer Johnson | BDO, USA

  • Public Service: Ann Marie Varga | Orange County Government

2014

  • Central Florida Woman of the Year: Barbara Jenkins, EdD | Orange County Public Schools

  • Arts & Culture: Jan Clanton | Orlando Museum of Art

  • Business: Alice Norsworthy | Universal Orlando Resort

  • Communications/Media: Diana Bolivar | Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Metro Orlando

  • Community Service, Volunteerism:  Lin Wilensky | Dave's House

  • Education:  Anna-Marie Cote, EdD | Seminole County Public Schools 

  • Emerging Leader: Fay O. Pappas | Bailey Fisher PLLC

  • Health & Wellness: Cheryl Cicotti | Seminole State College

  • Hospitality: Suzanne Clark | Starwood Vacation Ownership

  • Non-Profit: Lori Castantino-Brown | Bridges of America, Inc

  • Professional: Nicolette Corso Vilmos | Broad and Cassel

2013

  • Central Florida Woman of the Year: Helen Donegan | University of Central Florida

  • Business: Andria Herr | Hylant

  • Communications/Media: Andrea (Andi) Sell  | Sell & Associates

  • Community Service, Volunteerism:  Barbara Hughes | University of Florida IFAS Seminole Extension

  • Education:  Tina Calderone, EdD | Seminole County Public Schools Board Member

  • Emerging Leader: Shanta Barton Stubbs | New Image Youth Center

  • Government: Kate Martin | Nonprofit Professional

  • Health & Wellness: Andrea Eliscu | Medical Marketing, Inc 

  • Professional: Francelis Gonzalez, MD | Kidsville Pediatrics

  • Technology: Rachel Landrum | FIS Global

  • Shinning Star: Talia Joy Castellano | "That Bald Chick" clothing line & BASE Camp Children's Cancer Foundation

2012

  • Central Florida Woman of the Year: The Honorable Teresa Jacobs | Mayor Orange County

  • Arts & Culture: Lizette Valarino | Hispanic Heritage Scholarship Fund of Metro Orlando

  • Business: Michelle Matis| Valencia Foundation

  • Communications/Media: Ashley Cisneros | Chatter Buzz Media, LLC

  • Community Service, Volunteerism:  Susan Reimer-Sifford | Darden Restaurant (Second Harvest Food Bank)

  • Education:  E. Ann McGee, EdD | Seminole State College

  • Emerging Leader: Jeanmarie Loria | Sunera

  • Health & Wellness: Audra Baker, DC | Pavlik Chiropractic

  • Government: JoAnn Lucarelli 

  • Professional: Pamela Landwirth | Give Kids the World

  • Rising Star: Sarah Dewitz | Only 12 years old, she recently fulfilled her dream of bringing books to kids in their own neighborhoods with the addition of her Just 1 Book Mobile project.

2011

  • Central Florida Woman of the Year: Sandy Hostetter, President  | CNL Bank, Central Florida

  • Arts & Culture:  Michelle Colon, Owner | Starz Dance Galaxy

  • Communications/Media: Geri Ann Evan, Owner | Evans PR Group

  • Community Service/Volunteerism: Katherine Budd, Senior Events Manager | JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes

  • Education: Mary Smedly Collier, Valencia Foundation Board Member | Collier Auto Sales, Inc

  • Government: Karen Long, Officer | Orlando Police Department

  • Professional: Lauren Detzel | Partner, Dean, Mead, Egerton, Bloodworth, Capouano and Bozarth, PA

  • Emerging Achiever: Shreya Trivedi, Ombudsman | University of Central Florida 

2010

  • Central Florida Woman of the Year: Ilene Wilkins, President & CEO | UCP of Central Florida

  • Business: Eleanor Steele Zegelbone, Vice President Global Communications & Public Relations | Tupperware Brands

  • Communications/Media: Christy Ashby, Editor & Owner | Orange Appeal Magazine

  • Community Service/Volunteerism: Eva Krzewinski, President & Founding Partner | Pearls for Women

  • Education: Geraldine Gallagher, President & CEO | Valencia Foundation

  • Emerging Achiever: Laura Lee Shields, Attorney | Bodiford Law Group

  • Government: Geraldine Thompson, District 39 Florida House Of Representatives

  • Professional: Lee Ann Horton, Advantage Integration Technology

  • Technology: Hillary Bressler, Founder & CEO | .Com Marketing, Inc

Congratulations to all honorees for their achievements!