2026 WOMEN’S ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

A close-up of a peach-colored rose with soft, layered petals.

2026 WOMEN’S ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

On behalf of the Women's Executive Council, we would like to sincerely thank the Orlando community for its support of the 54rd Annual Women's Achievement Awards.

A special note of gratitude to the Women's Achievement Awards Steering Committee for their countless hours of work and dedication to our vision of Empowering and Embracing Women to Serve Central Florida. We had a wonderful evening full of memories that all present will remember forever. Thank you to all honorees who shared their testimonials and brightened our lives with great advice and their leadership perspectives.

We want to thank every person who donated to the 1972 Scholarship Fund.

Congratulations to all honorees for their achievements!

2026 Woman of the Year

ARLENE BLAKE

Founder & Executive Director, Women on the Rise International, Inc.

Owner, Just Start It, LLC

Arlene Blake, PMP, is a community visionary, workforce development advocate, entrepreneur, and champion for women's economic advancement in Central Florida. She is the founder of Women on the Rise International, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to helping women build greater economic mobility through financial literacy, career development, entrepreneurship, and personal wellness.

Under her leadership, Women on the Rise has grown into a career and leadership hub that helps women increase their earnings, pursue higher-paying opportunities, launch businesses, strengthen their financial confidence, and create greater stability for themselves and their families. Her work is centered on removing barriers that can prevent women from thriving, including limited access to mentorship, technology, childcare, and culturally aligned support networks.

Arlene's leadership and community impact have earned recognition at the local, regional, and national levels. This year, she was selected as one of only ten honorees recognized by Congressman Darren Soto, with her biography formally entered into the Congressional Record of the United States, permanently documenting her contributions and service. She was also named to Orlando Sentinel columnist Scott Maxwell's "10 People Who Make Orlando a Better Place to Live."

Her additional honors include receiving the Noble Knight Award from the University of Central Florida College of Community Innovation and Education, being recognized by the Orlando Business Journal as a Woman Who Means Business and as one of the Most Influential People in Orlando, and was named Woman of the Year by Orange Appeal Magazine.

Arlene is also the founder of Just Start It, LLC, an events, project management, marketing, and leadership development business that helps organizations and professionals bring ideas to life, execute impactful initiatives, strengthen performance, and expand their reach.

At the heart of everything she does, Arlene is a devoted mother, a proud alumna of the University of Central Florida, and a firm believer in creating opportunities that help people rise, lead, and build lasting legacies.

2026 Community Champion Honoree

JESSICA KELLY TOMLINSON

Institutional Giving Officer, Development   Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

Jessica Kelly Tomlinson is a purpose-driven leader, strategist, and advocate committed to transforming communities through access, empowerment, and intentional impact. With a career spanning the nonprofit, corporate, and philanthropic sectors, she now serves as Institutional Giving Officer at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, where she turns vision into results.

In the past year alone, she secured $4M from Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs and $1.5M from the State of Florida, funding that is expanding arts education, community programming, and free experiences for families, students, and neighbors throughout the region. She also brought several new foundation partners into the fold, growing the circle of people invested in making the arts accessible to everyone, not just those who can already afford a ticket. Her strategy happens behind the scenes, but its impact is felt in the front row, on the stage, in the classroom, and in the faces of everyone experiencing the arts for the first time.

Jessica Kelly's commitment to community reaches far beyond her day job. As a board member of the Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida, she helps ensure local youth have safe spaces to grow, learn, and be seen. On the board of the Hey Dr. Tay Foundation, she helps lead STEAM initiatives that show young people art, science, and technology are theirs to claim. As an advisory board member of SISTUHS, Incorporated, she joins a network of women building legacy together in the communities they serve. And through the Women's Executive Council, she shapes programming that connects women leaders across sectors. Wherever Jessica shows up, the invitation gets wider and the room gets bigger.

One thread runs through her career: turning resources into lasting opportunities for the arts, for institutions, and for the young people and women rising behind her. This award recognizes not just what she has built, but the community she continues to lift as she goes.

2026 Legacy & Lasting Impact Honoree

LYDIA SEALEY

Director, Women’s History & Cultural Center at Girl Scouts of Citrus Council

Lydia Sealey is the Director of the Women’s History & Cultural Center (WHCC) at Girl Scouts of Citrus Council, where she has dedicated more than two decades to empowering girls, supporting volunteers, and preserving the stories of women in history and Girl Scouts.

Lydia’s connection to Girl Scouts began when she was a girl herself, spending seven years in the organization. Growing up with limited resources, Girl Scouts gave her lifelong friendships, values, sisterhood, and, most importantly, the belief that her circumstances did not define her future. She carried that belief with her when her daughter wanted to become a Girl Scout and there was no troop leader to step forward. Lydia volunteered without hesitation, eventually leading both of her daughters’ troops.

When her daughters completed their Girl Scout journeys, Lydia continued volunteering, taking on an outreach troop serving girls who were often underserved, overlooked, or dismissed. She also served as a camp director, service unit manager, and council trainer, teaching leadership and outdoor skills to Girl Scout volunteers. Her dedication and experience eventually led her to join the Girl Scouts of Citrus staff in 2005 as a Training Manager.

Over the years, Lydia served in leadership roles in Volunteer Support and Fund Development before being invited to bring the Women’s History & Cultural Center from an idea on paper to a reality. As Director, she has spent the past five years building the Center alongside staff and dedicated volunteers. What began as an effort to preserve Girl Scout history has grown into a place that celebrates women from all walks of life - women who were firsts, innovators, artists, athletes, educators, leaders, service members, and history makers.

For Lydia, the most rewarding moments are often found in simply standing back and watching a young person's face light up when they discover a woman whose story makes them think, “I could do that, too.” She believes the most powerful form of empowerment is helping people recognize their own possibilities. Her hope is that every visitor leaves the WHCC having learned from the past, recognizing that they are part of the future, and understanding that they have the power to make a difference.

Lydia believes in leading alongside others—giving volunteers ownership, valuing their ideas, encouraging their creativity, and celebrating what they accomplish together. Girl Scouting is also a family legacy: both of her daughters were Girl Scouts, and today her granddaughters are active Girl Scouts, making Lydia part of a proud three-generation Girl Scout family.

Through her work, Lydia continues to see the lasting connection between Girl Scouts and the women who go on to make history. For her, preserving women’s stories is not simply about honoring the past, it is about inspiring the next generation to believe that they, too, can become history makers.

2026 Non-Profit & Public Service Leadership Honoree

SHAN ROSE

Commissioner, City of Orlando

Shan Rose, District 5 Commissioner, is a purpose-driven leader dedicated to empowering her community and creating sustainable change for generations to come. With a deep passion for public service, she works tirelessly to build stronger neighborhoods, support families, and promote opportunities that uplift every resident of District 5 and beyond.

Commissioner Rose’s leadership is grounded in compassion, collaboration, and accountability. She is an active advocate for youth mentorship, providing young people with guidance, resources, and positive role models to help them realize their full potential. Her unwavering commitment to justice for the homeless reflects her belief that every individual deserves dignity, stability, and access to essential services. Additionally, she champions community policing initiatives that strengthen trust between residents and law enforcement, fostering safer and more unified communities.

 Since assuming office, Commissioner Rose has hit the ground running—turning her vision into action. She has organized impactful Back-to-School events that supplied hundreds of students with the tools they need to succeed, hosted job and career fairs connecting residents with local employers, and facilitated resource drives and networking opportunities that encourage collaboration among businesses, nonprofits, and community leaders.

 Her approach to leadership is hands-on and heart-first, ensuring that the voices of District 5 residents are heard, and their needs are met. Commissioner Rose continues to be a tireless advocate for equality, equity, and opportunity for all Central Floridians, embodying the spirit of servant leadership in everything she does.

2026 Social & Innovation Leadership Honoree

ELLEN O’CONNOR

Chief Executive Officer, Dave’s House

Ellen O’Connor is an executive leader with more than 30 years of experience guiding purpose-driven organizations through growth, change and strategic transformation.

As Chief Executive Officer of Dave’s House, Ellen leads the organization’s vision, fundraising, communications, governance and community partnerships. Working with board members, donors, volunteers, government agencies, healthcare providers and corporate partners, she is advancing innovative permanent supportive housing solutions for adults with serious mental illness. Under her leadership, Dave’s House is expanding its reach and creating greater opportunities for stability, independence and hope.

Before entering nonprofit leadership, Ellen held executive roles with Tribune Media, Cox Media Group and Bonnier Corporation. Throughout her career, she has built high-performing teams, managed multimillion-dollar budgets, cultivated strategic partnerships and driven organizational growth.

Ellen earned a Bachelor of Science in Advertising from the University of Florida, where her leadership journey began as Chapter President of Alpha Chi Omega. She continues to mentor emerging leaders and bring people together around shared purpose. She believes strong organizations are built by investing in people, embracing innovation and remaining deeply grounded in mission.

Women’s Achievement Awards

Celebrating the women who have shaped our community, year after year.

The Women’s Achievement Awards honor leaders, innovators, and change-makers whose impact extends far beyond their industries. Each year, we recognize a group of remarkable women whose dedication, vision, and leadership continue to move our community forward. Explore past honorees and celebrations to the right.