Page 16 - Florida Sentinel 3-13-20

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Tampa Women Among Those Honored At ‘Women On The Move’ Awards Luncheon
Twenty-one trailblazing women across Florida received honors for making significant strides in their professions and communities, including Ms. Xernona Clayton of Atlanta, a civil rights activist and founder of the Trumpet Awards.
The women received recogni- tion during an awards luncheon on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020, at the Alfond Inn, Winter Park, FL. This was Onyx Magazine’s 5th Annual “Women on the Move” Awards Luncheon leading into Women’s History Month.
Authentic and positive energy flowed through the room of more than 300 guests as each speaker stepped to the podium —from the introduction by co-chair, Nancy Port Schwalb, who reminded the audience of the hard-fought battles women endured in the name of suffrage — to the words of keynote speaker Gayle An- drews, who followed up with the importance of why women should stand together and vote in the up- coming elections. The speakers referenced the afternoon’s theme: “Valiant Women of the Vote,” the official Women’s History Month theme.
“The event recognized leading Black women spanning a range of business and industry,” said Rich Black, ONYX Magazine’s pub- lisher, CEO and editor-in-chief. “In the spirit of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, these 21 women each exhibit boundless faith, servant leadership and play
Honorees, guest speaker Gayle Andrews and others at the “Women On The Move” Luncheon.
“Woman of the Year,” Xerona Clayton, Founder/President, Trumpet Awards; Latasha Barnes, Orlando, Chief Finan- cial Officer, Orlando Health; Dawn Curtis, Orlando, Orange County Soil and Water Conserva- tion District Supervisor; Tanisha Gary, Orlando, President, African American Chamber of Commerce, Central Florida; Mil- dred Graham, Orlando, Direc- tor of Advancement and Alumni Affairs, FAMU Law; Valerie Jenkins, Jacksonville, Vice Pres- ident/Senior Community Devel- opment Officer, Wells Fargo; Letyonya Johnson, Kissim- mee, Senior Manager, Global Communications Events, Walt Disney World; Janie Lacy, Or- lando, CEO, Life Counseling Solu- tions; Sonya Mallard, Ft. Pierce, Executive Director, Harry T. & Harriette V. Moore Museum Cultural Center; Chanta Miller, Orlando, Executive Director, In- dian American Chamber of Com- merce; Dame Constance Mitcham, St. Kitts/Nevis; Heidi Otway, Tallahassee, President, Salter Mitchell Public Relations; Sylvia Perry, Jacksonville, Re- gional Area Director, The Links, Inc.; Caleta Scott, CPPT, Ft. Pierce, Manager, Grants Admin- istration, City of Ft. Pierce; Kathy Times, Tallahassee, Chief Communications Officer, Florida A&M University; and Bridget Williams, Ed.D., Orlando, Chief of Staff, Orange County Public Schools.
critical roles in the stellar success of their respective organizations in public and private sectors, higher education, healthcare and nonprofits.”
The International Woman on the Move is Dame Constance Mitcham, an attorney from St. Kitts and Nevis, who received her title from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. Dame Constance is the founder and head of Mitcham and Benjamin Attorneys-at-law, and a special adviser to the coun- try’s prime minister.
New this year was the Com- munity Impact Award, which was
presented to a woman-led organ- ization that has made significant strides in moving business and community forward. Black Busi- ness Investment Fund Florida is a community development finan- cial institution driven to help Florida businesses thrive by pro- viding loan capital alongside busi- ness development training. The president and CEO is Inez Long.
ONYX Magazine’s “Women on the Move” highlights women who have shattered the glass ceil- ing in their professions and per- severed against all odds. The event was led by Chair Dee
Parker and Co-chair Nancy Port Schwalb and the ONYX WOTM committee.
Tampa women among the honorees were: Joli Cooper- Nelson, Executive Director, GreenLight Fund Atlanta; Dr. Joan Holmes, President, Holmes Education Consultant; Tamara Shamburger, Hills- borough County School Board; Brenda Walker, J. D., Ph.D., University of South Florida In- terim Associate Dean; and Crys- tal Warwell-Walker, Principal, Walker & Walker Associates.
Other honorees were:
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