Women We Admire is pleased to announce The Top 100 Women Leaders of Jacksonville for 2022. The city, known for being one of the largest in terms of area and as the “First Coast,” is filled with innovative and inspirational women who are the driving force behind their organization and personal successes. Jacksonville’s history is rich with women who have been the champions of change for the city. In the early 1900s, a group of African American women including Katie McCray, Margaret Thompson, Ernestine Hayes took the city’s hotel industry by storm by opening their own establishments allowing accommodations for African Americans during a time when such was near impossible to find. Their investments transformed the city into a ragtime, jazz, and blues cultural epicenter.
Since then, countless women have followed their lead by breaking into new territories, like Louise Rebecca Pinnell and Bernice Gaines Dorn, Jacksonville natives and Florida's first female lawyers. Like those who came before them, this year’s awardees work tirelessly in their roles and continue forging a path for Jacksonville’s future leaders.
Awardee Amy Conner, Regional Vice President of Air Methods, helps lead the company in serving patients with medical air services during their most critical moments of life. Meanwhile, Kathleen Brandt, the Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of CSX, supports their strategic objectives through technology and delivers tools and data to maximize safety, customer service and operational efficiency of the nation’s best run railroad. Molly Miles, the Vice President of Availity, uses her decades of experience to lead product and marketing, corporate communications and sales enablement for the healthcare technology company.
Coming from varied professional backgrounds, this year’s awardees are leaders of the highest caliber. Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of The Top 100 Women Leaders of Jacksonville for 2022.
4. Elizabeth Cambareri
Morgan Stanley
Elizabeth Cambareri is the Senior Vice President and Branch Manager of Morgan Stanley. She first joined the company in 2016 as first vice president, associate complex manager, and wealth advisor. Morgan Stanley mobilizes capital to help governments, corporations, institutions and individuals around the world achieve their financial goals. They are committed to maintaining the first-class service and high standard of excellence that have always defined the firm. Their foundation are five core values including putting clients first, doing the right thing, leading with exceptional ideas, commitment to diversity and inclusion, and giving back. These values guide its more than 70,000+ employees across 41 countries.
Previously, Cambareri was a VP at J.P. Morgan Private Bank and before that a VP and wealth advisor at Morgan Stanley. Earlier in her career she worked with Merrill Lynch as a VP, financial advisor and finance manager. Cambareri earned an undergraduate degree in finance from Florida State University - College of Business.
5. Deshietha Partee-Grier
Deutsche Bank
Deshietha Partee-Grier began her professional career over 12 years ago. Today, she is the Vice President of the Fraud Investigative Unit - Americas division of Deutsche Bank. Deutsche Bank is a German multinational investment bank and financial services company headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany, and dual-listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange. The bank's network spans 58 countries with a large presence in Europe, the Americas, and Asia. As of 2020, Deutsche Bank was the 21st largest bank in the world by total assets and 63rd in the world by market capitalization. The company is a universal bank with four major divisions including Investment Bank, Corporate Bank, Private Bank and Asset Management.
Partee-Grier first got her start in 2009 as an executive office supervisor of mortgage banking at JPMorgan Chase. From there, she went on to EverBank, before eventually rising to become a payment systems fraud analytics manager at VyStar Credit Union, her most recent position prior to joining Deutsche Bank. Partee-Grier graduated from Spelman College and The Ohio State University with an undergraduate degree in economics.
8. Daibby Minogue
Fidelity Investments
Daibby Minogue began her professional career over 20 years ago. Today, she is the Vice President and Executive Planning Consultant of Fidelity Investments. Fidelity Investments is a multinational financial services corporation based in Massachusetts. The company was established in 1946 and is one of the largest asset managers in the world with $4.9 trillion in assets under management as of 2020 and a combined total customer asset value of $8.3 trillion. Fidelity Investments operates a brokerage firm, manages a large family of mutual funds, provides fund distribution and investment advice, retirement services, index funds, wealth management, cryptocurrency, securities execution and clearance, asset custody, and life insurance.
Minogue first got her start in 2001 as a sales representative at New York Life Insurance Company. From there, she went on to Citizens Investment Services, before eventually rising to become a private client advisor at J.P. Morgan, her most recent position prior to joining Fidelity Investments. Minogue graduated from Boston University - Questrom School of Business with an undergraduate degree.
12. Aimee Boggs
Raymond James
Aimee Boggs is the Senior Vice President of Investments of Raymond James. She first joined the company in 2013. Founded in 1962 and a public company since 1983, Raymond James Financial is a Florida-based diversified holding company providing financial services to individuals, corporations and municipalities through its subsidiary companies engaged primarily in investment and financial planning, in addition to capital markets and asset management. Through its three broker/dealer subsidiaries, Raymond James Financial has approximately 8,400 financial advisors throughout the United States, Canada and overseas. The company has been ranked as one of the best in the country in customer service, as a great place to work and as a national leader in support of the arts.
Previously, Boggs was a VP and financial advisor at Morgan Stanley and before that a financial reporting manager at Koger Equity, Inc. Earlier in her career she worked with Ernst and Whinney as a senior auditor. Boggs earned an undergraduate degree in accounting from the University of North Florida, a degree in French studies from University of Bordeaux, and a degree in international business from the University of Colorado - Boulder.
17. Leah Lombard
DWS Group
Leah Lombard began her professional career over 14 years ago. Today, she is the Vice President of DWS Group. DWS Group is one of the world's leading asset managers. Building on more than 60 years of experience, it has a reputation for excellence in Europe, the Americas and Asia. DWS offers individuals and institutions access to their strong investment capabilities across all major asset classes and solutions aligned to growth trends. The company’s diverse expertise in active, passive and alternatives asset management, as well as their deep environmental, social and governance focus, complement each other when creating targeted solutions for their clients.
Lombard first got her start in 2007 as an associate in the derivatives operations at Deutsche Bank Group. From there, she went on to US Bank, before eventually rising to become a compliance officer at Deutsche Bank. Lombard graduated from the University of Miami with an undergraduate degree in political science.
22. Amy Conner
Air Methods
Amy Conner is the Regional Vice President of Air Methods. Air Methods has a talented workforce of over 4,500 team members, which includes the best in the air medical industry. They are pilots, clinicians, mechanics, air communications specialists, support teams and many more. More than 20% of their team members are US veterans, active duty or in the reserves. Their comprehensive aviation, clinical and maintenance training is as robust as it is intense, and their continuous curriculum of learning and simulation-based training is unmatched in the industry. Conner has over 24 years in the hospital & health care field. She began her career in 1997.
Before joining Air Methods, Conner was a registered nurse at Smith Northview Hospital. Earlier in her career she worked with South Georgia Medical Center as a paramedic. Conner graduated from Thomas University with an MBA and from Valdosta State University with an undergraduate degree in nursing.
27. Heather Solanka
Akerman
Heather Solanka is a Partner of Akerman. She first joined the company in 2006 as an associate. Akerman collaborates with the world’s most successful enterprises and entrepreneurs to navigate change, seize opportunities, and overcome barriers to innovation and growth. It is a client-driven enterprise, recognized by Financial Times as among the most forward-thinking law firms in the industry. The company is also ranked among the top 100 law firms in the United States, with a reach that extends across the Americas and globally. Assembling a hand-crafted team for every client engagement, Akerman leverages their more than 700 lawyers and business professionals across 24 offices.
Solanka earned a JD from the University of Florida - Fredric G. Levin College of Law, an MS in public health from Tulane University, and an undergraduate degree in civil engineering from US Coast Guard Academy.
View the complete list of awardees.
33. Greer Gillis
Jacksonville Transportation Authority
Greer Gillis is the Senior Vice President of System Development and Capital Programs of Jacksonville Transportation Authority. She first joined the company in 2020. The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) is an independent state agency in Florida, serving Duval County and Northeast Florida with multi-modal responsibilities. The JTA designs and constructs bridges and highways through its JTAMobilityWorks and Safe Routes to Schools programs and provides varied mass transit services. These include fixed-bus routes, the First Coast Flyer Bus Rapid Transit network, the Skyway automated people mover in Downtown, the St. Johns River Ferry, Paratransit services in Duval and Clay counties, ReadiRide on-demand shuttles, Express Select commuter shuttles for Baker, St. Johns and Nassau counties and a growing list of public-private mobility services.
Previously, Gillis was a commissioner at the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia and before that a director at the DC Department of General Services. Earlier in her career she worked with TransCore as a senior transportation engineer. Gillis earned an MS in civil engineering and an undergraduate degree in civil engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
38. Rochelle Price
Miller Electric Company
Rochelle Price began her professional career over 28 years ago. Today, she is the Vice President of Shared Services of Miller Electric Company. Miller Electric Company started as an electrical lamp and appliance store in 1928. Today it has grown into one of the largest companies in the industry with over 2,000 employees. Headquartered in Jacksonville, FL and with a network of branch offices, Miller Electric Company provides comprehensive power and technology solutions to Fortune 500 clients in a diversified range of industries. Miller Electric Company is a family business that has expanded its capabilities over the years to serve a wide range of customers in a variety of markets including health care, commercial, industrial, governmental & institutional, entertainment & hospitality, integrated systems, and intelligent transportation.
Price first got her start in 1993 as an office assistant at Barnes Industrial. From there, she went on to Surf South, before eventually rising to become a director of customer care at Cologix, her most recent position prior to joining Miller Electric Company. Price graduated from Jacksonville University with a doctorate in business administration and management and from Valdosta State University with an undergraduate degree in business management and economics.
43. Yvonne McClain
CMTS
Yvonne McClain is the Chief Operating Officer of CMTS. CMTS has built an unrivaled reputation of quality, integrity, and enduring commitment to their clients. The company began in Denver, Colorado as a quality assurance and control firm specializing in public sector work, which continues to be a mainstay of their project portfolio, then expanded their services to include project and construction management services. Their roots as a general contractor allow them to assist their clients with projects from conception to completion in their ever-growing territory. With offices in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Texas, CMTS has become a leader in the construction management industry known for their client-centric focus. McClain has 28 years in the construction industry. She began her career in 1994.
McClain graduated from the University of Oklahoma with an undergraduate degree in architecture.
48. Nina Paul
CleanChoice Energy
Nina Paul is the Vice President of Product & Technical Strategy of CleanChoice Energy. She first joined the company in 2017. CleanChoice Energy is a cleantech company that empowers people and businesses to easily access climate solutions. They use data-empowered technology to offer consumers easy, impactful climate solutions so they can cut emissions, support renewable energy, and live cleaner lives. Founded in 2012, CleanChoice has become one of the fastest-growing businesses in America, as ranked on the Inc 5000 and Deloitte's Technology Fast 500™. CleanChoice Energy is a Certified B Corporation and is certified with the highest available rating by Green America's Green Business Network.
Previously, Paul was a Product Manager at LiveLike and before that a Project Coordinator at Airbiquity. Earlier in her career she worked with Organic Connection Australia in sales. Paul earned an undergraduate degree from Purchase College, State University of New York.
54. Suzanne Lemen
Dynamic Corporate Solutions
Suzanne Lemen is the CEO and President of Dynamic Corporate Solutions. She first joined the company in 1993. Dynamic Corporate Solutions, Inc. (DCSI) provides industry-leading human resources consulting, services and support to organizations of all shapes and sizes from start-ups and non-profits to Fortune 500 and global companies. For more than 25 years, clients have counted on DCSI to help mitigate potential business risk and improve organizational efficiency through a broad range of proven HR processes, including operational auditing, performance management, leadership training, compensation reviews, on-site project management and much more.
Previously, Lemen was an SVP of human resources at Barnett Banks, Inc. Lemen earned an MS in entrepreneurship and innovation from the University of Florida - Warrington College of Business and an undergraduate degree in psychology with focus in HR management from The University of Kansas.
59. Amanda Baggett
Baggett Law
Amanda Baggett is a Partner and Founder of Baggett Law. Baggett is not only a personal injury attorney, but she is also an expert in construction law. This unique background gives her specialized expertise in cases involving roadway design and construction issues, including work zone accidents. Prior to Baggett Law, she spent many years working as defense counsel for engineers and contractors in personal injury and wrongful death cases arising from car accidents on Florida roadways. Baggett became Board Certified in Construction Law by The Florida Bar in 2012.
Baggett is a leading female attorney in Northeast Florida. In 2014, she received the Jacksonville Business Journal’s “Women of Influence” award. A longtime advocate of women’s rights and advancement, Baggett is a member of the Jacksonville Association of Women Lawyers and the Florida Association of Women Lawyers. She received an AV Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell, an honor given to only 10% of all attorneys. She has been named to the Super Lawyers List every year since 2009, and repeatedly recognized for excellence in her profession by Florida Trend Magazine. Baggett earned a JD from Mercer University - Walter F. George School of Law and an undergraduate degree in advertising from The University of Georgia.
64. Wendi Carpenter
Gold Star Strategies
Wendi Carpenter is the Founder and Principal of Gold Star Strategies. She founded the company in 2012. Gold Star Strategies is a consulting company providing services in strategic planning, organizational transformation, risk assessment, human capital and corporate governance.
Previously, Carpenter was a high-level advisor to the secretary general at World Maritime Organization. Earlier in her career she worked with SUNY Maritime College as a special envoy for Maritime Matters. Carpenter earned an MA in international relations and affairs from Salve Regina University, an undergraduate degree in psychology from The University of Georgia, and an undergraduate degree in liberal arts and sciences from Darton College.
View the complete list of awardees.
67. Robin Dvorak
Blue Egg
Robin Dvorak is the Founder of Blue Egg. She founded the company in 2008. Blue Egg is for growing businesses with limited staff. They are marketing strategists and tacticians, the thinkers and the doers. They help their clients develop marketing plans and budgets with revenue-producing goals and meaningful key performance indicators. They create differentiated messaging that communicates key value propositions to customers and prospects, they evaluate and implement the right software solutions for delivering, tracking and measuring sales and marketing efforts, and manage tactics like online advertising and social media programs.
Previously, Dvorak was an executive advisor at EyeTraffic Media and before that a VP of marketing at Overture Technologies. Earlier in her career she worked with AT&T in various positions in marketing and strategic planning roles for the Caribbean & Latin America Regions. Dvorak earned an MBA from Duke University - The Fuqua School of Business and an undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame.
70. Cheryl Schreiner
HelmsBriscoe
Cheryl Schreiner is the Associate Regional Vice President of HelmsBriscoe. She first joined the company in 1999. HelmsBriscoe, is the global leader in meetings procurement, streamlines the meeting planning process by managing the time-consuming task of researching, contacting, and evaluating venues for organization’s events. Since 1992, HelmsBriscoe clients have benefited from its global reach, unsurpassed experience, and industry relationships. Whether their clients are booking a large-scale association event, or a smaller corporate function, their team of industry professionals will work to match the meeting with the best venue at the best value based on specific needs.
Schreiner earned an MBA from Nova Southeastern University and an undergraduate degree in hospitality administration from the University of Nevada - Las Vegas.
72. Alison Keefe
EY
Alison Keefe is an Assistant Director of Talent Development at Ernst & Young LLP (EY), where she is an executive coach and internal consultant providing strategic thought leadership and consultation to executives in the areas of organizational development, talent management, high performance teaming, and culture. EY is a multinational professional services network that offers assurance and consulting services. The insights and quality services they provide help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies all over the world.
Prior to joining EY in 2019, Keefe was a HR business partner at CSX Transportation, and served as a manager of organizational development and diversity. She has over 18 years of experience helping organizations, leaders, and their teams to develop and maximize their potential. Throughout her career, Keefe worked in both the public and private sectors including in banking, insurance, consumer products, retail, transportation, and professional services organizations. Keefe holds a master’s in organizational psychology from Columbia University and an undergraduate degree in psychology from Drexel University. She is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), is a member of the International Coaching Federation, and a Coach U Core Essentials Graduate.
76. Tori Fusinaz
Jacksonville Symphony
Tori Fusinaz began her professional career over 27 years ago. Today, she is the Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Jacksonville Symphony. The Jacksonville Symphony is one of Northeast Florida’s most important cultural institutions. Founded in 1949, the Symphony now enjoys a national reputation, regularly heard on more than 250 public radio stations across the country on Performance Today. Combined with performances aired on Jacksonville’s public radio station WJCT and the organization’s continually growing streaming program, the Symphony reaches over 60,000 individuals through these digital channels. The Symphony’s performance home, Robert E. Jacoby Symphony Hall, is an acoustic gem and offers an intimate and acoustically superior concert experience.
Fusinaz first got her start in 1995 as a publications coordinator and editor at Chaz Taylor Inc. From there, she went on to Vision Power Systems, before eventually rising to become a director of marketing at Ashley HomeStore, her most recent position prior to joining Jacksonville Symphony. Fusinaz graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with an undergraduate degree in English and from Columbia College Chicago with an undergraduate degree in film and photography.
79. Vicky Basra
Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center
Vicky Basra began her professional career nearly 20 years ago. Today, she is the President and CEO of Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center. Established in January 2013, the Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center is the outgrowth of the Justice For Girls Reform Movement that began more than 20 years ago. As a national model for a girl-centered approach to juvenile justice reform, the Policy Center advocates for policies and practices that best support the complex needs of girls, especially those impacted by juvenile justice. Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center is a resource for research, model programming and advocacy. It uses political science strategies that integrate the lived experiences of girls in the juvenile justice system. The advocacy platform addresses the policies, processes and practices that result in disparate treatment of girls.
Basra first got her start in 2002 as a co-director of Project Safe at Vanderbilt University. From there, she went on to Family Support Services of North Florida as director of family preservation, her most recent position prior to joining Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center. Basra graduated from the University of Tennessee - Knoxville with a doctorate and master’s in social work and from Ryerson University with an undergraduate degree in social work.
85. Kaye Johnson
The Tolan Group
Kaye Johnson is a Managing Partner and Chief Operating Officer of The Tolan Group. The Tolan Group is a full-service executive search firm recognized for their industry experience and performance driven placement services. Their talented team has a vast network of candidates in healthcare and social enterprise. They take pride in aligning the right talent with their private equity and venture capital clients’ needs, and have a broad experience from start-ups and early stage companies to publicly traded multinational companies. Johnson has nearly 12 years of experience. She began her career in 2010.
Before joining The Tolan Group, Johnson was a trade show and special projects manager at Beaucoup Designs and before that a trade show and event coordinator at Natural Life. Earlier in her career she worked with Carlson Environmental Consultants as a project manager and website manager. Johnson graduated from Virginia Tech with an undergraduate degree in industrial and organizational psychology.
88. Bekkah Clifford
Oyl + Water
Bekkah Clifford is the Creative Director of Oyl + Water, a beauty brand development and marketing agency focused on building brands with purpose. Clifford came to the agency as Art Director in 2017 and was named Creative Director in 2018. Oyl + Water specializes in brand development, strategy, and all things design. With a specialty in sustainable packaging, her work can be seen online in Vogue, Goop, and Allure.
Clifford began her marketing career 20 years ago at Stephen J. Kaufman Public Relations. Prior to Oyl + Water, she served as Multimedia Producer and Branding Specialist at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. Clifford has been nationally recognized for her luxury design aesthetic, winning awards in design, filmmaking, and writing.
View the complete list of awardees.
91. Kimberly Mance
ATD NEFL
Kimberly Mance began her professional career over 15 years ago. Today, she is the Director of the Association for Talent Development of Northeast Florida (ATD NEFL). ATD NEFL is the region's leading resource for workplace learning professionals to network, grow professionally, volunteer with peers, and to keep up-to-date with changes in the talent development field. ATD NEFL provides its members with the knowledge, skills, tools, and resources necessary to ensure ongoing professional development, and the ability to deliver exceptional value to their organizations in the area of workplace learning and performance.
Mance first got her start in 2006 as a human services specialist II at South Carolina Department of Social Services. From there, she went on to State Farm before eventually moving on to become a claims training supervisor at Security First Insurance, her most recent position prior to joining ATD NEFL. Mance graduated from Webster University with a master’s degree in human resources management and services and from the University of South Carolina Upstate with an undergraduate degree in sociology.
93. Chrystal Griffin
Cozymeal
Chrystal Griffin serves as the General Manager for Classpop!, a platform that connects people with fun, social classes — including cooking, dance, pottery and beyond — and operates across the U.S. and Canada. She started as the head of product for Cozymeal, the parent company of Classpop!, helping launch the new company to expand Cozymeal beyond culinary experiences.
Griffin began her career in the Navy working in IT, then completed her undergraduate degree at the University of North Florida and later graduated from the University of Florida with an MBA. She's held a variety of leadership roles at tech companies and enjoys the challenge of being a "change agent" — inspiring and influencing constructive operational shifts within organizations. Griffin is also a managing partner for ACIN Properties, a Florida real estate investment company, along with her husband.
96. Kathleen Schofield
Northeast Florida Regional STEM2 Hub
Dr. Kathleen Schofield is the Executive Director of the Northeast Florida Regional STEM2 Hub. In this capacity, she works to assure equitable access to computer science and STEM learning across the northeast Florida region. Working as a liaison between the corporate community and the school systems, she brings the pulse of the needs for a 21st century workforce as she collaborates with the school districts and universities in the region. She has successfully executed the 21st Century Northeast Florida Workforce Development program, a state appropriation, for two continuous years, bringing access to experiences with cutting edge technologies, such as robotics, coding, drones, and augmented reality to over 75,000 students by working with district leadership teams to develop and infuse innovative approaches to STEM instruction, aligned to standards, into the school day. Further, she has increased access to STEM learning experiences in the after-school setting.
Prior to joining the STEM2 Hub, Schofield served as the STEM Supervisor for the School District of Clay County, serving over 36,000 students in 41 schools. There, she developed a nationally recognized STEM program, in which all schools developed a robotics program. Additionally, she worked alongside the Florida Department of Education to develop the courses for Computer Science Discoveries and Computer Science Principles to be added to the Florida Course Code Directory. Schofield has written and been awarded over $16 million in competitive grants, during her time in Clay County, implementing multiple successful STEM programs yielding strong learning gains for both teachers and students. Schofield holds a doctorate in educational leadership with a focus on human capital management in education. She earned her master’s degree in the integration of technology into math and science and holds a Florida certificate in educational leadership.
View the complete list of awardees.