Women We Admire is pleased to announce The Top 50 Women Leaders of Orlando for 2024. Orlando is an eclectic area known for a wide variety of industries across multiple sectors. As the home of Disney World, entertainment is obviously a top industry. Also high on the list are healthcare, aviation and aerospace, information technology, homeland security, and education. It’s the headquarters for some of the most well-known brands in the world, including AAA, Marriott Vacations Worldwide, Travel + Leisure, and of course, Universal Orlando Resort.
At the helm of Orlando-based enterprises are some of the most experienced, innovative women in business. Among this year’s honorees is VP of Disney Global Travel & Expense Management for The Walt Disney Company, Anne Hamilton. In this role, she provides essential operational and strategic leadership in service of global traveling cast members for the Walt Disney Company.
Also on our list of honorees is a leader in the aerospace industry, Rita Flaherty. She serves as the Vice President of Global Strategy and Business Development for Military Systems at GE Aerospace, a world-leading provider of jet engines, components, and systems for commercial and military aircraft. A business leader with over 25 years of experience, Flaherty is responsible for the creation and execution of GE Aerospace Military Systems’ global growth strategy.
Lastly, we honor Josephine Elmasri. Since 2009, Elmasri has held leadership roles at NASA, the US government agency that explores the unknown in air and space, and now serves as the Chief of Workforce Strategy and Development, where she supervises a high-performing team of civil servants and contractor workers.
Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of The Top 50 Women Leaders of Orlando for 2024.
4. Wendy Vizek
Vice President, Field Operations and Constituent Events, Alzheimer's Association
Wendy Vizek is the Vice President of Field Operations and Constituent Events for the Alzheimer's Association, the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support, and research. Their mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research, to provide and enhance care and support for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Their vision is a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.
Prior to her promotion to the VP level, Vizek served the organization as a senior director and a director. Before working for the Alzheimer’s Association, she was the senior income development officer for the American Cancer Society for over 10 years. She has also served the community as a volunteer, giving her time as a member of 100 Women Strong, A Giving Circle at Central Florida Foundation and as an advisor for the Kappa Delta Sorority.
Vizek graduated from University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business with an MBA and MS in nonprofit management from University of Central Florida.
5. Aimee Keller-Pickford
Chief Operating Officer, AdventHealth Altamonte Springs
Aimee Keller-Pickford is the Chief Operating Officer of AdventHealth Altamonte Springs. With a sacred mission of Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ, AdventHealth is a connected system of care for every stage of life and health, with more than 90,000 team members across hundreds of care sites, including physician practices, hospitals, outpatient clinics, home health agencies, and hospice centers who provide individualized, holistic care.
A compassionate, thoughtful leader, Aimee has a shared vision with AdventHealth to focus on whole-person health, as well as a commitment to making communities healthier. In her current role, she relies on a myriad of professional skills, she has extensive experience in service line and operational leadership, including budgeting, digital imaging, business process improvement, and project management. Aimee serves the community through inspiring healthcare professionals in the pursuit of delivering the best, high quality care to those her organization is serving, her goal is to surpass the experience of patients, families, physician partners and the team members she feels blessed to work with.
Over the course of her 30 year commitment to AdventHealth, she has served in a variety of roles, but she is clear – her role is to serve the employees and providers in a Christ like manner, living the Mission and Vision of AdventHealth. Aimee graduated from Capella University with a Master of Health Administration in Leadership Development. She has continued her education, completing the AdventHealth Physician Team Leadership Program, issued by Harvard Business Publishing Corporate Learning.
9. Whitney Jones
Senior Vice President of Marketing, Outreach, Admissions, & Clinical Access, Acorn Health
Whitney Jones is an engaging marketing executive with more than 15 years of strategic healthcare marketing leadership. She serves as the Senior Vice President of Marketing, Outreach, Admissions, and Clinical Access at Acorn Health, a foremost regional provider of applied behavior analysis. Jones joined Acorn Health in 2020 as the head of marketing as the business poised itself to scale and was instrumental in driving Acorn Health from 20 locations to 75 with the goal of expanding access to care.
Jones has a unique talent for creatively solving new business challenges and headwinds while driving the overall marketing strategy and remaining connected to the details of optimizing processes and communications for patients starting care. Prior to joining Acorn Health, she served as the director of enterprise digital marketing and e-commerce at Cardinal Health, where she designed and implemented digital marketing strategies, directed thought leadership programs and led a global email marketing team. Previously, she held a VP of Marketing role with a leading minimally invasive spine group, where she helped drive expansion through national marketing campaigns and supported the patient experience through digital programs.
Jones earned her Bachelor's degree in Advertising from the University of Florida and has a Master’s in Marketing Strategy from Cornell University.
10. Shelli Girard
Vice President of Software Development, Sagent
Shelli Girard, the VP of Software Development at Sagent, makes the fintech future real while adding a steady hand in a rough market cycle. Sagent powers America’s top bank and non-bank lenders to engage, care for, retain, and modernize the homeownership experience for millions of borrowers. Servicers use their flexible, scalable, and configurable solutions to engage borrowers and earn customer loyalty, lower servicing costs, ensure compliance, and increase the value of servicing rights throughout full market cycles.
Through Girard’s forthright, collaborative leadership, she delivers experiences that serve not just homeowners, but also lenders, banks, investors, GSEs, regulators, and ecosystem partners. Girard builds and evolves Sagent’s cloud-native, open API platforms that power daily servicing, default management, and homeowner care and retention in America’s $12 trillion mortgage servicing market.
Girard is the executive technical lead for several of Sagent’s servicing platforms. She has combined her computer science education with more than seven years of expertise in the mortgage ops trenches to build industry-changing LOS, decisions, and default-management platforms. Her hybrid resume is perfectly suited to meet today’s market priority of rewiring America’s giant mortgage servicing industry for homeowners, banks/lenders, investors, regulators, and the fintech ecosystem overall.
13. Dr. Heather Bigard
President, Lake-Sumter State College
Dr. Heather Bigard is the seventh president of Lake-Sumter State College, and the first female to hold the role. Under Bigard’s transformational leadership, the college is on a bold journey to become the community’s college of choice for quality education and career training. President Bigard has initiated a campus revitalization with the implementation of a strategic plan through 2026 that emphasizes access to higher education, workforce development, and student success. LSSC has seen record student enrollment numbers in 2024 and continues to experience student growth toward a goal of serving 10,000 students per year by 2026.
President Bigard is leading the expansion of academic programs, particularly in high-demand industries such as healthcare, to meet the needs of students and employers in the region. In 2023, Bigard oversaw the opening of the College’s first new location in 24 years in the Four Corners area of Lake County and secured $17.5 million in state funding for a new Workforce Development Center on the Leesburg Campus.
President Bigard is a first-generation college student and worked an on-campus job to help fund her own undergraduate education. She brings over 25 years of experience across a wide portfolio of higher education leadership to her role at Lake-Sumter State College. She received her Doctorate in Higher Education and Organizational Change and a Master’s degree from Benedictine University, in addition to her Bachelor’s degree from Lambuth University. Bigard resides in the Clermont area with her husband and has two children, a recent graduate and current student at Lake-Sumter State College.
14. Donna Walker
Chief Executive Officer, IMA Medical Group
Donna Walker is the Chief Executive Officer of IMA Medical Group, a visionary and dynamic company focused on high-quality primary care services, with doctors and professionals dedicated to the health and well-being of the elderly. With locations throughout Central Florida, they reiterate their commitment to providing quality medical care and an exceptional experience at each visit.
Walker is a Certified Public Accountant with over 30 years of experience in healthcare with an emphasis on value-based care. She is a senior leader who specializes in aligning financial strategies with operating strategies and developing scalable organizational infrastructures. Her career has spanned both payers and providers, including United Health Care, Optum, and Landmark.
Walker is a strategically oriented senior financial leader with a strong diversified background. She specializes in helping companies turn around difficult operational deficiencies, improve medicare risk adjustment payments and processes, streamline procedures and processes, and rationalize and build strong teams. She excels in team building and leadership augmented by her technical skills and extensive experience. Walker graduated from California State University, Fullerton, with an MBA and from Chapman University with an undergraduate degree in accounting.
17. Lashea Reaves
Senior Vice President & Director of DEI Business Administration & Risk, Truist
Lashea Reaves is the Senior Vice President and Director of DEI Business Administration and Risk of Truist. At Truist, their purpose is to inspire and build better lives and communities by meeting client needs, empowering teammates, and lifting up communities. In her role, Reaves oversees the strategic direction and execution of risk management, compliance, and governance for the DEI function across the enterprise.
With over 15 years of HR experience, she has a proven track record of leading and transforming talent acquisition, strategic innovation, and employer brand marketing in the financial services industry. She uses cutting-edge AI technology and data analytics to identify, attract, and retain top talent and disrupt the competitive landscape with thought leadership and storytelling. She is also passionate about empowering the next generation of leaders through financial literacy and education, and she serves as the executive director of 8 Cents in a Jar, a nonprofit organization that aims to equip youth with the skills and knowledge to achieve financial independence and success.
Reaves first got her start in 2005 as a universal banker at Hancock Bank. From there, she went on to Regions Bank, before eventually rising to vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion and senior manager at First Horizon Bank, her most recent position prior to joining Truist. Reaves graduated from Nova Southeastern University with an MS in human resources development and strategic management and from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University with an undergraduate degree in accounting, finance, and economics.
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20. Hope Valentine
President, CSI DMC
Hope has been in the events industry for over 28 years and has been an integral part of CSI DMC’s senior leadership team for 12 years, most recently
serving as Chief Sales Officer. A Florida native and graduate of the University of Central Florida, Hope has developed and managed large, complex programs for FORTUNE 500 Companies such as Ford, Procter & Gamble, CVS, Honda, and Wells Fargo before bringing her expertise to CSI DMC. She has been instrumental in the overall growth of CSI DMC by implementing a more regional format, making location expertise and relationships a priority. “Embracing the privilege and responsibility of leadership, I am honored to serve as the President of this incredible company. Together, we will chart new horizons, foster innovation, and build a future where we nurture relationships and provide an exceptional client experience. Our journey is a collective endeavor, and I am excited to lead and collaborate with an exceptional team.”, shares Hope. She adds, “The past 28 years in this industry have provided me with many lessons, proud moments, an eye for detail, and most importantly lifelong friendships. I look forward to embarking on this adventure together, driven by a shared vision and fueled by the passion to achieve greatness. The best is yet to come for CSI DMC!”
Hope’s leadership and personal mentorship style have been instrumental to the overall growth of all employees, across all departments, within CSI DMC. Tom Hubler, Chief Operating Officer says, “Hope has become one of our industry’s most proven successful entrepreneurs. She leads with a pure sense of confidence, sincere interest, and care for our industry and our clients and is aspirational to every employee’s personal career goals.”
21. Lori Gustafson
EVP, Chief Membership & Commercial Services Officer, Marriott Vacations Worldwide
Lori Gustafson is the Chief Membership and Commercial Services Officer for Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation, a leading global vacation company that offers vacation ownership, exchange, rental and resort, and property management, along with related businesses, products, and services. A member of the company’s executive committee since 2020, Gustafson oversees the company’s membership, travel services, and brand and digital teams. In her role, she manages membership business lines, including Interval International, as well as key enterprise shared service groups supporting all business lines.
Previously, Gustafson served Marriott Vacations Worldwide as the chief brand and digital officer, during which time she oversaw the growth of the enterprise’s global brand footprint and led several global centers of excellence encompassing business transformation, digital products, customer experience, data and analytics, brand and communications, and product development and innovation. She has been a key leader in transformational business initiatives that drive digital innovation, commercial benefits, positive customer experience, and growth. Before joining Marriott Vacations Worldwide, Gustafson served as senior vice president of global brands and digital at Travel + Leisure Co., where she was responsible for driving the global brand and digital marketing strategy, including the vacation clubs’ portfolio and the RCI exchange business. During her tenure, Gustafson spearheaded the transformation of new branding for both Wyndham Destinations and Panorama, a portfolio of more than 10 brands, resulting in greater competitive advantage and brand affinity.
Earlier in her career, Gustafson provided her digital expertise to Darden Restaurants, where she worked on enterprise initiatives for their collection of brands, including Red Lobster, Olive Garden, The Capital Grille, LongHorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, and Seasons 52. A native of Orlando, Florida, Gustafson is a graduate of the University of Central Florida, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Interpersonal Communications. She later completed the Embracing Leadership Excellence Program at Rollins College. She serves on the Orlando Economic Partnership Board of Directors and is a member of Women Leading Travel & Hospitality.
24. Laure Bolla
Vice President FP&A VGS, Verizon
Laure Bolla, Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis (CFO) for Verizon Global Services and Corporate functions at Verizon, is responsible for leading the FP&A function of various C-Level organizations. She has experience in areas, such as FP&A, strategic planning, accounting, internal audit, and finance transformation. With her robust background, strong business acumen, and passion for driving top-line growth, Bolla is a champion for transformation and is an innovative leader who focuses on developing and empowering employees to provide the best services in support of their customers and stakeholders while keeping digital transformation at the core of her efforts.
Bolla is an advocate for developing, mentoring, and motivating high-performing teams. She’s passionate about building a culture around transparency and accountability to ensure her team is always seen in the highest regard with value-added results and has a unique ability to create the storyline and sell it to leadership. She’s also heavily involved in her company’s volunteer program and has fostered a positive workforce where volunteering is encouraged and embraced by all.
Bolla holds an MBA from Centenary College, a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Texas Tech University, and a Certification in Data Sciences from Seton Hall.
28. Nicole Hagopian
Head of Marketing Partnerships, TONOMUS Entrepreneur Institute, TONOMUS
Nicole Hagopian is a global partnership architect with over 20 years of experience working with Global 500 companies and has established long-term partnerships across a range of industries and countries. She has successfully driven over $1 billion in contract value through her ability to deliver fiscal results through value creation, strategic thinking, hyper-creative problem solving, and exceptional interpersonal skills.
She currently serves as the Head of Marketing Partnerships and Entrepreneur Institute at TONOMUS and has held several other positions including Chief Commercial Officer, Head of TONOMUS Venture Studio, and as the Director of Channel Alliances and Partnerships.
She has attained several notable achievements with TONOMUS including negotiating and closing $600 million in new business within the first six months, established TONOMUS Venture Studio, led the blank-slate creation of the TONOMUS Global Channel Partner Program from the ground up, and led the strategy and execution for the TONOMUS brand launch at NEOM.
Prior to these roles, she worked for notable Global 500 companies including the Walt Disney Company, Sanofi, and Nike, where she worked alongside C-Suite executives and industry leaders to deliver hundreds of million dollars to the bottom line.
Nicole holds a BA in marketing and international business from Portland State University, and an MBA from Florida International University.
29. Danielle Mulligan
Assistant Vice President, Strategic Communications and Community Affairs, Chesapeake Utilities
Danielle Mulligan was appointed Assistant Vice President of Strategic Communications and Community Affairs for Chesapeake Utilities Corporation in May 2020. She joined Florida Public Utilities Company in 2010, where her most recent position was Director of Growth and Retention. Mulligan is responsible for overseeing the Company’s internal and external communication strategies, shaping energy industry discussions, and enhancing brand reputation.
She served for two years as the vice chair of the Growth and Retention Managing Section Committee for the Southern Gas Association and two years as chair of the Marketing Committee for the Florida Natural Gas Association, which named her the 2018 Fred Pryor Marketing Person of the Year. Under Mulligan’s leadership, FPU’s marketing team received several communications strategy awards from the SGA, PRNEWS, Chartwell, and most recently from the Governor’s Hurricane Conference. In her previous roles as director of communications and marketing for Chesapeake Utilities Corporation and director of marketing and energy conservation for FPU, Mulligan coordinated communications campaigns for company-wide initiatives, including the response to Hurricanes Michael and Irma, preparations for Hurricane Dorian, and the communications strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mulligan earned an MS in strategic public relations from The George Washington University and an undergraduate degree in business marketing from the University of Phoenix.
30. Pilar Carvajal
Founder & CEO, Innovation Senior Living
Pilar Carvajal is a leading innovator in the senior housing industry. As Founder and CEO of Innovation Senior Living, she oversees all aspects of the company and is actively involved in operations and growth. Carvajal has deep experience managing businesses that incorporate affordability, residential, and healthcare facets. She demonstrates both excellence in using government programs to subsidize services for fixed-income seniors and innovation in providing sensible living solutions for middle-income seniors. She believes everyone should live a dignified life, regardless of social or economic background. Profits with a conscience is Innovation Senior Living’s core tenet and that tenet continues to drive the growth of her company.
Prior to creating Innovation Senior Living, Carvajal was the COO of Mia Senior Living Solutions. For 15 years, she oversaw the nationwide strategic development and day-to-day operations for the affordable assisted living and adult day communities the company managed. Prior to her senior living career, Carvajal worked as a management consultant for the leading management consulting firm Accenture in New York City.
Carvajal has a Master of Science from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor of Arts from Smith College. She is a Goldman Sachs 10000 Small Business Program Alumni and Miami and Winter Park Chamber of Commerce Leadership Graduate. She is also a graduate of the SBA Emerging Leaders program. She sits on the Florida Senior Living Association Board and serves on the Senior Living 100 Advisory Board. She is also a mentor in the Argentum Women in Leadership Program. She served on the NIC Fall Conference Committee from 2020 to 2022. She has been a speaker at senior living conferences, including National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care, Senior Living 100, Leading Age, Argentum, Interface, and Florida Assisted Living Association.
33. Denise Nicholson, Ph.D.
Chief Operating Officer & Vice President of Mission Portfolios, Soar Technology
Dr. Denise Nicholson is the Chief Operating Officer and VP of Mission Portfolios of Soar Technology. Soar Technology, LLC. is a spin-off of the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at the University of Michigan and is rooted in cognitive science and innovative multidisciplinary research. With a deep understanding of human perception, memory, performance, learning, and emotion, the SoarTech team of scientists and engineers from leading universities integrates domain knowledge analysis and systems engineering with user design features that perform the way humans do.
Dr. Nicholson is a leading executive known for her unique blend of technical expertise and business acumen, spanning government, academia, and industry. Her impact at SoarTech is profound, professionalizing business development and project execution processes in preparation for a recent successful managed acquisition. With a focus on AI/ML technologies, Nicholson contributes to various DoD domains, including Autonomy, C4I, and Training and Simulation. She excels in concept creation and ensures effective project execution through staff alignment.
As the head of the engineering team, she fosters an innovation-driven culture, achieving key performance indicators that significantly contribute to SoarTech's growth. Nicholson's multi-faceted background and strategic prowess position her as a key player in shaping the future of AI technology for the military's toughest challenges. Her unwavering commitment to excellence and ability to lead mission-critical initiatives set her apart as a dynamic leader in the field, making her a driving force behind SoarTech's success. Nicholson graduated from the University of Arizona with a PhD and an MS in optical science and from Clarkson University with an undergraduate degree in electrical computer engineering.
34. Christina Padron
Vice President of Partnerships and Growth, Dynepic, Inc.
Christina Padron is an experienced principal investigator, program manager, researcher, and human factors engineer with over 15 years of experience in managing the design, development, and evaluation of virtual assessment and training tools for a variety of military research organizations. In her current role as VP of Partnerships and Growth at Dynepic, Inc., she is responsible for the leadership of strategic partnerships that facilitate the Dynepic ecosystem of integrated training and operational products, as well as leadership over Dynepic’s growth opportunities. Padron is passionate about working closely with all stakeholders, including ecosystem partners and military and commercial customers, to ensure that their needs are seamlessly met.
Padron’s prior experience included managing cross-functional teams in the development of multiple AR/VR/MR (augmented, virtual, and mixed reality) and computer-based training systems, including an MR training system to train collective tasks in an M1 Abrams tank, an AR application that trains tactical combat casualty care tasks, and an AR application for training and on-the-job support for ship-based and aviation maintenance. She has a proven track record of building and maintaining strong stakeholder relationships – from customers to end users, leading teams in ideating innovative product concepts, leading successful proposals to fund the work, and developing and delivering high-quality products on time and within budget to satisfied customers. She has additional experience in product design, manufacturing, logistics, and human factors engineering, working for companies, such as IBM, GE, and Caterpillar.
Padron holds an MS from Penn State University in industrial engineering with a focus on human factors and a BS from Purdue University in industrial engineering.
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35. Cherisa Jerez
Vice President of Operations & Co-Founder, Ashire Technologies
Cherisa Jerez is the Vice President of Operations and Co-Founder of Ashire Technologies & Services, Inc., a company specializing in cyber security support for federal information systems. She co-founded the company with her husband, and together, they are focused on growing their team and supporting multiple projects within the Department of Defense. They currently provide team members to provide dedicated cybersecurity support to government systems in Dayton, Ohio, and Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Bilingual in English and Spanish, Cherisa Jerez is a proud Latina. Originally from Miami, Florida, and raised in El Paso, Texas, she graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso with a BBA in Accounting. She holds an MBA from Webster University and a DBA in International Business from Liberty University. Jerez was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the US Army Signal Corps and served on active duty in Fort Bliss, Texas, and in the Army Reserves at Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico, and Fort Jackson, South Carolina, for a total of nine years of service, completing a branch transfer from the Signal Corps to the Finance branch and earned the rank of Major.
Most recently, Jerez became a contributing author to the Space Force Association’s quarterly magazine. She had the distinction of reporting on General Saltzman’s roundtable discussion at the Space Power Conference and looks forward to providing continued support for the nation’s newest military personnel – the Space Force’s Guardians. A proud mother and grandmother, Jerez currently lives in St. Cloud, Florida.
36. Brittany Benson
Head of Digital Operations for Gas Services Central Execution Unit, Siemens Energy
Brittany Benson currently serves as a leader in the Siemens Energy Gas Services business area as the Head of Digital Operations for the Central Execution Unit which is focused on the large scale power generation industry. Siemens Energy is one of the world’s leading energy technology companies. The company works with its customers and partners on energy systems for the future, thus supporting the transition to a more sustainable world.
Brittany is a Florida native who graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Mechanical Engineering degree and has been working for Siemens Energy for over 14 years. She started her career as a field service engineer traveling across the USA leading maintenance outages for power utility customers where she developed her passion for the energy industry. She’s had other roles in project management and technical sales where she worked directly with customers to support their asset management goals. Currently as the Head of Digital Operations she is using her broad experience to lead the digital transformation of the business processes within Siemens Energy.
Brittany is not only passionate about technology but also about the people who are the human energy to drive the future energy transition. She has a long history of being involved with various inclusion and diversity initiatives at Siemens Energy including being a chair of the Orlando Women’s Impact Network ERG and also serving as the Gender Champion for the US Inclusion and Diversity Council. Brittany is also very active in her community volunteering at local schools to educate and spark students interest in the science, engineering and technology fields. When she is not working, Brittany enjoys being outdoors and spending time with her husband, three boys and two dogs.
37. Susanna Madden
CEO, Thrive Resources
Susanna Madden is the CEO of Thrive Resources. Founded in 2009, Thrive Resources exclusively serves private equity firms and their portfolio companies, as well as high-performing executives. Their firm understands that a company's success is deeply rooted in the talent of its people and an individual's success is only as strong as their foundation. Through their services, they connect their clients with top talent and customized solutions. These solutions include executive search, assessments, executive coaching, and backable CEO introductions.
Madden is an experienced CEO with a demonstrated history of working in the middle market and private equity human capital. She’s a strong senior executive, skilled in talent acquisition and development, private equity, human capital, business development, middle market, risk management, and natural gas hedging. She works extensively with portfolio company senior leadership teams and has extensive senior executive coaching experience.
Madden first got her start in 1993 as a vice president at Bankers Trust. From there, she went on to Coral Energy, before eventually rising to founder and CEO at Smooth Engine, her most recent position prior to joining Thrive Resources. She graduated from Hamilton College with an undergraduate degree in economics, English, and math.
38. Karen Tilstra
Founder and President, Creativity Effect
Karen Tilstra is a published author and the Founder and President of the Creativity Effect. She’s a driving force in the innovation sector. With 14 years under her belt, she's established innovation labs for healthcare, sports, government, and universities, including Fortune 500 collaborations. She's responsible for the first-of-its-kind design thinking lab in several sectors and has co-developed the nation's inaugural undergraduate program in innovation and social entrepreneurship at Rollins College. Tilstra also co-created two innovative leadership programs – The Revolutionaries and the Orchard Model of Innovation.
Her academic roles span the USA and Asia, including a visiting professorship at AdventHealth University and an executive fellowship at Santa Clara University from 2015 to 2020. She's held esteemed positions on various innovation advisory boards in the US and Europe. A two-time TEDx speaker with an extensive speaking portfolio, Tilstra and her team have successfully completed over 610 design thinking projects, earning three innovation awards.
In addition to her innovation pursuits, she's a licensed Educational Psychologist with a PhD in Creative Leadership. As an author, she's penned The Deathline: Stopping the #1 All-Time Killer of Human Potential (2022) and 101 Ways to Ignite Collaboration, Boost Creativity & Fuel Innovation (2023). Tilstra resides in Florida, where she enjoys the art scene with her artist husband. She frequently visits her beloved grandchildren in California.
47. Shelley Williams
Director of Global Sales, Hard Rock International
Shelley Williams is the Director of Global Sales of Hard Rock International. Hard Rock International is one of the most globally recognized companies with venues in over 70 countries spanning 265 locations that include owned and licensed or managed Rock Shops®, live performance venues, and cafes.
Williams is a business catalyst and connector of people and products with over two decades of experience in the hospitality and entertainment industry. Her core competencies include securing and maintaining key accounts and relationships, growing market share and revenue, driving EBITA and customer satisfaction, and delivering visionary sales leadership and innovative solutions. She is passionate about creating and curating guest experience programs that reflect their brand values and messages and that generate lasting impressions and loyalty.
Before joining Hard Rock International, Williams was vice president of sales at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City. Before that, she was a Canadian chair at Meeting Professionals International. Earlier in her career, she worked with the University of Windsor as a department head of conference and accommodations. Williams graduated from Carleton University with an undergraduate degree in social science, international relations, and commerce.
48. Elissa Hill
Senior Director, Collegiate Tennis, United States Tennis Association
Elissa Hill is the Senior Director of the United States Tennis Association (USTA), the national governing body for the sport of tennis and the recognized leader in promoting and developing the sport's growth at every level in the United States, from local communities to the crown jewel of the professional game, the US Open. Established in 1881, the USTA is a progressive and diverse not-for-profit organization whose volunteers, professional staff, and financial resources support a single mission – to promote and develop the growth of tennis.
Hill first joined the association in 2011 as manager and coordinator of collegiate tennis. Previously, she was a head women's tennis coach at the University at Albany. Before that, she was an assistant women's tennis coach at Washington State University. Earlier in her career, she worked with American University as an assistant women's tennis coach.
Hill earned an EdS in educational leadership from Liberty University, and an MS in higher education administration from the University at Albany, SUNY. She has an MS in health promotion and an undergraduate degree in sociology from Virginia Tech.
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