Women We Admire is pleased to announce The Top 50 Women Leaders of Florida for 2024. Known for its business-friendly environment, Florida offers a combination of low taxes, cost-saving regulations, available labor, and accessible land, making it a top choice for many corporations and large organizations. Industry leaders thrive in The Sunshine State across diverse sectors including real estate, tourism, financial services, manufacturing, technology, and clean energy.
Among these leaders is health and technology executive Lynn Oster, Vice President of Global Clinical Research and Medical Science for Medtronic. Oster leads Medtronic’s Peripheral Vascular Medical Science Team and is responsible for the company’s evidence pipeline strategy and multi-channel curriculum execution.
Next, we honor the accomplished career of Holly Ramsden, Vice President of Marketing of Tim Hortons, one of the largest restaurant chains in North America and the largest in Canada. With over two decades of experience, Ramsden has delivered brand and portfolio growth for over 30 leading brands within the consumer packaged goods and retail industry.
Lastly, we recognize real estate leader, Sue Silberbusch, President of Sarasota Luxury Homes, Inc. Before transitioning into the luxury real estate world, Silberbusch worked as a trial attorney for 15 years, holding five law licenses. She now has long-standing client relationships and has represented a wide range of respected community members.
Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of The Top 50 Women Leaders of Florida for 2024.
2. Orlena Yeung
Chief Brand Officer, Chewy
As Chief Brand Officer of Chewy, Orlena Yeung leads an organization of more than 200 pet lovers, marketers, creatives, and media planners at the largest pet retailer in the US. Yeung’s teams span brand, product, and retailer marketing, consumer insights, Chewy Health Marketing, Creative Studios, and mass media planning, all of whom deliver exceptional experiences for pet parents, partners, and of course, pets.
Yeung has more than 20 years of experience in driving growth, revenue, and consumer loyalty across diverse industries and iconic brands, including Xbox, CBS Interactive, and Capital One. She continues to apply her passion for building culturally relevant brands that are at the intersection of consumer technology, data, and design.
Before joining Chewy, Yeung was the head of the intelligent customer experiences group at Capital One. Before that, she was a chief product and marketing officer at MDx Medical (Vitals). Earlier in her career, she worked with Microsoft as an Xbox global brand manager. Yeung graduated from the University of Puget Sound with an undergraduate degree in English literature.
4. Lynn Oster
Vice President, Global Clinical Research & Medical Science, Medtronic
Lynn Oster is the Vice President of Global Clinical Research and Medical Science for Medtronic. She first joined the company in 2011 as the director of global medical affairs, peripheral vascular. Medtronic plc is an American-Irish medical device company.
Oster currently leads Medtronic’s Peripheral Vascular Medical Science Team. She is committed to building medical science as a function and practice by structuring her team’s work into clear pillars that drive strategic and scientific collaboration. She is responsible for Medtronic’s evidence pipeline strategy, scientific advisory boards, key opinion leader (KOL) development, podium strategy, publications, congress management, curriculum development, multi-channel curriculum execution, and fellows' education. Oster is the co-chairman of the Medtronic Enterprise-wide Clinical Research & Medical Science Medical Education sub-council.
Previously, Oster was a manager of professional education at Cordis Corporation. Earlier in her career, she worked with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation as a nurse clinician/project manager for clinical trials. Oster earned an undergraduate degree in nursing from Bowling Green State University.
5. Eva Ovejero
Managing Director, Alex. Brown a Division of Raymond James
Eva Ovejero is a Managing Director for Alex. Brown, a Division of Raymond James. With over 24 years of experience in the global wealth management Industry, Ovejero’s primary areas of focus are portfolio management, lending solutions, and international trust and estate planning strategies. She is dedicated to high-net-worth individuals, mostly business owners and their families in Latin America.
Previously, Ovejero was the executive director of wealth management and an international client advisor with Morgan Stanley. Before that, she was an account executive at Lloyds TSB Bank, PLC, and she worked as an investment advisor at Banco Santander. Earlier in her career, she was a representative at the LDI Group of Dynamic Telecom.
Ovejero is a graduate of Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and completed her CPM®, a certification as Portfolio Manager by Columbia University, New York in 2019. She is fluent in Spanish, and she enjoys her profession and providing financial education to the next generation. She is happily married to Daniel Higueras and they have two fantastic adolescents. Eva Marina enjoys living in Miami and Madrid.
8. Noreen Hansen
SVP & DTS Cloud Services Leader, NTT DATA Services
Noreen Hansen is SVP of Hybrid Cloud and Infrastructure for NTT DATA INC. Hansen is responsible for the strategy, design, and execution of all professional services related to the modern hybrid cloud, infrastructure, application modernization, DevOps, database management, and related services, including advanced offerings for optimization, and continuous improvement through managed services. In addition to the advanced capabilities of cloud services, She is also responsible for mainframe modernization rehosting, and cyber security.
Hansen is a transformational and outcome-focused leader. Her entire career has required increased responsibilities to turn around, start-up, and pivot businesses, enabling market disruption and competition. Her successes demonstrate her leadership and passion to drive change while developing high-performance teams; maximizing individual achievement, knowledge development, and repeatable capabilities.
Previously, Hansen held executive roles with IBM, Accenture, Gartner, and HP. She has over 25 years of experience in IT Infrastructure and operations in all verticals. Her areas of expertise are cloud, I&O, FinOps, and value optimization. Over the years, she has gained experience in all areas of IT architecture, design, and delivery of complex transformational enterprise programs across applications and infrastructure with Fortune 100 organizations. She is an avid learner with numerous certifications across the scope of her roles and interests, including finance, project and program management, leading change, cloud, and executive coaching.
10. Melissa Seixas
State President, Duke Energy
Melissa Seixas is Duke Energy’s State President in Florida, serving approximately 1.8 million electric retail customers in Central Florida, including metropolitan St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and the Greater Orlando area. Seixas is responsible for the financial performance of Duke Energy’s regulated utility in Florida and for managing state and local regulatory and government relations and community affairs. She also has responsibility for advancing the company’s rate and regulatory initiatives related to its electric operations.
Before her current position in February 2021, Seixas served as vice president of government and community relations in Florida. She directed efforts to strengthen relationships with local municipal, community, and civic organizations, as well as business leaders throughout the company’s 35-county service area. Her team worked closely with leaders to help communities achieve their energy, growth, and sustainability goals. Seixas has a strong tradition of supporting her community. She has served on numerous boards for nonprofit and business organizations, including the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, the Pinellas County Urban League, the St. Petersburg and Clearwater Chambers of Commerce, and the Pasco Economic Development Council, and she served as chair of the board of directors for the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership. She also has a long history of service to the University of South Florida. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the University of South Florida and as chair of the USF St. Petersburg Campus Board.
Seixas holds a Bachelor’s degree in American History from Eckerd College and a Master’s degree in American History from the University of South Florida. Her executive training includes a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) certification from Johns Hopkins University and programs with the Edison Electric Institute and Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business.
11. Monika Valentine
President, Discovery Medical Services, Discovery Behavioral Health
Monika Valentine is highly effective at conceptualizing and implementing processes and improvements to programs from the ground up to position firms for market growth. She is the President of Discovery Medical Services at Discovery Behavioral Health, which operates treatment centers across the United States. Before that, she served the company as the vice president of business operations for Discovery MD.
Valentine is a results-oriented senior executive with a proven track record of providing operations solutions for several corporations. She has successfully helped turn around and leveraged her experience to promote efficiency across business and healthcare operations. She was previously the director of regional and workers’ compensation consulting at The Redwoods Group/A Crum Forster Company in North Carolina; executive director and CEO of OccMed Colorado; executive director and CEO at OCCOLV, LLC, in Colorado; and director of occupational medicine and specialty practices at HealthOne Clinic Services, LLC, also in Colorado.
Valentine is a student of learning; she earned her undergraduate degree in business administration, MBA, and post-graduate certification in HR at Villanova and attended the Vanderbilt University Leadership Excellence Certificate program. When she isn't working, Valentine and her husband have a private nonprofit, The Valentine Foundation, Inc. Their philanthropy work supports various organizations like Mile High-RETAC, which provides placement of AEDs in underserved communities and makes CPR training available in places where resources are limited.
12. Kellyn Muller
General Counsel, International Materials
Kellyn J.W. Muller is the General Counsel at International Materials (IMI), where she leads the company’s internal legal and risk management functions related to contract, claim, compliance management, international growth opportunities, business partnerships, and joint ventures. IMI, founded in 1987, is one of the leading independent bulk raw material trading companies in the world with $2 billion in revenue.
Before joining IMI, Muller was with Cozen O’Connor for 13 years in several capacities, including member and non-equity partner and office managing partner vice chair in West Palm Beach, Fla. In addition to stellar career accomplishments throughout more than two decades, Muller continues to make her mark in professional roles as well. She is currently president of the International Materials Foundation and a founding member of CHIEF, a private network designed to drive more women into positions of power and keep them there. Her professional achievements include being named a “Pennsylvania Super Lawyer Rising Star” for three years and a Florida Super Lawyer Rising Star,” both distinctions in insurance coverage.
Muller earned an undergraduate degree, cum laude, from Rowan University and a JD with honors from Rutgers University School of Law. While at Rutgers, she received several honors and distinctions, including the 2001 Atlantic Region Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition oral advocacy and appellate brief award, and she was selected as an extern for a senior judge in the US District Court for the District of New Jersey.
View the complete list of awardees.
13. Sue Silberbusch
President, Sarasota Luxury Homes, Inc.
Sue Silberbusch is the President of Sarasota Luxury Homes, Inc., a real estate agent affiliated with real estate broker Compass. Silberbusch brings a unique skill set to the Compass family, boasting five law licenses and 15 years of work as a trial attorney before transitioning into the luxury real estate world. A 1992 Syracuse University College of Law grad, she and her family made Florida their home back in 2000. Before relocating to the Sunshine Coast of Sarasota, Silberbusch and her physician husband raised three wonderful children and became integral members of the Central Florida community, where she set records for sales in luxury real estate for over 20 years
Silberbusch puts her years of experience in the luxury market to work every day to the benefit of her loyal clients. Silberbusch is passionate about her work and highly dedicated to her profession. Renowned and respected in the Florida luxury real estate arena, she has long-standing client relationships and has represented a wide range of respected community members, doctors, lawyers, and professional athletes. Her clients will attest to how integral her legal background is to the added value she brings to each transaction.
An acclaimed expert in selling luxury real estate in Florida, Silberbusch has garnered a reputation as one of the leading residential realtors in the US. She consistently achieves record-breaking sales for her clients. She is honored to have been named to the illustrious Institute of Luxury Home Marketing and Million Dollar Guild for sales exceeding $700 million. She is also a member of Moving Medicine Partners, a national network of professional agents who are the spouses of physicians and refer clients within this network nationally.
15. Jennifer Dixon
Senior Vice President, Nielsen
Jennifer Dixon is the Senior Vice President of Nielsen, a global leader in audience insights, data, and analytics. Dixon supports ongoing operational efficiency and lays the groundwork for future technological advancements and product innovations at Nielsen.
Dixon is a seasoned technology executive, currently serving as the senior vice president at Nielsen. Her career is marked by a deep commitment to leveraging technology for business growth, specializing in strategic IT planning, digital transformation, and operational excellence. She excels in developing and implementing comprehensive technology strategies, aligning them with corporate objectives to drive innovation, efficiency, and significant cost savings.
Before joining Nielsen, Dixon worked with Verizon as a principal software development engineer. She graduated from Quantic School of Business and Technology with an EMBA and graduated from Boston University with an MSC in computer and information systems.
17. Rebecca Radosevich
Chief Human Resources Officer, Stanadyne
Rebecca Radosevich is the Chief Human Resources Officer of Stanadyne. Stanadyne is a global automotive technology leader in engine-based fuel and air management systems. They specialize in pioneering technologies in gasoline and diesel fuel injection systems for the engines that make their world move, and in aftermarket and remanufactured components that help keep those engines on the road.
Radosevich is an HR executive and employment attorney. She is adept at driving operational excellence, fostering legal compliance, and optimizing human capital. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated expertise in crafting innovative HR strategies, implementing legal frameworks, and fostering cross-functional collaborations with a proven track record of enhancing corporate performance through hands-on leadership and strategic legal counsel. She is experienced in managing complex HR initiatives, mitigating risks, and championing employee engagement.
Before joining Stanadyne, Radosevich was an SVP and chief human resources officer at Off Lease Only. Before that, she was a junior partner of the employment law division at The Ticktin Law Group, P.A. Earlier in her career, she worked with Compass Corporation for Recovery Services as a human resources director. Radosevich graduated from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law with a JD. She has a Master's in Human Resources from Clemson University and an undergraduate degree in business administration from Bowling Green State University.
19. Lisa Van Ever
Chief Customer Officer, Coursedog
Lisa Van Ever is the Chief Customer Officer at Coursedog, the academic operations platform, that unifies how higher ed manages scheduling, curriculum, catalogs, and assessment to drive student success.
Van Ever’s extensive knowledge and expertise over the past decade have translated into first-rate customer experiences that align with Coursedog’s core values. She is a visionary leader who has redefined customer engagement, driving Coursedog to achieve unparalleled customer satisfaction and loyalty. Her strategic initiatives have significantly improved the company’s product offerings, resulting in seamless, integrated solutions that benefit students, educators, and administrators alike.
Van Ever is a strong advocate for women in leadership within the tech industry. She actively sponsors women in leadership programs, mentors young female professionals, promotes gender equality, and fosters diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Her efforts have inspired many and helped pave the way for future generations of women to step into leadership roles. Van Ever completed her MBA from DeVos Graduate School of Management at Northwood University and her BBA with a focus on Global Management from Saginaw Valley State University.
22. Derieth Sutton
VP of Economic Development & Government Relations, Niagara Bottling
Derieth Sutton is the Vice President of Economic Development and Government Relations for Niagara Bottling, LLC. Sutton brings over 30 years of public and private sector experience to that position. At Niagara, she is responsible for guiding a team of economic development and governmental affairs professionals through the process for both new and existing domestic and international plant expansions; maintaining cooperative relationships with governmental partners; legislative advocacy; building strategic alliances; incentive negotiation, and community engagement. She has been a part of the Niagara family for more than 16 years and has helped lead the company’s growth from five manufacturing plants to over 50.
Sutton earned a Bachelor’s degree in Electronic Journalism from the University of Oklahoma and completed a second Master’s in Environmental Policy and Management with honors from American Public University. She is a certified economic development professional through the International Economic Development Council (IEDC); and is an Economic Development Finance Professional certified through the National Development Council (NDC). In 2022, Sutton was recognized as an Honorary Life Member through IEDC for her years of service to the profession. Before joining Niagara, she worked in economic development roles in Kansas, Florida, and Maryland.
Sutton is a mentor to those starting in the profession of economic development and is the proud namesake for the University of Oklahoma’s Sutton Scholarship in Economic Development since 2015. She is active in policy advocacy through IEDC; the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA), where she serves as a special advisor to the board; co-chair of the Government Relations Committee; the PAC Board; the State Affairs Task Force; the Plant Siting Sub-Committee; and the Healthy Hydration Task Force. She is a member of the Florida Recycling Partnership Foundation Board of Directors; the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Southeastern Region Representative; and Secretary to the International 501(c)(4) Board known as Zetas in Action. She is Zeta’s Southeastern Regional Representative to the International Sponsorships & Partnerships Committee and is a member of the Juanita M. Smalley Center for Wholeness & Wellness Board of Directors. She also serves as the third vice president of the Tri-City Branch of the NAACP.
23. Courtney Burt
Vice President Community Impact, American Heart Association
Courtney Burt is the Vice President of Community Impact of the American Heart Association, the nation's oldest and largest voluntary health organization. She first joined the team in 2022 as the community impact director.
Burt has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 24 years, primarily in public health and community development. Through the American Heart Association in Tampa Bay, she convenes and collaborates with trusted community-based organizations and health systems to develop health strategies aimed at addressing the social determinants of health in Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties. Her focus areas include eliminating tobacco and vaping utilization, addressing women's health priorities, improving community readiness for cardiac emergencies and other critical health issues, enhancing nutrition security and food access, and preventing and reducing chronic diseases, particularly high blood pressure. In addition to these focus areas, health education and advocacy are fundamental parts of her work.
Previously, Burt was a community outreach coordinator for government and community relations at BayCare Health System. Earlier in her career, she worked with Oregon Health & Science University as a PAS coordinator. Burt earned a Master of Jurisprudence in Healthcare Compliance from Stetson University College of Law and an undergraduate degree in public health from Jurisprudence in Healthcare Compliance.
24. Gina De Caro Sprenger
Chief Strategic Retail Officer, Fanatics, Inc.
Gina De Caro Sprenger is the Chief Strategic Retail Officer of Fanatics, Inc. Fanatics is building a leading global digital sports platform. They ignite the passions of global sports fans and maximize the presence and reach of their hundreds of sports partners globally by offering products and services across Fanatics Commerce, Fanatics Collectibles, and Fanatics Betting & Gaming, allowing sports fans to Buy, Collect, and Bet.
Sprenger has earned a reputation for taking on complex business challenges, defining strategic advantages, and developing a keen understanding of the customer and the business. The breadth and depth of her expertise include business start-ups, expansion strategies, merchandising, operations, marketing, and product development. Sprenger led a multi-billion home pyramid business unit with over 1,700 stores. She was responsible for the overall strategic direction, operations, and financial performance of soft home (domestics), housewares, decorative home accessories, furniture, lawn and garden, stationery, office and school supplies, and all seasonal products and events. She also led a merchandising team of over 300 team members and cross-functional teams, including sourcing, product development, marketing, and merchandise presentation.
Before joining Fanatics, Inc., Sprenger was an EVP of merchandising at Bluestem Brands, Inc. Before that, she was an independent consultant at Sprenger Consulting. Earlier in her career, she worked with Target as a senior buyer and merchandise planner. Sprenger graduated from the College of Saint Scholastica.
26. Cara Chiaramonte
VP of Community & Strategic Initiatives, Her Campus Media
As Vice President of Community and Strategic Initiatives at Her Campus Media, the number one media and marketing ecosystem for college women, Cara Chiaramonte has spent the last near-decade scaling, developing, and managing HCM's campus and influencer communities and supporting its over 50,000 members plus tens of thousands of alumni launch their careers, find their confidence, and build their brands.
Chiaramonte has produced award-winning, large-scale event programming both in-person and virtually, has secured and worked directly with A-list talent, and has partnered with major consumer brands to create one-of-a-kind brand ambassadorship and campus/influencer marketing campaigns. Chiaramonte is passionate about growing communities and businesses with impactful missions that strive to help push women's leadership forward and make the next generation more successful, safer, and smarter than the generations before them.
In addition to her work at Her Campus Media and among other ventures, Chiaramonte serves as business manager for Wives of the Armed Forces, a community of military spouses, such as herself, bonded by their experience with the chaotic military lifestyle and their support of their spouses, one another, and the mission. Chiaramonte received her undergraduate degree in journalism from the University of Florida with minors in Women's Studies and Leadership.
View the complete list of awardees.
28. Adela Gonzalez
CEO, Future Force Personnel
Adela Gonzalez is the CEO of Future Force Personnel. Future Force Personnel, founded in 1992, is a full-service staffing firm that has focused on building lasting relationships with companies, organizations, and job candidates throughout the region they serve. Their clients range from small businesses to large corporations, and their candidates range from entry-level temporaries to highly experienced, full-time professionals.
Gonzalez has 42 years in the staffing and recruiting industry. She is a top professional in recruitment and staffing, ensuring quality service, cost reduction, and benefits to clients. She specializes in the training and selection of qualified personnel. Her specialties include negotiation, client development, and organizational leadership. Before joining Future Force Personnel, Gonzalez was a regional vice president at Personnel One. Gonzalez graduated from Florida State University with an undergraduate degree in clinical psychology.
30. Kristen Sanderson
Chief Diversity Officer & Vice President of Customer Advocacy, GE Digital
Kristen Sanderson is the Chief Diversity Officer and Vice President of Customer Advocacy for GE Digital. As CDO, Sanderson owns the operational goals and priorities related to inclusion and diversity and provides leadership to achieve those goals in partnership with HR and the rest of the senior leadership team at GE Digital and with the other CDOs across GE. As VP, Sanderson is responsible for establishing customer connections into the business, leading the initiative to improve business processes to eliminate defects from their business processes and to drive customer sentiment across Grid Software.
In her 31 years of experience at GE, Sanderson has held many technical and business-focused roles across Engineering, Quality, and Services. She brings a wealth of global experience and knowledge to the energy transition. Most recently, she has led a global team delivering software solutions across asset management, transmission, and distribution that are central to their energy transition strategy.
As an engineer, Sanderson has been a powerful voice representing GE at many international conferences in support of advancements for women in engineering. She’s an active member of the GE Women’s Network and supports many other Employee Resource Groups. Sanderson currently lives in Melbourne, Florida, and holds a BS in Computer Science and Mathematics from Auburn University.
32. Jackie Bushway
SVP & Director of Contracts, Cole Engineering Services
Bushway joined CESI in 2017 as a senior contracts manager and now serves as the Senior Vice President and Director of Contracts. With both private industry and government experience across a breadth of functional areas, she provides in-depth knowledge and a wide range of skill sets and know-how. Cole Engineering Services, Inc. (CESI), a By Light Company, founded in 2004 in Orlando, FL, has grown into a full-fledged leader in the modeling, simulation, and training industry.
Bushway started her career in 2005 as a contracting officer in the US Army Contracting Command. Her experience spans all phases of the acquisition process, including proposal preparation, negotiations, contract management, project control, and successful program execution. Bushway is responsible for key areas of corporate execution while leading strategic projects for the implementation and management of numerous policies, procedures, and internal systems, including government property and export compliance.
Bushway has a Bachelor of Science from Florida State University and a Master's in Business Administration from the University of Central Florida. She is an NCMA-Certified Federal Contract Manager (CFCM) and a former civilian member of the US Army Acquisition Corps supporting the Army Contracting Command as a Contracting Officer.
33. Traci Sihle
Vice President, Sihle Insurance Group
Traci Sihle is the Vice President of Sihle Insurance Group. Sihle, who is a graduate of the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering, works closely with the Personal and Commercial Lines Division and has been in the insurance industry for the past 15 years. Sihle has been successful in building business relationships and strengthening existing ones. Her leadership and creative capabilities have proven valuable in branding Sihle Insurance Group as a premier insurance agency in the state of Florida.
Sihle joined Sihle Insurance Group as a full-time employee after graduating from the University of Florida in Environmental Engineering. Since focusing her full-time efforts there, she has helped Sihle achieve success, leading it to become the 28th largest independent personal lines agency and the top 100 P & C agency in the country. She also serves as the liaison for Sihle’s charitable efforts ensuring Sihle continually gives back to the community. She has served on the board of directors for Ronald McDonald House, raised over $100,000 for Sihle’s first “Hearts Under the Stars” charity for Kids Beating Cancer in 2022, and is involved in many more nonprofit organizations throughout Florida.
Sihle is a licensed 220 general lines property and casualty insurance agent, and she looks forward to carrying the agency’s reputation of trust and integrity to future generations of Sihle Insurance Group customers.
36. Jamie Merrill
President & CEO, Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida
Jamie Merrill is the President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, steering one of the largest Boys & Girls Club organizations in the nation. Under Merrill’s leadership, more than 12,000 youth are served annually across 41 Clubs in six counties. The organization provides a safe and nurturing environment for children from underserved neighborhoods during non-school hours throughout the year. By providing extracurricular enrichment, academic support, and positive adult role models, the organization aims to close the “opportunity gap” for those who need support the most.
A strategic and transformational leader, Merrill brings with her more than 18 years of executive experience serving in both nonprofit and for-profit organizations. Before assuming this role, she spent 17 years as a state and national expert in the senior living and healthcare industries. Most recently, she served as chief operating officer at Sonata Senior Living and previously held the position of senior vice president of operations at Brookdale Senior Living, where she managed the operations of 72 senior living communities across Florida.
Merrill is an active contributor to her community, serving on several local and national boards. Her achievements have been recognized with the prestigious 2022 McKnight’s Woman of Distinction award, as well as many sought-after speaking engagements. She currently serves as an Advisory Board Member for the Greater Orlando Sports Commission and Nemours Children’s Health Ginsberg Institute. She has devoted her career to helping and serving others, as evidenced by her ability to formulate and mentor high-performing teams, as well as developing and leading highly functional leadership development courses. Merrill holds a bachelor’s degree from Wayne State University. She and her husband are proud parents of two children. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, boating, and spending quality time with her family.
38. Mallory Tai Taylor
EVP of Digital Innovation, Abacode Cybersecurity & Compliance
Mallory Tai Taylor serves as President of Abacode, a leading provider of award-winning cybersecurity and continuous compliance across the entire threat landscape. In her previous role, Taylor oversaw the development and ongoing business operations of Abacode’s proprietary digital platform, SCOUT, ensuring the digitization of application solutions to support the Abacode team’s needs.
Formerly serving as Bravado Health’s president and CEO, Taylor restructured the business’s legal and financial structures, positioning both products for acquisition within 15 months. Before Bravado Health, she founded and led MTT Innovations, consulting government entities, nonprofits, healthcare, and technology companies on strategic initiatives for growth. She co-founded and served as CEO of Assess Health, a mental and behavioral health software company delivering instant, mission-critical data reporting on assessments in multiple languages. Taylor’s expertise extends to her tenure at a multi-billion-dollar global conglomerate, where she ran the company’s most profitable M&A strike team, generating over $1.5 billion in new revenue. She engages with political and industry experts, including HHS, and was formerly a member of the White House Business Council.
Taylor has been honored in numerous publications and awards, including being a finalist for EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year in 2019, TBBW Businesswoman of the Year Honoree – Healthcare in 2023, and Apogee Award – COO finalist in 2022. She has been named a TBBJ Up & Comer under 30 & under 40 honorees and received the Businesswoman of the Year Honoree award in 2015, 2016, and 2017. She has also been listed on Business Observer’s 40 Under 40 list. Taylor graduated summa cum laude from LSU with a BA in Political Science and is currently pursuing her Master’s in International Business and Policy from Georgetown University. Her dedication to innovation and excellence continues to drive her success in the healthcare and technology sectors.
40. Peggy Vo
Director of Global Marketing, iFIT Commercial, iFIT
Peggy Vo is a dynamic force in the global marketing arena whose unwavering energy, tenacity, and commitment to innovation have not only catapulted her to the zenith of success but have also reshaped the landscape of major global fitness organizations. With a stellar career spanning over two decades, Vo has been the driving force behind groundbreaking initiatives, from spearheading territory launches and scale-ups to pioneering first-to-market strategies, integrated marketing campaigns, and elevating customer experiences. She currently serves as the Director of Global Marketing for iFit Commercial.
Beyond the boardroom, Vo’s passion extends far into the realm of philanthropy and community service. Recognizing the importance of giving back, she dedicates a substantial amount of her free time to support charities and not-for-profit organizations. Two causes that lie particularly close to her heart are Building Beds and Sleep in Heavenly Peace. In her Florida community, Vo has played a pivotal role in ensuring that every child has a bed to call their own at night. Over the past six years, her efforts have resulted in the delivery of nearly 4,000 beds to families and children in need.
Vo’s remarkable achievements have not gone unnoticed. She has been honored with prestigious awards, including the 2020 Women Who Inspire by IHRSA and recognition among the Good Soul's Top 50 Souls. Her accolades are a testament to her exceptional leadership, innovation, and dedication to making a positive impact both in the business world and the communities she serves. Vo is not just a global marketing leader; she is a visionary whose influence transcends industries, leaving an indelible mark on the world of health, fitness, and philanthropy.
View the complete list of awardees.
43. Lana Bell
Executive Director of Luxury Sales, Douglas Elliman Real Estate
Having worked in sales prior to real estate, Lana Bell always loved the profession and found it to be a natural fit. Due to her go-getter spirit, she recently earned her firm’s Pinnacle Award for the third year in a row, ranking in the top 3% of her company’s agents.
With nearly 30 years of real estate and personal experience in all the Miami area has to offer, Bell has watched the city grow into the metropolis it is today. Specializing in luxury condominiums and single-family residences, she is known by her clients for providing a seamless, five-star experience. She now works with higher-price point properties and can devote valuable time and attention to each client. “I have an incredible daily follow-up protocol,” Bell says. She educates her clients throughout the process and acts as their advocate throughout each transaction.
Bell successfully navigated the pandemic by staying in touch with her network, focusing on digital marketing, and maintaining a positive mindset. She leverages her website and social media to grow her business, and her relentless work ethic has allowed her to triple her productivity over the last year. In addition to her own extensive knowledge of market trends, she credits her unofficial team of management professionals with facilitating growth, an expanded digital footprint, and repeat business.
A member of her national Realtor association and the Institute of Luxury Home Marketing, Bell also works with the Heart Gallery of Broward County, which helps promote the adoption and enrichment of the area’s foster children. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, quality time with family, fitness, and living the South Florida lifestyle.
46. Christina Villar
Head Clinical Affairs, the Medical Office, Philips
Christina Villar joined Philips as Head of Global Clinical Operations in April 2016. In her role, Christina is responsible for overseeing all human and animal research conducted globally across Philips. Every day Christina engages leadership across Philips functional areas and entities to drive change to increase efficiency while ensuring compliance.
Christina is recognized as a Medtech and Pharmaceutical executive and consultant with more than 25 years of experience overseeing public health, policy, preclinical, and clinical research conducted by industry, contract research organizations, academia, and non-governmental organizations. Christina has partnered with international regulatory authorities, including the US FDA, the UK DFID, China NMPA, Japan PDMA, and Netherlands RIVM in designing clinical strategy and for the development and implementation of training initiatives for the industry in the areas of GMP, GLP, vaccine manufacturing, product release and testing, and GCP. Christina also has experience collaborating with CBER, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, BARDA, USAID, World Bank, and other donor/NGO/govt. organizations to establish and fund research and training efforts.
Christina has led the conduct and oversight of anti-infective, surgical, ophthalmology, cardiovascular, immunology, biologics, and oncology device, drug, and combination product studies both nationally and internationally. At Johnson and Johnson Christina led the Vision Care clinical affairs team to conduct more than 400 clinical trials in five years through lean, process-led management. Christina was formerly with Stealth Peptides, Inc. where she conducted preclinical and clinical research in cardiovascular and ophthalmology indications for new chemical entities manufactured in China. Christina has expertise in Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs), and Good Clinical Practices (GCPs) as they apply to research and manufacturing of drug and biological products in Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the United States. Prior to her role with Stealth Peptides, Inc. Christina was Director, of Clinical Research with IOMAI Corporation (currently Intercell Vaccines) where she was instrumental in the development, evaluation and submission of novel vaccine delivery systems combining biologics with a device.
Christina derives her best energy from daily interaction with our employees, customers, and vendors. Christina enjoys meeting and interacting with new business partners every day. Christina focuses on continuous quality improvement and optimization of how they develop and market their products, especially given the focus on artificial intelligence, machine learning, and Software as a Service.
Christina received a Master's in Public Health degree in International Health Policy from George Washington University, Washington DC, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations/Spanish from the American University, Washington DC.
49. Madison Erhardt
Director of Marketing, Cipher
Madison Erhardt is the Director of Marketing at Cipher, a managed security organization and the cybersecurity division of Prosegur. Cipher’s model is to think globally but act locally, offering solutions and services that empower teams and businesses. In her role, Erhardt is responsible for creating impactful marketing strategies to generate revenue and build processes within the organization, in addition to creating content and successful events for Cipher’s brand.
Erhardt graduated from the University of Tampa with a degree in English and Communications. She began her career in the nonprofit sector and later discovered a passion for marketing, particularly with MSSPs, focusing on customer and product campaigns. She has a strong background in demand generation, helping to transform the way enterprises view, approach, and deliver security solutions.
Outside of work, Erhardt is dedicated to mentoring graduate students at the University of South Florida. She enjoys spending time with her friends, family, and tripod pitbull rescue. She loves kayaking and fishing in the Tampa Bay area, and she and her boyfriend travel as often as they can.
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