About
Empowering Like-Minded Women Leaders
An organization built over four decades ago by groundbreaking women to support and empower like-minded leaders in the community. Today, our membership continues to grow and lead with true grit, grace and gusto!
Vision
To be Florida’s preeminent professional organization for successful women leaders.
Mission
Connect, inspire and elevate a diverse group of accomplished women leaders who enrich the community.
Core Values
Professional
Authentic
Being inclusive, genuine, transparent
Supportive
Creating a safe, uplifting, nurturing environment
Connected
Impactful
Expanding scholarships, community engagement, influence
History
Florida Executive Women (FEW) was established in 1980 by Shirley R. Pickford to promote the place of women in the profession and to establish a mutual support system for executive women.
Brief Timeline
Funding FEW
In 1978, Shirley contacted Caroline Wine, executive assistant to Buell Duncan, the Chairman of the Board of Sun Bank (now Truist). Mr. Duncan authorized an award of $500 to support our founding. Shortly thereafter, Shirley met with Terry Harned, the membership secretary of the Citrus Club.
The Citrus Club
The Citrus Club was the most prestigious professional and social Club in Central Florida at the time. Unfortunately, they didn’t allow women to become members. We pushed, built our case and were successful in breaking the barrier that had existed for so many years. FEW was now able to hold luncheons at the Citrus Club and in support, Terry helped to register the name, Florida Executive Women (FEW).
Attracting Members
To qualify as a member, one had to earn $25,000 a year. At that time, only about 2 to 3% of women earned that much. It is equivalent to about $100,000 in today’s dollars. 100% of the first women invited to join, accepted and became the founding members. These founding members and some early members contributed greatly to the growth and development of FEW.
Founding Members
Shirley R. Pickford
Ann Eidson
Patsy Fawsett
Phyllis Grindle
Janice Halker
Terry S. Harned
Virginia Poe
Virginia Roth
Notable Members
Honorable Glenda E. Hood
Former Mayor, City of Orlando
Honorable Toni Jennings
Former 6th Lieutenant Governor of Florida
Martha Hanie
Former Comptroller, Orange County
Rear Admiral Louise Wilmot
Former Military Leader, Naval Training Center
Captain Barbara Beil
Former Military Leader, Naval Training Center
Past Presidents
1980 Shirley R. Pickford
University of Central Florida (Founding President)
1981 Marjorie Bekaert Thomas
Ivanhoe Communications, Inc.
1982 Ann Eidson
George Eidson Agency, Inc.
1983 Charlotte M. Dutton
Dutton & Schwarten Insurance
1984 Jacqueline A. Borrowes
Jammal & Associates, Inc.
1985 Cynthia Sucher
Winter Park Memorial Hospital
1986 Janice R. Springfield
SunBank, N.A.
1987 Kitty Wrenn
Ernst & Whinney
1988 Robyn LaBreck
LaBreck Management Resources, Inc.
1989 Beryl H. Davis
City of Orlando
1990 Margie E. Varney
Greater Orlando Chamber of Commerce
1991 Joane Wiesenfeld Dowd
Promotion Products
1992 Jennie Loudermilk
University of Central Florida
1993 Judy Fontenot, Norell
Temporary Employment Agency
1994 Kathleen Russell
City of Orlando
1995 Shyla Reich
Shyla G. Reich Realty, Inc.
1996 Becky Cherney
Florida Health Care Coalition
1997 Martha Haynie
Orange County Comptroller
1998 Kate Kinsley
Datawise, Inc.
1999 Katherine Vaccaro
Sprint Publishing & Advertising
2000 Sibille Pritchard
Brooksville Development
2001 Beth G. Smith
SunTrust Investment Services
2002 Janet Hardin
Federal Express
2003 Cecelia Rivers
University of Central Florida
2004 Deborah Donovan
Donovan Consulting Group
2005 Francie Owen Dear
Walt Disney World
2006 Norma Stanley
Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed
2007 Kyle Smith
BB&T
2008 Sandra J. Wilkening
Sandra J. Wilkening & Company, P.A.
2009 Diane Trees
University of Central Florida
2010 Laura Cosgrove
Eidson Insurance
2011 Meredith Level
Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed
2012 Kerry Giedd
Eola Eyes
2013 Susie Carlton
Element Funding
2014 Debra Hendrickson
Winter Park Chamber of Commerce
2015 Katie Seymour
Retired
2016 Belinda Cooper
Sunshine Bank
2017 Pam Ghezzi
Oakbridge Wealth Advisory Group
2018 Carol Felsing
Felsing, LLC
2019 Amy Pennock
Pennock Consulting Group
2020 Beverly Paulk
Retired
2021 Verbelee Nielsen-Swanson
Oxford Eyes
2022 Beth Mock LeBlanc
MLB Creative