Leading Through Change: Building Trust, Culture, and Performance with New Leadership

Featured Guest Speakers—

• Melissa Vickers
  Orange County Public Defender
  Law Offices of Melissa Vickers
• Amy Pennock
  Seminole County Supervisor of Elections
• Tiffany Moore-Russell
  Orange County Clerk of Courts

Topic:

Leading Through Change: Building Trust, Culture, and Performance with New Leadership

This panel brings together women in elected leadership to explore what it means to step into an organization following a period of transition. Panelists will share real-world insights on building trust, establishing positive culture, managing resistance, and leading teams through change. The discussion will focus on building credibility, setting clear expectations, and creating psychologically safe, high-performing environments while navigating the complexities of inherited leadership. Attendees will gain practical strategies for leading with clarity, accountability, and emotional intelligence during times of organizational reset.

How This Will Benefit Our Members

Attendees will gain practical strategies for leading with clarity, accountability, and emotional intelligence during times of organizational reset.

Meet Panelist Melissa Vickers
Orange County Public Defender
Law Office of Melissa Vickers

Melissa Vickers is the elected Public Defender for Florida’s Ninth Judicial Circuit, serving Orange and Osceola counties. She is the first female to hold this position in the Ninth Circuit. Board-certified in Criminal Defense Law since 2006, she has more than 27 years of legal experience and has represented adults and juveniles in every phase of criminal cases. Before her election, she worked both in private practice and public defense. Her start at the Ninth Circuit began as an Assistant Public Defender and evolved into leadership roles where she supervised, trained, and mentored attorneys and law students.

Meet Panelist Amy Pennock
Seminole County Supervisor of Elections

Amy Pennock is the Seminole County Supervisor of Elections, bringing a strong background in forensic accounting, financial oversight, and public accountability to election administration. She is the owner of Pennock Consulting Group and has provided CFO and forensic accounting services to organizations nationwide, with prior senior leadership experience in healthcare, construction, and state government.

Amy holds master’s degrees in Business Administration and Forensic Accounting and maintains professional certifications in fraud examination and internal controls. Previously, she served on the Seminole County School Board, including as Board Chair and Audit Committee Chair, where she focused on integrity, governance, and public trust.

A longtime Seminole County resident, Amy is a dedicated public servant, community advocate, and proud mom of three daughters, committed to strengthening public institutions and serving her community with transparency and professionalism.

Meet Panelist Tiffany Moore-Russell
Orange County Clerk of Courts

Orange County Clerk of Courts Tiffany Moore Russell is a native of Orlando, Florida. She received a BA in Political Science from the University of South Florida and a Juris Doctorate from Florida State University College of Law.

Elected to the Orange County Commission to represent District 6 in November of 2006, Clerk Russell made history by becoming the youngest County Commissioner ever elected to serve on the Orange County Commission. Clerk Russell served two terms on the County Commission (2006-2014). Clerk Russell again made history in 2014 as the first African American female Clerk elected in Florida and the first African American Clerk in Orange County.

As Commissioner, and now as a Constitutional Officer, Clerk Russell has a strong commitment to her community. Trained as an attorney, she understands that access to the justice system is crucial, especially for those in the community who are economically challenged.