The Countdown Is On To History Fort Lauderdale And Galleria Fort Lauderdale\u2019s \u201cWomen Trailblazers: Champions Of Change \u2013 Broward County\u201d 2026 Fundraiser And Exhibition<\/p>\n
Six New Empowering Leaders to be Recognized on March 26 at Benefit Reception and Photo Exhibition; Tickets are on sale now<\/p>\n
By Fran Folic<\/p>\n
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL \u2013 The countdown is on to History Fort Lauderdale and Galleria Fort Lauderdale\u2019s \u201cWomen Trailblazers: Champions of Change \u2013 Broward County\u201d benefit reception on 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, at Galleria Fort Lauderdale (2414 E. Sunrise Boulevard). This year\u2019s impactful and inspiring leaders to be honored are Mary Adams, principal consultant and owner of The Employee Relations Group; Monica Cepero, county administrator at Broward County Government; Genia Duncan Ellis, president and CEO at Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale, Inc.; Kristina Hebert, president and CEO of Wards Marine Electric; Suzanne Higgins, director of development at Henderson Behavioral Health and Dara Levan, author, public speaker and board member of Joe DiMaggio Children\u2019s Hospital Foundation\/Memorial Foundation. The Women\u2019s History Month celebration hosted by radio personalities Julie Guy and Tamara Gant, will kick off a special photo exhibit highlighting these women alongside their groundbreaking historical female predecessors who helped to pave the way for our community. The exhibition celebrating their achievements will be on display through April 19.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re looking forward to our annual tradition of celebrating these modern women \u2013 true champions of change \u2013 who continue to fearlessly build the foundation for our next generation of community leaders,\u201d\u00a0 said Patricia Zeiler, executive director of History Fort Lauderdale. \u201cThis year\u2019s role models and achievers have made significant contributions in the fields of human resources, government, journalism, the marine industry, healthcare and community activism. Our great City of Fort Lauderdale has reaped numerous economical and philanthropical benefits from their passionate enthusiasm and desire to help others. We invite the community to join us in celebrating their achievements during Women\u2019s History Month.\u201d<\/p>\n
Past pioneering women counterparts to be highlighted in the photo exhibition include<\/p>\n
Louella Snyder (1875\u20131969), a Fort Lauderdale resident since 1910 who later founded and served as president of the Wells-Snyder Paint Company with M.W. Wells serving as secretary-treasurer; Virginia Clements (1914\u20131995), a member of the Junior League, and the first board chair of Henderson Behavioral Health who was instrumental in the organization\u2019s establishment along with other roles in civic and cultural organizations; Ellyn Ferguson Walters (1927-2012), a 41-yeartenured teacher for Broward Schools, major fundraiser and executive chair of the African American Research and Library Center, founder of the Sistrunk Festival and 1999 Urban League plus Kathleen C. Wright Award-winner; Eva Oliver (1883-1964), first president of the Woman\u2019s Club, chairman of the Port Everglades naming committee, historian, author, philanthropist and suffragist; Anne Kolb (1932-1981), first elected woman chair of the Broward County Commission, environmentalist, conservationist (1978 Florida Wildlife Conservationist of the Year) and namesake of the Anne Kolb Nature Center; and Charline Skogsberg (1906-1999), a Broward County pioneer and daughter of Captain Charles Skogsberg, a keeper of the House of Refuge (U.S. Government life-saving service stations for shipwrecked sailors in Florida), a kindergarten teacher, Trinity Lutheran Church organist and Broward Marine at Bahia Mar employee.<\/p>\n
\u201cGalleria Fort Lauderdale is honored to collaborate with History Fort Lauderdale during Women\u2019s History Month to celebrate female trailblazers in our community,\u201d said Tatiana Juarez, regional marketing director for Galleria Fort Lauderdale. \u201cThe six outstanding honorees truly exemplify the spirit of leadership through perseverance, commitment, and a steadfast determination to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n
All honorees will become part of History Fort Lauderdale\u2019s permanent exhibition space devoted to telling our stories. Past honorees have included Rita Case, Burnadette Norris-Weeks, Susan Renneisen, Juliet Roulhac, Arlene Pecora, Laurie Sallarulo, Heather Geronemus, Stephanie Toothaker, Esq., Ramola Motwani, Sebrina Mar\u00eda Alfonso, Melanie Dickinson, Kareen Boutros, Jennifer O\u2019Flannery Anderson, and Stacy Ritter.<\/p>\n
History Fort Lauderdale and Galleria Fort Lauderdale\u2019s \u201cWomen Trail-blazers: Champions of Change \u2013 Broward County\u201d 2026 is sponsored by UKG, Rick Case Automotive Group, BBX Capital, Henderson Behavioral Health, HNTB, City & Shore PRIME magazine, Gulf Stream Distillery, Dillard\u2019s, P.F. Chang\u2019s, and GPR | Goodman Public Relations.<\/p>\n
Tickets for the March 26 recognition and benefit reception honoring today\u2019s leaders are $50 and are available at bit.ly\/HFLWomenTrailblazers2026.<\/p>\n
For more information about History Fort Lauderdale and Galleria Fort Lauderdale\u2019s \u201cWomen Trailblazers: Champions of Change \u2013 Broward County\u201d 2026, or to join this event as a sponsor, call (954) 463-4431 or visit historyfortlauderdale.org. Additional information about Galleria Fort Lauderdale is available at facebook.com\/GalleriaFtLauderdale or www.galleriamall-fl.com.<\/p>\n
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