Business and Professional Women recently welcomed Laura Starkey, Executive Director of Heartwood Preserve Conservation Cemetery, for a fascinating and thought-provoking luncheon exploring a very different approach to burial—one that brings together conservation, community, and our connection to the natural environment. What if a final resting...
Our September luncheon with Christine Laurenzi, Founder & Director of Indi-ED, was an inspiring reminder of what can happen when young people are trusted, challenged, and given the opportunity to lead. Christine shared her vision for education and the innovative approach behind Indi-ED, an experiential...
Business and Professional Women enjoyed an inspiring and thought-provoking luncheon featuring Julie Rocco, an emerging national thought leader, speaker, and social entrepreneur whose work focuses on the intersection of connection, belonging, leadership, and community well-being. Julie shared her insights on a powerful question: What if...
The Business and Professional Women of St. Petersburg-Pinellas welcomed attorney Zachariah Wade for an informative and engaging luncheon focused on the importance of participating in Florida’s primary elections. Zachariah shared valuable insight into why primary elections matter, emphasizing that although they traditionally experience lower voter...
The Business and Professional Women of St. Petersburg–Pinellas recently welcomed Mayor Kenneth T. Welch, the 54th Mayor of St. Petersburg and the first African American mayor in the city’s history, for an engaging and informative luncheon discussion on the future of our community. A proud...
On April 2, BPW/St. Petersburg – Pinellas hosted an engaging and thought-provoking luncheon featuring guest speaker Melissa Wojewnik. Her presentation, “LGBTQ+ Elders and the Cost of Being Invisible,” offered powerful insight into the unique challenges faced by older LGBTQ+ adults in care settings—from discrimination and...
On Thursday, March 5, 2026, BPW/St. Petersburg–Pinellas welcomed David Jolly, Democratic candidate for Governor, for an engaging and informative luncheon. Attendees had the opportunity to hear directly from Jolly as he shared his vision for the future of Florida and the issues most impacting residents...
Business and Professional Women of St. Petersburg–Pinellas for our February 5 luncheon welcomed an extraordinary speaker, Dr. Alicia Billington. A proud St. Petersburg native, Dr. Billington brings an inspiring blend of innovation, leadership, and advocacy to her work. Dr. Billington, holds a Master of Engineering...
On January 8, 2026 we began our new year with Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Charlie Justice. We are thrilled to be able to welcome BPW/SPP longtime friend, Charlie Justice, to our first program/meeting of 2026. Charlie gave an update on what...
In December we had an insightful and compassionate presentation by Deb Johnston, a seasoned independent care manager with over 25 years of experience helping families navigate the often overwhelming world of eldercare. Deb has dedicated her career to guiding families through the challenges of caring for aging...
Our speaker for November was Lauren Bell, Chief Operating Officer for the St. Pete Innovation District. The St. Pete Innovation District (SPID), established as a public-private partnership in 2016, now has membership exceeding 50 organizations within the Life Science, Marine Science, and Technology sectors, as...
on October 2, 2025 as we welcomed longtime friend of BPW/St. Petersburg-Pinellas and PSTA Chief Planning and Community Affairs Officer, Darden Rice. Darden joined PSTA with 15 years of success in driving community engagement initiatives and communications/media campaigns. There are so many things going on...
Suncoast Center has been serving the residents of Pinellas County since 1944, remaining steadfast in their mission to strengthen, protect, and restore lives for a healthy community. One year ago, Jean D. Pierre joined Suncoast as the new President and CEO, and has already made...
On Thursday, August 7, Weaponbrand joined Business and Professional Women of St. Petersburg-Pinellas for a vital program that will empower you to protect yourself and those around you. Brian and Jamie, cousins and co-founders of Weapon Brand, bring a unique blend of expertise and passion...
Our luncheon meeting on Thursday, July 10, we were proud to welcome Greta Langhenry, Co-Founder and President of Level Ump, as our guest speaker. Greta is a trailblazing umpire and advocate for increasing diversity in professional baseball officiating. With a mission to open doors for...
Thinking about starting or expanding your own business? Are you exploring turning your passion into a side-hustle? Join us at our June meeting where Tracey Smith, manager of The Greenhouse, will share the amazing resources that are available to help you on your entrepreneurial journey....
At our BPW meeting on April 3, member Julie Brokaw shared a Cybersecurity Moment with us. Julie’s expert tips as a cybersecurity professional will help all of us keep our devices and communications safer, no matter how technically inclined you are (or not). More about...
Are you interested in getting involved in local, state, federal initiatives that you’re passionate about, but haven’t quite found your voice or believe that your voice will be heard? Our March 6th luncheon speaker was Tricia Manning, who provided insight into how to “Unleash the...
Our February luncheon saw us going RED, in awareness of American Heart Month. Our guest speaker, Courtney Burt, Vice President of Community Impact for the American Heart Association in Tampa Bay, discussed how to reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause...
Kristin Smith of Raymond James and Associates will share her financial planning expertise to help us all prepare for a successful 2025. With over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, Kristin understands the needs and concerns many people have in light...
Tracey Keim, founder of the Green Devil Pantry & Closet (GDP&C), will share the inspiring journey of this impactful local nonprofit. What began in 2006 as a small project to provide students with formal attire for dances and job interviews has evolved into a vital...
Thursday, November 7, we had an inspiring presentation by Lola B. Morgan, a powerful advocate for mental health, racial equity, and wellness. In the wake of recent natural disasters and an intense election season, Lola provided invaluable mental health insights to help us chart a...
we were thrilled to welcome guest speaker Robin Davidov with the League of Women Voters of the St. Petersburg Area. We had anticipated having Robin’s colleague Heidi Davis with us, but the hurricane had different plans for her: a broken leg incurred while helping her...
On September 5, BPW welcomed the dynamic leader of Parc Center for Disabilities. Michelle Detweiler has been a life-long resident of the Suncoast growing up in St. Petersburg and living and working in Manatee and Pinellas counties. Michelle graduated from Jacksonville University with a bachelor’s...
On August 1 Erica Sutherlin joined us as our presenter. Erica has visited us before as a meeting guest, but her self-introductions compelled us to want to know more about this renaissance woman and her robust set of accomplishments, skills and passions. Erica Sutherlin is...
Our July meeting welcomed Dr. Sandra Braham, the President & CEO of Gulf Coast JFCS and author of “An Angel for Detroit,” who shared her professional and personal journeys and how they intersect, allowing her to live out a purposeful life of service. Dr. Sandra...
On Thursday, June 13 as we welcomed Martha Lenderman to BPW/St. Petersburg-Pinellas. Martha to talk about a project to raise funds to use in enhancing treatment plans for court participants in the Pinellas Adult and Veteran’s Drug Treatment Court. The programs help particpants avoid jail,...
On Thursday, April 4, 2024 we welcomed Nikki Gaskin-Capehart to BPW/St. Petersburg-Pinellas (BPW/SPP). We welcomed Nikki, not only as a friend of BPW/SPP, but as the first female President/CEO of the Pinellas County Urban League! Did I hear you say you don’t know much about...
Our March speaker was Delquanda Turner Smith, respected speaker and expert from Inclusivity LLC, as she guides us through a transformative exploration of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. With a focus on looking inward at our organizations, Delquanda will illuminate the path to a more...
January 4th we were joined by Kourey Hendryx-Bell, J.D, Manager of the City of St. Petersburg’s Office of Supplier Diversity. She leads a dynamic team focused on championing change in procurement processes and policies centered around workforce development, wages, and small and diverse business communities....
Our December 7, meeting welcomed back to BPW our friend and CEO of CASA, Lariana Forsythe. Lariana Forsythe joined CASA as its CEO in June of 2017, relocating to the Pinellas County area. She has more than 20 years of nonprofit experience with the Boys...
On November 2, Florida Legislator Lindsay Cross will visit BPW to share her insights on our state goverment, current legislation and issues facing all Floridians as well as those specific to us here in her home district. Representative Lindsay Cross is a 22-year resident...
On October 5th the amazing Carla Bristol returnsed to BPW to share the great work being done at the St. Pete Youth Farm and other related activites here in our community. Carla Bristol was born in Guyana, raised in Brooklyn and has lived in...
On September 7th we hosted the distinguished St. Petersburg Chief of Police, Anthony Holloway, at BPW/St. Petersburg-Pinellas. Appointed as Chief of Police for the St. Petersburg Police Department in August 2014, Chief Holloway’s leadership has brought about significant positive changes. His visionary approach to policing,...
On August 3rd we welcomed Mary Pat King, the esteemed CEO of Girl Scouts of West Central Florida, as our guest speaker. Mary Pat who took us on an inspiring journey through the diverse programs offered by the Girl Scouts that are specifically designed to...
July 6th was an informative luncheon as we welcome back County Commissioner Charlie Justice to share his valuable insights on the state of Pinellas County. A longtime friend of BPW, Commissioner Justice delved into the key initiatives and ongoing projects that are shaping the future...
Join us for an extraordinary event at the BPW/St. Petersburg-Pinellas June Membership luncheon, featuring the dynamic Nicole Berman as our esteemed guest speaker. As the Executive Director of St. Pete Pride, Nicole has been hand-selected from a highly competitive pool of over 300 applicants, a...
Our May meeting featured the installation of the 2023-2024 Executive Committe by Past State President and BPW/FL Parliamentarian Mary Giddens, joining us from LaBelle, FL. New President Tami Simms will be taking the reins of the executive committee with returning EC members Janine Duffy continuing...
Please join us on Thursday, April 6, 2023 as we welcome Denise Kelly, a Certified Economic Developer / Urban Strategist to BPW/St. Petersburg-Pinellas. Kelly is with Stoneweg US, a real estate investment firm, in St. Petersburg, specializing in the acquisition and development of multifamily assets....
Please join us on Thursday, March 2, 2023 as we welcome Robin O’Dell, photographic curator and visual arts writer. Robin is the current Visual Arts Editor and writer for The Artisan Magazine and a freelance curator. Most recently Robin was the Curator of Collections for the Florida...
In celebration of Black History Month, we are pleased to welcome Kenneth T. Welch, St. Petersburg’s first African American mayor, for a State of the City. Mayor Welch’s appearance at BPW will be on the heels of his first official State of the City address...
“The times have found us.” — Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, January 1776 Join us on January 5, 2023, as we welcome St Petersburg College Professor Tara Newsom, who will address how Thomas Paine’s quote is relevant to today’s political climate and our BPW/FL Public Policy Platform....
We look forward to welcoming Katie McGill, Executive Director for Dress for Success, on Thursday, December 1, 2022. If you don’t know Dress for Success you will want to come to our program and when you do so, please consider bringing an item on the...
Pinellas County Adminstrator, Barry Burton visits BPW to give an update on various Pinellas County Programs that impact many of us who live here. County Administrator Barry A. Burton serves as the chief administrative officer for Pinellas County government. Burton is responsible for leading more...
Join us on Thursday, October 6 in advance of our Working Women’s Forum on October 19, when we welcome Christie Bruner, new Vice President of Advocacy for the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce. While Christie’s current position is recent, her experience is not as...
We hope you will join us on Thursday, September 1 as we welcome longtime friend of BPW/St. Petersburg-Pinellas Dr. Kanika Tomalin. We often talk in BPW about women in transition. Kanika is the embodiment of what we mean when we talk about women in transition....
Did you know that there was a Wellness Center being planned in Pinellas County, to assist with all aspects of mental health? Have you heard of the You Good campaign or Largo Strong? If not, you will want to join us for our August 4,...
Thursday, July 7, 2022 as we welcomed Michael Lundy, President and CEO of the City of St. Petersburg Housing Authority. Mr. Lundy is relatively new to the area having joined the St. Petersburg Housing Authority in 2020 after leaving a position in Birmingham, Alabama. He...
June is PRIDE month in St. Petersburg and to kick it off, BPW welcomed Jim Nixon on Thursday, June 2nd. Jim is the Director of the Mayor’s Action Center and LGBTQ Liaison for the City of St. Petersburg. In his role as the LGBTQ Liaison,...
Our May meeting is a very special meeting. We installed our new officers, thank our outgoing officers and committee chairs for all their hard work, recognize individual members for their contributions. Your 2022 Executive Committee: President – Kristin Smith President-Elect – Tami Simms 1st Vice...
Our speaker of April 7 was Tiffany Faykus of Selah Freedom, a nonprofit that works with local sex trafficking survivors to help them start new lives through Prevention, Outreach, Awareness and a nationally renowned Residential program. Tiffany began her career in Moscow Russia in 1994...
Owens formerly served as the principal of Dolphin Strategies LLC, in St. Petersburg, FL. The firm creates public education and participation strategies that deliver impactful citizen engagement and foster healthy communities. Stephanie also creates voter education and issue advocacy campaigns for companies that promote employee...
We’re delighted to welcome John Collins for our membership luncheon on February 3, 2022 to discuss the transformation of our community into a premier art and artist destination known for its world class museums and galleries. John Collins experience in organizing community arts goes back...
Please join us on Thursday, January 6, 2022 as we welcome Kelly Hayes, Florida Politics, as our guest speaker. Kelly studied journalism and political science at the University of Florida and was raised in Tampa Bay. She enjoys government and legal reporting and has experience...
Join us on Thursday, December 2 as we welcome Dr. Linda Lucas to lead a discussion on a variety of topics affecting working women in our shifting economy. Women’s participation in the workforce has dropped as many women have left the market, others are prioritizing...
On November 4, BPW Welcomes Megan McGee to discuss the CALL Program, a new approach to some 911 calls with a focus on community mental health services. Megan McGee is the St. Petersburg Police Department’s (SPPD) Special Projects Manager. Part of her role is the daily...
Join us in October when we welcome Taylor Withers, the Senior Director of Advancement at CASA, Pinellas County’s certified Domestic Violence Agency. She’ll update us on new techniques and tools that are being employed by CASA, domestic violence advocates and local authorities to prevent domestic...
Our September 2nd meeting will feature a discussion led by Dr. LaDonna Butler of The Well for Life to help our members and guests to achieve more successful outcomes through policy and practice. Dr. LaDonna Butler is Called, Centered, and Committed to Collective Healing, Wellness...
On August 5, BPW was delighted to welcome back Julie Marcus to our luncheon meeting to discuss recent changes made by the Florida Legislature that may impact our upcoming local elections this fall. We have a Special Election Primary coming up on August 24 and...
Join us on July 15 when BPW welcomes Kerry Flaherty Walia, a Florida native and a marine fisheries research scientist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Kerry has over 17 years of experience studying fish communities associated with estuarine and coastal habitats. Her research...
For our June meeting, BPW welcomes Susana Weymouth, the Chief Development Officer for The Florida Orchestra to speak about how the state’s largest performing arts organization was able to continue under Music Director Michael Francis and President and CEO Mark Cantrell, at a time when...
Join us Thursday, March 4 when we welcome Mary K. Meyer McAleese, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science at Eckerd College to kick off Women’s History Month. Already in 2021 we’ve seen Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States break a long standing glass ceiling....
Please join us on Thursday, February 4 when Mercy Ameyaw, CAMS, Director, Internal Audit, Raymond James Financial Inc., will speak about successfully navigating transitions, of which she has had many. Ms. Ameyaw is responsible for developing and executing robust audit plans in accordance with internal...
Just in time for the Holidays, best selling author Jen Smith, comes to our luncheon meeting on Thursday, December 3rd to help us during a season known for overspending and get a head start on good habits for 2021. Jen Smith is a personal finance...
Please join us on Thursday, November 5th as we welcome Janelle Irwin Taylor to join us for a Post-Election Recap. Janelle Irwin Taylor has been a professional journalist covering local news and politics in Tampa Bay since 2003. She currently serves as editor of Florida Politics, a...
Congressman Charlie Crist contacted us in honor of National Business Women’s Week and offered to join us on our zoom call this coming Thursday at 5pm before our fundraiser. He wants to hear what concerns we have as working women during this pandemic and then...
Join us when we welcome Beth Menchen of the Suncoast Center, Inc. to speak about mental illness issues in our community and the impact from COVID-19. She will focus on the impact with working women, with issues ranging from working from home, to being caregivers,...
Join us virtually when we welcome Robin Davidov from the League of Women Voters to our Zoom meeting on Thursday, September 24th at 6PM for an hour jam packed with information to help you be an informed and effective voter. Robin will review the constitutional...
Join us September 3rd at 400 Beach Seafood and Tap House when BPW welcomes (back) Wendy Wesley to our BPW Meeting. Wendy is a food policy activist and a licensed and registered dietitian/nutritionist who works to improve the health of the community. She provides free public health education, individual nutrition counseling and advocacy for access to nutritious foods in here in her hometown of St. Petersburg.
At our August 6th meeting, Sheena Qualles-DeFreece will be speaking about the St. Pete Timebank where she currently serves on the Board of Directors. The St. Pete Timebank was started by BJ Andryusky in late 2016 as a grassroots movement in her kitchen with two...
Join us March 5 when we welcome St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman as he presents “The State of The City,” an update on the activities, events and latest happenings that affect not only the citizens of St. Petersburg but the entire Tampa Bay Region. Of...
Please join us on February 6 as we welcome D YaeL Kelley who was recently named the MUSE Visual Arts Award winner for 2020 by the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance. The MUSE arts awards shine a spotlight on special people who inspire and guide St....
Please join us on January 16th as we welcome Tom Magoulis, the Executive Director of the new Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement. This new gem is planned to open in early 2020 and will be a welcome addition to the booming St. Petersburg...
Kelly Sciba will be visiting our local BPW luncheon meeting on Thursday, December 5 as we participate in the series of public forums that are being conducted around the state n Florida’s diverse regions and communities to talk to women about the challenges they encounter...
Lorrie Lykins, Vice President of Research at the Seattle-based Institute for Corporate Productivity (i4cp) and Editor of The SheSuite™, an ongoing series of in-depth interviews with women executives, will address the issue of gender pay equity and its implications as an economic issue. A thought...
On Thursday October 3 BPW welcomes Lakshmi Shenoy, CEO of the Embarc Collective, the innovation hub in downtown Tampa backed by business mogul Jeff Vinik and whose mission is to foster startup talent by providing a range of services and support to build thriving companies....
We’re delighted to welcome renowned author, Fawn Germer, to our September Luncheon meeting where she will discuss the principles of her latest book, Work-Life Reset. If Fawn Germer didn’t live by the Japanese proverb, “Fall down seven times, get up eight,” she probably would have...
Talking about sensitive social issues, such as unintended pregnancy, can be tough. Knowing the facts can help in conversations with those unsettled by topics like teen sexuality or abortion. Amy Weintraub, Reproductive Rights Program Director for Progress Florida, will lead a discussion on the state of women’s...
Join us on Thursday, July 18 when BPW welcomes Cathie Perkins to our luncheon meeting to discuss how to prepare our businesses and our homes in the event of an emergency. Responsible for emergency preparedness countywide, Cathie will share with us important information regarding resources...
BPW is delighted to welcome back renowned journalist Margie Manning on June 6 to speak about the media’s portrayal of women. The visibility of women in leadership roles has long been touted as a key to getting an equal number of seats at the table....
BPW welcomes Renee Dabbs for our May luncheon meeting. She is the principal and founder of Renee Dabbs, LLC, a management consulting firm that focuses on helping organizations become metrics focused on their key deliverables. Her clients include national corporations, education, associations and not for...
Make your reservation now as BPW welcomes back Pinellas County Commissioner Charlie Justice for what has become an annual update to the members and guests of BPW. He’ll share the commission’s successes and challenges and how we can participate in countywide efforts to improve our...
What can we learn from history about today’s issues? Terri Lipsey Scott, Executive Director of the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American History Museum, will address that very question when speaking about the museum and its importance to our community. A native of Savannah, Georgia,...