Orlando Magazine’s Women of the Year

We asked you, our readers, for nominees and you responded with a wealth of recommendations, along with details on how these women make a huge difference in the lives of countless people daily.
Orlandomagazinewomenoftheyear2023

Illustrated by Eduardo Fuentes

They are educators, mentors, nurses, physicians, fundraisers, entrepreneurs, and individuals who stand up for others. But most of all they are leaders who help keep our community strong. Orlando magazine is proud to honor the 23 individuals featured on the following pages as Women of the Year.

Our congratulations—and thanks—to them all.


LIST OF HONOREES

*You can read their biographies by clicking on their names.

Jennifer Tickal Keehbauch, MD
Chief Medical Officer | AdventHealth Winter Park 

Kelly Nierstedt
Senior Vice President, Orlando Health | President, Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center

Paula Waters Rutledge
Founder and President, Legacy MedSearch | Board Member, Alzheimer’s Association Central and North Chapter

Haley Hunt
Executive Director and CEO | The VERB Kind

Lisa Williams
Founder and Director | LANES Teenage Girls Inc.

Misty Heath
Executive Director | SoDo Main Street District

Kimberly Renk, Ph.D.
Psychology Professor | University of Central Florida

Marcie Golgoski
Executive Producer of Special Projects | WESH 2

Kelly Seidl
CEO and Visionary | Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream

Dee Harrison
Title Agent and Escrow Officer | Alpha Reliable Title

Paula A. Stark
Representative | Florida House District 47

Christina Hollerbach
CEO | Hollerbach’s

Danielle Thomas
Executive Director | Art & History Museums of Maitland

Shally Wong
Liaison | Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings

Heather Hoytink
President | PepsiCo, South Division

Chelsea Mendes
Student and Leader | Dr. Phillips High School

Jana “Jana Banana” Shelfer
International Speaker, Ambassador and Mindset Leader | Living Lucky

Gizela Maldonado Hernandez
Veterinarian Pathologist, Pathology Department Head, Supervisor of the Clinical Pathology and Parasitology Sections of the Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services | Founder and Director, Mexico Lindo Folkloric Ballet

Adrienne Evans
Vice President of Shared Services | Lift Orlando

Jennifer Knopf, Esq.
President and Founding Director | REED Charitable Foundation

Gina Jacobs Thomas
Franchise Owner | Goldfish Swim School

Amy Akamine
President, Orlando Chapter | National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) | ACTOR. AGENT. ADVOCATE.

Sandra Fatmi-Hall
CEO and Founder | United Foundation of Central Florida Inc.


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