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CHAPTER 172
Women to Watch
“Pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off you.” - Maya Angelou, writer
![Mariela Vega.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/326e67_de9b3ce6b53c41bcaa3b8922d39c9870~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_42,w_639,h_667/fill/w_185,h_193,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Mariela%20Vega.jpg)
Mariela Vega is the recipient of the Foundation of Collier County Medical Society’s 2024 Dr. William and Nancy Lascheid Memorial Scholarship for Medical Students.
The Parkinson’s Association of Southwest Florida elected Claire Bisignano Chesnoff to its Board of Directors.
![Claire Bisignano Chesnoff_WEB.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/326e67_d1083b00fe01474285c2ffe3682a0534~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_22,w_576,h_602/fill/w_185,h_193,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Claire%20Bisignano%20Chesnoff_WEB.jpg)
![Sheila Kumar_WEB.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/326e67_2d6ccf8d58104c838d90e652ad150ce6~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_17,y_62,w_590,h_615/fill/w_185,h_193,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Sheila%20Kumar_WEB.jpg)
Sheila Kumar joined the Board of Directors for Alliance for Period Supplies of SWFL.
The Greater Naples Leadership announced its 2024-2025 President and slate of Board Officers and Directors:
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Donna Messer, President of the newly elected Board
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Ginny Veras, Masters Class XXVIII Leader
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Susan Eddy, Committee Chair of Class Rep
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Barbara Hurt-Simmons, Committee Chair of ACE Social
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Beth Stein, Committee Chair of Membership
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Elizabeth Strong, Committee Chair of Communications
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Dean Lewis Lohman, Member-At-Large
![Ginny Veras.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/326e67_91276611d6314d6b9bafe0e60f68ab9c~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_6,w_379,h_395/fill/w_185,h_193,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Ginny%20Veras.jpg)
Ginny Veras
![Susan Eddy_WEB.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/326e67_281e46fd8eec4a54ae8489f3b74b2639~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_90,y_82,w_329,h_343/fill/w_185,h_193,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Susan%20Eddy_WEB.jpg)
Susan Eddy
![Donna Messer_WEB.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/326e67_d693082eed9b4f5194e051bb41d23749~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_15,y_28,w_434,h_454/fill/w_184,h_193,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Donna%20Messer_WEB.jpg)
Donna Messer
![Barbara Hurt-Simmons_WEB.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/326e67_e19c313af23b42c4a9bbc91ca4ed4dff~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_17,w_625,h_651/fill/w_185,h_193,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Barbara%20Hurt-Simmons_WEB.jpg)
Barbara Hurt-Simmons
![Beth Stein_WEB.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/326e67_c495544d10e0481683cd2828e536520d~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_83,y_26,w_356,h_370/fill/w_185,h_192,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Beth%20Stein_WEB.jpg)
Beth Stein
![Elizabeth Strong_WEB.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/326e67_2a69cb2d38654589bfd743e44a36fc45~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_46,w_500,h_521/fill/w_185,h_193,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Elizabeth%20Strong_WEB.jpg)
Elizabeth Strong
![Dean Lewish Lohman_WEB.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/326e67_0c58b556f1d04479acf2081de39a11d7~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_0,w_500,h_522/fill/w_185,h_193,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Dean%20Lewish%20Lohman_WEB.jpg)
Dean Lewis Lohman
![Juliet Winokur_WEB.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/326e67_edc3c547e4554b64a929495095f7bf84~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_10,y_0,w_479,h_500/fill/w_185,h_193,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Juliet%20Winokur_WEB.jpg)
Juliet Winokur
![Marsha Warnike_WEB.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/326e67_7d516bc40bfd48adae792f3284853c38~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_8,y_0,w_479,h_500/fill/w_185,h_193,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Marsha%20Warnike_WEB.jpg)
Marsha Warnike
![Emily James_WEB.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/326e67_a6074e05b47b49138993b89bb36cffcf~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_28,y_0,w_425,h_443/fill/w_185,h_193,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Emily%20James_WEB.jpg)
Emily James
The International Network of Creatives announced its 2025 Spring into the Arts Gala Chairs:
Juliet Winokur, Chairwoman; Marsha Warnike, Vice-Chairwoman; and Emily James, Honorary Chairwoman.
![Stefanie Ink-Edwards_WEB.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/326e67_d7e81e87f26d411f9f216db1074e2b9e~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_198,y_36,w_578,h_312/fill/w_295,h_159,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Stefanie%20Ink-Edwards_WEB.jpg)
Stefanie Ink-Edwards of Community Cooperative received the Greater Fort Myers Chamber’s Community Impact Award.
![Kelly Thawley_WEB.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/326e67_3e8bd390173c4344b975befcf97ba23b~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_272,y_62,w_448,h_242/fill/w_278,h_150,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Kelly%20Thawley_WEB.jpg)
The Greater Fort Myers Chamber awarded its Young Professional of the Year Award to Kelly Thawley of Florida Southwestern State College.
![Darcy Andrade_WEB.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/326e67_d748b3ed48b24f1194be3c215c59a10c~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_151,y_76,w_680,h_241/fill/w_386,h_137,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Darcy%20Andrade_WEB.jpg)
Gulf Coast Humane Society, led by Darcy Andrade, was awarded the Nonprofit Excellence Award by the Greater Fort Myers Chamber.
![Dr. Sandra Pavelka_WEB.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/326e67_203cb876a13b459db3a57c69d5f64744~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_213,y_96,w_591,h_210/fill/w_386,h_137,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Dr_%20Sandra%20Pavelka_WEB.jpg)
The Greater Fort Myers Chamber honored Dr. Sandra Pavelka of Florida Gulf Coast University with the APEX Award.
![Ryann Lavenia_WEB.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/326e67_649b382fc2604eb78314d779c19d416d~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_233,y_93,w_563,h_200/fill/w_386,h_137,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Ryann%20Lavenia_WEB.jpg)
Face It Botox, owned by Ryann Lavenia, was awarded Small Business of the Year by the Greater Fort Myers Chamber.
K9 Cottage Academy, a premier pet boarding facility in Estero and locally owned by Lisa Happle, is now open.
![Lisa Happle_WEB.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/326e67_64511180ad2c4a08baee91f9f676b9ea~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_13,w_500,h_521/fill/w_185,h_193,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Lisa%20Happle_WEB.jpg)
For consideration in Women to Watch, email a recent success story of a woman you’d like to celebrate, along with her high-resolution photo, to inspireme@ebellamag.com. This might include a big accomplishment, award or honor received, appointment to a Board, educational achievement, etc.
PROMOTIONS
![Gabi Rivas_WEB.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/326e67_8a341e1fd9824087a477912897be994b~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_84,y_21,w_317,h_403/fill/w_107,h_136,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Gabi%20Rivas_WEB.jpg)
Gabriela (Gabi) Rivas
Promoted to Senior Account Manager
Wilson Creative Group
NEW HIRES
![Isabella Angelus_WEB.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/326e67_7b3794aec99c4b16b0c1ae71d48788ea~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_6,y_0,w_228,h_290/fill/w_107,h_136,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Isabella%20Angelus_WEB.jpg)
Isabella Angelus
Donor Information Specialist
Lee Health Foundation
![Jennifer O’Connor_WEB.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/326e67_a7ae1acf3942486ba4e0c8f48c56ee8c~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_87,y_35,w_319,h_405/fill/w_107,h_136,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Jennifer%20O%E2%80%99Connor_WEB.jpg)
Jennifer O’Connor
Marketing Project Manager
Priority Marketing
![Sasha Singh_WEB.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/326e67_2ee8efe684244b00bf8f87a307564876~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_125,y_0,w_398,h_506/fill/w_107,h_136,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Sasha%20Singh_WEB.jpg)
Sasha Singh
Art Director
Wilson Creative Group
![Karen Turcotte_WEB.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/326e67_f02eaabe7cf5411ba582752ceafe2a6f~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_71,y_5,w_415,h_527/fill/w_107,h_136,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Karen%20Turcotte_WEB.jpg)
Karen Turcotte
Chief Development Officer
United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades
NEW HIRES
![Katie Valentin_WEB.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/326e67_f1978ff9f15c43ac978047726ae1697f~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_162,y_37,w_338,h_430/fill/w_107,h_136,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Katie%20Valentin_WEB.jpg)
Katie Valentin
Director of Marketing and Communications
Guadalupe Center
![Sally Watts_WEB.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/326e67_b8e732fc82c74fd28aff060518182323~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_0,w_625,h_793/fill/w_107,h_136,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Sally%20Watts_WEB.jpg)
Sally Watts
Manager of Mission Impact & Education
Parkinson’s Association of Southwest Florida
![Aurora Wells_WEB.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/326e67_a5ae29b3eaaa40549d57947c6a7968d5~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_53,y_52,w_316,h_402/fill/w_107,h_136,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Aurora%20Wells_WEB.jpg)
Aurora Wells
Chief Financial Officer
The Housing Alliance
![Kim Wyn_WEB.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/326e67_28a80a2e936d400d8e33cab37194259e~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_32,y_0,w_437,h_555/fill/w_107,h_136,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Kim%20Wyn_WEB.jpg)
Kim Wynn
Transformational Leadership Consultant
Leaders Team