The Orlando Business Journal honored 24 women across Central Florida at their annual 2018 Women Who Mean Business Awards held on April 27 at the Hilton in Orlando, Florida.
This year’s winners were chosen in three categories: Women Business Owners, Women Business Executives and Women to Watch (up and comers under age 40) – innovating in their respective industries, ranging from technology, health care, finance, hospitality, education to professional services. During the event, Central Florida Expressway Authority’s Laura Kelley was named the 2018 Businesswoman of the Year and Seminole State College of Florida President Ann McGee was presented the 2018 Legacy Award.
Central Florida’s leading businesswomen are known to carry themselves with class, self-respect and caring — all while guiding their companies to great success.
What do these honorees have in common? They are part of thriving companies, volunteer or help run charities to improve our region, and many have had the good fortune to have great mentors early on in their careers — and many now are mentoring the younger generation.
The honorees were chosen from hundreds of local businesswomen nominated by their peers. A judging panel of former Women Who Mean Business honorees consisting of Linda Costa of Linda Costa Communications Group, Carolyn Fennell of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, Kelly Cohen of Southern Strategy Group, Kay Rawlins of Orlando City Soccer and Nancy Schwalb of Schwalb Public Relations, as well as Orlando Business Journal Publisher Robert Bobroff and Editor Cindy Barth — reviewed the nominations to choose the honorees.
