Happy Women’s History Month! In March, we celebrate women, who make up roughly 51% of Central Florida’s population. From leaders to business owners to first responders, in this newsletter we’ll cover a smorgasbord of Central Florida women who have made groundbreaking achievements.
Community leaders
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Cari Coats had a long history in corporate America before starting her leadership advisory business, jumping around from careers in television to sports to financial services. The one consistent she found was that she was always in a room full of men, answering to her male bosses. That inspired her to start her own business in the leadership field, helping others become effective leaders.
It’s one thing to be a leader in Central Florida and another to be a leader in the universe. Amanda Stevenson is a lead engineer at NASA who is working on the 10-day Artemis II moon mission that’s set to launch no earlier than September 2025. She oversees the technical progress for assembly, integration and production operations. Read about her here!
Business owners
A rising tide of women business owners are making waves with innovative ideas. Dr. Sonja Stribling is one of these women. A military veteran and international speaker, Dr. Stribling juggles all types of responsibilities as a multimillion-dollar business owner. She began her business as a divorce coach but transformed it into business coaching, where she now helps other women create their online platforms.
Looking for something more whimsical? You can find Ashley Eckstein’s pop-culture licensed clothes at Disney’s theme parks, in stores like Hot Topics, or on her own website under the name Her Universe. This brand features clothing from properties like Star Wars, Marvel comics and entertainment, The Lord of the Rings and more!
First responders
Trooper Steve recently ventured down to St. Cloud with Capt. Denise Roberts and Lt. Marisol De La Rosa of the St. Cloud Police Department. They spoke about what they’ve experienced and learned as women on the force. You can watch the full 21-minute interview here!
Jennifer Mead with SCSO is also on the force but has a slightly different experience. Mead is the first woman in history to join the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office Underwater Search and Recovery Unit, diving into dark waters to find, document, and retrieve evidence. Read about her experience here.
That wraps it up for this Women’s History Month! Thank you for joining me to honor our wonderful women of Central Florida and stay tuned next month to see our Autism Awareness coverage! If you have any questions or story ideas, please contact me at bellis@wkmg.com or 407-521-1323.
