The Southwest Florida Council of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) met in-person for the first time in over a year on Saturday April 17th. The event was socially-distanced and included speaker, elections, and luncheon at Holiday Inn Fort Myers Airport. The event also included the announcement of the Council’s 2021 Woman of the Year. The previous most recent in-person meeting of ABWA’s SWFL Council took place over a year ago in January of 2020, prior to Florida’s COVID-19 shutdown.
Toby Ferrel, currently serving as President of ABWA’s Lehigh Acres Charter Chapter, was re-elected Board Chair. Carolyn Graves, President of the Palms of Edisonia Chapter, has moved from Finance Officer to Vice Chair. Moving into the Finance Officer position is Alexia Martin of the Punta Gorda Charter Chapter. Rounding out the team is Krystle Mabery of the Palms of Edisonia Chapter, who will continue to serve as Communications Officer.
Southwest Florida’s American Business Woman of the Year is Erin White of Fort Myers. White is one of the founders of ABWA’s Imperial River Chapter, and was selected in recognition of her contributions toward the professional development of women in business. She has served ABWA in officer positions at both the chapter and Council level. Professionally, White had a long career at JPMorgan Chase and ran Paradise Coast Consulting before joining the development staff at Naples Botanical Garden in November of 2020.
“I am an ABWA success story,” said White. “For me, both personally and professionally, ABWA has been all about the sisterhood; the relationships I’ve had an opportunity to develop with the women I have met through ABWA. I am grateful every day for these relationships”.
The mission of the American Business Women’s Association is to bring together businesswomen of diverse occupations and to provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally through leadership, education, networking support, and national recognition.
