The Countdown Is On To History Fort Lauderdale And Galleria Fort Lauderdale’s “Women Trailblazers: Champions Of Change – Broward County” 2026 Fundraiser And Exhibition
Six New Empowering Leaders to be Recognized on March 26 at Benefit Reception and Photo Exhibition; Tickets are on sale now
By Fran Folic
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – The countdown is on to History Fort Lauderdale and Galleria Fort Lauderdale’s “Women Trailblazers: Champions of Change – Broward County” benefit reception on 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, at Galleria Fort Lauderdale (2414 E. Sunrise Boulevard). This year’s impactful and inspiring leaders to be honored are Mary Adams, principal consultant and owner of The Employee Relations Group; Monica Cepero, county administrator at Broward County Government; Genia Duncan Ellis, president and CEO at Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale, Inc.; Kristina Hebert, president and CEO of Wards Marine Electric; Suzanne Higgins, director of development at Henderson Behavioral Health and Dara Levan, author, public speaker and board member of Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation/Memorial Foundation. The Women’s History Month celebration hosted by radio personalities Julie Guy and Tamara Gant, will kick off a special photo exhibit highlighting these women alongside their groundbreaking historical female predecessors who helped to pave the way for our community. The exhibition celebrating their achievements will be on display through April 19.
“We’re looking forward to our annual tradition of celebrating these modern women – true champions of change – who continue to fearlessly build the foundation for our next generation of community leaders,” said Patricia Zeiler, executive director of History Fort Lauderdale. “This year’s role models and achievers have made significant contributions in the fields of human resources, government, journalism, the marine industry, healthcare and community activism. Our great City of Fort Lauderdale has reaped numerous economical and philanthropical benefits from their passionate enthusiasm and desire to help others. We invite the community to join us in celebrating their achievements during Women’s History Month.”
Past pioneering women counterparts to be highlighted in the photo exhibition include
Louella Snyder (1875–1969), a Fort Lauderdale resident since 1910 who later founded and served as president of the Wells-Snyder Paint Company with M.W. Wells serving as secretary-treasurer; Virginia Clements (1914–1995), a member of the Junior League, and the first board chair of Henderson Behavioral Health who was instrumental in the organization’s establishment along with other roles in civic and cultural organizations; Ellyn Ferguson Walters (1927-2012), a 41-yeartenured teacher for Broward Schools, major fundraiser and executive chair of the African American Research and Library Center, founder of the Sistrunk Festival and 1999 Urban League plus Kathleen C. Wright Award-winner; Eva Oliver (1883-1964), first president of the Woman’s Club, chairman of the Port Everglades naming committee, historian, author, philanthropist and suffragist; Anne Kolb (1932-1981), first elected woman chair of the Broward County Commission, environmentalist, conservationist (1978 Florida Wildlife Conservationist of the Year) and namesake of the Anne Kolb Nature Center; and Charline Skogsberg (1906-1999), a Broward County pioneer and daughter of Captain Charles Skogsberg, a keeper of the House of Refuge (U.S. Government life-saving service stations for shipwrecked sailors in Florida), a kindergarten teacher, Trinity Lutheran Church organist and Broward Marine at Bahia Mar employee.
“Galleria Fort Lauderdale is honored to collaborate with History Fort Lauderdale during Women’s History Month to celebrate female trailblazers in our community,” said Tatiana Juarez, regional marketing director for Galleria Fort Lauderdale. “The six outstanding honorees truly exemplify the spirit of leadership through perseverance, commitment, and a steadfast determination to succeed.”
All honorees will become part of History Fort Lauderdale’s permanent exhibition space devoted to telling our stories. Past honorees have included Rita Case, Burnadette Norris-Weeks, Susan Renneisen, Juliet Roulhac, Arlene Pecora, Laurie Sallarulo, Heather Geronemus, Stephanie Toothaker, Esq., Ramola Motwani, Sebrina María Alfonso, Melanie Dickinson, Kareen Boutros, Jennifer O’Flannery Anderson, and Stacy Ritter.
History Fort Lauderdale and Galleria Fort Lauderdale’s “Women Trail-blazers: Champions of Change – Broward County” 2026 is sponsored by UKG, Rick Case Automotive Group, BBX Capital, Henderson Behavioral Health, HNTB, City & Shore PRIME magazine, Gulf Stream Distillery, Dillard’s, P.F. Chang’s, and GPR | Goodman Public Relations.
Tickets for the March 26 recognition and benefit reception honoring today’s leaders are $50 and are available at bit.ly/HFLWomenTrailblazers2026.
For more information about History Fort Lauderdale and Galleria Fort Lauderdale’s “Women Trailblazers: Champions of Change – Broward County” 2026, or to join this event as a sponsor, call (954) 463-4431 or visit historyfortlauderdale.org. Additional information about Galleria Fort Lauderdale is available at facebook.com/GalleriaFtLauderdale or www.galleriamall-fl.com.
