Florida Tech’s weVENTURE Business Center Announces ‘Women Who Make It’ Award Winners

All 61 nominees were honored at a sold-out luncheon attended by more than 400 attendees.

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – weVENTURE Women’s Business Center at Florida Tech Bisque College of Business and Presenting Sponsor Bank have announced the winners of the 2023 Women’s History Month Awards.

All 61 nominees were honored at a sold-out lunch at the Hilton Rialto in Melbourne on March 22, attended by more than 400 people.

In her opening remarks, Kathryn Rudloff, Executive Director of weVENTURE, summarized the purpose of the annual awards and gathering: “To celebrate the achievements of our sisters in business and to recognize outstanding women who are making a difference in our community. We celebrate their achievements and are happy to have the opportunity to recognize their excellence. why? Because empowered women empower other women.

Below is the list of winners from the 2023 Women Who Rock Awards.

■ Female Small Business Owner of the Year
Presented by Kellee Feifer, Preferred Lending Market Leader, Bank of America

Darlene Magee, owner of Silhouette Hair Design Studio. McGee opened her salon in 1973 and celebrates 50 years in business this year. Over the years she has expanded the salon and now has seven locations in addition to the cosmetology academy she founded.

Darlene has trained extensively in Europe and the US and is committed to raising the bar in cosmetology and hair design in Florida. She is dedicated to training others to enter the field and has personally trained and mentored an estimated 500+ salon professionals and other business owners.

She and her business have supported many nonprofits over the years, including the Women’s Center for Women and Girls, Hacienda Girls Ranch, Serene Harbor and the Wendy Program. Darlene, a young and active 83-year-old, still works in the salon six days a week and is an icon in the Florida cosmetology community. She explained.

■ Executive of the year
Presented by Tracy Sorzano, Senior Vice President and Regional Manager of Wealth Strategy, PNC Bank

Janice Zilch, vice president and integrated product group multi-domain command and control in the global intelligence division and Melbourne site leader for Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems. Zilch oversees a portfolio of weapons systems that provide the Department of Defense’s core airborne command and control and combat management capabilities.

These systems include the entire US E-2D Advanced Hawkeye and airborne mine measurement systems and the US Air Force E-8 Joint STARS entire life cycle. As Site Leader, she provides executive leadership for the Melbourne site employing thousands. Zilch took the time to mentor those under her management.

Among her top achievements is program management and the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award.

■ Excellence in counseling
Presented by Kelly Swartz, partner with Wiederman Malek

Paulette King-Morin. This Florida Tech alumna and proud Panther basketball player has done many things, but it’s all about uplifting and encouraging those around her.

She coached basketball schools for ten years, including Florida Atlantic University and then Brevard Community College, as well as the Jamaican national team. She continues to work with youth on the basketball courts in Brevard.

She is also a published author (2007’s Music Made Easy: The Baby Step Method) and since 2010 has represented others using a variety of media as a writer, poet, blogger, social media influencer, and filmmaker. .

The candidate noted that King-Morin always involves community stakeholders in her efforts, most notably when a group of local elementary school students collaborated to produce a short film called “Stop Bullying.”

■ Trending Women in Tech
Presented by Carmen Robertson, Vice President of Talent Equity and Inclusion, L3Harris

By Sarah Farris, Director of Manufacturing Engineering, Guardian. Farris directs a team of 14 engineers directly and efficiently. She earned a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Mississippi and continues to serve on the school’s College of Engineering Board of Advisors.

During her career, she developed systems for businesses including Lockheed Martin, Universal Studios, Blue Origin, Owens Corning, and United Launch Alliance. Last September, Farris was promoted to director of engineering at Guardian and became an important member of the company’s growing leadership team.

■ Excellence in care
Presented by Joe Powell, Vice President of Operations, Health First

Terry Jones, Founder of Compassionate Care for the Elderly and Macedonian Education Technology and Career Academy Jones had a 20-year career in the United States Army. In the year She retired in 1997 and began a career in secondary education, serving for 16 years as director of multiple departments at East Florida State College.

It was there that she saw an opportunity to do so in a way that would address the need for high-care healthcare workers and provide more disadvantaged individuals with the training and education necessary to pursue a career in healthcare.

So she founded Compassionate Care for the Elderly and Macedonian Education Technology and Career Academy programs, a veteran and faith-based program that provides funding for entry-level health care training to low-income residents of Brevard County.

Upon completion of training and certification, students receive job placement assistance through CareerSource Brevard. As their business expanded, Jones continued to mentor them.

■ Zonta Yellow Rose Award for Excellence in Community Service
Presented by Zonta Melbourne Board Member Cathy Green.

Diana Adams, Executive Director of the Brevard Heart Foundation and West Melbourne City Councillor. Adams began her career as an award-winning elementary school social studies teacher.

After leaving the classroom, she focused on community service, serving on several boards and committees, and volunteering.

She may be known for chairing the board of Space Coast Field of Dreams and serving as executive director of the Brevard Heart Foundation.

Adams is currently working on her doctorate, and her dissertation focuses on the Brevard Family Commitment to help their program improve the efficiency of their efforts to stabilize homelessness. And Diana will serve on the West Melbourne City Council, filling a vacancy last spring before he won a full term in November.

“The 2023 Women We Rock Awards was an exciting afternoon celebrating these outstanding community leaders,” said Kelly Pfeiffer, head of preferred lending markets at Bank of America.

“We applaud the 2023 winners for their efforts to improve our community and their service as leaders, mentors and inspiration to other women.”

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