Women Connecting Women

Professional Business Woman of the Year

Tanya Guydos, IberiaBank

For 13 years, Tanya has managed both client relationships and business development for multiple locations. An active Meninak member, she also volunteers for United Way’s Real Sense Program, Junior Achievement, and Jacksonville Sister Cities Association. A member of Rethreaded’s Circle of Sisters helps ensure that women, children, and young adults become be financially independent. Past president of the Transportation and Logistics Council, Tanya loves serving her clients.

Women’s Advocate of the Year

Maribel Hernandez, Jacksonville Women’s Network

Maribel Hernandez is a distinguished toastmaster with more than 30 years of business experience in local government, corporate and non-profit sectors. She currently serves as President of two non- profits: Jacksonville Women’s Network and the First Coast Multilingual Toastmasters. She also owns a small business, Celebrate, and is the Director of Religious Education for Holy Spirit Catholic Church.

Women Business Owner of the Year

Tracey Phillips, Promotional Presence

Tracey’s dream to encourage and empower other women to start their own businesses has been the driving force behind the inception of her company. After 15 years in the corporate world, she dedicated herself to helping businesses increase their brand awareness and grow revenues. An active community citizen both in Jacksonville and St. Johns County, she raises funds for the homeless and is marketing chair for Women Business Owners.

Professional Minority Woman

Betzy Santiago, FSCJ

Betzy loves to match people with opportunities and considers herself a conduit for growth and connectivity. As past president of the First Coast Hispanic Chamber and former board member of Girls on the Run, Betzy also served on Mayor Brown’s team as Community Liaison. She is energized by driving change and being a part of significant projects. She believes her family and mentors have helped her reach many goals in life and credits her success to her community involvement.

Female First Responder of the Year

Rising Star: Skye Barber, Police Sargeant Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office

Female First Responder of the Year

Legacy Leader: Michelle Cook, Chief of Police, City of Atlantic Beach

Legacy Award

Paula Liang, Catalist Chair

An attorney by trade, Paula found her passion when she took a leave to raise her three children. Volunteerism turned into leadership roles in non- profits, then employment. She immersed herself in the non-profit sector and now serves as a consultant to nonprofits, and as Board Chair of Catalyst, a national network of women’s funds, foundations and giving circles that supports the creation, and expansion of the women’s collective giving movement. Paula has raised money to fund research into the Status of Women and Girls and is involved nationally with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as others, to bring infrastructure support to the collective giving sector. Past president of the Women’s Giving Alliance, past board president of Hubbard House, past director at PACE Center for Girls, she now serves on the Jacksonville Women’s Leadership Coalition. A constant advocate for women, she has dedicated much of her life to supporting women’s causes globally.