The Top 50 Jacksonville Women Leaders of 2026
Jacksonville’s growth story is bigger than cranes and population charts. It’s a tale of systems-fintech rails and freight rail, ports and power, healthcare access and workforce pipelines, philanthropy and placemaking. And inside those systems are women who make the big calls: where capital flows, which neighborhoods get built up, what technology gets deployed, and how a region takes care of people as it scales.
The list below is an editorial, research-driven ranking of women shaping the greater Jacksonville metro (the broader First Coast ecosystem).
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#1 Donna Deegan
If you want to understand Jacksonville’s business climate, you follow city policy: permitting pace, infrastructure priorities, public safety posture, neighborhood investment, and how Downtown is positioned as a jobs-and-amenities engine. The mayor’s office is a “multiplier role”-it doesn’t just run government, it sets the conditions that determine whether employers expand, talent stays, and development pencils out.
#2 Stephanie Ferris
One of Jacksonville’s biggest “global reach” headquarters is FIS, and the CEO seat matters locally in outsized ways: high-skill jobs, vendor ecosystems, philanthropy, and the city’s reputation as a serious fintech hub. Ferris’ leadership affects how a Jacksonville-rooted platform competes and modernizes in a fast-shifting payments and banking-technology landscape.
#3 Vickie Cavey
Every high-growth metro eventually learns the same lesson: nothing moves without reliable utilities. JEA’s leadership directly impacts the fundamentals businesses care about-power and water reliability, infrastructure investment, storm resilience, and affordability. Cavey’s role is “quietly massive” because it underpins everything from housing development to industrial recruitment.
#4 Diana Sorfleet
Jacksonville is one of America’s freight-and-logistics power centers, and CSX is part of that backbone. As Chief Administrative Officer, Sorfleet’s portfolio touches the organizational “operating system”-people strategy, facilities, aviation and more-shaping how a major employer attracts talent and runs at scale. (CSX has also announced her planned retirement in 2026, underscoring how consequential succession is in roles like this.)
#5 Maryclare Kenney
Freight rail is a competitive advantage when a region knows how to use it. Kenney’s commercial leadership influences how CSX partners with shippers, ports, and customers-and that ripples into local trade volume, industrial activity, and supply-chain resiliency across the First Coast.
#6 Mari Kuraishi
In fast-growing metros, philanthropy isn’t just charity-it’s strategy: capacity building, convening power, and long-term bets on what a community becomes. As president of a major Jacksonville-based foundation, Kuraishi influences which ideas scale, which institutions get stronger, and how inclusive growth is pursued across the region.
#7 Farley Kern
Healthcare is one of Jacksonville’s most important sectors, and insurers shape access, affordability narratives, and community partnerships. As CMO/communications leader for GuideWell, Kern sits at the intersection of consumer trust, public commitments, and how a major healthcare organization shows up for the region’s employers and families.
#8 Sarah Sanders
As healthcare becomes more consumer-driven-digital access, scheduling, experience, navigation-this role helps determine how frictionless (or frustrating) care feels for patients and working families. In a region where healthcare is both a massive employer and a day-to-day quality-of-life issue, consumer leadership is influence with real consequences.
#9 Nadia Tepper
Jacksonville’s defense economy is not abstract-it’s jobs, contracting, ship readiness, and a skilled workforce. As SERMC’s executive director, Tepper leads an operation tied directly to fleet maintenance outcomes, while also standing as a high-visibility regional leader (including recognition as a Jacksonville Business Journal “Women of Influence” selection).
#10 Lindsay Lawrence
Regional banking leadership matters most when growth accelerates: deposits fuel lending, deposits fund investment, and product strategy determines what customers and businesses can do efficiently. Lawrence’s role influences how EverBank competes for consumer and business relationships-an economic flywheel for a finance-heavy metro.
#11 Renuka Patel
The CAO function is where “strategy becomes execution”: operations, internal enablement, and the organizational infrastructure that lets a bank grow without breaking. In Jacksonville’s financial-services footprint, operational excellence is competitive advantage-and this seat steers that discipline.
#12 Dana Karzan
VyStar’s brand and member strategy influence consumer financial behavior at scale-how people save, borrow, and engage locally. Marketing at a community-rooted financial institution is not just ads; it’s trust-building, education, and aligning products with what households and small businesses need.
#13 Kim Gamez
CFO influence is often underestimated: risk posture, investment strategy, and sustainable growth all run through this office. At a Jacksonville-headquartered credit union, Gamez helps determine how resources are stewarded-and how much capacity exists for member services and community commitments.
#14 Melissa Thomas
The COO role is where service quality gets engineered: processes, fraud controls, payments, and the operational backbone that shapes customer experience. As Community First elevated Thomas into a new COO role, it signaled how central operations and modernization are to competing in today’s financial landscape.
#15 Svetlana (Lana) Bender
AI is quickly becoming a “how we work” layer in healthcare-risk prediction, personalization, navigation, and operational efficiency. Bender’s role is influential because it pushes innovation inside one of the region’s most consequential sectors, translating emerging technology into practical outcomes for members and teams.
#16 Kay Ehas
Some leaders change a city by changing its map. Ehas leads Groundwork Jacksonville, central to the Emerald Trail vision and major creek restoration efforts-projects that influence mobility, health, neighborhood investment, and long-term resilience. Her national recognition as a 2025 trail champion underscores how significant this work has become.
#17 Dawn Dorsey
Market presidents shape what gets financed: small-business lending, commercial real estate, and relationship-driven growth. Dorsey’s leadership sits right where Jacksonville’s expansion meets capital-supporting the deals that become offices, warehouses, startups, and jobs.
#18 Anne Bean
Insurance and risk management can either accelerate growth-or quietly block it when costs and complexity spike. As Jacksonville market president at a major risk-management firm, Bean influences how businesses protect themselves, bid projects, and manage uncertainty across construction, logistics, real estate, and beyond.
#19 Allishia Bauman
Bauman’s influence is deeply workforce-shaped: City Year improves student supports inside public schools, while leadership at the Women’s Center expands safety, healing, and stability-both of which affect the region’s long-run talent and family wellbeing. Her move into the CEO role at the Women’s Center signals rising civic leadership with real operational responsibility.
#20 Dr. Natalya Roby
Childcare and early education are economic infrastructure-parents can’t work without it, and kids’ long-term outcomes begin here. Roby’s leadership in early childhood education and family support is why she’s been recognized among the region’s notable women leaders, and why her impact touches employers as much as households.
#21 LeeAnn Mengel
LeeAnn Mengel steers the operational and strategic direction of Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center, balancing clinical excellence with the systems that make high-quality care accessible. By strengthening cancer services and the teams behind them, she delivers outsized impact for patients, caregivers, and the region’s healthcare economy.
#22 Helen S. Atter
Helen Atter brings high-stakes corporate counsel and compliance leadership to Lippes Mathias, helping organizations protect their brands and execute growth-defining transactions. Her blend of legal sophistication and community mentorship makes her a trusted advisor who elevates both client outcomes and Jacksonville’s business ecosystem.
#23 Emily G. Pierce
Emily Pierce is a go-to counselor on land use and regulatory matters, guiding complex projects through zoning, approvals, and public process with clarity and credibility. Her steady civic involvement and problem-solving approach help shape resilient, well-planned growth that benefits neighborhoods and the broader Jacksonville economy.
#24 Teresa Nichols
Teresa Nichols leads university development and alumni engagement at UNF, translating relationships into philanthropic investment that expands opportunity for students. By strengthening fundraising strategy and alumni pride at scale, she helps build the talent and innovation pipeline that powers Northeast Florida’s future.
#25 Lucy Chen
Lucy Chen advances arts education as a catalyst for student confidence and community belonging, building partnerships that broaden access across Northeast Florida. Her advocacy and coalition-building create measurable impact for families and schools while positioning the arts as an essential part of the region’s workforce and civic development.
#26 Nichole Mobley
Nichole Mobley built T&N Xpress into a dependable logistics partner, proving that disciplined execution and customer focus can turn a local operator into a growth story. By keeping freight moving and creating career pathways in a vital industry, she strengthens Jacksonville’s supply-chain capacity and small-business momentum.
#27 Lakita Spann
Lakita Spann turned Mr. Potato Spread from a bold food concept into a recognized local brand, combining product creativity with sharp operational discipline. Her ability to scale, hire, and win community loyalty demonstrates the kind of entrepreneurial leadership that energizes Jacksonville’s small-business economy.
#28 Sheri Criswell
Sheri Criswell has guided Dreams Come True with mission-first leadership, translating donor trust into unforgettable moments for children and families facing serious illness. Her stewardship of programs, fundraising, and partnerships strengthens Northeast Florida’s nonprofit infrastructure and shows how compassionate leadership can deliver lasting community value.
#29 Cindy Watson
Cindy Watson built JASMYN into an enduring support network for LGBTQ youth, pairing visionary advocacy with the operational skill required to sustain growth over decades. Her legacy is a stronger, safer community and a model for how values-driven leadership can create institutions with real economic and social impact.
#30 Linda Lindenmoyer
Linda Lindenmoyer leads relocation and referral services with a concierge-level focus, helping employers and families land smoothly as they make Northeast Florida home. By streamlining moves and strengthening talent attraction, she directly supports the region’s real estate market and its ability to compete for growth.
#31 Kacy Swanson
Kacy Swanson is a people-first leader who builds the HR systems and culture that let a fast-moving logistics company scale without losing its values. Her focus on workforce development, retention, and employee experience strengthens organizational performance and creates meaningful career mobility in Jacksonville.
#32 Whitney Croxton
Whitney Croxton elevates Trailer Bridge’s brand and reputation through strategic storytelling, clear communication, and disciplined go-to-market execution. By aligning marketing with business objectives and customer trust, she helps convert visibility into growth for a critical transportation provider.
#33 Freida Speicher
Freida Speicher anchors quality assurance with rigor and consistency, ensuring Stellar Group’s projects meet demanding standards across safety, performance, and client expectations. Her commitment to continuous improvement helps deliver durable outcomes that protect brand reputation and raise the bar for complex project delivery.
#34 Soo Gilvarry
Soo Gilvarry pairs entrepreneurial drive with civic leadership, advancing commercial development that reinvests in Jacksonville’s urban core. Her work on transformative projects and port governance supports jobs, trade, and long-term economic vitality for the region.
#35 Wendy Hamilton
Wendy Hamilton brings seasoned financial leadership and steady governance to the JAXPORT board, helping steer an engine of commerce for Northeast Florida. By combining investment discipline with public-service accountability, she strengthens the conditions for trade growth, supply-chain resilience, and regional job creation.
#36 Nadine Ebri
Nadine Ebri is redefining how educators and organizations adopt modern technology, turning complex tools into practical learning and workforce skills. Through Ebri Education, she expands access to high-quality STEM and digital training that helps students and professionals thrive in a rapidly changing economy.
#37 Trina Medarev
Trina Medarev has grown the World Affairs Council of Jacksonville into a vibrant platform for global dialogue, education, and civic connection. By convening leaders, students, and businesses around international issues and opportunities, she strengthens the city’s global fluency and its capacity to compete and collaborate worldwide.
#38 Suzanne Judy
Suzanne Judy provides the technology leadership that keeps a large distribution business efficient, connected, and ready for growth. By modernizing systems and strengthening cybersecurity and operations, she helps Baker Distributing deliver dependable service across a complex supply chain.
#39 Dawn Wilson
Dawn Wilson has built Bluefin Technology Group into a client-centered IT partner, combining innovation with the practical know-how businesses need to operate securely and efficiently. Her leadership creates local jobs, supports digital transformation for organizations across the region, and exemplifies how service companies can scale with integrity.
#40 Laura Phillips Edgecombe
Laura Phillips Edgecombe turns philanthropy into visible civic outcomes by coordinating partners and resources to activate downtown public spaces. Her work improves how people experience the urban core—boosting foot traffic, community pride, and the conditions that help small businesses and redevelopment succeed.
#41 Kirsten Barnhorst
Kirsten Barnhorst is recognized for operational leadership and stakeholder coordination in public service, helping complex initiatives move from vision to execution. By driving alignment across government, business, and community partners, she strengthens the environment for investment, responsive services, and sustainable growth in Jacksonville.
#42 Jenn Petion
Jenn Petion leads Family Support Services of North Florida with results-driven focus, coordinating partners to strengthen families and improve outcomes for children. Managing high-stakes programs at scale requires both compassion and operational excellence, and her leadership delivers lasting social return that benefits the entire community.
#43 Jessica Paske
Jessica Paske brings hands-on construction expertise and modern operational leadership to Superior Construction, helping deliver complex projects safely and efficiently. Her presence in the executive suite also signals progress for the industry, expanding pathways for women leaders and raising standards across the region’s infrastructure work.
#44 Maureen Barnett
Maureen Barnett shapes how a global sports-commerce brand connects with its audience, translating the voice of the customer into clearer communication and better experiences. Her leadership strengthens loyalty at scale—an impact that resonates in brand performance, reputation, and the growing business footprint in Northeast Florida.
#45 Emily Dent McCarthy
Emily Dent McCarthy co-founded GORUCK and helped build a mission-driven brand that turned a simple idea into a worldwide community of customers and events. By creating products, jobs, and a culture of resilience rooted in Jacksonville, she has delivered outsized entrepreneurial impact that reaches far beyond the First Coast.
#46 Lee Anderson Louy
Lee Anderson Louy advances conservation through philanthropic leadership, building the donor support that protects North Florida’s natural assets for future generations. Her ability to connect mission with measurable value strengthens quality of life, tourism, and the outdoor economy—key ingredients in the region’s long-term competitiveness.
#47 Melanie Raub
Melanie Raub is a proven homebuilding executive who has led large teams and complex operations, delivering communities that meet demand in fast-growing Florida markets. Her track record in Jacksonville reflects strategic leadership that shapes housing supply, job creation, and the region’s broader economic momentum.
#48 Lisa Cochran
Lisa Cochran leads enterprise technology strategy at VyStar Credit Union, guiding digital transformation that improves member experience while safeguarding trust and security. Her ability to modernize systems at scale positions the organization to innovate responsibly and compete in a rapidly evolving financial services landscape.
#49 Kelly Beatty
Kelly Beatty leads client success at FIS, ensuring major financial institutions receive high-quality delivery across implementation, support, and professional services. That customer-centric operational discipline drives retention and growth for a global fintech leader, reinforcing Jacksonville’s prominence in financial technology.
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