Get to Know Our 2023 Northeast Florida Women of Distinction Honorees
The 34th Annual Northeast Florida Women of Distinction will take place on April 13 at the Adam W. Herbert University Center in Jacksonville. This event honors female leaders who embody the Girl Scout Promise & Law and whose leadership, professional accomplishments and community contributions inspire us all to make the world a better place by building girls of courage, confidence, and character.
This year we’re honoring four incredible women who are role models for today’s girls, and embody the characteristics of today's problem solvers, go-getters, dreamers, and doers.
Kristin Keen is the founder and CEO of Rethreaded, an organization that provides survivors of human trafficking a second chance at life through employment. Located in Jacksonville, Rethreaded provides women with jobs and career development opportunities in all facets of the company including production, inventory, sales, marketing, and finance/administration.
Gunster Law firm attorney, Lauren Purdy, serves as vice-chair of Gunster’s Business Litigation Practice and co-chair of its Appellate Practice. She advises local, national, and multinational clients in a wide array of business disputes in both state and federal courts. Lauren’s practice is focused on complex commercial litigation, transportation, and professional liability matters.
Rachael Tutwiler Fortune is the President of the Jacksonville Public Education Fund (JPEF). JPEF is an independent think-and-do tank committed to ensuring every child in Duval County can receive a high-quality public school education. Among other advocacy efforts, JPEF helped champion tax referendums to improve public school facilities and better compensate teachers.
In her role as Vice President of Civic Leadership at the Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, Wanda Willis leads staff on four key initiatives designed to increase opportunities for more women to advance to executive and corporate board positions, improve the quality of life for women and girls in northeast Florida, advance equity and justice in healthcare, education, and economic development through strategic investments in the Black community and to build the capacity of Black-led nonprofits in northeast Florida.
Be sure to get your tickets for this inspiring and empowering event.
