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Women of Distinction St. Johns County

Women of Distinction St. Johns County recognizes the movers and shakers in the St. Augustine area who positively impact and support their community.

Wednesday, Sept. 18, 8:30 a.m.
 Casa Monica Hotel, St. Augustine

Do you know a local woman who deserves to be honored for her professional accomplishments and community impact?
Nominate her today as a 2019 Woman of Distinction!

2018 WOD St. Johns Honorees

Kelly Barrera
Kelly Barrera

Kelly brings more than 30 years of experience and leadership in education, training, aviation and business management to her role as vice chair of the St. Johns County School Board. As a regional manager for Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Kelly understands the importance of providing our students with the rigorous academic experience needed to prepare them for higher education, emerging technology and the 21st-century workforce.

A St. Johns County resident for more than 25 years, Kelly has firsthand experience with our schools. She was an active volunteer at her children’s schools, volunteering in the classroom and at athletic and extracurricular activities. In addition she has served our youth through long term advisory board positions with Ponte Vedra High School’s International Business and Marketing Academy, St. Augustine High School’s Aerospace Academy, and St. Johns County’s PACT Prevention Coalition Executive Committee. Kelly is also a Girl Scout alumna. 

Joann Johnson
Joann Johnson-

Joann is a retired social worker and actively involved in helping our area’s underserved populations. As the former family services coordinator for the St. Johns County School District and supervisor for the Department of Children and Families, Joann worked to improve foster care, elder care services, and outreach to homeless teens.

Joann is active in her church and Delta Sigma Theta sorority. She helps local students obtain college scholarships and was recently awarded the Sertoma Service to Mankind award. 

Michelle Lewis
Michelle Lewis

Michelle is a pediatrician and an attorney with training in bioethics and health services research. She received a BA in English and History from Stanford University, a JD degree from Vanderbilt University School of Law, and an MD from Tulane University School of Medicine. She is a research scholar with the Berman Institute of Bioethics at Johns Hopkins University.

Her research focuses on the intersection of law, medicine, and health with an emphasis on the ethical and legal implications of genomic research. She currently serves on the Steering Committee of the Newborn Screening Translational Research Network and as co-chair of its Bioethics and Legal Issues Work Group. 

Martha Mickler
Martha-Mickler

Martha is a native of St Johns County. She graduated from Florida State University in 1967. She has served many roles in education for St Johns County School District: 12 years as a classroom teacher, 19 years as a school-level administrator and 12 years as a district-level administrator. She opened Cunningham Creek Elementary School and served as its principal for six years. While there she received the Commissioner of Education’s Outstanding Elementary Principal Achievement Award.

Though she originally retired in 2009 from St Johns County School District after 38 years in education, in 2011 she was asked to return as interim deputy superintendent for academic services for the School District. She was recognized in 2016 as Woman of the Year by Altrusa International of St. Augustine. 

Lura Readle-Scarpitti
Lura

Lura is the managing editor of Old City Life Magazine and owner of Mummy Cat Productions, a multi-media production company. She is also president/executive producer of i360 Media. Lura earned her BA in English at Florida State University and is a Girl Scout alum.

Lura is passionate about showcasing the cultural diversity of St. Johns County. Her most recent project was producing the film “Freedom on Our Mind” which focuses on the civil rights movement in St. Augustine.

Lura is a member of the Enterprising Women's Leadership Institute Advisory Council and sits on the advisory board for Romanza St. Augustine. 

Kelly Youngs
Kelly Youngs

Kelly is the founder of She is Fierce!, an online community of entrepreneurial and professional leaders who support and lift each other up through membership, live events and by connecting women across disciplines with each other.

Kelly is also an Emmy-nominated producer and communications professor. She has served as the creative and strategic lead on TV, digital and press projects for CNN, BBC, NBC, CBS, BSkyB and others. Kelly received her BA from Stetson University and has an MA from the University of Sydney.

Recently, Kelly was recognized by the Jacksonville Business Journal as one of the First Coast’s 40 Under 40. She moved to St. Augustine in 2010, where she now resides with her husband and two children. 

   

Unable to attend? Make a donation today!