Women in Business Summit inspires resilience, collaboration at USF Sarasota-Manatee

More than 200 business and community leaders gathered at the University of South Florida
Sarasota-Manatee campus for the second annual Women in Business Summit, where speakers
shared stories of resilience, innovation and leadership.

The half-day program, presented by Bank of America, featured keynote speaker Lisa
Krouse, president and CEO of First Tee and former chair of the Greater Sarasota Chamber
of Commerce, along with panels of executives, educators and community leaders.

“What made this summit so powerful was seeing women share their stories of resilience
and leadership,” said Marrie Neumer, associate vice president of advancement at USF
Sarasota-Manatee, who organized the event. “Together, Muma College of Business faculty
and Sarasota-Manatee business professionals showed how collaboration can drive real
change and empower the next generation.”

Keynote highlights

Krouse, whose career has included leadership roles with the Economic Development Corporation
of Sarasota County and the FCCI Board of Directors, urged attendees to embrace challenges
as opportunities.

“If the ball is in the rough, play it. If no one expected you to show up, play anyway,”
Krouse said, drawing on golf analogies. “Walk into the room, even if you’re not welcome—that’s
when change happens.”

She also emphasized the importance of persistence, citing trailblazer Brenda Berkman,
the first woman firefighter in the New York Fire Department. “Not with permission,
but with persistence,” Krouse said. “Don’t look back—always move forward.”

Collaboration across campus and community

The summit opened with remarks from Jean Kabongo, campus dean of the Muma College
of Business. “This summit is about fostering leadership, resilience and innovation—values
not only central to the program, but also to the work we do every day in the Muma
College of Business as we prepare our students for success,” Kabongo said.

Kristi Hoskinson, director of business strategy at Muma, served as program emcee.
Jamie Kahns, market executive for Bank of America Sarasota/Manatee, welcomed the audience
and highlighted the role of partnerships in strengthening the region.

The program included two panels: Women Who Build—Strategy, Innovation & Resilience
in Action and Rooted & Resilient—Leading with Emotional Intelligence, Culture & Care.

Panelists included Muma faculty members Lisa Penney, Triparna de Vreede and Sandy
Weiss, as well as Bank of America executive Stephenie Whitfield. They shared strategies
for adapting to disruption, using artificial intelligence as a creative tool, and
building leadership grounded in emotional intelligence.

Chamber of Commerce leaders Jacki Dezelski, Tarnisha Cliatt and Heather Kasten joined
moderator Kristen Lessig-Schenerlein of CORE Leadership to discuss collaboration and
member well-being in times of challenge.

Panelists Sandy Weiss, Stephenie Whitfield, Triparna de Vreede, and Lisa Penney.

Chamber of Commerce leaders Jacki Dezelski, Heather Kasten, Tarnisha Cliatt, and moderator
Kristen Lessig-Schenerlein.

Voices from the audience

The event also highlighted perspectives from students and community members.

Attendees at the summit shared how the day offered inspiration, new ideas, and opportunities
to connect across the community.

Amanda Baxter, a registered nurse at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center and a graduate
student in the Muma College of Business, said she valued the chance to learn from
her professor and panelist, Weiss. “She has been such an inspiration to me as I continue
my graduate studies,” Baxter said.

Karissa Campbell, a certified financial planner and financial advisor, said she hopes
to see more women enter the finance field and explored ways to support students through
internships. “In fact, I’d love to explore providing internships for students,” she
said.

SCORE Manasota (Service Corps of Retired Executives/SBA) mentor Jose Martinez said
women entrepreneurs “fuel our economy.”

Paula Pelaez, human resources manager at Sarasota-based Sutter Roofing, said she takes
pride in being part of the leadership team at a company founded in 1902. She attended
the summit to learn new ideas and left “feeling more empowered.”

Other attendees reflected on the summit’s collaborative atmosphere. “This summit fosters
opportunities to engage, be motivated, and share in the inspiration,” said Carlos
Moreira, director of campus engagement for veteran success and alumni affairs at USF
Sarasota-Manatee.

A lasting message

Throughout the day, presenters emphasized that progress often comes through persistence
rather than dramatic breakthroughs.

“Not all breakthroughs come with fanfare,” Krouse said. “Change does not have to be
loud or dramatic to be meaningful. It is persistence that leads to transformative
change.”

That message, organizers said, resonates closely with USF Sarasota-Manatee’s mission
to prepare students and professionals to “Be Bold.”

Photography by Khalil Garcia and Yadyra Guzman, University Communications and Marketing