Nearly a decade ago, South Florida Business & Wealth (SFBW) launched the Prestigious Women Awards with one goal: to recognize women who are doing extraordinary things. This year, SFBW once again celebrated the women who have made our community a great place to live and work.
For nearly a year, the SFBW advisory board, comprised of some of the respected C-suite leaders in the region, reviewed more than 400 nominees, reading the stories behind some of South Florida’s most inspiring women. Each honoree was selected through a points-based process evaluating leadership, growth, professional success, and community impact.
On April 29, these women were celebrated at a gala luncheon at Fort Lauderdale’s The Venue, with the help of presenting sponsor Nicklaus Children’s Health System. Other sponsors included Seacoast Bank and Transworld (silver sponsors), Recovery Unplugged (diamond sponsor), Responsive Home Care, Handy, South Florida Event Rentals, Weber Ranch Vodka, New River Floral, Deluxe MedSpa & Beauty and Print Basics (emerald sponsors), The Venue, Balloons Galore & More, and JOEY Restaurant Group (partner sponsors), and DJ Jewels and Ry Rivers (entertainment sponsors).
The 2026 class of Prestigious Women is:
Entrepreneurs:
Education – Kandice Freedman; ESE Advocate
Events Management – Alyssa Lovitt; I LOV-ITT Consulting
Health and Wellness – Raina Hachet; Raina Simone Aesthetics
Interior Design – Ann Lopez; Studio 790 Interior Design Inc.
Media – Michelle Rivera; M2 Executive Headshots
Pet Health – Jennifer Dreyfuss; Healing Paws Center
Real Estate and Construction – Lissette M. Calderon; Neology Group
Real Estate and Construction – Jennifer Leong; One Sotheby’s International Realty
Mentoring Champions:
Banking and Finance – Marcia Snyder; Seacoast Bank
Education – Emily Webster; Palm Beach Atlantic University
Non-Profit – Rebekah Lanae Lengel; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami
Non-Profit – Shanny Tozzi; ChildNet
Rising Stars (under 40):
Banking and Finance – Delia Wright, CFP; Victoria Park Wealth Management
Education – Dr. Jane Spanich; Cardinal Gibbons High School
Health Care – Sarah Harper; HCA Healthcare
Health and Wellness – Kaitlyn Coleman; Recovery Unplugged
Health and Wellness – Macy Danza; Luxe + Mane Salon
Hospitality – Andrea Moreno; Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival
Investigations and Compliance – Bailea Tinsley Ogden; 5 Stones Intelligence
Legal – Laura Burgess; L.E. Burgess, P.A.
Media – Bristol Jones; Avenue Z
Media – Lauren Sopourn; Sports and Media Nation
Non-Profit – Desiree Saunders; Handy
Innovators:
Construction – Diana Viera; ITALKRAFT
Health Care – Jessica Chen, MD; BLU by ThriveWell
Owners and Partners:
Banking and Finance – Sherry Bradley; CohnReznick
Construction – Maya Koljenovic; Napoleon Architectural Millwork
Health Care – Sanam Zahedi; Zahedi Plastic Surgery
Health Care – Jessica-Lynn Zalvidar; DRIP Health & MedSpa
Health and Wellness – Dianelys Gomez; Deluxe MedSpa & Beauty
Hospitality – Danielle Falsetto; Falsetto Hospitality
Legal – Tabitha Taylor; Bryant Taylor Law
Public Relations – Jacqueline Zayas; Longevity PR Agency, LLC
Retail – Deena Gunavie; G Marie Boutique
Professional Association Leaders:
Consulting – Maghan Barber; Grant and Sunding Solutions Company
Health Care – Genevieve Galindo; Responsive Home Care
Health Care – Jean Oertel; Ah-Ha Solutions, LLC
Non-Profit Leaders:
Education – Farrah Meme; Morebility
Education – Nicole Tugg; University of Miami
Health Care – Allison Baker; Nicklaus Children’s Health System
Health Care – Jessica Osman; UHealth – The University of Miami Health System
Non Profit – Jennifer Guttenberg; Weichert, Realtors-Unlimited
C-Suite Executives:
Banking and Finance – Biana Murnane; BrightStar Credit Union
Government – Jenni Morejon; Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority
Health Care – Rachel Blumberg; Sinai Residences of Boca Raton
Health Care – Danielle Hartman; Ruth & Norman Rales Jewish Family Service
Real Estate – Veronica Gorson; PMG – Property Markets Group
Technology – Cristher Castro; Cuemby
