Girl Scouts of Gateway Council Hosted Northeast Florida Women of Distinction Winter Soirée
Girl Scouts of Gateway Council celebrated exceptional female leaders at the annual Northeast Florida Women of Distinction Winter Soirée on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at the Adam W. Herbert University Center.
Each year, this signature event recognizes women who embody the Girl Scout Promise and Law, serving as role models of courage, confidence, and character. Their leadership, professional achievements, and community contributions inspire the next generation of girls to make the world a better place.
This year’s honorees are Whitney Meyer, Senior Vice President and Chief Community Impact Officer, Jacksonville Jaguars; Dr. Olayemi Sokumbi, Associate Medical Director of the Department of Business Development, Mayo Clinic; and Diana Sorfleet, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, CSX. These remarkable women have paved the way for future generations through their visionary leadership and dedication to service.
The evening was hosted by Girl Scouts Esha Kasavaraju and Madeline Feretti and featured both silent and live auctions. In addition to our Girl Scout emcees, the event also highlighted our WOD Mentees, Mackenzie, Khrisha, and Diya, who shared their incredible experiences of connecting with their mentors over the past few months and had the honor of introducing them to the stage. "It is an incredible opportunity to get a mentor and give them an award, a well deserved award at that. Whitney has guided me on so much and allowed me to speak confidently. She’s taught me the importance of networking and how important it is to let people know what your name is and connect as much as possible," said Mackenzie.
This celebration was made possible through the generous support of Integrity Sponsors CSX, Jaguar Foundation, and Publix; our Resilience Sponsors Mayo Clinic, Florida Blue, USAble Life, Mercedes-Benz USA, Leadership Sponsors Minuteman Press, The Fiorentino Group, The Baldwin Group, Driver McAfee Hawthorne & Diebenow, PULSE, and UF Health Jacksonville; and Girl Scout Patron Sponsors Dream Finders Homes, Denmont Consulting, Trophy Nut Company.
“Women of Distinction is our annual celebration to honor and highlight the incredible impact of women in leadership across Jacksonville. We pay tribute to those who have paved the way before us and celebrate the trailblazers who are shaping the future for the women leaders of tomorrow. Thanks to your support, Girl Scouting in Jacksonville and all of Northern Florida continues to thrive and grow," said Wendy Dordel, CEO of Girl Scouts of Gateway Council.
