1. Whatwe'reseeing right now
Business looks better among Florida’s women-owned
companies, with key performance indicators up in
2017, and optimism returning among respondents.
THECOMMONWEALTH INSTITUTE SOUTH FLORIDA’S
2018WOMEN-LED BUSINESS SURVEY RESULTS

2. Don’t just hire
an accountant.
You deserve
better.
Kaufman Rossin, an equal
pay company, is proud
to partner with successful
business leaders to help
improve performance and
minimize risk.
Kaufman Rossin is pleased
to collaborate withThe
Commonwealth Institute
of South Florida.
Contact Us
email@kaufmanrossin.com
305-858-5600

3. Methodology
The Commonwealth Institute South Florida partnered
with Kaufman Rossin to administer and analyze its 2018
Women-Led Businesses Survey. This survey provides
insight into the community of women-led businesses in
Florida, identifying trends and common concerns. It also
serves as the source forTCI's annual awards lists: Top 50
Women-Led For-Profit Organizations,Top 10Women-
Led Not for Profit Organizations, and a new list this year:
Top 10Women-Led Startups.
Surveys were distributed directly to 8,905 email
addresses, and shared with several organizations
including Chambers of Commerce to distribute to their
members. The recipients were identified as the CEO,
president or owner of a woman-led business with two or
more employees. Additional distribution went to theTCI
database of leading women.
301 responses were received. Only companies that
provided specific revenue information were included in
the rankings. Self-reported data was verified through
on-line research and personal contacts.

4. Women-owned businesses are a substantial contributor to the US
economic landscape.
“As ofJanuary 2017, there are an estimated 11.6 million women-
owned businesses in theUnitedStates that employ nearly 9
million people and generate more than $1.7 trillion in revenues.”
“Between 1997 and 2017, the number of women-owned
businesses increased by 114%, compared to a 44% increase
among all businesses — a growth rate more than 2.5 times the
national average.”
The number of women-owned businesses is growing more than twice as
fast as the general business growth rate.
“The share for employment only grew from 7% to 8% and for
revenues, the share declined slightly from 4.4% to 4.2%.”
However, employment and revenues are growing slower than the
economy at large.
National data shows that women’s entrepreneurship has been
increasing for two decades.
From 1997 to 2017, women-owners’ share of the number of businesses grew from
26% to 39% , according to the 2017 State ofWomen-Owned Businesses report
commissioned byAmerican ExpressOpen.1
Their report shows:
Executive Summary
1
http://about.americanexpress.com/news/docs/2017-State-of-Women-Owned-Businesses-Report.pdf

5. Florida continues to be a great place
for women entrepreneurs, according
to a study by Fits Small Business2
.
Second only toGeorgia, their study
shows:
“TheSunshineState lands at number
two after posting top five finishes in
four categories. In Florida, there are
119 net new businesses that are owned
by women every day to come in second
in this category. In addition, women
own 38.5 percent of the businesses in
the state, taking the fourth spot in this
metric. Also, Florida grabbed the fourth
spot for the percentage of women-
owned firms with paid employees as
women own 20.8 percent of businesses
in the state with paid employees.“
2
https://fitsmallbusiness.com/best-states-for-
women-entrepreneurs/#

7. The data we collected in
Florida shows optimism
among respondents.
• More than half report revenue growth
in 2017
• More than 80% project revenue
growth for the coming year
• Projections of employment growth,
which dipped in last year’s survey,
are back up to nearly 60%.
Thereasonsfor startingbusinessesseemto
be changing.
Though many stillstate“I’manentrepreneur
atheart,”passionfor somethingothersaren’t
doingandwork/lifeflexibility arerisingas
reasonsfor startingtheir owncompanies.
Their corebusinessconcernscontinuetobe
thesame: winningnew business, revenue
growth andprofitability. Whenaskedwhat
they wereconcernedabout, morethanhalf
chosetax reformasa topconcern.
Respondents’ advice to
young women focused
more on the work.
Wordslike“goals,”“mentor,”“learn,”
and“workhard”standoutalongside
“passionate”and“dreams.”

8. More than half of respondents reported their businesses grew,
continuing a three year trend. This year, more than 56% reported
moderate or substantial growth, down two points from 2016.
ͬ
ͮͬ
Ͱͬ
6ͬ
8ͬ
ͭͬͬ%
ͮͬͭ6 ͮͬͭͳͮͬͭͱ
Decrease
substantially
Decrease
moderately
Stay about
the same
Grow
moderately
Grow
substantially
ͮͱ.ͬ%
ͭͳ.ͱ%ͭͳ.ͯ%
Ͱͬ.Ͱ%
ͭͺ.ͯ%
ͮ.͵%
͸Ͳ.͵%
ͯͳ.͵%
ͷͮ.Ͳ%
ͱ.ͯ%
ͭͮ.͵%
ͮͰ.ͯ%
Ͱͯ.ͱ%
ͷͮ.͵%
Ͳ.ͯ%
HOW DIDYOUR REVENUE CHANGE LASTYEAR?
Women who lead Florida’s businesses
continue to see growth.

9. 81% of these leaders are projecting moderate or substantial growth.That’s up
from last year’s 78%, resuming a pattern of optimism that had grown steadily
since 2011, when the projections of moderate or significant growth were
just 67%. Hiring plans are more optimistic as well. Nearly 60% project staff
increases in 2018, compared to 53% expecting to grow staff last year.
It is important to note, however, that these predictions tend to be rosier
than reported actual growth. In 2016, 78% of respondents predicted
growth for 2017; just 56% of this year’s respondents reported moderate or
substantial growth in 2017.
HOW DOYOU EXPECTYOUR REVENUE TO CHANGE THISYEAR?
ͬ
ͮͬ
Ͱͬ
6ͬ
8ͬ
ͭͬͬ%
ͮͬͭ6 ͮͬͭͳͮͬͭͱ
Decrease
substantially
Decrease
moderately
Stay about
the same
Grow
moderately
Grow
substantially
ͭͳ.ͱ%
ͮͽ.ͭ%ͮͲ.͵%
ͱͬ.Ͱ%
ͯ.͵%
ͭ.ͭ%
ͭͱ.ͬ%
ͱͰ.ͱ%
ͮ.ͳ%
ͭ.ͬ%
ͮͳ.ͳ%
ͭͯ.ͯ%
ͱͰ.ͭ%
Ͱ.ͯ%
ͭ.8%
Respondents expect that trend to continue
into 2018.

10. 43% report revenues above $2 million, a return to a positive trend after
a dip last year.
ͬ
ͮͬ
Ͱͬ
6ͬ
8ͬ
ͭͬͬ%
ͮͬͭͱ ͮͬͭ6 ͮͬͭͳͮͬͭͰ
ͮ.ʹ%
ͭͱ.1%
͵.ͱ%
ͮͰ.͵%
6.6%
Ͱ.ͭ%
ͯͲ.͵%
ͭ.ͯ%
ͭͱ.6%
ͭͭ.6%
ͮʹ.6%
6.6%
ͳ.ͬ%
ͮ͵.ͮ%
Ͱ.ͯ%
ͭͱ.ͳ%
͵.6%
ͮͱ.ͳ%
ͳ.ͱ%
ͮ.͵%
ͯͰ.ͯ%
ͮ.ͳ%
ͭ͵.ͮ%
ͭͬ.͵%
ͭ͵.ͮ%
6.6%
ͯ.ͭ%
ͯ8.ͬ%
ͭͳ.ͱ%ͭͳ.ͯ%
ͮͬ.ͮ% $8,000,001-
$10,000,000
Over
$10million
Under
$500,000
$500,001-
$2,000,000
$2,000,001-
$4,000,000
$4,000,001-
$6,000,000
$6,000,001-
$8,000,000
WHAT WASYOUR ORGANIZATION'S ANNUAL REVENUE?
Revenues range from under $500,000
to over $10 million.

12. What businesses are we in?
Florida’s women differ from the nation.
AccordingtotheAmericanExpressOPENstudy3
, half of allwomen-owned
businesses areinthreeindustries: other services(likesalonsandpetcare
businesses),healthcareandsocialassistance, andprofessional/scientific/
technicalservices.
Butinoursample,whileprofessionalservicesdominates, representing29%
of respondents,thenextcategoriesaremanufacturingandtechnology.
Constructionand realestateeach bringinabout5%of our sample.
Professional
services
Other
Non-profit
Manufacturing/
Distribution
Investments-Other
Investments-Hedge
fund/Private equity
Insurance
Investments-
Broker-dealers
Hospitality
Healthcare
Government
Entertainment/Arts
Education
Construction
Real estate
Retail
Technology
Agriculture
Transportation
Legal
ͮ͵.ͬ%
ͳ.ͭ%
͵.ͯ%
ͯ.ͭ%
ͭ.ͯ%
ͬ.8%
ͬ.8%
Banking
ͬ.Ͱ%
ͭ.ͯ%
ͬ.8%
ͭ.ͯ%
ͯ.ͭ%
ͱ.ͯ%
ͭ.ͳ%
Ͱ.͵%
ʹ.͵%
ͬ.ͬ%
ͯ.ͭ%
ʹ.Ͱ%
ͯ.ͱ%
Ͱ.͵%
3
http://about.americanexpress.com/news/docs/2017-State-of-Women-Owned-Businesses-Report.pdf

13. Interestingly, the percentage of companies employing more than
250 people has grown consistently in the past several years, and has
reached 11%.
HOW LONG HAVEYOU BEEN IN BUSINESS?
HOW MANY EMPLOYEES DOYOU HAVE?
74% have been in business more than 10 years,
and 45% employ more than 10 people
5-9 years
ͭͮ%
1-2 years
ͱ%
Less than 1 year
ͮ%
3-4 years
ͳ%
10 years or more
ͳͰ%
26-50
ͭͬ%
6-10
ͭͳ%
1-5
ͯ8%
11-25
ͭͱ%
51-250
͵%
More
than 250
employees
ͭͭ%

14. Winning new
business ͳͬ.Ͳ%
ͳͯ.ͳ%
6ͬ.ͭ%
Profitability
ͱ͵.8%
ͱ͵.ͯ%
Ͱͳ.ͳ%
Access/
affordability ͱ.6%
ͯ.ͳ%
ͯ.ͳ%
Capital
Investment ʹ.Ͱ%
Ͳ.ͳ%
͵.ͭ%
Revenue
Growth ͳͬ.6%
ͳͭ.ͱ%
ͳͮ.ͬ%
Marketing
investment ͮͰ.ͱ%
ͮͭ.ͭ%
ͭͳ.ͳ%
Technology
investment
ͭͯ.Ͳ%
ͭͱ.͵%
ͭ6.ͭ%
Attracting
personnel ͮ6.ͮ%
ͮͬ.ͬ%
ͮͬ.6%
Retaining
personnel ͭ8.ͮ%
ͭͭ.ͭ%
ͭͱ.ͮ%
Retaining
existing business ͯ8.ͱ%
ͯͰ.ʹ%
ͯͰ.6%
ͮͬͭ6ͮͬͭͳͮͬͭ8
WHICH THREE ISSUES AREYOU MOST FOCUSED ON THISYEAR?
What keeps us up at night? Business
concerns are consistent with past years…
Winningnewbusiness,revenuegrowthand profitabilitycontinueto
dominate,withprofitabilitycreepingupover thelastthreeyears.

15. Talentedemployeesdon’t
wanttoworkforwomen.
8.6%
ͳ.ͱ%
ͱ.͵%
Lawsandregulationsshow
abiasagainstwomen.
ͭͬ.6%
͵.ͱ%
ͳ.8%
Whenwomendisplay
leadershipcharactersiticswe
areseenasunfeminine.
ͰͰ.8%
Ͱͮ.ͳ%
ͯͰ.ͭ%
Women have mentors who
give advice; men have
sponsors who offer
opportunities
Ͱ6.ͳ%
Ͱͯ.ͯ%
Ͱ8.ͯ%
Familyresponsibilities
getintheway.
Ͱ6.ͳ%
ͯ8.ͭ%
Ͱ͵.ͭ%
Womenaren’tgivenasmany
opportunitiesforhigh-profile
assignments ͯͭ.ͭ%
Ͱͮ.ͬ%
ͱͬ.Ͱ%
Sexualharassmentin
theworkplace.
ͭ6.Ͱ%
Idon’tthinktherearedifferent
obstaclesforwomen. ͭͰ.ͭ%
ͭͮ.͵%
ͭͬ.ͯ%
It’s more difficult for
women to get financing or
investment.
ͯͰ.ͭ%
Ͱͭ.ͬ%
ͯͯ.ͬ%
ͮͬͭ8
ͮͬͭ6
ͮͬͭͳ
WHAT OBSTACLES MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR WOMEN LEADERS
IN FLORIDA?
...but perceived obstacles for women
have shifted slightly.
Giventhecurrent#MeToo movement, weaddedoneobstacletoour
question, andmorethan16%of womenchosesexualharassmentasan
obstaclemakingitdifficultfor womenleadersinFlorida. Alsointeresting
is how someof theother obstacleshavegainedresponses, withthelackof
high profileassignmentschosenbymorethan50%of respondents.

16. I worked my way up
from another role
ͭͱ%
A family member
started the company
ͳ%
I bought the company
ͮ%
I was hired for this role
ͭͯ%
I started the company
6ͯ%
For several years we’ve asked women how they became leaders in their
organizations. “I started the company” continues to be the number 1 choice, but
more women – 13% compared to 8% in 2015 – say “I was hired for this role.”
HOW DIDYOU BECOME A LEADER IN THIS ORGANIZATION?
How did these women get started...

17. Pure entrepreneurship and passion topped the charts, but the need for flexibility
and balance is growing. Most financed their businesses through savings.
WHY DIDYOU STARTYOUR COMPANY?
ͮͭ.ͬ%
ͮͬ.6%
ͮͰ.͵%I had a passion for
something no one
else was doing
ͭ͵.6%
ͭͳ.ͮ%
ͭͳ.ͱ%
Iwantedflexibility
orbalanceinmylife
ͱ.Ͱ%
ͱ.8%
6.6%
Ididn’tseeapathto
successforwomenin
thecorporateworld
ͭͭ.ͯ%
ͭͭ.ͭ%
ͭͭ.8%
Myideasweren’tbeing
heardwhenIworked
forsomeoneelse
Ͱͱ.6%
ͯ8.6%
Ͱͯ.ͮ%
I’manentrepreneur
atheart
ͮͬͭ6
ͮͬͭ8
ͮͬͭͳ
...and why?

18. ͮͬͭ6ͮͬͭͳͮͬͭ8
ͱͯ.͵%
ͱ8.6%
ͱͰ.ͮ%
Collaboration
͸Ͱ.ͳ%
͸ͱ.6%
͸ͱ.ͳ%
Consensus building
6ͯ.ͯ%
6ͳ.ͬ%
66.ͮ%
Communication
ͭͱ.Ͱ%
ͭͳ.ͭ%
ͭͯ.ʹ%
Persuasiveness
ͯ8.ͱ%
ͯͬ.ͱ%
ͯ6.ͬ%
Empathy
ͯͱ.͵%
ͯ͵.6%
ͯͭ.ʹ%
Flexibility
Ͱͬ.6%
Ͱͯ.6%
Ͱͯ.ͳ%
Goal-orientation
͸ͯ.͵%
͸6.͵%
͸ͯ.Ͱ%
Risk taking
Those are the top adjectives they chose when asked to describe their
management styles. When asked to describe qualities that set women apart as
strong leaders, the answers were consistent: communication, collaboration and
goal orientation.
WHICH THREE QUALITIES DOYOU THINK SET
WOMEN APART AS STRONG LEADERS?
Women who lead Florida businesses describe
themselves as authentic and decisive.

19. Just under 5% stated that women are better leaders; less than 1% think men
are better.
Menare
betterleaders
thanwomen
Womenare
betterleaders
thanmen
ͭͱ.ͭ%
Genderisnotafactor
ͬ.͵%
Noneof
theabove
ͮ.Ͳ%
Womenlead
differently
thanmen
Ͱ.ͳ%
ͳ6.ͳ%
They continue to agree that women
and men lead differently.

20. ͮͬͭͳͮͬͭ8
Family
background Ͱͯ.ͳ%
Ͱͳ.ͯ%
Ͱͭ.Ͱ%
Formal
business
education
ͰͰ.ͬ%
ͰͲ.ͳ%
Ͱͮ.͵%
On-the-job
training
6ͱ.ͬ%
Ͳͱ.ͭ%
Ͳͮ.ͱ%
Mentoring ͰͰ.ͭ%
Ͱͳ.Ͳ%
Ͱͮ.ͳ%
Belonging to
a supportive
organization
ͮ8.Ͳ%
ͯͳ.ͮ%
ͯͯ.ͭ%
My personal
network
ͱͱ.ͭ%
6ͯ.ͮ%
66.ͱ%
ͮͬͭ6
On-the-job training continued to take top ranking this year, with personal
networks and supportive organizations declining.
WHICH THREE FACTORS HAVE CONTRIBUTED
TOYOUR PERSONAL SUCCESS?
What creates success for these
women business leaders?

21. What advice do our women
leaders give to ambitious
young women?
Goals
Passionate
Prepared
Believe
Bold
Success
Business
Work Hard
Task
Life
Decisions
Seek Mentorship
TruePath Fear
Tough Small Stuff
Act
NextOpportunity
Mentor
Dreams
Strong
Persistent
Learn

22. Top 50Women-Led For-Profit Organizations in Florida
1 ChristineDuffy President CarnivalCruiseLine Hospitality 33178 250+
2 Kirsten Dolan CEO OneParking ProfessionalServices 33401 250+
3 Janna Ronert Founder&CEO ImageSkinCare Manufacturing/Distribution 33418 51-250
4 Elizabeth Fago Founder NuVistaHealthCare/PalmHealth RealEstate 33410 250+
5 Catherine Muth President O.R.ColanAssociates Other 33019 51-250
6 Olga Ramudo President&CEO ExpressTravel ProfessionalServices 33134 26-50
7 Nadine Heubel CEO HeinemannAmericasInc. Retail 33134 51-250
8 MayteFernandez ManagingPartner MomentumConsultingCorporation Technology 33141 51-250
9 Deborah Herman Owner FabricInnovations Hospitality 33134 26-50
10 Sue Romanos President&CEO CAREERXCHANGE ProfessionalServices 33176 250+
11 AdelaGonzalez CEO FutureForcePersonnel ProfessionalServices 33014 11-25
12 Traci Lynn Burton President TraciLynnInc. Retail 33309 11-25
13 RachelSapoznik CEO&President Sapoznik Insurance&Associates,LLC Insurance 33162 51-250
14 JenniferCramer CEO TheSpiceLab Manufacturing/Distribution 33064 26-50
15 MaureenShea CEO RightManagement ProfessionalServices 33301 26-50
16 Ginger Martin President&CEO AmericanNationalBank Banking 33062 26-50
17 Tina Elmowitz Partner rbbCommunications ProfessionalServices 33134 51-250
18 BlancaAcosta President EquipcoManufacturing,Inc. Manufacturing/Distribution 33166 51-250
19 Sandy King President SymbiontServiceCorp Construction 34224 51-250
20 Karen Korner CEO&Co-owner DASGroup Technology 33024 26-50
21 DianeWillcox President SeminoleOfficeSolutions Technology 32750 26-50
22 LindaWatson President Rainmaker,Inc. Government 33334 1-5
23 LeighAnn Hoey President ScientificInstruments,Inc Manufacturing/Distribution 33407 26-50
24 Dr.LeslieBaumann CEO BaumannCosmeticandResearchInstitute Healthcare 33137 26-50
25 Susana Robledo Owner CubeCare Manufacturing/Distribution 33015 51-250
26 BetsyMcGee President ADIMetal Manufacturing/Distribution 33315 11-25
Name Title Organization Industry
ZIP
Code
Number of
Employees

23. 27 KayStephenson President&CEO DatamaxxAppliedTechnologies,Inc. Technology 32311 26-50
28 Suzette DiMascio Owner CSISpecialtyGroup Healthcare 32771 11-25
29 Tanya Meyer President ACEStaffingUnlimited,Inc. ProfessionalServices 32757 250+
30 Eileen Rosenzweig Owner SirSpeedy Manufacturing/Distribution 34231 11-25
31 Celeste Notardonato President&CEO TheIntegrationFactory Construction 32955 26-50
32 KateBoyer CEO Anatomie Manufacturing/Distribution 33138 6-10
33 PatriciaWerhahn CEO RedSteelProperties RealEstate 33444 1-5
34 Holly Macdonald-Korth ManagingDirector JWKorth&Company Investments-Other 33133 11-25
35 JoyceT.Velitschkowski President J.T.V.,Inc. Construction 33709 11-25
36 PeggySue Wingard Owner O-GeePaint Retail 33155 11-25
37 DebbieSavage Founder&President ResponsiveHomeCare Healthcare 33309 51-250
38 Danielle Huff President C&HBaseball,Inc. Manufacturing/Distribution 34211 11-25
39 Kim Kendall President&CEO OceanRidersEngineering ProfessionalServices 21042 11-25
40 Traci-Anne Boyle Owner AirQuestEnvironmental,Inc. ProfessionalServices 33314 26-50
41 JeanneKline Owner&President MagicalMemoriesManagement RealEstate 34746 26-50
42 AnnJeanette Miner President&Owner GEMIndustriesIncorporated Manufacturing/Distribution 32926 26-50
43 Katie Kessler President&CEO HSA ProfessionalServices 33156 6-10
44 Angela Polania Principal Elevate ProfessionalServices 33146 11-25
45 Maria Harrison President BullseyeStrategy ProfessionalServices 33301 6-10
46 SuzanneLemen CEO&President DynamicCorporateSolutions,Inc. ProfessionalServices 32003 26-50
47 Lourdes Madsen Owner RapidPress,Inc. Manufacturing/Distribution 32309 26-50
48 ChristineRamirez Partner&VicePresident DaleCarnegieTraining ProfessionalServices 33305 11-25
49 Linda Lubitz Boone Founder&President TheLubitzFinancialGroup Transportation 33157 6-10
50 MargueritteRamos President ShadeFLA Construction 33138 6-10
Learn more about these top leaders at kaufmanrossin.com/2018FLTopWomenLedBiz

24. Top 10Women-Led Not-For-Profit Organizations in Florida
Learn more about these top leaders at kaufmanrossincom/2018FLTopWomenLedBiz
1 Sister Linda Bevilacqua President Barry University Education 33132 250+
2 Kristi Mollis President Everglades University Non-Profit 33431 250+
3 Maria Alonso CEO UnitedWay of Miami-Dade Non-Profit 33134 51-250
4 BarbaraWeinstein President & CEO Family Central Inc Non-Profit 33309 51-250
5 Madelyn Lozano Executive Director EpworthVillage, Inc. Non-Profit 33012 250+
6 Germaine Baugh President & CEO Urban League of Broward County Non-Profit 33311 51-250
7 Deborah Spiegelman CEO Miami Children's Museum Non-Profit 33132 51-250
8 Nancy Robin CEO & Executive Director Habitat for Humanity Broward Non-Profit 33308 26-50
9 Kerry-Ann Royes CEO YWCA of Greater Miami-Dade Non-Profit 33128 51-250
10 Karen Egozi CEO Epilepsy Foundation of Florida Non-Profit 33156 51-250
Name Title Organization Industry
ZIP
Code
Number of
Employees
1 Linda Alexander Co-Founder We AreThe Mighty Entertainment/Arts 33180 11-25
2 Beth Kariofyllis Franchise Owner CBCT Group, LLC Hospitality 34239 26-50
3 Antoinette Zel CEO & Co-Founder The Story Room Other 33140 11-25
4 Jessica Knopf Manager Sriracha House, LLC Hospitality 33139 11-25
5 Michelle Abbs Director WIN Lab Miami at Babson College Education 33136 250+
6 Pandwe Gibson President & Founder EcotechVisions Manufacturing/ 33169 6-10
Distribution
7 Arlene Alvarez Independent Raymond James Financial Services Investments- 33134 1-5
Financial Advisor Broker-dealers
8 Liz Alicea-Velez Owner Alilez Partners Education 33327 26-50
9 Pilar Carvajal Owner & CEO Innovation Senior Management Healthcare 33139 51-250
10 Janice Haley CEO & Founder Tone-y-Bands Manufacturing/ 33435 1-5
Distribution
Name Title Organization Industry
ZIP
Code
Number of
Employees
Top 10 Startups

25. MariaC. Alonso, Panelist
MariaC.Alonso assumed the role of president andCEO of UnitedWay of Miami-Dade in
August 2017, after a 22-year career with Bank ofAmerica.
Prior to joining the organization, Maria served as a UnitedWay board member and
led the redesign of our community investment process to a more strategic, collective
impact approach focused on education, financial stability and health. Her rich history
of community leadership includes chairing theGreater MiamiChamber ofCommerce and NewWorld School of
theArts, and currently serving as a board member of the BeaconCouncil and co-chair of itsOneCommunityOne
Goal initiative. She has also served on the boards of the Miami Foundation,Camillus House, Miami DadeCollege
Foundation, among others.
As president andCEO, Maria is responsible for engaging the passion and expertise of thousands of contributors
and hundreds of corporate and community partners in support of UnitedWay’s mission of building community by
helping people care for one another.Working alongside a team of nearly 200 professionals, she guides the strategic
direction, operations and finances of the largest private funder of health and human services in Miami-DadeCounty.
Maria holds a master’s of business administration in marketing from Florida International University and a bachelor’s
degree in industrial engineering from the University of Miami. She resides inCoralGables with her husbandAlex
Montague and furry members of their family.
Liz Alicea-Velez, Panelist
Liz Alicea-Velez has extensive experience directing profitable business strategies and
operations for the United States, Latin American and Caribbean markets. Over the
last four years, she has been owner and operator of the Huntington Learning Center
in Pembroke Pines, FL. Huntington is a chain of educational service centers in the
United States for primary and secondary students in the U.S. It offers reading, writing,
mathematics, phonics, and study skills instruction, math and science subject tutoring,
as well as test preparation for the SAT, and ACT..
Prior to Huntington, Alicea-Velez started her career withWestern Union in 1992. In her 18 years with the
company, she advanced to senior-level positions, ultimately serving as ExecutiveVice President of the Latin
American/Caribbean Region, where she had full P&L responsibility for three separate divisions (Western Union,
Vigo and OrlandiValuta) totaling over $800 million in revenue for allWestern Union sales, service, marketing,
systems/operations, finance and support functions.
Alicea-Velez is a graduate of the Harvard School of Business MBA program, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree
in Psychology from Adelphi University. Born and raised in the Bronx, NewYork, Alicea-Velez was selected as
one of Latin America’sTop 25 business women in 2010, one of the 100 most influential Hispanics in the US in
2007 and one of theTop 50 HispanicWomen in Business in 2001. She has served on the boards of Judith Griese
Foundation, Denver Hispanic Chamber, UnitedWayWomen’s Initiative Council, and the University ofWest
Indies. She is currently the co-chair ofThe Commonwealth Institute Board and Board Member of the scholarship
committee of the Miramar Pembroke Pines Chamber.

26. Christine Duffy,Panelist
ChristineDuffyis presidentofCarnivalCruiseLine, thebiggestbrandinthefleetof Miami-
basedglobalcruiseindustryleaderCarnivalCorp., theworld’slargestleisuretravelcompany.
Aspresident,she’s thecaptainof a companythatsailsa fleetof 26ships, annually hostsmore
thanfivemillionguests and employs morethan40,000 peoplewho hailfrommorethan110
nationsaround theglobe.
Carnivalhomeports its ships inNorthAmerica, EuropeandAustralia andsailsto morethan
100destinations innearly40countries. Christinealso overseesmajor enhancementsacrosstheCarnivalCruiseLine
footprint,includingtheadditionof threemorespectacular new shipsjoiningthefleetthrough 2022, refurbishedand
modernizedships andportfacilities,newonboarddining, entertainmentandrecreationfeatures, anda state-of-the-art
FleetOperationsCenteratits Miamiheadquartersthatimplementstechnology similar to thatusedby NASAandthe
U.S.Navytomonitoroperations andimprovereal-timedecision-making. Her “peoplefirst”businessphilosophymakes
heranaccessibleand approachableleaderasCarnivalleveragesitscommitmentto deliveringsafe, funandmemorable
vacationstoits millions of guests and introducesthefunandconsumer valueof cruisingto a growingcustomerbase.
Duffysitsontheexecutivecommitteeof theU.S.TravelAssociationandcurrently servesasitssecondvicechair,aswell
astheProfessionalAdvisoryBoard ofSt.JudeChildren’sResearch Hospital.
Janet Kyle Altman, Moderator
JanetKyleAltmanis MarketingPrincipalfor KaufmanRossin.Shejoinedthefirmin2000 and
leadsallaspects of thefirm's marketingprogram.TeachingandlearningareamongJanet’s
passions.Sheleads seminars inmarketing,leadershipandmanagement, andiscertifiedas
ayogainstructor.PriortojoiningKaufmanRossin, shehadnearly two decadesof Fortune
100marketingexperience,includingexperienceinemployeebenefits, financialservicesand
electronicpublishing.Janetis theimmediatepastChair for theWomen’sFundof Miami-Dade
andpastChairof theChairman’sCircleforFriendsofWLRN.Sheisa frequentwriter andlecturer, andanaccomplished
facilitatorwhohas led retreats and planning meetingsfor localandnationalnon-profitgroups.Altmanreceivedher
degreefromtheUniversityof Pennsylvania. In2010, shewasnamedoneof thecommunity’sInfluentialBusiness
Womenbythe South FloridaBusinessJournal.
Dr.Traci Lynn Burton, Panelist
Drivenbyher entrepreneurialspirit,CEO&Founder, Dr.TraciLynnBurtonisa designer,
motivationalspeaker,authorandthedrivingforcebehindthehugelysuccessfulDirect
Salescompany,TraciLynnJewelry.Shehas builta multi-million-dollar enterprisethat
hasexpanded internationally,witha current networkof over 35,000 independentsales
consultants.TraciLynncontinues toimpacther consultantswith her missionof “Passing
theMIC”(Motivate,Inspire,ChangeLives).“PassingtheMIC”fuelsher desireto motivatepeopleto stepoutoftheir
comfortzoneand reachforgreatness. SouthFlorida Business &WealthMagazine recentlyfeaturedher astheircover
storyandthejewelryhas beenpublishedintopfashionmagazineslike RedbookandPeopleStyleWatch.

27. TheCommonwealth Institute (TCI) is a network of successful
business and professional women in our community.We
provide leadership development, high-level networking and
mentoring through our content-rich events and programming.
TheCommonwealth Institute was founded in 1997 in Boston,
Massachusetts.A group of successful women entrepreneurs
got together with the simple idea of making it easier for
other women than it was for them.As the heads of their own
businesses, the opportunity for personal development hadn’t
come from inside their own companies, nor from the typical
networking organizations locally.So these women created their
own group, a “commonwealth”, where women leaders could
come together, linked with the common objective and interest
of sharing experiences and supporting each other’s ongoing
success and development. In 2004,TheCommonwealth Institute
started itsSouth Florida chapter with the same foundational
core objective.
TCI provides a wide range of educational programs, lively
discussions, personal and professional enrichment, and
high-level networking and business opportunities.The
Commonwealth Institute helps women strengthen leadership
skills, improve their business operations and find innovative
solutions through an invaluable peer support network.Women
who join, sponsor or donate toTCI are part of an exceptional
group of women leaders who share wisdom and support one
another to succeed.
Since its inception,TCI has worked with hundreds of women-led
companies.TCI currently has more than 300 members whose
companies have annual revenues ranging from $100,000 to more
than $1 billion.TheSouth Florida region serves Dade, Broward
and Palm BeachCounties.
We offer several levels of membership; our general membership,
our Emerging Leaders Forum membership, and our Executive
Forum membership as well asStrategies forSuccess, our
leadership development program for emerging and high-
potential women.
Liz Alicea-Velez
Huntington Learning Center
Co-President
Arlene Alvarez
Raymond James
Financial Services, Inc.
Amparo Bared
Private Supporter
Barbara Black
JLL
Tina Brown
OvertownYouth Center
Antoinette Cave
PNC Bank
Diane Davis
Merrill Lynch
Wealth Management
Kirsten Dolan
One Parking
Dorothy
Eisenberg
Gerson, Preston,
Robinson, Klein, Lips
& Eisenberg P.A.
Karla Fraguada
Barcardi
Amy Hurwitz
Carlton Fields
Laura Kaplan
U.S.Trust
Lisa Kauffman
Perry Ellis International
Co-President
Doris Neyra
Wells Fargo
Private Bank
Naomi Nixon
University of Miami
Linda Paresky
Emeritus
Flora Perez
GreenbergTraurig
Kendra Phillips
Ryder
Toni Randolph
Emeritus
Lindy Smiley
Starwood PropertyTrust
Vice President
Germaine Smith-Baugh
Urban League
of Broward County
Phyllis Swersky
The MelTech Group
Congratulations to all of ourTopWomen 2018 Honorees!
A special thank you to ourTCI South Florida Advisory Board 2018
and all the women that have served before them…
www.commonwealthinstitute.org

28. Survey
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