Ladies of the Yr 2023 Honorees Half 4

Photograph By: Roberto Gonzalez

Paula A. Stark

Consultant | Florida Home District 47

A graduate of Osceola Excessive College and former Miss Osceola, Paula A. Stark—director of St. Cloud Most important Road and former writer of the Osceola Information Gazette—culminated her 40 years of management within the St. Cloud group within the November elections with a purple win in her blue district. 

She grasps the “significance of figuring out I’ve been put there for a objective and that I need to stay as much as the expectations of these I’m representing,” says Stark, who aspires to be a job mannequin for perseverance in adversity. “As my grandmother mentioned, ‘Can’t by no means may.’”

Based on her nomination, Stark has labored to extend wages and enhance transportation in her group whereas additionally honoring veterans. The consultant says she hopes to “go away my group higher than I discovered it” whereas serving to others obtain success. “She is among the hardest-working folks I do know and is devoted to serving to her group develop into a greater place to stay, work and play,” her nomination reads.

Christina Hollerbach

CEO | Hollerbach’s

For Christina Hollerbach, every day brings a possibility to create gemutlichkeit, a homey familiarity amongst folks round her, no matter whether or not she’s overseeing her household’s restaurant and three different companies in downtown Sanford, appearing as president of Sanford Most important Road, or serving in considered one of her many group service roles. 

Starting as a dishwasher at Hollerbach’s Willow Tree Café and dealing her solution to the helm, Hollerbach earned her place on Orlando Enterprise Journal’s “40 Below 40” checklist in 2019. She’s seeing the fruit of her efforts.

“I’ve been on the helm throughout huge progress and growth for the Hollerbach’s model by doubling our capability and employees to about 180 workers with over 700 seats and seeing over 8,000 visitors per week,” Hollerbach says.

Her household’s personal success apart, Hollerbach’s imaginative and prescient is something however myopic. She works “hand in hand with different native retailers and organizations to encourage commerce and progress locally. I think about funding into the way forward for Historic Downtown Sanford important to our ongoing success.”

Danielle Thomas

Govt Director | Artwork & Historical past Museums of Maitland

Danielle Thomas believes within the “transformative energy of studying via play,” but it surely’s not all play and no work for the pinnacle of the four-museum complicated, the success of which her nomination attributes to her management.

Named interim director in 2020 and co-executive director later that 12 months, Thomas stepped into the position of govt director in 2021. The 5-acre web site, which simply accomplished its most profitable fiscal 12 months, is Higher Orlando’s solely Nationwide Historic Landmark. 

“Due to her imaginative and prescient and path, this Nationwide Historic Landmark is now thriving, the employees has discovered expression, our artwork college students and guests now have a extra full and immersive expertise, and our associated group companions . . . have benefitted from her unbelievable care and fervour for our native arts group,” in keeping with her nomination.

Thomas says she hopes to make use of cultural experiences as a bridge. “We stay in a divisive world, however artwork and historical past belong to all of us, and studying and creativity belong to all of us. 

Shally Wong 

Liaison | Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings

A Hong Kong immigrant, Shally Wong advocates for Asian People and members of the Pacific Island group, a sometimes underrepresented inhabitants who could also be unaccustomed to having a voice.

Wong helped discovered the world’s annual Dragon Boat Parade in honor of the Lunar New Yr, and she or he additionally introduced the county’s first Diwali celebration in 2021. She serves in a number of group service roles and has obtained the Ellison S. Onizuka Humanitarian Award and the Asian American Heritage Council Group Service Award for her work.

“She takes nice pleasure in representing her tradition,” her nomination reads.

Wong works intently with greater than 40 Asian-American nonprofits to assist them discover wanted sources or to provoke collaboration. She hopes to extend illustration of the minority group in authorities and company settings whereas additionally establishing a useful resource and cultural middle.

Hope for the subsequent technology propels her ahead. “I would love the American-born Asian People to really feel proud and to imagine they will interact and contribute whereas protecting their heritage.”

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