Celebrating Women in Sports
2024 Celebrating Women in Sports recap
On Wednesday, September 25, 2024, the Greater Orlando Sports Commission hosted its 6th Annual Celebrating Women in Sports luncheon presented by Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute and honored five of Orlando's outstanding female sports leaders in front of a sold out crowd of 725 guests. The event returned to UCF's Addition Financial Arena with featured speaker Doris Burke, Hall of Fame sports broadcaster and NBA Analyst. GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel was joined on stage during the ceremonies by City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and other community leaders to help present this year's awards.
The 2024 Women in Sports Leadership Award recipients were Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak (UCF Athletics), Angela Suggs (Florida Sports Foundation), and Jo Wallen (USTA). The Women in Sports Leadership Award recognizes leaders who have helped make sports in Greater Orlando the successful industry it is today. It is an honor reserved for those who have given their time, energy and passion to improving the industry and taking it in new directions. The 2024 Rising Star Award recipient was Grace Burr (USTA). The Rising Star Award recognizes a young female professional in the sports industry who has demonstrated strong leadership, initiative, and exceptional contributions early in their career. The award is intended to support and encourage the next generation of female sports industry leaders who will take sport to new heights. The recipient of the WISE Greater Orlando Woman of Inspiration Award was Pennie Parker (Rollins College). The WISE Women of Inspiration Award, determined and awarded by local WISE chapters, honors women who exemplify the spirit of the WISE mission and are making a positive impact on the business of sports while serving as positive role models and mentors for other women.
Doris Burke is a Hall of Fame broadcaster and the lead analyst for the NBA on ESPN and ABC. In 2024, Burke became the first woman to serve as a game analyst on television for a championship final in one of the four major professional U.S. sports leagues. During Burke’s ESPN tenure, she has served as a top commentator on several significant ESPN properties, including the NBA, women’s and men’s college basketball and the WNBA. Prior to the 2017-18 NBA season, ESPN named Burke to the position of national NBA game analyst, making her the first woman to serve full time in that capacity. She has covered basketball for ESPN since 1991 and has been the recipient of several awards and honors, including the 2017 WISE Women of the Year Award. A former basketball standout at Providence College who held seven records upon graduation, Burke finished her career as the school and conference all-time assists leader (602), Providence’s single-season leader in assists (224), and single-season (152) and career (440) leader in free throws.
In addition to Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute returning as the presenting sponsor, Florida Blue returned as the sponsor of the fireside chat with Doris Burke, and VyStar Credit Union sponsored the VIP Meet & Greet. This year’s award and event sponsors included the City of Orlando, First Horizon Bank, Holland & Knight, LMG, LPGA, Marriott Vacations Worldwide, Orlando Cleaners, Orlando Magic, Orlando Valkyries, Universal Destinations & Experiences, and WISE Greater Orlando.
2024 Award Winners
TIFFANY ROBERTS SAHAYDAK
UCF ATHLETICS & USWNT
WOMEN IN SPORTS LEADERSHIP AWARD
ANGELA SUGGS
FLORIDA SPORTS FOUNDATION
WOMEN IN SPORTS LEADERSHIP AWARD
JOANNE WALLEN
USTA
WOMEN IN SPORTS LEADERSHIP AWARD
GRACE BURR
USTA
RISING STAR AWARD
PENNIE PARKER
ROLLINS COLLEGE
WISE GREATER ORLANDO WOMEN OF INSPIRATION AWARD
2023 Celebrating Women in Sports recap
On Wednesday, September 13, 2023, the Greater Orlando Sports Commission hosted its 5th Annual Celebrating Women in Sports luncheon presented by Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute and honored five of Orlando's outstanding female sports leaders in front of 650 guests. The event returned to UCF's Addition Financial Arena with featured speaker Joan Benoit Samuelson, Olympic Gold Medalist and pioneer of women’s marathoning. GO Sports President & CEO Jason Siegel was joined on stage during the ceremonies by City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.
The 2023 Women in Sports Leadership Award recipients were Latria Graham (GLB Media Group), Betsy Hughes (Track Shack), and Jennifer Lastik (Greater Orlando Sports Commission). The Women in Sports Leadership Award recognizes leaders who have helped make sports in Greater Orlando the successful industry it is today. It is an honor reserved for those who have given their time, energy and passion to improving the industry and taking it in new directions. The 2023 Rising Star Award recipient was Uneeke Armani (Florida Citrus Sports). The Rising Star Award recognizes a young female professional in the sports industry who has demonstrated strong leadership, initiative, and exceptional contributions early in their career. The award is intended to support and encourage the next generation of female sports industry leaders who will take sport to new heights. The recipient of the WISE Greater Orlando Woman of Inspiration Award was Sari Kitelyn (Full Sail University). The WISE Women of Inspiration Award, determined and awarded by local WISE chapters, honors women who exemplify the spirit of the WISE mission and are making a positive impact on the business of sports while serving as positive role models and mentors for other women.
Winner of the first Olympic Women’s Marathon at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Joan Benoit Samuelson is a pioneer of women’s marathoning. Born in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, Benoit Samuelson took to long-distance running to help recover from a broken leg suffered while slalom skiing. In 1979, she entered the Boston Marathon as a relative unknown and won the race. In 1981, she captured the U.S. 10,000-meter championship, and in 1983 she repeated her Boston Marathon success with a world record time of 2:22:43. Benoit Samuelson won the 1984 Olympic Marathon Trials at age 26, just 17 days following arthroscopic knee surgery. Three months later, she won the first Olympic Women's Marathon in 2:24:52. She was world ranked five times in the marathon, twice at no. 1, and in 1985 was awarded the prestigious AAU Sullivan Award as the nation’s finest amateur athlete. She continues to race at a highly competitive level today.
Thank you to all of our sponsors who help make this event possible: Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute, Florida Blue, VyStar Credit Union, City of Orlando, LPGA, Orlando Cleaners, Orlando Valkyries, Universal Destinations & Experiences, First Horizon Foundation, Holland & Knight, Orlando Magic, and WISE Greater Orlando. The luncheon was also supported by more than 49 additional organizations who purchased Table Sponsorships.
2023 Award Winners
LATRIA GRAHAM
GLB MEDIA GROUP
WOMEN IN SPORTS LEADERSHIP AWARD
BETSY HUGHES
TRACK SHACK
WOMEN IN SPORTS LEADERSHIP AWARD
JENNIFER LASTIK
GREATER ORLANDO SPORTS COMMISSION
WOMEN IN SPORTS LEADERSHIP AWARD
UNEEKE ARMANI
FLORIDA CITRUS SPORTS
RISING STAR AWARD
SARI KITELYN
FULL SAIL UNIVERSITY
WISE GREATER ORLANDO
WOMEN OF INSPIRATION AWARD
2022 Celebrating Women in Sports RECAP
On Tuesday, September 27, 2022, the Greater Orlando Sports Commission hosted its 4th Annual Celebrating Women in Sports luncheon presented by Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute and honored five of Orlando's outstanding female sports leaders in front of more than 525 guests. The event retunred to UCF's Addition Financial Arena with featured speaker Jennifer Rizzotti, presented by Florida Blue. Rizzotti, a hall of fame basketball player and coach, is now President of the WNBA's Connecticut Sun,
The 2022 Women in Sports Leadership Award recipients were Sharon Line Clary (AdventHealth), Katie Stocz Miller (Orlando Magic), and Amy Wise (2022 Special Olympics USA Games). The Women in Sports Leadership Award recognizes leaders who have helped make sports in Greater Orlando the successful industry it is today. It is an honor reserved for those who have given their time, energy and passion to improving the industry and taking it in new directions. The 2021 Rising Star Award recipient was Ali Anderson (Orlando Magic). The Rising Star Award recognizes a young female professional in the sports industry who has demonstrated strong leadership, initiative, and exceptional contributions early in their career. The award is intended to support and encourage the next generation of female sports industry leaders who will take sport to new heights. And for the first time, the recipient of the WISE Greater Orlando Woman of Inspiration Award was presented to Jessica West (Orlando City SC & Orlando Pride)
As a student-athlete at the University of Connecticut, Rizzotti first vaulted into the national spotlight as the starting point guard for the Huskies’ first national championship team in 1995 with an undefeated 35-0 record. She went on to become a two-time WNBA Champion with the Houston Comets before pivoting to coach at the college level. Rizzotti joined the Sun after five seasons as the Head Women’s Basketball Coach at George Washington University and 11 seasons as Head Coach of the University of Hartford Women’s Basketball program, where she compiled a 316-216 (.594) record and was named America East Coach of the Year three times. Inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013, Rizzotti is well-known in basketball circles around the world, most notably as an assistant coach to the USA Basketball Women’s National Team, with whom she won a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. A member of eight previous USA Basketball coaching staffs, she was named the USA Basketball FIBA 3×3 Women’s Series team head coach for the 2022 tour. As president of the Connecticut Sun, Rizzotti is responsible for the business operations and marketing strategies for the WNBA team.
Thank you to all of our sponsors who help make this event possible: Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute, Florida Blue, 2022 Special Olympics USA Games, City of Orlando, Holland & Knight, LPGA, Orlando Business Journal, Orlando Cleaners, Orlando Magic, SouthState Bank, Universal Orlando, and WISE Greater Orlando. The luncheon was also supported by more than 25 additional organizations who purchased Table Sponsorships.
2022 Award Winners
SHARON LINE CLARY
ADVENTHEALTH
WOMEN IN SPORTS LEADERSHIP AWARD
KATIE STOCZ MILLER
ORLANDO MAGIC & WISE GREATER ORLANDO
WOMEN IN SPORTS LEADERSHIP AWARD
AMY WISE
2022 SPECIAL OLYMPICS USA GAMES
WOMEN IN SPORTS LEADERSHIP AWARD
ALI ANDERSON
ORLANDO MAGIC
RISING STAR AWARD
JESSICA WEST
ORLANDO CITY SC, ORLANDO PRIDE & EXPLORIA STADIUM
WISE GREATER ORLANDO
WOMEN OF INSPIRATION AWARD
2021 Celebrating Women in Sports Recap
On September 28, 2021, the Greater Orlando Sports Commission hosted its 3rd Annual Celebrating Women in Sports Luncheon presented by Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Center and honored four of Orlando's outstanding female sports leaders in front of more than 400 guests.
The 2021 Women in Sports Leadership Award recipients were Stacey Allaster (USTA), Trish Highland (Lake and Orange County Public Schools), and Kay Rawlins (Orlando City Foundation). The Women in Sports Leadership Award recognizes leaders who have helped make sports in Greater Orlando the successful industry it is today. It is an honor reserved for those who have given their time, energy and passion to improving the industry and taking it in new directions. The 2021 Rising Star Award recipient was Megan Rose (USTA). The Rising Star Award recognizes a young female professional in the sports industry who has demonstrated strong leadership, initiative, and exceptional contributions early in their career. The award is intended to support and encourage the next generation of female sports industry leaders who will take sport to new heights.
This year’s featured speaker was two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, coach and sportscaster Brandi Chastain, who participated in a fireside chat that was moderated by Brandi’s former teammate and the current head coach for UCF Women’s Soccer, Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak. As one of the most notable female soccer stars, Brandi played for the United Sates Women’s National Team from 1988-2004, earning 192 appearances (caps) on the team and scored 30 goals including the 1999 World Cup winning penalty kick. She was named to the USWNT All Time Best XI in 2013 and was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2017.
Thank you to all of our sponsors who help make this event possible: Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Center, the City of Orlando, Full Sail University, Holland & Knight, Orlando Cleaners, Orlando Magic, Orlando Sanford International Airport, Orlando Solar Bears, OUC The Reliable One, The Southern Group, SouthState Bank, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Tavistock Group. The luncheon was also supported by more than 25 additional organizations who purchased Table Sponsorships.
2021 Award Winners
STACEY ALLASTER
UNITED STATES TENNIS ASSOCIATION
WOMEN IN SPORTS LEADERSHIP AWARD
TRISH HIGHLAND
ORANGE & LAKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
WOMEN IN SPORTS LEADERSHIP AWARD
KAY RAWLINS
ORLANDO CITY FOUNDATION
WOMEN IN SPORTS LEADERSHIP AWARD
MEGAN ROSE
UNITED STATES TENNIS ASSOCIATION
RISING STAR AWARD
2019 Celebrating Women in Sports Recap
On June 12, 2019, the Greater Orlando Sports Commission hosted its 2nd Annual Celebrating Women in Sports Luncheon presented by Orlando Health and honored three of Orlando's outstanding female sports leaders in front of a sold out room of more than 400 guests.
The 2019 Women in Sports Leadership Award recipients were Donna Dowless (XOXO Media Group) and Marci Doyle (Arnold Palmer Invitational).The Women in Sports Leadership Award recognizes leaders who have helped make sports in Greater Orlando the successful industry it is today. It is an honor reserved for those who have given their time, energy and passion to improving the industry and taking it in new directions. The 2019 Rising Star Award recipient was Shelly Wilkes (Lakeland Magic).The Rising Star Award recognizes a young female professional in the sports industry who has demonstrated strong leadership, initiative, and exceptional contributions early in their career. The award is intended to support and encourage the next generation of female sports industry leaders who will take sport to new heights.
This year’s featured speaker was WWE’s Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon, who participated in a fireside chat with emcee Danielle Knox, Emmy Award winning Good Day Orlando morning anchor at Fox35 Orlando. McMahon, a mother of three girls, has been the driving force behind WWE’s Women’s Evolution, which has given female performers an equal share of the spotlight both in and out of the ring. She spoke about the opportunities Women's Evolution has provided, as well as what other sports and media companies can learn from WWE in supporting a women-led future. McMahon also talked about the company's investment in the Orlando community, from their state-of-the-art training facility to their unique partnership with Full Sail University.
Thank you to all of our sponsors who help make this event possible: Orlando Health, First Class Cleaners, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, USTA National Campus, City of Orlando, Florida Sports Foundation, CenterState Bank, Full Sail University, and Orlando City Soccer Club.
2019 Award Winners:
DONNA DOWLESS
XOXO MEDIA GROUP
WOMEN IN SPORTS LEADERSHIP AWARD
MARCI DOYLE
ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL
WOMEN IN SPORTS LEADERSHIP AWARD
SHELLY WILKES
LAKELAND MAGIC
RISING STAR AWARD
2018 Celebrating Women in Sports Recap
On May 17, 2018, the Greater Orlando Sports Commission (then known as the Central Florida Sports Commission) hosted its inaugural Celebrating Women in Sports Luncheon presented by Orlando Health and honored three distinguished women in front of a sold out room of 300 guests. The first ever Community Sports Leadership Awards – which will annually honor individuals for their longstanding commitment, contributions and service to the Central Florida sports community – were presented to Maribeth Bisienere, Linda Landman Gonzalez, and Joanie Schirm, all local industry executives. Each recipient demonstrated outstanding leadership, inspired others and increased the opportunities for women in sports.
ESPN’s first female MLB analyst and two-time Olympian (gold and silver medalist), Jessica Mendoza, was the featured speaker. She gave a memorable talk on her perspective as the first female MLB analyst and recounted her years as young baseball fan. "It was such an honor to be able to share my story at the Celebrating Women in Sports Luncheon," said Jessica Mendoza. "Being a woman in a male dominated industry has made me passionate about educating others to get outside their comfort zone to impact those around them, regardless of what limitations are in front of them.” Jessica shared her story as one of the most notable softball players during the last decade, and imparted her message that “all women deserve to play sports for inspiration, empowerment and enjoyment.”
Following the Celebrating Women in Sports Luncheon, GO Sports hosted a Student-Athlete Summit where Jessica Mendoza met with high school and collegiate softball players from Orange and Osceola Counties, as well as Rollins College and Stetson University. Jessica spoke about her work ethic and dedication that brought her two Olympic medals and the role she has played as a successful woman in the sports industry. In addition, she answered questions and took photos with each of the teams.
2018 Community Sports Leadership Award Recipients:
Joanie Schirm
Author and founding President of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission
Maribeth Bisiniere
Walt Disney World & Disney Sports, Senior Vice President
Linda Landman Gonzalez
Orlando Magic, Vice President of Social Responsibility & President of the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation
