2025 Women of Distinction

Dr. Kanika Tomalin is a veteran C-suite executive and public servant who specializes in transforming ideas into action across various sectors – healthcare, higher education, media and government. 

Dr. Kanika has demonstrated exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to the community, leading numerous public health initiatives that have left a lasting impact on St. Petersburg.

From her roles as VP of Bayfront and serving as Deputy Mayor of St. Petersburg, to her current role as CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, she champions programs that address critical community needs.  

Kathryn Starkey, Chair, Pasco County Board of Commissioners, has served the Tampa Bay community on state and local boards and currently leads Scenic Pasco, a non-profit dedicated to beautification in Pasco County.

Through her work in international trade, Kathryn helped local businesses learn how to export and develop networking connections between Pasco, Tampa Bay and international businesses. She is also the co-founder of AmSkills (American Manufacturing Skills Initiative), a regional workforce apprenticeship training program. For these efforts, she was named International Person of the year by the Tampa Bay Organization of Women in International Trade (TBOWIT) in 2017.

Joyce Cotton, Director of Marketing and Community Partnerships at WEDU PBS, has worked in the broadcast television industry for nearly 50 years.

After a 25-year career in television traffic and sales at Scripps Howard, Joyce began working at WEDU PBS where she is responsible for developing community outreach, WEDU special events and serves as chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiative. 

Passionate about cultural arts and DE&I, Joyce currently serves on the Board of Directors for organizations like Creative Pinellas, the Florida Orchestra and the Tampa Museum of Art, as well as being a member of the City of Tampa Mayor’s Autism Friendly Advisory Committee.

Ann Shaler leads the Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando Counties Market President office for Bank of America, overseeing strategic planning, coordinating local philanthropic contributions, managing events and sponsorships and facilitating relationships with community leaders. 

Ann demonstrates her commitment to the Tampa Bay community through her service as vice chair on the board of trustees for the Tampa Theater and as a co-founder of LEAP Tampa Bay’s Leadership council.

Mattie Velasco is a behavioral health professional specializing in trauma-informed and person-centered care. She has worked closely with victims of human-trafficking and exploitation. Among this work, Mattie has led program initiatives for 160 bed, full-continuum care for victims of substance-use disorder and mental health issues.

A recognized advocate and leader in her community, Mattie serves as the Emerging Leaders Tampa Bay 2024 Catalyst Co-Chair, Tampa Bay Chamber 2024 Transportation Council Co-Chair, on the Tampa Bay Chamber Policy Advisory Board and the 13th Judicial Court SAO Coordinated Community Response Domestic Violence Task Force Training & Education Committee.

Maruchi Azorin is the founder and owner of Villa Rosa Distinctive Linens, one of Tampa's most successful specialty stores, celebrating 40 years in business. 

Maruchi served as the Chair of the Board of Directors for MOSI from 2009-2012 where she created and led the National Hispanic Scientist of the Year event. This was a nationally acclaimed education initiative, allowing students to receive mentorship from award-winning scientists.

A trailblazer, Maruchi was the first Hispanic woman to serve on the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors, was appointed to the Florida Commission on the Status of Women and chaired the City of Tampa Mayor's Hispanic Advisory Council for eight years. She founded "Latinos Unidos Luncheon," which helped fund scholarships for Hispanic college students in Tampa.

As the Senior Director of Strategic Branding, Marketing & Communications, Lissette Campos helps tell the story of the Tampa Bay Chamber and its members. Currently, 1,400 member companies strong, the Chamber has been serving the local business community since 1885.

Lissette is an eight-time Emmy Award winning journalist and master storyteller. The former broadcast journalist began her career more than 30 years ago at the Univision affiliate in Miami. As a reporter and news anchor, she worked for CBS in Miami and ABC Action News in Tampa Bay.

In our region, Lissette is best known for creating the nationally recognized “Taking Action Against Domestic Violence” campaign during her tenure as Director of Community Affairs for WFTS TV ABC Action News. The multi-media, annual awareness campaign was recognized by the National Association of Broadcasters in Washington D.C., Society of Professional Journalists, the Suncoast Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Florida Associated Press, as well as the national brands of Verizon and Allstate. Under her leadership, it was credited with a 70% increase in calls to the statewide DV hotline in the first two years of the campaign. Lissette is also the creator of “Positively Tampa Bay” – a franchise that produced more than 2,000 TV interviews showcasing local organizations and businesses engaged in community service.

The communications executive of 20 years has held leadership roles at Disney’s Public Affairs Division, the University of South Florida/USF Health, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Florida – West Florida Region, and the Omni Public global PR/Government Relations firm.

She traces her love of storytelling back to her parents, political refugees from Cuba. Lissette grew up hearing their colorful stories about the kindness of strangers who helped them when they arrived in New York in 1961.

Felicia Harvey is the principal consultant at The Cadenza Group, a public relations firm specializing in strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, and change management communications. Felicia is a global communications leader with more than 20 years working in corporate communications, public relations, and community engagement for Fortune 500 companies Amgen, Cognizant, Avantor, and Tampa Bay institutions Moffitt Cancer Center and the Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce.

An active and engaged member of her community, Felicia is a past Tampa Bay Business Journal “30 under 30” honoree, recipient of the Champion of Education Award from the UNCF Tampa Bay Area Leadership Council and was honored as the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida’s inaugural Woman of Promise in 2013. Felicia serves on the boards of several organizations, including the Lions World Vision Institute, The Florida Aquarium, the Tampa Bay Economic Prosperity Foundation, and the Orenda Foundation. She is also a member of the Tampa (FL) Chapter of The Links Incorporated, the Tampa Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and the Junior League of Tampa. Felicia holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Florida A&M University.

Debbie White was raised in the New York college town of Geneseo and graduated from Allegheny College in Meadville, PA and moved to Boston to work for Dun & Bradstreet. She relocated to Florida in 1982 and became a Safety Harbor resident in 1984. After a two-decade sales career, she sold her business and became Vice President of Governmental Affairs and Economic Development for the Clearwater Chamber of Commerce before retiring.

A committed community volunteer, her service includes Leadership Pinellas, Morton Plant Mease Healthcare Foundation, Safety Harbor Chamber of Commerce, the YWCA of Tampa Bay, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Dunedin Fine Arts Center, the Safety Harbor Library Foundation and presently is the Board of Directors Chairman at Ruth Eckerd Hall. In 2018, Debbie was named Ms. Clearwater, given annually by Amplify Clearwater. She manages to squeeze in many golf games and enjoys traveling around the world.