Time’s Running Out! Nominations Close May 31 for This Year’s Florida Women’s Hall of Fame
Meet This Year’s Officers!
Each January, the Florida Commission on the Status of Women commissioners elect six officers to the Executive Committee. This year, Attorney General Ashley Moody inducted our officers. Watch the video above to meet them, and read a bit about each one below!
Chair – Karin Hoffman
Commissioner Karin Hoffman was appointed to the Commission in 2017 by Attorney General Pam Bondi. As the founder and CEO of Key Innovative Solutions, her focus is to expand work-based learning opportunities along the spectrum of learners from secondary to adulthood in order to expand essential workforce development and strengthen industry sector partnerships. She is also a Gubernatorial appointee to the Southern Region Education Board, a coalition of 16 member states that works to improve education at every level.
Vice-Chair – Sophia Eccleston
Commissioner Sophia Eccleston was appointed to the Commission in 2018 by Chief Financial Officer, Jimmy Patronis. She is a member of the External Affairs team at Florida Power and Light Company (FPL). As a Sr. External Affairs (EA) manager in Palm Beach County, Sophia is responsible for advocating with local elected officials and key community stakeholders on behalf of FPL. Prior to joining EA, she worked as a solar developer and developed large-scale solar projects located in Desoto, Manatee, and Charlotte Counties. Previously, Sophia served over 4 years in the military on both active and reserve duty.
Secretary – Rosie Paulsen
Commissioner Rosie Paulsen was appointed to the Commission in 2019 by Senate President Bill Galvano. She is a public speaker, Hispanic leader, tv & radio show host, and insurance expert. As a speaker, she specializes in educational seminars on Medicare, the Hispanic market, and entrepreneurship. As a talk show host, Rosie highlights local business owners, their involvement in the community, and how they inspire their paying customers to do business with them. Rosie’s brand is Pure Positive, Inspiring Ideas, which reflects her goal to help restore society through inspiration, determination, and her Pure Positive attitude.
Treasurer – Lori Day
Lori Day of St. Johns, was appointed to the Commission in 2020 by Speaker of the House Jose Oliva. She is a corporate executive and entrepreneur with diverse leadership in executive coaching, process engineering, operations, leadership development, strategy deployment, and team building. Lori is a community advocate and women’s causes champion. Lori is the owner of New Day Solutions, a business, career, and health consulting company, where the focus is creating wellness at work, home, and in the community. She wrote and has copyright to her proprietary coaching program, Wing It ©. She is active as a business consultant for CGI Technologies as their Director of Client Strategies and Development.
Member at Large – Rachel Saunders Plakon
Commissioner Rachel Saunders Plakon was appointed by Speaker Richard Corcoran in 2018 and reappointed by Speaker Oliva in 2020. She serves on the Executive, Hall of Fame, and Public Policy Committees of the Commission. She is the President and Broker of Saunders Plakon, a commercial and residential real estate brokerage, based in Lake Mary. She was the former Land Specialist with NAI Realvest, a top commercial real estate brokerage in Central Florida, where she represented the Orlando-Sanford International Airport. In addition, she has closed deals with major companies including Nestle Waters North America, Inc.
Member at Large – Marilyn Stout
Marilyn Stout of Cape Coral was appointed to the Commission in 2017 by Attorney General Pam Bondi. She moved to Cape Coral in 1982 after her husband retired from the Army. Active in her community, Commissioner Stout is a Deacon at Faith Presbyterian Church, serves on the Cape Coral City Council, and is Vice President for the Uncommon Friends Foundation and the Calusa Chapter of the Military Officers’ Association. She serves as Secretary for the SW Cape Coral Neighborhood Association as well as Legislative Chair for the Fort Myers Republican Women’s Club.
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