Heather Monahan KEYNOTE SPEAKER-Bestselling Author, Podcast Host and founder of Boss In Heels
Heather Monahan is a best-selling author, Top 50 keynote speaker, TEDx speaker, podcast host, and Board Member of Healthlynked Corporation. As a former C-suite executive in media, she was named one of the most Influential Women in Radio in 2017, and Thrive Global named her a Limit Breaking Female Founder in 2018. After an unexpected termination, Heather wrote and self-published her first book, Confidence Creator. In 2019 Heather launched her podcast Creating Confidence, a Top 25 show on Apple Podcast’s Business chart weekly. Heather was named one of the Top 40 Female Keynote Speakers of 2020 and Top 50 Keynote Speakers in the World in 2022 by Real Leaders. Girls Club named her The Thought Leader of the Year in 2021 and in 2023 she was highlighted on Favikon’s Top 200 Linkedin Creator List. Her second book, Overcome Your Villains, published by Harper Collins Leadership, is available now. She’s regularly taking stages for Tony Robbins and Dean Graziosi across the US and headlining global events like the Leap Conference in Saudi Arabia where she was voted top keynote speaker by the Leap team. Most recently, Real Leaders featured her as a Top 20 Executive Coach of the year for 2024.
Dr. Marie Dizaine, DBA, MBA Associate Dean at Keiser University Fort Myers
Dr. Marie Dizaine is the Associate Dean of Academics at Keiser University Fort Myers campus and embodies a passionate commitment to education and student success. With over 20-years in higher education, she leverages her experiences as a first-generation immigrant and one of the founding employees at the Fort Myers campus to inspire and support students and graduates. Holding an MBA with a concentration in Leadership for Managers and a Doctorate in Business Administration, her academic and professional journey underscores the importance of continuous learning and leadership through the elements of humor. Overcoming significant challenges, such as adapting to a new country and language, her journey is fueled by a deep-seated belief in education’s transformative power. Inspired by her mother, who serves as the embodiment of a woman’s resilience and determination, Dr. Dizaine advocates for Keiser University’s educational model, highlighting its supportive and flexible approach for working women, ensuring they can pursue higher education without compromising their professional or personal responsibilities.
Sharon Woodberry City of Cape Coral's Economic Development Manager
Sharon Woodberry has over 20 years of experience in economic development and was promoted to lead the economic development efforts of Youngstown, OH, in 2007 as the Director of Economic Development. In addition to her experience managing business attraction and retention efforts, she managed the merging of the City’s Economic Development Department with the Community Development, Planning, and Zoning Departments. As the Department Head of the combined departments, she implemented strategic and coordinated initiatives to promote comprehensive development.
Gina Sabiston Associate Director, Cape Coral Technical College & Chair, Fort Myers Historic Preservation Commission
Gina Sabiston brings nearly 30 years of experience in technical and career education to her role as Associate Director at Cape Coral Technical College. A graduate of the University of Florida, she also holds a Master’s in Educational Leadership from the American College of Education. Her dedication to educational excellence has earned her repeated recognition, including multiple Golden Apple Award finalist honors, local “Teacher of the Year” awards, and inclusion in Who’s Who Among American Teachers. She has also been recognized beyond the classroom as a finalist for the Lee County Board of Commissioners Citizen of the Year Award and as one of Gulfshore Business’s 40 Under 40 emerging leaders. Deeply connected to her community, Gina serves as Chairperson of the Fort Myers Historic Preservation Commission, where she has played a prominent role in shaping thoughtful urban planning and protecting the historic character of downtown Fort Myers. Her leadership has been pivotal in civic debates, including efforts to balance growth with the preservation of heritage values. Beyond her professional and civic leadership roles, Gina contributes her time on multiple nonprofit and community boards, making a meaningful difference for children and families across Southwest Florida. Her journey, from inspiring students in technical classrooms to guiding civic preservation and mentoring in the community, demonstrates the power of bold leadership rooted in education, advocacy, and vision.
Janel Trull Executive Director at the Cape Coral Museum of History
Janel Trull received her Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Southern California, and her Master of Arts in Public History from the University of West Florida. A 25-year Museum veteran, Janel has worked throughout Florida, with her career often focusing on preserving and curating collections. She has worked with collections of original documents and photographs, vintage automobiles, antique clothing, and everything in between. She has researched, curated, designed, and installed numerous exhibitions, as well as written accompanying exhibition catalogs. Prior to joining the Cape Coral Museum of History as Executive Director in 2019, she worked as Associate Curator at the Flagler Museum in Palm Beach, FL for 5 years and was the Curator for the Elliott Museum in Stuart, FL for 7 years before that. Janel is a graduate of the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral’s Leadership Class of 2020, served as Co-chair in 2021 and chair in 2022. She graduated from the Chamber’s Advanced Leadership class in 2021. She served on the Cultural Resources Branch of Resilient Lee that was put together after Hurricane Ian. She currently serves on the Florida Southwestern State College Institutional Review Board.
Nancy Travis, MS, RN, ANLC-P, FAWHONN
Nancy Travis works as a Nurse Consultant for the Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative. She has over 40 years of maternal child nursing leadership experience in high and low-risk environments. Nancy is certified in Pediatrics and Obstetric Neonatal Quality and Safety. She was inducted into the inaugural group of AWHONN Fellows. She has received recognition as a Mother Friendly Nurse from the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services, Golden Baby Shoe from Healthy Start of SW Florida and the 2024 AWHONN Award of Excellence in Leadership. Nancy has worked extensively with nursing staff in developing and implementing evidence-based practices. She has presented at various organizations on Family Centered Care in obstetrics at the local, state, and national level. Nancy holds a graduate degree in Health Care Administration from Independence University and a BSN from the University of Texas at Arlington. Nancy has been a member of the Association Women’s Health Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses for over 25 years and is the immediate past AWHONN Florida Section Chair. She serves as the AWHONN Florida representative to the Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative Nancy is the co-lead for Florida for the AWHONN Alliance for Innovation in Maternal Health (AIM) Nurse Leaders and Legislative Coordinator. She is currently serving as the AWHONN Fellows Committee chairperson. She also serves as the AWHONN Healthy Mom&Baby Diaper Drive Coordinator.
Ryn Gargulinski, Transformational Doula & Certified Energy Practitioner
Ryn Gargulinski [Rynski] is an award-winning author, artist, speaker and transformational doula who helps people see themselves and the world around them through the eyes of Love. With 10+ published books and multiple awards, she also holds a BFA in Creative Writing, an MA in English literature, minister ordination, and certifications in coaching and energy healing. Founder of the holistic life practices of RynskiLove.com, Rynski lives in Cape Coral with her two happy hounds and way too many crystals
Zahily Peraza-Higgins MSN, APRN-C Founder & Owner of LifeSynergy
Zahily (sigh-lee) Peraza-Higgins, MSN, APRN-C, is founder and owner of LifeSynergy Wellness. She is a Board Certified Nurse Practitioner with an impressive background. She graduated with honors from Florida Gulf Coast University and furthered her education by graduating Summa Cum Laude from South University with her degree in Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner. With over 12 years of nursing experience, Zahily has gained valuable expertise in various healthcare settings, including the ICU. Zahily has dedicated 7 years of her career to pulmonary and critical care, allowing her to develop a deep understanding of complex medical conditions and treatments. Her extensive experience in this field has equipped her with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide exceptional care to her patients. In addition to her expertise in critical care, Zahily is highly knowledgeable about medical weight loss and hormone replacement therapy. She is a member of the North American Menopause Society and holds multiple certifications in the field of weight loss. She understands the unique challenges individuals face when it comes to weight management and hormonal imbalances. With her comprehensive understanding of these areas, Zahily is able to provide personalized and effective treatment options to her patients. Originally from Puerto Rico, Zahily has been a resident of Cape Coral for 30 years. This local connection allows her to have a deep understanding of the community's healthcare needs and provide tailored care to her patients. Zahily's commitment to excellence, combined with her extensive experience and knowledge, makes her a valuable asset to her patients. They can trust in her expertise and compassionate approach to health & wellness.
Officer Mercedes Simonds Public Affairs Officer, Cape Coral Police Department
Officer Mercedes Simonds is the Public Affairs Officer for the department and is assigned to the Office of the Chief of Police. Officer Simonds started with the Cape Coral Police Department as a patrol officer in July 2022. Prior to that, she was a police officer for the Montgomery County Police Department in Maryland for 3 years. She has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Southeastern University in Florida and a Master of Science in Forensic Psychology with a specialization in Police Psychology from Walden University.