WISE (Women Who Ignite Student Engagement) Symposium Program

Our mission is to unite college women from across the USF system to represent the
voices of students and lead campus events promoting the advancement of women. All
proceeds from this event will fund a WLP scholarship. This scholarship will provide a
young woman with the opportunity to become integrated within our WLP network and
provide finances to help fund her college career. She will serve in an official capacity within
the WLP Program, building relationships and developing leadership skills that will position
her for future success. This is a chance to empower college women to become pioneers
and chart their own path.
Purpose. A word which resonates across all cultures and backgrounds, and which links
the different parts of our lives. Purpose is the combination of the multiple aspects of our
daily living, actively playing a part in shaping who we are as people. From our careers,
to our health, and from our personal lives to service, it is important to recognize the
different areas that make us whole - and create balance - in our lives . Throughout this
symposium, purpose will be dissected and analyzed on a blank canvas, where ideas
and concepts will be painted to life. The speakers in our two panel discussions will
focus on the sub-themes: efficiency throughout our daily lives and service as an
important part of one’s purpose.

Tammy Charles is an entrepreneur, consultant, writer, community engagement expert, and speaker
with experiences in fund development, community relations, strategic analysis, and social enterprise
development. In 2012, she graduated top of her business class from the University of Tampa with
Magna Cum Laude distinction in Business Management. She later received her MBA and Nonprofit
Leadership Certificate in 2016. She is a tech and policy enthusiast with a passion to build ecosystems
and empower the business and community leaders within them. She is a passionate networker and
connector and is a highly recognized emerging leader in Tampa Bay.
In 2017, Tammy joined the executive team at Frameworks of Tampa Bay as the Director of Community
Engagement where she is tasked with leading the fund development and marketing efforts of the
organization’s budget of $1.1 million. Previously, Tammy was the Senior Manager of Corporate
Relations at Metropolitan Ministries. Through this role, she raised nearly $800,000 in corporate
giving and increased corporate engagement by over 26% through the development of compelling
proposals and strategic partnerships with corporate partners.
Tammy also founded her business, TMC Consulting, in which she utilizes her strategic gifts and
passion for local community and international work in Haiti to empower and equip social entrepreneurs
and grassroots community leaders to expand their mission and enhance their operations.
Tammy has received numerous awards and accolades including President Bill Clinton’s Commitment
to Action Award in 2014, 2016 Tampa Bay Business Journal’s Up and Comer Award for the Under 30
Category, 2017 New Leaders Council Fellow, was a finalist for the Tampa Chamber’s Deanne Dewey
Roberts Emerging Leader Award and was honored by The University of Tampa with the 2017 Young
Alumnus Award for her professional accomplishments and civic engagement. She was also nominated
for the Best Networker award with Creative Loafing. She has been featured in numerous media outlets
and publications such as Fox 13, Bay News 9, Tampa Bay Times, Tampa Bay Business Journal, Make it
Tampa Bay Feature, the UT Journal, and Tampa Bay Newswire and 83 degrees Media for the Millennial
Impact Forum with Jeff Vinik.

Magdalena De la Cruz Cook-Garcia (Maggie) is an entrepreneur and creator of All-Natural Fresh Salsas
and Dips, a food manufacturing company with distribution across the US. Maggie was born and raised
in an orphanage in the mountains of central Mexico along with 7 biological siblings. Her parents cared
for over 200 abandoned and abused children, legally adopting over 60 through the years.
In her new book “Mindful Success,” she talks about her personal success stories and the principles
she applied in life, from being raised in poverty, to being homeless in the streets of America, ultimately
starting a business with a gift of $800 that became a mutimilion dollar success.
Maggie has won numerous business awards, including The Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award by the
Small Business Administration in 2009, and in 2014 Maggie was awarded the Novel Entrepreneurial Prize
in Mexico by the Voice of Michoacán for being the youngest and most successful female entrepreneur.
Maggie is now dedicated to helping others improve their personal and business lives through her new
brand name Dare To Defy, which exemplifies having the courage to defy the limitations placed on
us by others and by ourselves.

Dr. Elizabeth Hordge-Freeman
USF Professor of Sociology with a joint appointment in the Institute for the
Study of Latin America & the Caribbean
Dr. Elizabeth Hordge-Freeman is Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of South
Florida. She received her B.A. from Cornell University and her M.A. & Ph.D. in Sociology from
Duke University. Dr. Hordge-Freeman published her first book, The Color of Love: Racial Features,
Stigma, and Socialization in Black Brazilian Families (The University of Texas Press) in 2015. This
book was awarded the American Sociological Association (ASA) Section on Emotions Book
Award and the Society for the Study of Symbolic Interactionism Charles Horton Cooley Book
Award. In 2015, she presented a TEDxUSF talk on The Color of Love and her book is slated for
publication into Portuguese in April 2018. She has published journal articles, book chapters, and
a co-edited volume entitled, Race and the Politics of Knowledge Production: Diaspora and Black
Transnational Scholarship in the US and Brazil (Palgrave Macmillan, 2016). Hordge-Freeman has
been awarded many prestigious grants and fellowships to support her research, including a Ford
Fellowship, ASA Minority Fellowship, Ruth Landes Memorial Research Grant, and the WLP
Junior Faculty Research Award. In 2016, Hordge-Freeman received the support of a Fulbright
grant to conduct research in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil to collect data for her developing book
tentatively entitled, Second-Class Daughters: Informal Adoptions as Modern Slavery in Brazil.
Dr. Sandy Goodman
OBGYN & Reproductive Endocrinologist at the Reproductive Medicine Group
Dr. Goodman is a board-certified Gynecologist with subspecialty training in Reproductive
Endocrinology, Adolescent Gynecology and Infertility. She is a partner/owner of The Reproductive
Medicine Group serving as the Patient Education Director, empowering adolescents and women
to make informed, positive health choices. She has worked to spread health information to the
Tampa Bay community appearing on Fox 13, ABC News, Positively Tampa Bay, WTPS, Channel 8,
Bay News 9 and contributes to several women’s health and fertility publications and blogs. Through
her career, Dr. Goodman has helped thousands of Tampa Bay couples to overcome their infertility
and achieve their dream of becoming parents.
Dr. Goodman received her training in Obstetrics/Gynecology at Harvard University’s Brigham and
Women’s/Massachusetts General Hospital Program and her Reproductive Endocrinology training at
the Johns Hopkins Hospital. She has consistently been named to Best Doctors in America.

In addition to her full-time practice, Dr. Goodman is passionately involved in several community
organizations promoting the health and well-being of women including The Spring Domestic
Violence Shelter, The FREE Network (Anti Human Trafficking Collaborative) and The Crisis Center,
as a member of the Women in Action. She provides gynecologic care for adolescent survivors of
human trafficking residing at Redefining Refuge and is a proud member serving on the Mentoring
Committee for USF Women in Leadership & Philanthropy.
Dr. Goodman is married to Dr. Howard Heidenberg. Together, they have raised 3 wonderful children.
She is excited to inspire and share her perspective about reaching our potential and achieving
fulfillment by finding balance in our career, family, personal life and service.
Laura Sherman
Founding Partner of Baldwin Krystyn Sherman Partners & Baldwin Risk Partners
Laura co-founded Baldwin Krystyn Sherman Partners (BKS-Partners) in 2006 and Baldwin Risk
Partners (BRP) in 2012. BKS-Partners consistently posts industry-leading growth and superior
client retention rates and is the recipient of numerous local and national awards recognizing the
firm’s growth and excellence in the insurance industry and as an employer.
Previously, Laura was a senior vice president and managing director of Wachovia Insurance
Services Private Risk Management division. She also worked with Chubb Group of Insurance
Companies in various roles including the assistant worldwide marketing manager, where she
developed marketing collateral and national public relations campaigns, created the Ferrari
Insurance Program and toured with the PBS series, Antiques Roadshow for many years.
She was named as a Risk & Insurance Power Broker for Private Client, one of Insurance
Business America Magazine’s Elite Women in Insurance and has been a Tampa Bay Business
Journal Business Woman of the Year finalist. She has authored numerous articles in various
publications, including as a Worth magazine leading advisor. She speaks on risk management
topics at national forums and serves on insurer councils, including the Advisory Board of the
Council for Insuring Private Clients (CIPC) and AIG Private Client Group National Broker Council.
She earned the Certified Advisor of Personal Insurance (CAPI) designation in conjunction with
Chubb and The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She recently earned her
Certified Personal Risk Manager (CPRM) designation and is an instructor with the National
Alliance for the CPRM designation.
Christy Stross
Chief Legal Officer & Managing Partner of You Fit Health Clubs
Christy spent the early years of her career climbing the corporate ladder at a law firm, then
left the law firm to become a entrepreneur and started the YouFit concept with a family
member. YouFit currently owns and operates over 120 locations in 16 states. Christy’s days are
filled with serving as a board of director, chief legal officer, to putting out whatever fire that is
started that day. In addition, her husband, sister in law and she created the John E. Stross
Family Foundation to facilitate their drive to give back to the local community through
philanthropy efforts to the Childrens Dream Fund, Angels Against Abuse, Casa, and the Moffit
Center. Christy’s favorite time is with her husband and family, in colder weather and stretchy
pants.

Jessica Thompson
Program Director of The Monsour Executive Wellness Center for USF Health
Jessica Thompson proudly serves as the Program Director of The Monsour Executive Wellness
Center for USF Health with emphasis on concierge-driven comprehensive exams tailored to the
individual. Jessica has a strong empathy for people and as a local advocate she works closely
with the community’s top executives discreetly to help them live at their best. Jessica is a current
member of The Tampa Chamber of Commerce and excitedly volunteers on committees within
USF Women in Leadership and Philanthropy mentoring students. Her previous transitional
role occurred within The Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders center. During that time,
she assisted with the organization of clinical trials including The Michael J. Fox foundation.
Jessica’s career began in television, where she discovered her passion for people and their
physical and mental health through a lens. She worked alongside local nonprofits, producing
public service announcements in association with Leukemia and Diabetes centers. She holds
a bachelor’s degree in Interpersonal and Organizational Communication from The University of
South Florida. In Jessica’s personal time she enjoys yoga, reading, walking in peaceful areas,
and connecting with her friends and family. Jessica truly believes in the finding of oneself and
sharing your gifts with the world.
Bobbi-Sue Doyle-Hazard
Assistant General Counsel for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bobbi-Sue Doyle-Hazard is Assistant General Counsel for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bobbi-Sue
started her career as General Counsel and Director of Human Resources for the family of life
sciences companies under the New England Cryogenic Center (NECC) umbrella. In between
NECC and the Bucs, she was associate corporate counsel for Granite Telecommunications, a
billion-dollar telecom company just outside Boston.
A graduate of the UMass Sport Management undergraduate program, and Penn State’s
Dickinson School of Law, Bobbi-Sue’s career path has been anything but a straight line. As an
early adopter of Twitter, she credits her usage of the platform for opening doors that led to
two of her positions (NECC and Bucs).

She is a strong advocate for mental health wellness and breaking the stigma surrounding
mental illness, having personally lived with diagnosed depression and anxiety since she was
a child. In addition, Bobbi-Sue Doyle-Hazard is the host of Leveling the Playing Field, a podcast
featuring women who work in sports. The podcast came about as result of Bobbi-Sue’s passion
for supporting women in business and leadership roles, especially in sports. On Leveling the
Playing Field, Bobbi-Sue conducts casual, conversational interviews with women who are
making their marks on the industry.
Dr. Sylvia Campbell
General Surgeon in Private Practice
Sylvia D Campbell, MD, was Board Certified in General Surgery in 1983. She earned her
undergraduate and masters degree at Emory University in Atlanta GA and her Doctorate of
Medicine at the University of South Florida, where she completed her general surgery residency.
Dr Campbell has been in surgical practice for over 30 years in the Tampa Bay area and is a
Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. She has served on the Executive Committee of
the Board of Governors for the American College of Surgeons and currently serves on the
Advisory Council of Operation Giving Back of the American College of Surgeons. She was
instrumental in the early development of Trauma Systems in the state and country and served
as the Chair of the Florida Committee of Trauma as well as the national Chair of the Injury
Prevention Subcommittee of the American College of Surgeons.
Other activities include her extensive contribution to the local community as active volunteer
and President of the Board of the Judeo-Christian Clinic, a free medical clinic in Tampa.
Dr Campbell has served on the Board of the Medical Benevolence Foundation of the
Presbyterian Church and as an elder in the Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church. She has served
on mission trips to Haiti and Uganda since 1996, and has been involved in helping children
travel to the US for life saving care. Dr Campbell currently serves as the President of the
Board of Directors of Village Partners International, a 501C not for profit, interfaith organization
which provides health care, education, housing and self-sustaining skills to the Village of Papoli in
Uganda, medical care in Haiti and support of Beth El Mission in Wimauma Florida. Recognizing
her lifetime of leadership and service, Dr. Campbell was inducted into the Hillsborough County
Women’s Hall of fame on March 22, 2018.

Trimeka Benjamin
CEO and President of Swim Digital Group
Trimeka Benjamin started Swim Digital Group in 2009. As President of Swim, Benjamin exhibits
hands-on leadership with extensive marketing and consulting experience. Her marketing and
consulting experience has a high focus on higher education. With Benjamin’s guidance, the
Swim team has worked with an extensive list of colleges including Broward College, St.
Petersburg College, Daytona State College and many more.
Benjamin’s experience in higher education is voluminous, but she places a special emphasis
on consulting women-owned businesses. She serves as a director on The Women’s Exchange
and a reoccurring sponsor for the Working Women Conference. Along with her leadership on
the board of The Women’s Exchange and Working Women of Tampa Bay involvement, Benjamin
is involved in Junior League.
As the President of Swim, Benjamin has also worked with clients such as Seaworld Parks &
Entertainment, NASCAR, the Florida Holocaust Museum and many others. She is an active
member of several organizations in Tampa Bay including WLP, and serves on the Board of
Directors for The Spring of Tampa Bay and Glazer Children’s Museum. She has been fortunate
to be a trusted advisor to leaders within higher education institutions and various businesses,
large and small, ranging from leisure to nonprofit.
DR. Zora Carrier
Executive Director of the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts
Dr. Carrier is an accomplished art educator and nonprofit manager. She received her Ph.D. in
Education from Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovak Republic in 1989. She also holds a
certificate in nonprofit management from the University of Tampa’s Sykes College of Business
and a certificate in Art Marketing, PR and Communications from Sotheby’s Art Institute in New
York City.
In 2002, Dr. Carrier co-founded and was director of Gallery Art Factory in Prague, Czech
Republic, a not-for-profit institution presenting modern and contemporary art. In 2006, she
founded the Open Concept Gallery in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where, as director, she managed
art projects and art education programming.
As executive director of the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts since 2014, Dr. Carrier,
upholds the museum’s mission to exhibit, preserve and collect significant photographic art from
all over the world. She is responsible for managing curatorial decisions, institutional development,
staff performance and day-to-day operations.