June 2021

 

 










BPW Connection | NEWSLETTER
June 2021


Suzi Youngberg
 


Greetings Upper Keys Business and Professional Women!
I hope you are all enjoying your summer! Summer is traditionally a time for vacations. I am finally planning a trip in July to visit my family for the first time since early 2020! Share your summer plans in the comments.
Speaking of summer travel, I just returned from the BPW/FL Annual State Conference. We had seven members from Upper Keys in attendance and one member via zoom during the business meetings. What a great weekend! It's always nice to connect with our sisters from across the state, but it was especially energized this year. You'll read more below about all the awards we won and our members taking leadership roles. I'm so proud of Upper Keys BPW for our representation at the state level and I'm looking forward to positive changes as a result.
Here locally, the Board of Directors is hard at work planning a great year! We held our annual Board Retreat back on June 12th and I can't tell you how excited I am about the coming year. Look for a schedule of interesting and relevant speakers as well as training and development programs coming soon. The standing committees are also chaired and ready to get started. If you are interested in getting more out of your membership, consider joining a committee! Give me a call at 305-393-6830.
I'm looking forward to seeing everyone at our first Luncheon in 18 months! Baker's Cay will be the venue and we are excited to welcome Dr. Gueverra, from The College of the Florida Keys as our speaker, which is timely with the new Upper Keys center opening in early August. Sponsorship opportunities are still available if anyone is interested in helping the Scholarship Fund.
Stay safe, stay cool and enjoy your summer!
With love and gratitude,

Suzi Youngberg
UKBPW President 2021-22
305-393-6830





"Tell Me Something Good!" 

Let's start our day by sharing something good that is happening, has happened or will happen. Can be personal and/or professional related as long it is positive.  Zoom link provided after RSVP.

July 7, 2021

8:00 AM - 9:15 AM

Coffee Talk with the Upper Keys BPW, first Wednesday of every month.

RSVP NOW



Everybody loves a Parade!

July 4th, Independence Parade


Upper Keys BPW will participate in the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce 4th of July Parade. If you are interested in walking or riding your bicycle, please join us! 
Contact bpwupperkeys@gmail.com if you would like to walk/bike in the parade.


JULY 21st IS A LUNCHEON!

Join us as we gather for the first Luncheon in 18 months! 
Luncheon, Program & Speaker.  
Dr. Jonathan Gueverra, President/CEO of The College of the Florida Keys will be presenting speaker.  We will be inducting new members, meeting members of BPW/FL Leadership, and hearing from the 2021 Glass Ceiling Award Winner Lee Ann Holroyd.
Admission is ONLINE IN ADVANCE ONLY
 $25 for Members
$30 for non-Members
Registration Closes at Noon July 16th




Professional Development Series | Upcoming Sessions

There are no Professional Development Workshops planned at this time, but stay tuned for a great schedule coming soon from your VP/Development and Board of Directors.




















Annual Board Retreat
The 2021-22 Board of Directors met on Saturday, June 12th, for the Annual Board Retreat. They spent the day getting to know each other and working on the strategic plan for the coming year.
(Pictured above left to right: Brittany Parker, Victoria Leonard, Patricia Milian, Suzi Youngberg, Jill Kuehnert, Gina Boilini, Bev Newman. Not pictured: Mary Houston.)

June Evening Event

The June 16th Evening Event was once again at Whale Harbor in Islamorada. Everyone enjoyed the complimentary cocktail of choice (some exclusions apply) and the food was fabulous. 
 Look for more evening events in this beautiful location.
(Click the video slideshow above to see some of the evening's smiles.)  


BPW/FL State Conference

The Upper Keys swept the Awards Ceremony at the BPW/Florida 100th Annual State Conference last weekend! Not only was our member awarded the Glass Ceiling Award (more below) but we won or tied in every award category except one! Upper Keys was awarded Best Use of Technology, Best Membership Management & Recruitment Awards, Best Leadership Programs, Best Public Relations Plan, Best Public Policy, and 
Best Local Organization of the Year! 
(Pictured above, Upper Keys State Conference attendees proudly displaying the seven (7) Award Certificates presented to our LO during the Awards Ceremony on Saturday June 19th.
Left to right: Margie Smith, Jill Kuehnert, Suzi Youngberg, Ilja Chapman, Patricia Milian, and Jackie Harder. Not pictured: Gina Boilini [who attended via Zoom].)





NEW AND RENEWING MEMBERS


New Members -  

Renewing Members -

Lee Ann Holroyd, Monroe County Sheriff's Office 
Mary Houston, Houston Insurance Agency/Your "Keys" to Protection
Victoria Leonard, FKEC 
Theresa Sutter, Theresa Sutter Virtual Assistant, Inc. 
 



Ask about the benefits of being a member!  bpwupperkeys@gmail.com






bpw|SPOTLIGHT
Meet Lee Ann Holroyd

Captain Lee Ann Holroyd
Inspector General; Commander of Professional Standards, School Security and the Key West
International Airport and Internal Affairs

Lee Ann Holroyd is a perfect example of a local woman who made good. In this tourist-based community where most everyone comes from somewhere else; Capt. Holroyd is what we call a Conch (someone who grew up in the Florida Keys) and she graduated Coral Shores High School.

For more than 38 years, she has served the public and law enforcement community. Capt. Holroyd started with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) in 1983 in a temporary staff support role. She quickly was offered a permanent spot as an assistant to the Criminal Investigations unit. After attending Basic Law Enforcement Academy, Capt. Holroyd was assigned to the Upper Keys as a deputy sheriff. Two years later, she was promoted to sergeant. She joined the newly created School Resource Officer Program in the Keys and was asked to be the supervisor for the unit for the entire county.

Eventually, she spent more than 10 years commanding a federal narcotics task force focusing on the location and seizure of laundered narcotics proceeds. These investigations took her all over Europe in order to return seized assets to benefit the community she serves.

She holds any “firsts with the Sheriff’s Office. She was the first female detective lieutenant and commander of Special Operations. Capt. Holroyd is one of the highest-ranking women in the Sheriff’s Office and on the command staff.

Today, she wears many hats: Inspector General and commander of Professional Standards, school security and the Key West International Airport; head of Internal Affairs.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration and a master’s in criminology and criminal justice from University of Cincinnati.

A BPW member since 2012, Capt. Holroyd is active in the community and serves on the boards of Chi Sigma Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, Christina’s Courage Rape Crisis Center; Monroe County Stars of Hope and she serves on committees for many community organizations.  She loves serving her community professionally and personally, an enjoys being a wife and mother, feeling blessed to live in such an amazing and giving community.

Other achievements: Upper Keys BPW 2015 Woman of the Year, First female police diver for MCSO, Graduate of the FBI National Academy, and Polygrapher.


(The above was submitted to BPW/Florida for consideration of the prestigious Glass Ceiling Award.)






Atta Girl to member Lee Ann Holroyd!
Congratulations to member Lee Ann Holroyd on being awarded the Glass Ceiling Award from BPW/Florida on June 18th during the 100 State Conference. The Glass Ceiling Award honors the woman who has successfully broken through the barrier of advancement within their profession or organization, enabling them to reach management level positions previously barred to working women. Be sure to read the Member Spotlight above and you will agree that Capt. Holroyd has shattered that Glass Ceiling a few times!  Way to go Lee Ann!


Atta Girl to President Suzi Youngberg & Immediate Past President Ilja Chapman!
Congratulations to Suzi and Ilja on being elected to the Executive Leadership Committee of BPW/FL. Suzi Youngberg steps into the role of Delegate to the Council of Presidents, most recently held by Ilja Chapman who will be serving this year as Vice President. 
Great job ladies! 
(Pictured left to right: Deborah Ryan-Secretary, Ilja Chapman-Vice President, Sherri McCandless-President, Sue Banks-Parliamentarian, Suzi Youngberg-Delegate to COP.)



Atta Girl to Margie Smith, Jackie Harder, and all Upper Keys BPW members serving at the State Level this year!
Congratulations to our members for accepting these State positions:
Margie Smith - Membership Committee Chair BPW/FL
Jackie Harder - Leadership/Training Review Task Force BPW/FL
Jill Kuehnert - Technology Committee BPW/FL
Gina Boilini - Secretary, Education Foundation of BPW/FL
Way to go ladies!


Atta Girl to member Laura Lietaert!

Congratulations to Laura Lietaert, current Principal of Key Largo School, on accepting the position of Principal of Coral Shores High School! Laura's leadership is recognized and appreciated by teachers and administration of Monroe County Schools. Great job Laura!


Atta Boy to member Dennis Ward!

Congratulations to Dennis Ward on his successful Tuesday morning radio show on SUN 103.1 with Joey Naples. They cover topics of interest to local residents, with relevant guests like regular appearances from Sheriff Rick Ramsay, among others. 
Keep up the good work Dennis! 


Atta Girl to member Lisa Mongelia!
Congratulations to Lisa Mongelia on her Volunteer of the Year Award from KAPOW (Kids & the Power of Work.) Lisa is Executive Director at History of Diving Museum and is a long time volunteer for KAPOW and Learning for Success. She was awarded for her commitment to excellence in education. Way to go Lisa!

IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW DESERVES AN ATTA GIRL, PLEASE SEND US THE INFORMATION AND WE'LL MAKE SURE YOU/THEY ARE RECOGNIZED!   bpwupperkeys@gmail.com






UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS