Who are this year's Influential Women in Business in Volusia-Flagler?

Clayton Park, Daytona Beach News-Journal
·5 min read

DAYTONA BEACH ― Dr. Aneesah Farris, founder of Helping Hands Family Chiropractic in Daytona Beach, was honored Tuesday as the Volusia-Flagler area's "Most Influential Woman of the Year" for 2023.

"I am completely surprised. I serve from my heart, not for recognition, but wow!," said Farris as she accepted the award to a standing ovation from the more than 200 people in attendance.

The annual "Influential Women in Business" event is put on by The Daytona Beach News-Journal and its digital marketing arm LocaliQ.

Dr. Aneesah N. Farris, founder of Helping Hands Family Chiropractic in Daytona Beach, is all smiles after being named the Volusia-Flagler area's 2023 "Most Influential Woman in Business" at The Daytona Beach News-Journal/LocaliQ's annual "Influential Women in Business" luncheon at the Museum of Arts & Sciences in Daytona Beach on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023.

What are the awards all about?

This year's luncheon at the Museum of Arts & Sciences recognized 40 women for making a difference both in their professions and communities.

"We gather here today to celebrate and honor a remarkable group of women who've not only excelled in their respective fields, but have also become trailblazers and inspirational leaders," said the luncheon's master of ceremonies Jane Katona, Northeast Florida regional vice president of sales for LocaliQ.

Honorees and special award winners gather for a group photo after this year's Volusia-Flagler area "Influential Women in Business" luncheon at the Museum of Arts & Sciences in Daytona Beach on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. The annual event put on by The Daytona Beach News-Journal and LocaliQ recognizes outstanding women in Volusia and Flagler counties for their accomplishments both professionally as well as community volunteers in the past year.

How this year's honorees were chosen

The 40 honorees were selected by News-Journal and LocalIQ staff from nominations submitted by News-Journal readers.

Nine were chosen to receive special awards from a panel of judges made up of last year's winners.

"The News-Journal has been celebrating women in business for over 18 years," said Katona.

Since 2006, 420 women have been honored as Volusia-Flagler "Influential Women in Business."

"Today, we come together to celebrate the power of 40 new women and to express our gratitude for those women who have made an impact on our community in 2023," said Katona.

The Daytona Beach News-Journal/LocaliQ's annual "Influential Women in Business" luncheon at the Museum of Arts and Science in Daytona Beach draws more than 200 people on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. The event honors outstanding women from Volusia and Flagler counties for their achievements both professionally as well as in their community.
The Daytona Beach News-Journal/LocaliQ's annual "Influential Women in Business" luncheon at the Museum of Arts and Science in Daytona Beach draws more than 200 people on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. The event honors outstanding women from Volusia and Flagler counties for their achievements both professionally as well as in their community.

Last year's top winner gives inspirational speech

Angelina Strickhouser, winner of last year's "Most Influential Woman" award, gave the keynote address. She noted that some of this year's honorees are employed or are volunteers with local charities that provided crucial services to her as a child who grew up in a dysfunctional, financially struggling family.

Strickhouser today is a registered nurse who teaches nursing students at Daytona State College. She also owns Alberto's Pizza Shop in Port Orange with her husband Alberto. The couple each year provide school supplies to area students as well as food baskets to needy families.

"Winning this award last year was definitely a monumental moment in my life," she told the audience before sharing her tips for breaking barriers and redefining success.

This year's top winner believes in 'paying it forward'

Farris, runs a chiropractic practice that provides no-cost sports and school physicals and donates glasses to families in need in the Daytona Beach area.

As a volunteer, Farris is a board member of Daytona State College's Falcon Hope Center, and community outreach chair for the American Black Chiropractic Association. She also chairs the diaper bank drive for the Junior League of Daytona Beach.

Farris is also involved in the Early Learning Coalition's Help Me Grow program that provides mental health, physical health, self-care and nutritional services to children and families in need.

"A lot of the services that I give were given to me as a child so I say, yes, I am a servant, but I'm also paying it forward," said Farris.

Here's who else was honored

The Private-Sector Woman of the Year award went to Margaret Haller, senior vice president of employee benefits at Brown & Brown Insurance.

The Rising Star Award went to Alyssa Lang of the Community Foundation and United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties.

The Inspirational Woman of the Year award went to Carmen Ruiz, co-owner of FastSigns in Holly Hill.

The Civic Leader of the Year award went to Jessica Gow of Cobb Cole Law Firm in Daytona Beach.

The Most Charitable award went to Chelsea Herbert of 4C's Trucking & Excavation Inc. in Bunnell.

The Public-Sector Woman of the Year award went to Kenya Tumer-Griffen, a City of Daytona Beach employee.

The Nonprofit Woman of the Year award went to LaToya Carey of Kenneth Grant Inzpirations/Cultuvue Inc.

The Small Business of the Year award went to Danielle Garret, owner of Dee Party Girl Inc., a Daytona Beach-based provider of "luxury balloon styling" services for special events. She also works for Brown & Brown.

This year's other honorees included Amanda Weston, an agent with Great Florida Insurance in Holly Hill; Ana Reyes-Ouzts, founder/executive director of Bold Ladies in Business in Flagler County; Angela Ford, food and beverage manager for the Daytona Tortugas; Brittani Preschel, CEO of D2 Advertising; Brittany Pennington of P&P Irrigation & Landscaping; Carleen Leffler of Shuffield Lowman Law Firm; Christy Richard, owner of Selah Living Nursing LLC in Daytona Beach; Dr. Amy Andrews of Morejon & Andrews Orthodontics in Ormond Beach; Dr. Erika Equizi of Premier Chiropractic & Wellness in Palm Coast; Emilie Wren Schmitz, co-founder/inventor of CrockPockets; Gina Elmazi of Social Media Advertising Corp and Good for Girls Initiative in Daytona Beach; Heather Otero, co-owner of La Familia Latin Cuisine Restaurant in Edgewater; Heaven Colaluca, marketing director at Monarch National Insurance Company; Jennifer Rodgers, owner of Just Peachy Clean LLC in South Daytona; Judith Craig, founder/director of the Everything is Possible Foundation Inc. in DeLand; Keona Barnwell, CEO of Medallion Health Care Services LLC; Krissy Chalk of Gary Yeomans Ford; Kristin Deaton of Guild Mortgage; Lacy Martin, marketing director for Chiumento Law in Palm Coast; Lauren Benning, business/administrative manager at J&B Painting Plus of Florida Inc. in Port Orange; Lauren Ramirez, owner/CEO of Salus Medical Training LLC in Palm Coast; Mica Lill, executive director of the American Diabetes Association Florida in Ormond Beach; Michele Goeb-Burkett, an executive chief nursing officer at AdventHealth; Nancy Epps of Daytona College; Nina Guiglotto of Lohman Funeral Homes; Pamela R. Masters of The Collaborative Divorce Center and Consensus Divorce; Rose M. Roberts of Realty Pros Assured; Rose Traub of Assisted Living Made Simple; Stephanie Ford, CEO of the Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce; Teresa Rand of Teresa Rand Consulting; and Tina Carlyle of Angel's Senior Living Assisted Living & Access Senior Resources & Consulting LLC.

A special section on this year's "Women in Business" honorees will appear in Sunday's print edition of The News-Journal.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Meet the Influential Women in Business in Vousia-Flagler