DBPR Hosts Celebrating Women in Business Program

Virtual Event Highlighted Professional Perspectives from Dynamic Women Leading Florida Businesses

Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) hosted the virtual 2021 Celebrating Women in Business program, featuring entrepreneurial and career insights from women who have created and managed successful businesses in Florida. DBPR Secretary Julie Brown moderated an insightful conversation among five women whose creativity, determination, hard work, and leadership are shaping businesses in multiple industries. The program opened with remarks from Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Núñez and Senate President Wilton Simpson.

Representing businesses from the hospitality, gaming, barbering, real estate, community association management, and health and fitness sectors, the program’s featured guests included: Sarah Bolinder (CEO, Chop Barbershop, LLC); Katelyn Grady (Co-Founder, The Body Electric Yoga Company); Barbara Hecht Havenick (President & CEO, Magic City Casino); Samantha Padgett (General Counsel, Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association); Christina Pappas (Vice President, The Keyes Family Of Companies); and Debra Reinhardt (CEO, Resource Property Management).

“At DBPR, we have the privilege of supporting and working with women who are forming their businesses, building their brands, and charting new trends in the industries regulated by our agency,” said Secretary Julie Brown. “Their hard work opens and expands the boundaries of a business, and perhaps more, it broadens the door of opportunities for women who look to them as their example and their inspiration.”

This year’s program coincided with the recognition of Women’s History Month and served as a platform for young professionals, aspiring entrepreneurs, business leaders, and other interested parties to gain unique insight and hear directly from women who have paved their own path to success in varied professional endeavors.

A recording of the program is available in its entirety here: 3/29/21 Celebration of Women in Business – The Florida Channel For more information on the featured guests, visit the Department’s webpage: DBPR 2021 Celebrating Women in Business – MyFloridaLicense.com.

The Department of Business and Professional Regulation licenses and regulates more than one million businesses and professionals in the State of Florida, including accountants, architects and interior designers, asbestos consultants, athlete agents, auctioneers, barbers, building code administrators and inspectors, community association managers, construction contractors, cosmetologists, electrical contractors, employee leasing companies, geologists, home inspectors, landscape architects, mold assessors and remediators, pilot commissioners, real estate appraisers and brokers, and veterinarians, as well as businesses dealing in alcoholic beverages, tobacco, food service, public lodging, pari-mutuel wagering, and condominiums, timeshares, and other cooperative residential arrangements. The Department’s mission is to license efficiently and regulate fairly. For more information, please visit www.myfloridalicense.com.

Follow @FloridaDBPR on Twitter or Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation on Facebook for important information and updates on matters relating to Florida’s business and professional licensing.

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