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IT WAS 2AM IN CARACAS, VENEZUELA WHEN KATIE NELSON THOMSON HAD TO WAKE UP THE LEGENDARY BARBARA WALTERS to tell her that President Hugo Chavez had just cancelled his interview scheduled for that afternoon. It was a dangerous and expensive trip but Thomson had worked tirelessly to secure the interview which was important given the escalated rhetoric aimed at U.S. President Bush by Chavez. Her team had traveled through Venezuela via armored cars surrounded by security guards and Thomson was not about to back down to what felt like a last-minute power play by the unpredictable and autocratic leader. She called Chavez’ Communications Minister, convinced him to meet with her that night and the interview was rescheduled. Fortitude in the face of resistance and never taking no for the final answer has been the hallmark of Thomson’s career capturing the stories of impactful people and decisive moments in history.
The recipient of the 2025 SRQ Women Who Roar Trailblazer Award, presented to a woman who is courageous and innovative in pursuit of her dreams, Thomson’s legacy spans decades of high-stakes journalism, history-making interviews and culturedefining television. Currently the powerhouse senior
talent producer behind HBO‘s Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, she has held positions as senior broadcast producer of CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight, spent 15 years at ABC News working alongside legendary journalist Barbara Walters where she produced award-winning segments and interviews for 20/20 and The Barbara Walters Specials and was a producer on CNN’s Larry King Live where she booked and produced newsmaker interviews with political, business and entertainment luminaries.
Thomson played a key role in ABC’s Emmy Awardwinning coverage of the September 11th terrorist attacks, securing first interviews with President George W. Bush, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and NYC Mayor Rudolph Giuliani in the aftermath of the tragedy. She also booked Larry King’s historic Al Gore / Ross Perot NAFTA Debate, which set a cable news ratings record. She has produced interviews with every U.S. president since Jimmy Carter and with many world leaders, including Fidel Castro, Benjamin Netanyahu, King Abdullah and Queen Rania, Slobodan Milosevic, Benazir Bhutto, Mikhail Gorbachev, Margaret Thatcher, Oscar Arias, Hugo Chávez, the Dalai Lama and an unprecedented joint interview with Yitzhak Shamir, Yasser Arafat and King Hussein.
Trailblazer Award Recipient
Katie Nelson Thomson has forged a fearless career founded on fortitude in the face of resistance to bring the world stories about the most notable people and issues of our times.
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INTERVIEWED AND WRITTEN BY ASHLEY GRANT
“In all these news stories of a certain era, you see me in the footage. If you look, I’m there. I’m in a car with Monica Lewinsky, where they describe me as her 20-something friend, in a classroom with Fidel Castro, walking with Kato Kaelin, sitting behind Michael Jackson’s children at his memorial service, in formal attire with Earl Spencer, Princess Diana’s brother. ” — Katie Nelson Thomson
“It really was the roller coaster depicted on Broadcast News and then some! I had to juggle long-term projects with reacting to breaking news. I would work all day through the live show from 9-10pm, then often stay later trying to book world leaders in different time zones.”
Her portfolio also includes exclusive interviews with Martha Stewart, Christopher Reeve, Queen Noor of Jordan and Oprah Winfrey. She has scored interviews with newsmakers including Stephen Hawking, Edward Snowden, Monica Lewinsky, Colin Powell, Jane Goodall, and her celebrity interviews have covered icons such as Angelina Jolie, Michael Jackson, George Clooney, Miley Cyrus, Julie Andrews, Elizabeth Taylor, Barbra Streisand, David Letterman, Steven Spielberg, Patrick Stewart, Jerry Seinfeld, Paul Simon, Jimmy Buffett, Billy Joel and many more.
Thomson’s formidable career is all the more impressive in light of her childhood in a small southern town far from the world stage and her own life has been just as interesting as the stories she covers. Growing up in the storybook town of Winter Park, Florida, Thomson lived a relatively sheltered life and no one at that point could foresee she would go on to interview the top names in the news from movie stars to world leaders to mass murderers. However, there were hints at what was to be an incredible journey and flashes of her extraordinary fortitude. She was the editor of her high school newspaper and in college at Vanderbilt, she worked on the speakers committee that brought famous people to the university. After graduation, her practical plan was to become a lawyer but she decided instead to defer law school for a year and attend a theater program in London. Right before she was set to leave, the program was cancelled due to the 1986 IRA bombings. She pivoted and instead landed an internship working with political reporters for the McLaughlin Group in Washington, DC. While there, she met and married her first husband who worked for the U.S. Department of State and soon after moved with him to London for his diplomatic assignment. In the U.K., Thomson held temp jobs while trying to secure a post at the BBC. The news organization was competitive at the best of times, but at that point, they were downsizing and it was especially hard to get a job there. On the way to her temp job one day, she was hit by a car walking across the road. Though ordered by her doctor to be on bed rest, Thomson received an invitation
to a birthday party she couldn’t refuse. She knew potential media contacts would be in attendance and rather than miss her chance, she hobbled into the festivities, black and blue and on crutches, where she met a BBC producer who was duly impressed with the determined ‘crazy American’ and offered her a meeting at the network a few weeks later. After a grueling process of multiple interviews, Thomson landed the BBC job which led to her covering the British elections. She was the only American in the studio when John Major was elected.
Moving back to the states, Thomson joined CNN’s Larry King Live where she dove headfirst into the relentless nature of her industry. She says, “It really was the roller coaster depicted on Broadcast News and then some! I had to juggle long-term projects with reacting to breaking news. I would work all day through the live show from 9-10pm, then often stay later trying to book world leaders in different time zones. I still have kind of PTSD when I see the breaking news banner on the TV because I’m like, ‘Oh my God, what’s happened? Who do I have to call? Where do I have to go?’” To say that some of her interviews were surreal and the topics unsettling would be a huge understatement. She met with Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City Bomber in the Colorado “Supermax” prison twice, spent Valentine’s Day with Colin Ferguson, the Long Island Railroad mass murderer in the Nassau County Correction Facility and visited accused murderer Robert Blake in the LA County Jail, who surprised the pregnant journalist by suddenly serenading her unborn baby. And she produced interviews with nearly every person involved in the O.J. Simpson murder trial as they recalled every lurid detail of the case.
It wasn’t all gore and gloom however. Michael Jackson showed her how to Moonwalk, Jordan’s Queen Noor arranged a camel ride for her in the sandstone ruins of Petra and Elizabeth Taylor let her try on her fabulous sparkling gems. She learned about the science-backed benefits of Buddhist meditation from the four interviews she produced with the Dalai Lama—something she still struggles to utilize in her hectic life.
And while she says she is shy and hates being in front of the camera, somehow it has always found her. When you look at the major cultural and news events over the past 35 years, when something important was happening somewhere in the world, Thomson was likely there. If Thomson’s portfolio looks like the Who’s Who of the past three decades, her own life looks like “Where’s Waldo”—the nickname given to her by friends and colleagues who constantly see photos or footage of her appearing in major news stories. She says, “In all these news stories of a certain era, you see me in the footage. If you look, I’m there. I’m in a car with Monica Lewinsky, where they describe me as her 20-something friend, in a classroom with Fidel Castro, walking with Kato Kaelin, sitting behind Michael Jackson’s children at his memorial service, in formal attire with Earl Spencer, Princess Diana’s brother.” She explains, “I brought him to the White House Correspondents Dinner, but the British tabloids jumped to the conclusion I was his new girlfriend. I’d borrowed a diamond necklace from a jeweler friend and the British press said, ‘Look, he’s already giving her jewelry!’ Recently friends have been
— Katie Nelson Thomson
texting me to say I just saw you in the new Christopher Reeve documentary.”
Warm and friendly with a self-deprecating sense of humor, a necessary tool in disarming and charming her reluctant subjects into spilling their secrets, under Thomson’s self-effacing demeanor lies a steely resolve. Her starting gate is “no” and she operates from there to accomplish her goals which include helping to make the world a better place. While all of her stories captured the collective attention garnering huge ratings for each network, it was the interviews that had the potential to change narratives and create positive impact that mean the most to her.
One of her proudest moments at Larry King Live was securing an unprecedented series of bookings referred to as a “King Sized Week” in television. She snagged the only joint interview with three Middle East leaders, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, PLO leader Yasser Arafat and Jordan’s King Hussein, months before the Israeli PM was assassinated in 1995. The interview was filled with optimism amidst friction and Larry King called it “one of the most historic nights I ever did.” At the same time, Thomson had also booked rare interviews for the show with
Barbra Streisand and David Letterman. She says, “All night long I was on the phone and faxing information back and forth with the Middle East and then all day long I was dealing with Barbra Streisand and her manager and it was as much work to get her interview as to get the three Middle East leaders.”
It was during this time that Barbara Walters had expressed interest in hiring her. Her first inkling was when OJ Simpson trial figures Kato Kaelin and Robert Kardashian told her Barbara Walters had been asking about her. Thomson recalls, “ABC had started to recruit me but I didn’t want to leave Larry King. I was happy there but it’s sort of hard to say no to Barbara Walters, whom I greatly admired.” She agreed to meet with Walters but her frenetic schedule kept getting in the way. “The first time they flew me to New York to meet her, I didn’t tell anyone at Larry King Live. We worked in shifts and sometimes I would work through the night and not have to come in as early the next day. So I thought, ‘Okay, I’ll fly to New York in the morning and then I’ll be back for the show.’” At the time the Bosnian War was raging and Thomson had secured an interview with Slobodan Miloševic, the President of Serbia and a central figure in the
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conflict, for a rare interview with Larry King. She had just arrived at ABC for her interview with Walters but says, “When they were about to bring me into Barbara, I got a call that my Miloševic story was starting to go south, so I said, ‘I’m really sorry I have to go back,’ and I left before meeting Barbara. The second time we were going to meet, I had booked an interview with Oprah Winfrey for Larry and I had to go to Chicago so I had to cancel again.” But providentially, she found herself in Los Angeles covering the O.J. Simpson trial at the same time as Walters and after this meeting she was offered the job. Without a break, the Monday after her “King Sized Week”, Thomson started her role at ABC. “But as soon as I walked in the office they told me I needed to fly that night to Oklahoma City to meet with Timothy McVeigh’s lawyer. I got stranded in Denver en route and barely had any sleep before catching the first plane out.”
Thomson notes that pressure to manage multiple converging interviews is overwhelming. She says, “It takes a lot of work to get one interview and once I get it, I don’t count it as an interview until the camera stops rolling. It could go away before they sit down or they could get up in the middle of the interview and leave. That has happened. For every major interview I landed, there were many I worked just as hard on that never happened. I worked during the peak era of the “big get” where there was intense competition to get the first interview with newsmakers. Those interviews led to huge ratings and profits. When I went from Larry King to Barbara Walters, I figured I’d just call up and say the name Barbara Walters and it would be case closed—we would get the interview. But even working with Barbara we had to fight for each one. Barbara only wanted to interview the principal and she had to be first—she just wanted that one exclusive interview,” she says. Those exclusives required nerves of steel to coordinate—not just because of the ratings but due to their potential global impact. She remembers, “Two minutes after the live interview with Miloševic aired, I got a call from my contact who said that Boris Yeltsin had been watching and called Miloševic and it sounded like he was pressuring him to make a peace deal. I read afterwards that there was progress in that direction. It was amazing to see that we could have an impact diplomatically and I think it’s important to interview news makers, especially politicians and leaders, to have them answer tough
IMAGE S COURTESY OF KATIE NELSON THOMSON.
Clockwise: Katie Thomson and Barbara Walters in discussion; Thomson and Walters ride atop camels; Thomson has flourished on Last Week Tonight since joining the show as Senior Talent Producer in 2014; Thomson and former leader of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev.
questions and explain what they’re doing.”
She adds, “I would help Barbara write the questions and sometimes she would say, ‘I can’t ask that Katie, you’re not the one sitting there.’ But when the time came she would always ask the tough ones.”
Even the intimidating subjects weren’t exempt from Walters’ questions. When she interviewed Russian President Vladimir Putin after the 9/11 terror attacks, Thomson recalls it was a very daunting environment. She says, “We were followed the whole time we were in Moscow. It was creepy. Then Putin threatened to cancel right before the interview because he said our equipment damaged a wall in the Kremlin. When he finally sat down to speak with Barbara, she asked him, ‘Have you ever killed anyone or caused anyone to be killed?’ It was a very tough question and I had never seen a journalist ask him that before. Of course, he said “nyet” (no).”
Walters was just as tough on herself and she expected everyone to rise to her standards but she also recognized hard work. Thomson was working round the clock and a new development would be met with a surprisingly welcome response. “It had taken a while, but when I finally told her that I was pregnant she said, ‘thank God’ because I was working so much she thought I wasn’t going to have a family. She gave me a baby shower, which was really nice, and when she would find me in the office late, she’d order me to go home.
She knew it was good for her that I was there, but I worked past my due date and she was trying to save me from myself,” she says. But even Walters’ concerns couldn’t stop her determined producer from going to Havana to meet with a dictator.
At eight months pregnant, Thomson flew to Cuba for an interview with Fidel Castro that she had been working years to secure. She was just shy of her doctor’s deadline prohibiting air travel, and she was having a very easy pregnancy so nothing was going to stop her from making the trip. But an interesting thing happened during the interview. Thomson’s baby was apparently not amused by the Cuban leader’s lack of honesty and when Casto lied she would kick. Thomson recalls, “He said, ‘We’re the freest country on earth!’ Kick. ‘We have absolutely no political prisoners!’ Kick, kick. ‘Our economy is great!’ Kick, kick, kick. It was so unusual for my daughter to kick like that and when she was older, she would say, ‘Whenever the dictator lied, I kicked.’”
It takes a huge amount of drive to spend your life on-call juggling multiple crises and deadlines every moment of the day and Thomson admits that at certain points, “I really didn’t have an overarching goal. I just went from one thing to another but I was competitive and it felt really good when we got the first interview, and it felt really bad when we didn’t. However, I have always been drawn to stories where people have a
Clockwise: Thomson recalled her time spent with Christopher Reeve as “inspiring”; Thomson with Michael Jackson; Thomson and Walter with former President Obama, former First Lady Michelle Obama and members of the Obama administration.
perception of someone in the news that is completely wrong.” One example she points to was huge in the cultural zeitgeist of the time, the Monica Lewinsky-Bill Clinton scandal. Thomson says, “Monica Lewinsky is not the way she was portrayed at the time and people are seeing it now. If you listen to her podcast, which is excellent, you can hear how smart she is. By her own admission, she made a bad mistake with Clinton, but I think it was terrible the way she was vilified.” Lewinsky didn’t want her story to become public. But the story was out and Thomson thought her team could cover it in a more balanced way. She notes, “To her credit, Lewinsky turned down a million-dollar offer from Fox to do the interview with Barbara Walters for free. Barbara even said, ‘She’s a young girl, she has all these legal bills, she should just take the money.’” But Thomson thought that if she took the paid interview with Fox she would never revive her reputation, and Lewinsky eventually agreed. So after a year of effort Thomson finally confirmed the exclusive Walters-Lewinsky interview and spent weeks preparing the two-hour special which was seen by over 70 million viewers and is still the highest-rated news event broadcast by a single network. “I was hoping that the interview we did with her would change her life and hopefully it made it better,” she says.
Of all the stories Thomson has covered and people she has met, perhaps none has had as much of a personal impact on her as the many interviews with Christopher Reeve, the handsome actor best known for playing Superman, after a riding accident left him severely paralyzed. She says, “It was so poignant and inspiring. He went from being an avid athlete participating in equestrian competitions, sailing, scuba diving and soccer, to not being able to move except to slightly turn his head and not able to breathe on his own. The mental strength it took to turn that tragedy into action, helping others who are paralyzed, was something I’ll never forget.” After his accident, Thomson recalls, “Reeve had a genius idea to do a remake of the Jimmy Stewart movie Rear Window in which a man in a wheelchair is witness to a murder and becomes a target himself. The tension in those scenes was upped because the character was not just in a wheelchair but was actually paralyzed and on a ventilator. I got to follow him around on set and it was amazing that he was able to get back to acting and to be able to watch his psychological strength.”
IMAGE S COURTESY OF KATIE NELSON THOMSON.
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Thomson’s own resilience enabled her to forge through difficult times but there were still sacrifices required by her industry— especially for women. Her schedule made spending time with family extremely difficult and she notes, “When my daughter was a toddler, I remember her hiding my Blackberry in her crib under the mattress. She’s seen how tough it can be.” The downplaying of personal priorities was rampant in television during the 80’s and 90’s and no female working in the arena was immune to its effects. Thomson recalls, “Barbara told me a story that she wrote about later in her book, when she had a miscarriage in the middle of the night and two hours later she had to get in her car to go to the Today Show and be on air. That’s just how it was. And especially as a woman in Barbara’s day, you couldn’t say you had a ‘female issue’ of any kind. You just couldn’t put your family first as a woman back in the day, even when I was there, if you didn’t do the job there were 10 people waiting in line who would.”
Though her career started in a different time than Walters, she faced the same pressure. She says, “It was very competitive and I regret the time I missed with my daughter. I loved being with her and spent all the free time I had with her but it was hard with my schedule. I remember getting into her little bed to read to her at night but I was so tired I would always fall asleep. When I could, I would bring her to studio tapings with me and on fun work assignments. I took her on the set of Hannah Montana and to children’s movie premieres. She was invited by Miley Cyrus to attend the High School Musical 2 premiere at Disneyland, met the family of Steve Irwin at their zoo in Australia and played with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler at a Fat Albert screening, so she had some amazing experiences and we had a wonderful nanny who helped out a lot but I do feel like she missed out on a lot as well because I was working so much.”
Times are different and Thomson is relieved that the culture of her industry has changed. She says, “The whole media business is so different now and the kind of shows and types of jobs I had 20 or 30 years ago don’t even exist now. The younger generations are definitely better about setting boundaries.” But the grueling pace of her early career years had taken its toll and just when Thomson was hitting a milestone at ABC, she faced a crossroads with two major blows. Her marriage dissolved and Barbara Walters
announced she was going to retire. At the same time, Piers Morgan was hired by CNN to take the Larry King time slot for Piers Morgan Tonight and the network was actively pursuing her. She says, “I didn’t really want to leave ABC. I did meet with Piers Morgan but I kind of put it out of my mind, thinking it wasn’t going to happen and then all of a sudden, they offered me the job.” Walters said, ‘You have to take the job, it’s a lot of money and I’m leaving.’ It was a difficult decision for me but I took it. I left a 15-year job and a 20-year marriage at the same time and it was really hard.”
30 Emmys. Thomson brought her trademark persistence to the show and was instrumental in generating momentum from the start. She says, “It was almost impossible to get a guest for the first show since it was an unknown quantity.” After scores of “no’s,” she was eventually able to get an exclusive exit interview with National Security Agency Chief Keith Alexander in the wake of the Edward Snowden NSA crisis, which had the world buzzing with speculation and outrage. However, the cancellation gremlin that had dogged Thomson for much of her career reared its ugly head again, forcing her to spring
“When I finally told Barbara Walters that I was pregnant she said, ‘thank God’ because I was working so much she thought I wasn’t going to have a family. When she would find me in the office late, she’d order me to go home.” Katie Nelson Thomson
After starting her new job at CNN, the format of the show quickly changed from long-form content to breaking news. In her new stage of life as a single mother, she realized that the show wasn’t a good fit. But the experience led to something better. While travelling for Piers Morgan Tonight, a complimentary upgrade on the redeye flight to first class changed her life. She says, “I used to get a lot of complimentary upgrades, but you never get upgrades on the red eye.” And she never met or spoke with anyone in all her years of travel. But this flight was different. She ended up in conversation with the man sitting next to her, fell in love and is now happily married. She says, “I don’t believe in fate, but had I stayed at ABC and not been traveling for Piers Morgan, I probably never would have met my amazing husband. So it was worth it from that point of view. I wasn’t the right fit for that show at that time, but the experience ended up being good for the long term.”
And more good news was on the horizon— she found the job of her dreams—one that combined her love of entertainment with investigative journalism, advocacy for important issues and a little dash of humor to keep viewers on their toes. In 2014 she joined HBO and helped launch the network’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. The show is particularly popular with young people who don’t tune into traditional television programs. Last Week Tonight with John Oliver has won three Peabody Awards for offering ‘something completely new in the merger of comedy and reporting’ as well as
into action. After General Alexander agreed, an outside PR firm vetoed the interview. Thomson was about to catch a flight home for Easter when she got the news and immediately cancelled her trip. She worked nonstop to get a direct line to the General and when she finally reached him. “To his credit, he honored his original commitment. Afterwards, he emailed me saying he hoped they appreciated me,” she says. She was on a roll after that and again went straight for the ‘tough get’ booking, extremely rare interviews with the elusive Edward Snowden and legendary Stephen Hawking. She says, “Both gave very few interviews so it took some work.”
In June 2013, Edward Snowden, a former NSA intelligence contractor, leaked classified documents revealing the U.S. government’s extensive global surveillance programs, including the mass collection of phone and internet data. He shared this information with journalists, prompting a worldwide debate on mass surveillance and privacy.
The U.S. government charged Snowden with espionage, leading him to flee to Russia, where he currently resides and holds citizenship.
Even before Last Week Tonight went on the air, Thomson had been working to get an interview with Snowden. There was a connection with John Oliver that made the story a natural fit. Oliver had been chosen to take over as temporary host of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show while Jon Stewart was making a movie. The first day Oliver hosted the show the Snowden story broke. Thomson says, “I thought it would be amazing
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to get Snowden as a guest for Last Week Tonight since he had not given any TV interviews after his actions became public and he fled the country. I wasn’t able to get Snowden for the first show; NBC News ended up getting the first interview, but I got the second interview.”
Thomson continues,“To communicate with Snowden I had to use a complicated computer encryption program so that all our messages were sent in a coded format that had to be decoded after receiving them. After months of effort I finally made some progress by tying an interview with Snowden to the congressional debate on whether to renew the Patriot Act, which had been enacted after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and allowed for mass collection of telephone metadata and other records by the U.S. government. This and other provisions were set to expire on June 1, 2015. Snowden did not want the Patriot Act provisions to be renewed, so he finally agreed to an interview in April 2015 to call attention to the issue.” But before agreeing to the interview, Snowden wanted
and the encryption program we used did not allow for immediate communication. So it was beyond stressful when Snowden failed to show up for the interview. Not for the first time, I saw my career pass before my eyes.” John Oliver rattled off a hilarious stream of consciousness commentary on the odds that Snowden would show up as the clock ticked off the minutes until he finally arrived an hour late. “Thankfully he eventually showed up!”
Thomson’s interview with Stephen Hawking was also challenging. A theoretical physicist and cosmologist, Hawking was considered one of the smartest people in the world, best known for his theories and work on black holes which changed the world’s view of the universe. “I remember thinking how funny it was to be emailing with one of the greatest minds in history. There was definitely a disparity in brain power between us!” she says. Thomson recalls, “Stephen was very friendly and actually had a great sense of humor. He was excited about a joke he wrote to roast John Oliver. John asked, ‘You stated
“I remember thinking how funny it was to be emailng with one of the greatest minds in history. Stephen was very friendly and actually had a great sense of humor.” — Katie Nelson Thomson
to “meet” with John Oliver and Thomson. As he was in Russia, he devised a robot with a video screen live-streaming his face as his physical representative. She says, “ I’ve had a lot of strange, secret meetings in my career, but the conversation with the Robot Snowden, or ‘Snobot’, was definitely in the top ten. Although oddly, it was a more normal conversation than I would have thought, as I could see his face, and he could move around, turn his ‘head’ and nod, so it was a real dialogue.” After the meeting, Snowden finally agreed to an interview with Oliver. The only issue was it had to be in Moscow, where he was hiding in order to evade arrest in the U.S. John Oliver had been very critical of Vladimir Putin, and there were security concerns about him traveling to Russia, with some people advising against it, but he decided it was worth the risk. Thomson says, “Due to Snowden’s security concerns, we had no immediate way to reach him in Russia. It is the ONLY interview in my career that I arranged with no emergency contact number to reach the guest that day. Snowden’s lawyer was away on vacation,
that there could be an infinite number of parallel universes, does that mean that there is a universe out there where I am smarter than you?’ And Hawking replied, ‘Yes, and also a universe where you’re funny.’ Something else struck her about the groundbreaking 2014 interview with Hawking—a sense of foreshadowing. She says, “Stephen Hawking thought that AI was one of the greatest threats to humanity. He said that ‘Artificial Intelligence could be a real danger in the not-too-distant future. It could design improvements to itself and outsmart us all.’”
When she speaks about her current role it is clear Thomson is passionate about her work on a show which provides news perspectives in an entertaining format that affects positive change in the world. Last Week Tonight has become known for the ‘John Oliver Effect,’ its comedic commentary credited with influencing US legislation, regulations, court rulings and other aspects of US culture. The show has rallied viewers on behalf of important causes such as criminal justice reform, affordable housing and pay equity for
women. She says, “What I like about working with Last Week Tonight with John Oliver is that all the information we put out is carefully factchecked. In addition to great comedy writers, the show has top journalists so that we are putting out good, vetted info and in some cases doing some investigative reporting ourselves. And it has contributed to some positive change in the world.”
Along with booking newsmakers on the show Thomson gets A-list celebrities to tape funny bits that help bring home the points the show makes on the serious topics it covers. To that end, she has booked Lin-Manuel Miranda to write and perform a song about Puerto Rico’s debt crisis; George Clooney, Rose Byrne and Jason Sudeikis appeared in different pieces about the importance of local journalism, she arranged for Usher, Sheryl Crow, Cyndi Lauper, Heart, Imagine Dragons, John Mellencamp and Michael Bolton to sing a song the show created to demand that politicians stop using their music in campaigns without their permission. And when John Oliver did a piece about U.S. tensions with North Korea, she convinced Weird Al Yankovic to perform an original song he and the Last Week Tonight team came up with called “Please Don’t Nuke Us, North Korea” because North Koreans love the accordion.
While reflecting on the amazing path she has led and all the notable people she has met, Thomson is clearly relishing the chapter she is in now and she notes the most important lesson she has learned is that the key element in life is not to give up. She says, “I’ve always had a lot of uncertainty. I was never sure what was the right thing to say or do and I had the idea that everyone else had things figured out. But then I realized that many successful people are just as unsure; they just hide it publicly and move forward beyond it. Even Barbara Walters often struggled with ‘coulda, woulda, shoulda.’ So you need to learn from it. When you look at the most successful people, they have had terrible failures and often multiple failures but they are ones that just keep trying. They learn from it and they just keep going and they don’t give up. With her indefatigable determination, sheer fortitude and the ability to keep going against the odds, Thomson shares the roar of persistence by her very successful example. SHE ROARS
KATIE NELSON THOMSON WILL BE RECOGNIZED AT THE SRQ WOMEN WHO ROAR LEADERSHIP AND AWARDS LUNCHEON ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31. 2025. TO RESERVE YOUR TICKETS AND TABLE: SRQMAG.COM/WWR
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“Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.”
— Ruth Bader Ginsburg
WHAT IS YOUR SINGLE, MOST SIGNIFICANT STRENGTH AND HOW HAVE YOU UTILIZED IT TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT WITHIN AN ORGANIZATION OR COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP ROLE? My most significant strength is my ability to balance many responsibilities at once while still showing up fully in each role. As a lawyer, community leader, and mother of young children, my days are often filled to the brim with competing demands. Over time, I’ve learned how to prioritize, set boundaries, and stay present with whatever is in front of me. This strength allows me to make a positive impact in my leadership roles because I can keep multiple projects moving forward without losing sight of the bigger picture. By modeling balance and showing that it is possible to manage professional and personal responsibilities with intention, I hope I encourage others to pursue leadership opportunities without feeling like they must sacrifice one part of their life for another. HOW HAVE YOU DRAWN FROM THE EXPERIENCES OF YOUR PERSONAL LIFE TO TRANSFORM THE WORK YOU DO IN YOUR CAREER? It often feels like my son was born laughing. Becoming his mother has transformed the way I approach all parts of my life, including my career. He has a natural joy and contagious laugh that remind me not to take life, or work, too seriously even when it can feel overwhelming. When I carry that sense of joy into the office, I find myself more patient, collaborative, and able to connect meaningfully with colleagues and clients. Laughter has a way of putting challenges in perspective and giving me the energy to keep moving forward. Ultimately, my son has taught me that success isn’t just about hard work and achievement, but also about presence, joy, and finding fulfillment along the way. WHAT IS YOUR “SECRET SAUCE”?: Stay in the moment. EVERY DAY I AM THANKFUL FOR My family. TELL US ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS/ ORGANIZATION OR PHILANTHROPIC WORK. At Berlin Patten Ebling, we guide clients through life’s biggest occasions with trusted legal counsel and practical solutions. Known for our roots in real estate law, we handle residential and commercial transactions with precision, while also providing skilled representation in community association law, estate planning and probate, family law, land use and zoning, and civil litigation. Our team partners with individuals, families, and businesses across Florida to protect assets, resolve disputes, and move transactions forward smoothly. Collaboration, communication, and compassion are at the core of our work, making us your legal team for every stage of life.
MEDICAL DIRECTOR | HUMANE SOCIETY OF SARASOTA COUNTY
WHAT IS YOUR STORY OF SUCCESS? My story of success in the nonprofit world began as a veterinarian at the Humane Society of Manatee County (HSMC) where I was taught high-volume spay-neuter surgery techniques. During my time there, I also had the opportunity to strengthen my soft tissue surgery skills by performing lifesaving procedures for animals belonging to low-income families. I also gained valuable experience in their wellness clinic and shelter. Witnessing the day-to-day operations at HSMC sparked my passion for leadership and ultimately led me to the role of Medical Director at Animal Rescue Coalition (ARC). That role marked my first leadership experience, where I introduced new protocols, improved efficiency by utilizing advanced software, and launched a wellness program offering vaccinations to animals in the community. Inspired to grow further, I transitioned to the Humane Society of Sarasota (HSSC) as the Medical Director and shelter veterinarian. Some of my responsibilities include writing medical protocols, presenting at staff and board meetings, and collaborating with fellow directors and staff to guide the organization in maximizing impact while maintaining our capacity for care. I recently completed training in advanced orthopedic surgical techniques, performing procedures that significantly improve the quality of life of our animals. When my schedule allows, I provide relief services to assist other organizations in need of surgical support. Outside of work, I find joy in spending time with my family on camping trips and competing on my horses, Junior and Salty. I believe that personal well-being is a vital part of effective leadership—recharging allows me to return to my role with renewed focus and compassion. My greatest success in life is my three wonderful children. My husband and I strive to lead by example, showing our children that a strong work ethic can empower them to pursue and achieve any goals they wish to attain. WHAT IS YOUR “SECRET SAUCE”? My “secret sauce” is my unwavering commitment to animal welfare. I’m passionate about helping underserved communities and reducing overpopulation—ensuring that fewer animals ever have to enter shelters. With a strong background in surgery and the ability to manage complex medical cases, I strive to give every animal the best possible chance at a healthy, long life. I truly believe I’ve found my purpose in life—something that is both rare and deeply fulfilling. DESCRIBE YOUR OWN OUTLOOK ON LIFE IN SIX WORDS. Work hard, play hard, be happy. EVERY DAY I AM THANKFUL FOR my beautiful children, loving husband, my wonderful animals, ability to have a work-life balance, and a fulfilling career helping change the lives of animals in our community and beyond. TELL US ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS/ ORGANIZATION OR PHILANTHROPIC WORK. At the Humane Society of Sarasota County, Sarasota’s premier no-kill shelter, we strive to change the lives of animals much less fortunate. Every animal that enters our facility receives the highest level of care— safe housing, mental enrichment, and comprehensive medical treatment—until they find their forever home. Through our TAILS (Together Assisting in Lifesaving Services) Program, we promote the collaboration of shelters to share resources, knowledge, and strategies in pursuit of greater lifesaving outcomes. If an animal makes it through our doors, they are truly lucky because they will receive everything they need and more.
HUMANE SOCIETY OF SARASOTA COUNTY
2331 15th Street | Sarasota, FL 34237
941.955.4131 | hssc.org | info@hssc.org
“Always do your best and give 110%; you never know who’s watching.”
Facebook: Humane Society of Sarasota County
Instagram: @humanesocietysrq
TikTok: @humanesocietysrq
"Our interest is in you.”
THE LIBERTY SAVINGS BANK “WOMEN WHO ROAR”
LIBERTY SAVINGS BANK
SARASOTA
8383 South Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34238
941.927.3629
2323 Stickney Point Road Sarasota, FL 34231
941.927.8293
VENICE
4103 S. Tamiami Trail Venice, FL 34293
941.493.9174
BRADENTON
3901 Cortez Road W. Bradenton, FL 34210
941.755.5733
LAKEWOOD RANCH
6230 University Parkway Suite 101 Lakewood Ranch, FL 34240
AT LIBERTY, OUR PASSION FOR BETTER BANKING DRIVES EVERYTHING WE DO. From mortgages to high-interest checking and savings accounts, our retail team is dedicated to making sure we provide the best services and products possible for our customers. We also believe in the power of community. Our dedicated team works and volunteers in Sarasota and Manatee Counties, striving to make it a better place to live. Together, we invest our time and efforts to create positive change and contribute to the well-being of the people in Bradenton, Sarasota and Venice.
Above, left to right: Lauren Fuller, Danielle Bachar, Crystal Creagh, Lisa Toppin, Sally Daisomont, Laura Gray and Iwona Wolas.
DANIELLE BACHAR
REGION SALES MANAGER, VP
DESCRIBE YOUR BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION OR PHILANTHROPIC WORK. At Liberty, we’re dedicated to providing exceptional banking and lending experiences for our clients across Sarasota-Manatee. We proudly serve a diverse range of clients, from individuals and local businesses to nonprofits. Our commitment to the community is reflected in our support for organizations like Habitat for Humanity, Parkinson’s Place, and the Manatee Literacy Council, helping them achieve their missions. We also empower local businesses like Calvary Transportation, Barnes Walker Title, and Richard’s Plumbing Repair Inc. by offering customized financial solutions that help them succeed. We’re more than a bank; we’re a partner in our community’s growth.
LAURA GRAY
LENDING DEVELOPMENT OFFICER | SENIOR LIVING LOAN ADVISER
SALLY DAISOMONT
COMMUNITY BANKING DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
DESCRIBE YOUR OWN OUTLOOK ON LIFE IN SIX WORDS
Leveraging banking knowledge for business success.
LAUREN FULLER
FINANCIAL CENTER CLIENT SERVICES MANAGER
WHAT IS YOUR SINGLE, MOST SIGNIFICANT STRENGTH AND HOW HAVE YOU UTILIZED IT TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT WITHIN AN ORGANIZATIONAL OR COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP ROLE?
My greatest strength is my positive attitude, which I’ve used to make a significant impact in my community leadership role with Habitat for Humanity. By focusing on the tangible, positive results—like a family getting the keys to their new home— I helped people connect with our mission and see the direct impact of their support.
CRYSTAL CREAGH
FINANCIAL CLIENT SALES & RELATIONSHIP MANAGER
WHAT IS YOUR “SECRET SAUCE?. My secret sauce is simple: Enthusiasm + empathy + professional expertise, all driven by a genuine desire to see my clients succeed. I’m not just here to process transactions; I’m here to be a partner in their financial journey. I listen to their unique stories, provide tailored advice, and work tirelessly to help them achieve their goals. Their success is my success, and I’m committed to helping them win.
IWONA WOLAS
FINANCIAL CENTER SALES & RELATIONSHIP MANAGER
EVERY DAY I AM THANKFUL FOR my team. The incredible support, collaboration, and expertise that Tom, Katie, Denise, and Jaye bring to our work allows us to provide exceptional service to our clients.
LISA TOPPIN
FINANCIAL CENTER SALES & RELATIONSHIP MANAGER
WHAT IS YOUR STORY OF SUCCESS? After twenty-one years at Liberty Savings Bank you would think I have seen and heard it all… but I learn something new every day. I like being a financial “guide” for my clients and have helped them avoid fraud, grow their nest eggs and buy homes. How great is that!
HOW HAS AN EXPERIENCE IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE MOTIVATED YOU? My biggest motivation comes from my parents. They’ve always been my biggest cheerleaders, and they think everything I do is great, especially my work in senior living. On top of their support, they’ve become my secret weapon. They’ve given me so many insights into the senior living journey from their own perspective. Having them as a sounding board helps me understand what my clients are going through on a deeper level, allowing me to help them and their families with more empathy and care.
“Helping people succeed inspires me to give my very best every day.”
AMY YOUNT, MBA, CPA, CCAP
PRESIDENT AND CEO | STEP UP SUNCOAST
WHAT IS YOUR SINGLE, MOST SIGNIFICANT STRENGTH AND HOW HAVE YOU UTILIZED IT TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT WITHIN AN ORGANIZATIONAL OR COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP ROLE? My single most significant strength is perseverance. I first discovered it in second grade when I couldn’t read like my peers. Once I saw a path forward, I worked hard and within a few years was in accelerated classes. That lesson shaped me for life. I leaned on perseverance as a young mom to earn my bachelor’s degree in accounting while working full-time, commuting for long hours, and studying late at night. I went on to pass the CPA exam and later complete my MBA in Executive Leadership, all while raising three children and working demanding jobs. Today, I draw on that same strength as President and CEO of Step Up Suncoast. In 2024, when our region was struck by back-to-back hurricanes, families were in crisis, staff were personally affected, and demand for services surged. Perseverance drove me to secure emergency funding, strengthen recovery partnerships, and support staff so they could continue serving others while rebuilding their own lives. For me, perseverance in leadership means inspiring resilience in others and ensuring the organization remains strong through adversity. HOW HAS AN EXPERIENCE IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE MOTIVATED YOU? At 29, I laced up my shoes to lose weight, not realizing running would become one of the most defining lessons in my life. What began with one mile soon became three, and then a 5K. With encouragement from coworkers and my running mentor, Mary, I went on to complete many half-marathons, 12 full marathons, the Goofy Challenge at Walt Disney World (39.3 miles in a single weekend), and I even coached others beginning their distance running journeys. Running showed me the power of preparation, pacing, and persistence. When the miles grew hard, I found I could accomplish my larger goal by focusing on smaller ones, simply putting one foot in front of the other. That mindset—step by step and goal by goal—is exactly how I approach challenges in life and leadership. I believe you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. Even the toughest obstacles can be overcome one step at a time. WHAT IS YOUR “SECRET SAUCE”? My “Secret Sauce” is an unwavering passion for the mission of Step Up Suncoast. From my first interview as Fiscal Director in 2000 to my role today as President and CEO, that passion has fueled me every day. Knowing that each decision, each strengthened relationship, and each effort to inspire others helps children and families build brighter futures motivates me to always give my very best.
DESCRIBE YOUR OWN OUTLOOK ON LIFE IN SIX WORDS. Perseverance and teamwork can move mountains! EVERY DAY I AM THANKFUL FOR Step Up Suncoast’s incredible, creative, and dedicated staff. They are so invested in our mission and inspire me daily with their passion and commitment to helping families build brighter, more stable futures. TELL US ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS/ORGANIZATION OR PHILANTHROPIC WORK. Step Up Suncoast is a nonprofit Community Action Agency serving Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Manatee, and Sarasota Counties. Our mission is to empower individuals and families to achieve long-term economic stability through education, support services, and community partnerships. Each year, thousands of hard-working families turn to Step Up Suncoast for early childhood education, housing and utility assistance, financial literacy, tax assistance, and workforce programs. Behind every service are dedicated staff who care deeply about helping their neighbors succeed. Together with our community partners, we open doors to opportunity and brighter futures, ensuring families have the support they need to thrive.
STEP UP SUNCOAST
6428 Parkland Drive, Sarasota, FL 34243
941.827.2887
StepUpSuncoast.org facebook.com/stepupsuncoast
CHRISTINA “CC” FREDERICKS
FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SARASOTA CHILDREN’S MUSEUM DIRECTOR OF INSURANCE OPERATIONS, ATLAS INSURANCE
“I lead with heart, and my heart lives at home
first.”
WHAT IS YOUR STORY OF SUCCESS? To me, success is being the kind of leader my four kids can be proud of. I balance a career in insurance operations with founding a children’s museum—all while making it to school events and bedtime stories. My story is one of joyful juggling, big dreams, and always starting with family. WHAT IS YOUR SECRET SAUCE? Heart-first leadership, mom-strength resilience, and the ability to turn chaos into creativity. DESCRIBE YOUR OWN OUTLOOK ON LIFE IN SIX WORDS. Build boldly. Love fiercely. Laugh daily. EVERY DAY I AM THANKFUL FOR the beautiful, messy magic of motherhood.
MARGARET (CANOPYMEG) LOWMAN, PHD
FOUNDING DIRECTOR | TREE FOUNDATION
CALLED THE “REAL LIFE LORAX” BY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, LOWMAN IS THE WORLD’S FIRST GLOBAL ARBORNAUT (TRANSLATION: TREETOP EXPLORER). As a shy tomboy, she was passionate about trees and nature. Becoming a forest scientist in a male-dominated field, Canopymeg crafted slingshots, harnesses, ropes, and skywalks to explore the treetops, publishing more than 200 scientific papers and 13 books. She has explored for 45+ years in 45+ countries but made Sarasota her home. Lowman co-founded TREE Foundation in 2000 to fund/build North America’s first public canopy walkway in Myakka Park. This ecotourism destination has hosted millions of kids and enhanced local economy. TREE Foundation also creates programs to immerse kids in nature, locally and globally. After Myakka’s success, Lowman launched Mission Green to fund 10 walkways in the world’s 10 most endangered forests, to employ indigenous women, conserve important forests, and inspire kids to explore nature.
“I believe that our children’s greatest inheritance is not bank accounts, jewelry, or real estate, but a healthy planet. My mantra is ‘no child left indoors.’ Enjoy nature!”
JACKIE OTT JAAKOLA PRESIDENT AND CEO | EVERYCAT HEALTH FOUNDATION
“I bring enthusiasm and a heartfelt purpose to improving the lives of animals while building community with the people who love them”.
HOW HAS AN EXPERIENCE IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE MOTIVATED YOU? Through life’s challenges animals have always brought me joy—their trust, their instinct, their love, their charisma, and uniqueness. Sharing that joy, those relationships, is something that everyone should experience if they have the desire. Giving back to that human-animal connection as a career has been very rewarding. From animal training, to recreating with animals, to animal health research, to fostering animal adoptions, to wild animal rescue, I’m committed to putting my skills, energy, and passion into making a difference for animals and the people who care for them. Helping animals and their people isn’t just something I do—it’s who I am. WHAT IS YOUR SINGLE, MOST SIGNIFICANT STRENGTH AND HOW HAVE YOU UTILIZED IT TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT WITHIN AN ORGANIZATIONAL OR COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP ROLE? Strategic, empathetic leadership. Leading teams and collaborations is the way to achieve results bigger than you could do alone. I’ve brought this strategic and global mindset to the animal welfare community. Tackling, achieving, and celebrating success in a shared mission is so much more impactful and rewarding when you strike the balance with empathy and strategy to forge ahead. WHAT IS YOUR “SECRET SAUCE?” Smile and mean it—it’s up to you to find the joy in every journey. Life is too short to travel any other way. DESCRIBE YOUR OWN OUTLOOK ON LIFE IN SIX WORDS. Share joy and be quietly bold. EVERY DAY I AM THANKFUL FOR challenges, colleagues, creativity, community, and people who care (and cats…of course, cats)!
JAMIE M. SMITH ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT, GOVERNMENT RELATIONS / PIO
WHAT IS YOUR SINGLE, MOST SIGNIFICANT STRENGTH AND HOW HAVE YOU UTILIZED IT TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT WITHIN AN ORGANIZATIONAL OR COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP ROLE? My greatest strength is authentic empathy. From an early age, I learned I cannot control everything, but I can always control how I respond. Most people simply want to be heard, respected, and allowed to contribute their part. That insight shaped my philosophy to PECK my way through life—seeking perspective from lived experience, practicing empathy for myself and others, engaging in honest communication, and leading with kindness, which is at the core of who I am. HOW HAS AN EXPERIENCE IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE MOTIVATED YOU? I began working at 14, was emancipated by 16, and put myself through college. Along the way, two guiding principles shaped me: ‘Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime,’ and ‘I am bound to do good to my fellow-creatures and bear with them.’ Those words continue to inspire both my resilience and my commitment to lifting others. WHAT IS YOUR “SECRET SAUCE”? My ‘secret sauce’ is the ability to connect the dots, between people, ideas, and opportunities, in ways that feel human. Whether crafting a campaign, advising during a crisis, or even breaking the ice with a selfie, I lead with authenticity and empathy. That balance of strategic thinking and personal connection has been the throughline of my leadership. DESCRIBE YOUR OWN OUTLOOK ON LIFE IN SIX WORDS. When faced with choice, PECK it! EVERY DAY I AM THANKFUL FOR the chance to try again, grow, and learn something new.
“When faced with challenge, adversity, or difficult people—choose to PECK it: lead with Perspective, Empathy, Communication, and Kindness.”
STATE COLLEGE OF FLORIDA
5840 26th St W, Bradenton, FL 34207
941.752.5000 | SCF.edu
In a world where access to comprehensive healthcare can seem hard to come by, several local organizations are working to close the gap—specifically for women. These groups are providing vital medical services ranging from reproductive care and maternal health support to preventive screenings and chronic disease management. With a focus on accessibility, education and culturally responsive care, they’re helping women take charge of their health in ways that are both accessible and impactful. This feature explores the missions behind these organizations and the real difference they’re making in the lives of women across the region.
WRITTEN BY BARBIE HEIT AND CECILIA MOULD |
HEALTH4 WOMEN
Local healthcare organizations provide the latest in comprehensive care for women.
THE SARASOTA MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION
THE SARASOTA MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION plays a vital role in supporting the hospital’s mission to deliver exceptional healthcare marked by caring, quality and innovation. From funding the purchase of cutting-edge medical equipment to supporting training and certification for SMH staff, the Foundation ensures the hospital can continue offering advanced medical care and maintain its status as one of the top hospitals in the country. Stacey Corley, President of the Foundation, highlights how the organization also helps fund critical research, especially in the area of women’s health. “While some of the clinical research that happens goes through pharmaceutical companies or medical device companies, a lot that’s developed comes through philanthropy,” she says. One key initiative focuses on women’s cancer care research, led by Toni P. Kilts, DO and Beverly J. Long, MD, both certified in gynecologic oncology. “A lot of the research they do and the team around them is supported through philanthropy, and so, we’re fortunate that donors care,” Corley explains. “A lot of times it’s because they’re grateful family members or grateful patients who experience something and they want to help the people who come after them who get the same diagnosis.” She adds that the research team has expanded significantly in recent years, tripling its number of clinical research projects since 2022. Another important program supported by the Foundation is the Women & Medicine Event, an annual educational luncheon featuring female healthcare professionals. “This event is something that people take very seriously, but it’s also fun,” says Corley. “We’ve had it in Sarasota since 2012 but this last year we added one in Venice and we had great success with over 800 people attending–over 500 guests in Sarasota and around 300 guests in Venice.” Each year covers a different topic, with last year’s covering heart disease in women. This coming year will focus on menopause and hormones.“Even with 400 or 500 people in attendance, it becomes a very intimate conversation between women in our community and women healthcare professionals,” says Director of Communications, Ticia Mahler. “Great work like this is able to continue through philanthropy and our generous donors.” Corley also notes the hospital’s workplace culture, sharing that Forbes Magazine recently ranked them number one in Florida and among the top in the country as a place for women to work. “Not only do we treat and care about women patients, but there are a lot of females here who are working hard to make sure that we’re the best at what we do, whether it’s at the Foundation or at the hospital. —B.Heit smhf.org
PHOTOGRAPHY BY WYATT KOSTYGAN.
WOMEN’S RESOURCE CENTER
AT THE WOMEN’S RESOURCE CENTER, every program is designed to empower women and tailored to meet the needs of each individual who walks through their doors. “The most important work that we do is meeting our clients where they are, addressing their needs and ultimately helping them build economic security and resiliency,” says President Ashley Brown.
At the core of the center’s efforts to build resilience are its mental health programs. “How you work, how you communicate, how you set boundaries—these all add to the stability in your world and your financial security. Strong mental health is an important piece of the overall picture of a successful person,” says Brown. Founded in 1979, the center quickly recognized the crucial role of mental health services in supporting women across all aspects of their lives. Originally focused on career development, the center soon integrated its counseling programs to help build women’s self-esteem and self-worth as they pursued success. Now, through partnerships with local therapists, the center helps women who lack insurance coverage or the financial means for counseling to access these services at affordable rates—between $5 to $50 per session. Additionally, it offers three regular, guided support groups, serving as safe and welcoming spaces for women to share their experiences. “Being able to connect with others in a similar situation and reducing that sense that you’re the only person that’s feeling the way you are is really powerful,” says Brown. From “Divorce 101” to “You Are Worthy” to “Building Your Success,” these groups bring together women with similar challenges and aspirations. Each of these groups offers not only emotional comfort but also provides women with the tools and knowledge to handle difficult situations in every area of their lives. For Brown, the mission is simple but profound—give women the strength to change their lives. At the Women’s Resource Center, that strength grows, one connection and one success story at a time. —C.Mould 941-256-9721, mywrc.org
Left to right:
Stacey Corley, Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation.
Ashley Brown, Women’s Resource Center
LOTUS WOMEN’S HEALTH
SARASOTA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL PREGNANCY CARE TEAM
THE RECENTLY LAUNCHED PREGNANCY CARE TEAM is working to increase access to prenatal care for local women. Open to all women seeking assistance in finding a care provider, the team was formed to address a national shortage of obstetricians—a challenge that has impacted women’s ability to access prenatal care. “With need increasing and the population growing, we are also seeing fewer OBGYNs in the community, and so the availability of OB appointments for prenatal care really came to a critical point where we needed to do something quickly to help women make sure that they were getting into prenatal care,” says Director of Women’s and Children’s Services Abby Olsen. Care throughout a pregnancy is essential—Olsen says that 80 percent of obstetrical emergencies that Sarasota Memorial sees are preventable with quality prenatal care. This team, officially started in February, has already connected over 400 women with providers around the area. OB Navigators identify a patient’s insurance and any risk factors she may have in order to match patients with the best possible care. Olsen notes that 100 percent of patients who have reached out to the team for assistance have been connected to providers ahead of their deliveries. Partnerships with local OB offices and other community programs are essential to the success of this team—these local organizations refer patients struggling to access care to the Pregnancy Care Team, which in turn helps connect women with the right care provider. “An OB nurse navigator will walk through that journey with mothers and make sure that they not only have an OB provider to help them medically, but they also assess any social needs that they may need some assistance with, and get things ready so that they really are set up for the most success they can have,” says Olsen. The team provides free services to any women seeking prenatal or postnatal care for up to 12 months after delivery. As they look ahead to celebrating its first year and beyond, Olsen plans to continue assessing the broader needs of the local community and providing critical support. —C.Mould
Sarasota
Memorial Hospital Pregnancy Care Team, 941-917-MOMS (6667)
LOTUS WOMEN’S HEALTH OPENED ITS DOORS IN SEPTEMBER 2023, born out of Dr. Eduardo Aguin’s desire to break free from the constraints of corporate medicine. After years of working in systems where decisions were often made by people without medical knowledge, he knew it was time to build something different, where clinical care was guided by expertise, empathy and a deep commitment to patient advocacy. The practice began with Dr. Aguin as a solo provider, and fittingly, the very first delivery was an unforgettable one—his own daughter. That powerful experience helped shape the heart of Lotus Women’s Health. Since then, the team has grown to include Certified Nurse Midwife Angie Scarpa, whose holistic, patient-focused approach beautifully complements the practice’s mission. Together, they offer a unique blend of medical and midwifery care that truly honors the individuality of every woman they serve.At Lotus Women’s Health, women receive compassionate, expert care through every stage of life—from routine well-woman exams to advanced diagnostics, prenatal care and menopause management. The team combines state-of-the-art technology with a personalized approach to ensure the highest quality of care.“ At Lotus Women’s Health, our philosophy is rooted in patient-centered, evidence-based and compassionate care. We believe every woman deserves to feel empowered, respected and heard throughout every stage of her health journey,” says Dr. Aguin. “Our goal is to provide highquality care in a warm and supportive environment where patients are treated like individuals, not numbers. We take time to listen, educate, and advocate—because your health choices should be informed, honored and guided by providers who genuinely care.” Dr. Aguin explains that what truly sets Lotus Women’s Health apart is the personalized, relationship-based approach to care. “We are a small, close-knit team, passionate about giving women the time and attention they deserve. Unlike large corporate practices, we are free to focus entirely on what’s best for our patients without outside interference. We treat our patients like our own family, offering not only clinical excellence but also trust, comfort and genuine emotional support. Whether it’s a routine check-up or a life-changing birth, our patients know they are in compassionate, capable hands.” —B.Heit Lotus Women’s Health, 1846 Rye Rd E, Bradenton, lotuswomenhealth.com 914-302-9977.
Abby Olsen, Sarasota Memorial Hospital Pregnancy Care Team. Below: Below: Dr. Eduardo Aguin, Angie Scarpa Lotus Women’s Health
CENTERPLACE HEALTH WOMEN’S HEALTH SERVICES
CENTERPLACE HEALTH, A FEDERALLY QUALIFIED COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER serving patients in and around Sarasota County, provides a wide range of women’s health services with a focus on accessibility and affordability. Their integrated care model addresses medical, behavioral health and social needs, providing care for women throughout their lives, from adolescence through post-menopause.CenterPlace Health offers a comprehensive range of key medical services focused on women’s health. Their preventive and gynecological care includes annual exams such as Pap tests, mammogram referrals, routine physicals, family planning and a variety of contraception options. They also address specific gynecological concerns and provide screening and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). For women during pregnancy, the center offers full maternity and prenatal care, covering the entire journey from prenatal visits to postpartum support, and provides referrals for ultrasounds and specialized care when necessary. Birth deliveries are coordinated through a partnership with Sarasota Memorial Hospital. In addition, CenterPlace Health integrates behavioral health services into its care model, offering counseling, therapy and support programs—such as maternity support—through a team of licensed clinical social workers, psychiatrists and other professionals dedicated to supporting women’s emotional and mental well-being.The organization focuses on the whole person. They understand that factors like economic stability, housing and nutrition play a significant role in a person’s well-being. Their team of certified, culturally diverse community health workers and case managers assists patients to ensure they have access to services to improve their health and well-being. This includes nutrition counseling, transportation assistance, insurance enrollment, and help with finding community resources, which are essential for women and their families.“Partnership is at the heart of CenterPlace Health’s success. We work closely with Sarasota Memorial Hospital, the Department of Health and other nonprofits to create a care model that profoundly impacts women and children. The generous investment from our local foundations and donors allows us to serve everyone, especially the most vulnerable,” says Chief Advancement and Engagement Officer, Christine Coviello. “We know that by caring for them, we are building a stronger, healthier future for all.” CenterPlace Health provides care for women at several locations throughout Sarasota County, including a dedicated Women and Children’s Health Center. They accept a variety of insurance plans, including Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance. For uninsured patients, they offer a sliding fee scale based on income, ensuring that essential women’s health services, such as family planning and prenatal care, are accessible to those who might otherwise go without. —B.Heit Women and Children’s Health Center, 1750 17th Street, Bldg E, Sarasota, 941- 529-0100, centerplacehealth.org
FIRST 1,000 DAYS SUNCOAST
SARASOTA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL LAUNCHED FIRST 1,000 DAYS in 2018 to support families and connect them with local resources. Now, the initiative has more than 90 partner organizations in Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties and has developed a family navigation program which specifically aims to connect families with local nonprofit organizations according to their needs and reduce the stress on families in their children’s early years. “Research has shown that growing up with the stress and anxiety of living in poverty can have a significant impact on the health and well being of children. And so if we can reduce that stress by connecting parents with the basic resources that they need, then we know that they can do their most important job, which is to support and love and nurture their children,” says Director Chelsea Arnold. After connecting parents with the essential resources offered by partner organizations, family navigators check in regularly to ensure that families’ needs are being met. Each day, Navigators Tina Wilson and Renee King reach out to parents who have filled out the program’s online assistance request form and assess how the team can best support them. “A lot of parents and mothers don’t know the potential that they have. We’re really trying to empower them, and I think that is really our mission, is getting different organizations to start working together to help the families as much as we can and ultimately build healthier communities,” says Wilson. First 1,000 Days helps families meet a broad range of needs, including housing, childcare, food, employment, Medicaid and baby supplies. This year, the program has assisted 283 families, meeting each where they are, whether a family is looking for a quick connection to childcare resources or ongoing support. “It varies based on the degree of need, but parents always know that they can come back to us again,” says Arnold. “Sometimes we’ll help someone, and then five months later they’ll reach out again, or two years later, they’ll reach out again. We’re really that warm line of various connections to care.” —C.Mould First 1,000 Days, first1000dayssuncoast.org
Christine Coviello, Centerplace
Tina Wilson and Renee King, First 1,000 Days Suncoast
