2025 WLP Symposium
Panelists and Moderators
Informed, Empowered, Supported: Conversations on Midlife Women’s Health
Health and Wellness
Sponsored by USF Health
Anjali Kaimal, MD
Moderator
Dr. Anjali Kaimal is a nationally recognized maternal-fetal medicine specialist, educator, and researcher, currently serving as Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and Chief of the Women’s Institute at Tampa General Hospital. She has over two decades of clinical and academic leadership, with a focus on patient-centered pregnancy care and operational excellence. Prior to her current role, she held leadership positions at USF Health and Tampa General Hospital and previously directed the MFM fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital. A dedicated mentor and lifelong learner, Anjali holds degrees from Rice University, Harvard Medical School and UCSF, and is active in several national professional organizations.
Ashley Curtis, PhD
Panelist
Dr. Ashley Curtis is a faculty member in the USF College of Nursing and Co-Director of the SHINE Science Center, which explores how sleep impacts brain and body health. She also leads the Cognition, Aging, Sleep and Health Lab, where her research focuses on how sleep and thinking skills are connected, especially as we age. Her work examines how cognitive training might improve sleep and memory, and how factors like menopause, pain, alcohol use and medication influence brain function over time. Ashley is especially interested in understanding these connections between both healthy adults and those living with chronic conditions.
Deborah Knudson-Gonzalez, MD
Panelist
Dr. Deborah Knudson-Gonzalez (Dr. KG) is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, where she also serves as the Integration Director for Behavioral Sciences and Medical Ethics. She is double board-certified in adult and forensic psychiatry with additional specialized training in women’s mental health. For over a decade, she has worked clinically with women navigating the impact of hormonal changes on mood and mental health during the reproductive years and beyond.
Catherine M. Lynch, MD
Panelist
Dr. Catherine M. Lynch is the Associate Vice President of Faculty Development and Women’s Health at USF, where she also serves as Associate Dean and Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Female Pelvic Medicine. Since 2011, she has led efforts to integrate women’s health care, education, and research across USF Health, including launching the Women’s Health Collaborative Seed Grant program, which has awarded over $500,000 to interdisciplinary teams. A champion for faculty advancement, Catherine developed USF Health REACH and authored a nationally recognized AAMC GWIMS toolkit. Clinically, she specializes in pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence and has even consulted on primate care at Busch Gardens. She earned her MD from USF and completed her residency and fellowship there. Catherine is also deeply engaged in the Tampa community and is married to former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn.
See Her, Be Her: Women Leaders Driving Representation in Tampa Bay Arts
Arts & Culture
Sponsored by Buchanan Law
Leslie Wager Hudock
Moderator
Leslie Wager Hudock is a shareholder in the Tampa office of Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney, a national law firm. Leslie focuses her multi-disciplinary practice on sophisticated business and real estate transactions. She often serves as outside general counsel to her clients, who include motor vehicle dealers, real estate developers, medical providers and business owners in a variety of industries, including tourism. Outside of her law practice, Leslie is a patron of the arts, avid reader of literary fiction and enthusiastic tourist who seeks out cultural adventures wherever she travels.
Denise Davis-Cotton, EdD
Panelist
Dr. Denise Davis-Cotton is a nationally recognized leader in arts-integrated education and curriculum equity. As Director of the Florida Center for Partnerships for Arts Integration Teaching, she leads statewide initiatives supporting educators from pre-K through higher ed. She has secured over $12 million in funding and engages more than 300 educators annually through professional development. Denise is Principal Investigator for innovative programs like Bill of Writes Storytellers and REACH, blending civics and the arts. Founder of the Detroit School of Arts, her work has impacted over 4,000 students nationwide. Honored with multiple awards, including the Milken Educator Award, she continues to champion creative, inclusive learning through strategic partnerships with Crayola, the Smithsonian Institution and the Circus Arts Conservatory.
Karla Hartley
Panelist
A third-generation Tampa native, Karla Hartley has worked exclusively in the nonprofit sector for more than 30 years. She spent 15 of those years as the Producing and Educational Programming Manager at the STRAZ Center for the Performing Arts. She is currently the President and Producing Artistic Director at Stageworks Theatre and runs a thriving business as an independent theatrical artist. Karla is also an adjunct instructor in the Department of Theatre and Dance for the University of Tampa. As a director, she has helmed over 60 shows of varying sizes and styles, including more than a dozen world premieres. Karla has designed and performed in, or stage-managed, hundreds of performances, from the Kennedy Center to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She received a BFA in Theatre Studies from Boston University in 1992.
Joanna Robotham
Panelist
Joanna Robotham joined the staff of the Tampa Museum of Art in 2016 as the Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art. She previously held the Neubauer Family Foundation Assistant Curator position at the Jewish Museum in New York City, where she worked for over 10 years. Currently, Joanna is working on the December 2025 survey exhibition of Japanese-American ceramicist Jun Kaneko in conjunction with the acquisition of one of the artist’s monumental Dango sculptures. Recently, she organized the solo exhibitions Suchitra Mattai: Bodies and Souls (2024) and Pepe Mar: Myth and Magic (2023). In addition to her curatorial work, Joanna serves on the boards of the Tampa Art Alliance and the Haitian Art Society. She received her MA in Curatorial Studies from the Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard College and earned a BA in Art History and Political Science from the University of Washington.
Power, Purpose, and Prosperity: Redefining Financial Well-Being for Women Who Lead
Financial Well-Being
Sponsored by Lake Michigan Credit Union (LMCU)
Cheeroke Townsend, CFA
Moderator
Cheeroke Townsend is a CFA charterholder and seasoned finance professional with 17 years of experience in Investment Management as a Portfolio Manager and Equity Research Analyst. Now working as a consultant to college athletes, she helps them navigate wealth building, money management, and long-term financial success. Cheeroke is passionate about making financial literacy accessible, especially for women and college athletes looking to turn income into legacy. A proud graduate of the University of South Florida, she also serves on the board of Dream Givers USA. Her mission is to empower her community to make confident money moves and build generational wealth with intention and strategy.
Patricia Douglas
Panelist
Patricia Douglas is the CEO and founder of Patricia Douglas Consulting, specializing in nonprofit strategic planning, governance, and capacity building. A former commercial litigator and shareholder at Bush Ross, P.A., Patricia now advises nonprofit leaders and philanthropists across Florida. She serves as Vice Chair of the WEDU PBS Board and sits on the boards of the Tampa Museum of Art, The Skills Center and Excelsior Prep Charter School. Her past leadership includes chairing the boards of Academy Prep Center of Tampa and the Community Foundation Tampa Bay. A passionate advocate for philanthropy and civic engagement, Patricia brings a powerful blend of legal acumen, nonprofit experience and community leadership to every role she serves.
Karen Koundourakis
Panelist
Karen Koundourakis is the Chief Retail Officer at Lake Michigan Credit Union, bringing over 25 years of experience in commercial and credit union leadership. She leads high-performing teams focused on empowering members to achieve lifelong financial wellness, with a strong emphasis on service, innovation and operational excellence. Her background includes strategic oversight of payment systems, deposit operations, call centers and AI-driven support tools, contributing to significant organizational efficiencies. A passionate lifelong learner, she holds credentials from Harvard, USF, Vanderbilt and other universities. Karen is also deeply committed to community service, serving on multiple leadership boards and volunteering alongside her daughter in Tampa.
Andrea Lawrence
Panelist
Andrea Lawrence is a Senior Vice President at Northern Trust. She brings over 25 years of experience to her role in wealth management, providing holistic wealth management services for individuals and families, privately held businesses, family offices, foundations and endowments. As a former CPA and practicing trust and estate attorney, Andrea has extensive expertise in estate and charitable planning, financial planning, business succession and philanthropy advisory. In 2023, Andrea was elected by Women We Admire as one of Pennsylvania’s Top 50 Women Leaders. She graduated from the University of Virginia's McIntire School of Commerce and Villanova Law School. Andrea is an active rower and tennis player and has provided pro-bono assistance to several youth sports organizations.
Kimberly Sikorski
Panelist
Kimberly Sikorski is the Director of Business Operations at Grindley Williams Engineering in Lakeland, Florida, specializing in forensic engineering, restoration and building consulting services. Originally from Florida, she has spent much of her career in academia across five universities in Florida and Alabama. Kimberly holds both a bachelor’s degree and an Executive MBA from USF. Known for her strategic thinking and operational expertise, she plays a vital role in driving the firm’s growth. In her personal life, she is a dedicated martial artist, avid weightlifter and outdoor enthusiast. Kimberly also holds numerous certificates and licenses in nutrition and fitness, reflecting her passion and commitment to health and wellness.
Leading Ladies: Philanthropy in Motion
Community Building & Leadership
Sponsored by Grindley Williams Engineering
Colleen Chappell
Moderator
Colleen Chappell is a dynamic branding and advertising leader with over 30 years in the industry. Under her leadership, ChappellRoberts transformed from a boutique agency into a leading creative firm in the Southeast. A USF graduate, Chappell has earned distinctions including the Dottie Berger MacKinnon Woman of Influence Award from the Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce, Tampa Bay Business Journal Businessperson of the Year, a USF Women in Leadership & Philanthropy Lifetime Achievement Award and induction into the Tampa Bay Business Hall of Fame. Known for professional excellence and community involvement, she serves as Chairman of the Board at ChappellRoberts.
Lauren Brigman
Panelist
Lauren Brigman is a community leader and arts educator based in St. Petersburg. In 2020, Lauren co-founded 100 Women Who Care St. Petersburg, a philanthropic giving circle that has since raised nearly half a million dollars for local grassroots nonprofits. Through this initiative, she helps organize quarterly events providing critical funding to charities across the region. Lauren is also deeply involved in the broader arts scene: She teaches theater classes at a local high school, is featured in art galleries across St Pete, and is a founding board member of the Tampa Arts Alliance. Described by local media as a “community activist and nonprofit liaison,” she is known for forging partnerships that strengthen community service and arts initiatives, and is an annual speaker for a Christian women’s conference in Orlando. Lauren is married to Douglas Brigman, and together they have four children.
Andrea Gonzmart-Williams
Panelist
Andrea Gonzmart Williams is the great-great-granddaughter of Casimiro Hernandez Sr., founder of the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City in 1905. She is the daughter of Richard Gonzmart, fourth-generation caretaker of the Columbia Restaurant. Andrea began her career at the Columbia Restaurant at the age of 10. She graduated from USF in 2001 with a degree in Business Management, and shortly after, she joined the family business full time. Andrea is extremely passionate about her alma mater. She proudly sits on USF’s Foundation Board of Directors, the President’s Latino Advisory Council and the Presidential Search Committee. She and her husband have established two USF Latino Scholarships as well as one scholarship for Marine Sciences. Both avid supporters of USF Athletics, they are Iron Bull Champions.
Laura Sherman
Panelist
Laura Sherman co-founded Baldwin Krystyn Sherman Partners and Baldwin Risk Partners (now Baldwin Group – Nasdaq BWIN). She has served on several industry boards but now focuses her time on local nonprofits. Currently, Laura serves on the Board of Directors for Meals on Wheels of Tampa, Children’s Dream Fund, Metropolitan Ministries and the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay Council of Professional Advisors. She recently co-chaired the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Light the Night, raising over $1 million, and serves on the capital campaign for The Florida Aquarium and St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital. She is involved in her sons’ school, Clearwater Central Catholic, on the booster board, the head of the Parent Involvement committee, as a parent ambassador and lacrosse team parent.
Susan B. Towler
Panelist
Susan B. Towler is the Executive Director of the Florida Blue Foundation, the philanthropic affiliate, and Florida Blue Corporate Social Responsibility. Susan is responsible for the company’s philanthropic strategy and serves on the boards of several nonprofits, including the Children’s Movement of Florida, Florida Humanities, and the Jacksonville Public Education Fund. She holds a BS in Public Relations from the University of Florida. Susan lives in Jacksonville with her husband, Jim, and they have one daughter, Emma, who is in law school at UF.