MELBOURNE, FLA. — weVENTURE Women’s Business Center at Florida Tech’s Bisk College of Business is excited to announce the finalists for its annual Women’s History Month celebration, the 2026 Women Who Rock Awards. The event is presented by W+J Construction.
Over 60 nominations were submitted by community members, and all will be celebrated at the popular annual community event happening Wednesday, March 18, at the Hilton Rialto in Melbourne. Doors open at 4 p.m. and the award ceremony will begin at 4:30pm with a networking reception to follow.
weVENTURE Executive Director Kathryn Rudloff said the event is approaching its 20th anniversary of spotlighting hard-working, passionate and essential women who do so much for our business community – and the entire community.
“Since 2007, we have been proud to organize this community event to bring attention to individuals who are making a significant impact in our community through their work and volunteerism,” she said. “Plato said, ‘What is honored in a community will be cultivated there,’ and we hope the entire community is inspired by these fantastic leaders.”
Tickets to attend are $50 and admission includes heavy hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and mocktails. Sponsorships begin at $250. Doors will open at 4 p.m. for networking and photo opportunities.
The categories and finalists for the 2026 Women Who Rock Awards are below.
Small Business Owner of the Year Presented by Bank of America
Christi Adams, Owner, Director, and CEO, The Glass House Recovery; Rebecca Oltrogge, Owner, Waxing By Becky; Erika O’Neal, Owner, A Taste of Elegance Commissary Kitchen & Catering; Sara Stern, CEO, Trinetics Group; Hollie Gilbert, owner, DRIPBaR
Executive of the Year Presented by PNC Bank
Kayla Burri, lieutenant, Melbourne Fire Department; Cheyana Fischer, senior vice president and chief nursing executive, Health First; Meeta Ghandi, COO, Orlando Health Melbourne Hospital; Jo Hughes, Vice President of Human Resources, Brevard Achievement Center
Excellence in Mentorship Presented by Widerman Malek
Kristin Bakke, president and CEO, Lead Brevard; Nicole Hosey, associate attorney, Montas Turner, P.A; Marifer Sagastume Hurtado, biomedical engineer, Vertex Applied Innovation Hub; Gloria Weatherspoon, founder, Space Coast People Solutions
STEM Impact Leader Award
Samantha Van Matre, STEM teacher and program leader, Brevard Public Schools; Rachel Rutledge, director of career and technical education, Brevard Public Schools;Lauren-Ann Graham, mechanical test engineer, Lockheed Martin; Melissa Patton, Ph.D., founder and CEO, Space Grove Ventures & Patton Consulting Group
Excellence in Caregiving Presented by Health First
Alexis Eppes, DNP, founder and CEO, Eppes Psych; Johnette Gindling, president and CEO, Space Coast Health Foundation; Paige Hubert, DPT, owner, Recharged Performance Therapy; Lena Jordan, nurse manager, Holmes Regional Medical Center
Zonta Yellow Rose Award for Excellence in Community Service
Deborah Carson, community impact and engagement associate, EightysecondCapital Partners; Brianna Figueroa, shelter director, Serene Harbor; Martha Pessaro, treasurer and chairperson, Native Heritage Gathering, Inc.; Emma Reynolds, director of philanthropy, East Coast Zoological Foundation and Brevard Zoo
weVENTURE WBC Legacy Leadership Award
Donn Miller Kermani, Ph.D., assistant director of sponsored programs and research; first director, Florida Tech women’s business center program; Theodore Richardson, PhD., dean of the Bisk College of Business at Florida Tech
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit weVENTURE WBC at https://weventure.fit.edu/events/women-who-rock-awards/.
