As the calendar moves closer to March 24, and the Tampa Bay Chamber’s Women of Influence Luncheon, LaKisha Kinsey-Sallis and Melody Marrs are filled with anticipation. More than Chamber members or “repeat” guestsof the WOI luncheon, these two women know exactly what it takes to pull off this event in the months, weeks and even hours leading up to the big day. They don’t just know it, they’ve lived it.
Kinsey-Sallis was the Chair of last year’s WOI Committee and Marrs was her Vice-Chair. In 2023, Marrs is the Chamber’s committee Chair. These two Tampa Bay women, each women of influence in their own right, are a testament to the great work by committee members behind Women’s Programming at the Chamber each year. Executives, entrepreneurs, business owners, philanthropist – and all things in between – the women of this committee work with Chamber staff to plan signature events empowering women for 10+ years. The WOI luncheon alone is now in its 17th year. Other Women’s Programming fueled by the energy and talents of committee members include the Pearls of Wisdom and Pearls of Experience series.
On this National Women’s History Month, we proudly salute LaKisha Kinsey-Sallis of Fisher & Phillips, LLP, and Melody Marrs of Goodwill Industries. They, along with WOI chairs past and future, will continue to be the wind beneath WOI’s wings! We asked them to describe the WOI Experience for us and found their perspectives as priceless as the time, treasures, and talents they’ve poured into WOI work. Both women spoke about the Dottie Berger MacKinnon Woman of Influence Award, in particular. The leadership award recognizing a local Tampa Bay resident making a lasting, positive impact in our region has special meaning to both of them.
In their own words…
Lakisha Kinsey-Sallis, 2022 WOI Committee Chair
Melody Marrs, 2023 WOI Committee Chair
Q: There are many awards and recognitions presented during National Women’s History Month from the nation’s capital to local neighborhoods. What makes the Dottie Berger MacKinnon Woman of Influence Award so special to you?
Response from Lakisha Kinsey-Sallis, 2022 WOI Committee Chair:
“This award is particularly special to me for two reasons. One, it carries the namesake of someone who has been described by leaders in this community as having passion & integrity and whose legacy is representative of service, advocacy, and inspiration. Second, the award is specifically tailored to recognize women in the Tampa Bay community who have had a meaningful impact in moving Tampa Bay forward through their professional accomplishments, community involvement, leadership, selflessness, and more. It is a way for the Chamber and business community at large to let women know that we see you and value your imprint on this city. As a woman and particularly during National Women’s History Month, I can’t help but beam with pride when I look at the list of past recipients because it shows that the efforts and bravery of women over many, many years, continues to create spaces where women can be leaders, influencers, and just movers and shakers in any place in this city.”
Response from Melody Marrs, 2023 WOI Committee Chair:
“I remember Dottie as someone who was seen as a community leader. She was not afraid to get involved, to stand for what she believed in, to get her hands dirty and get the job done. Dottie was someone who was involved, supportive and generous with her time, her talents and her ability to pull people together to make a greater difference. It is always great to see someone recognized who has those same attributes… to award the Dottie Berger MacKinnon Woman of Influence honor to someone who also embodies that same kind, generous giving spirit in all that they do at home, at work and in the community.”
Follow up Question: How have the women honored by this award overtime contributed to identity of Tampa Bay Community?
Response from Lakisha:
“In what ways haven’t the women honored by this award contributed to the identity of the Tampa Bay community? While titles certainly don’t tell the full story of any person’s contributions to the community, I can’t help but call attention to the that former award recipients have held (or gone on to hold) all of the following roles: CEO, President, SVP, Police Chief, Mayor, Director, Chair, Commissioner, Founder, etc. These women have been not only recognized here in Tampa Bay but have also been recognized nationally in their respective fields and/or for their respective accomplishments. Each of the businesses, organizations, and entities that these women represented, have benefitted from their leadership, vision, and commitment to success. Additionally, all of these women, despite being so professionally accomplished that you can’t help but to wonder where they found/find time to do it all, have demonstrated their appreciation for the importance of giving back to the community and to developing future leaders. I could not imagine a Tampa Bay without the contributions of each Dottie Berger MacKinnon Award recipient. Their contributions overtime are immeasurable and too numerous to delineate. Suffice to say, Tampa is the Tampa of today because we had Donnie Berger MacKinnion, a Judy Lisi, a Jane Castor, a
Judy Genshaft, a Rhea law, a Robin DeLaVergne, a Colleen Chappell, a Sandra Braham, a Dianne Jacob, a Rita Lowman, and a Kim DeBosier.”
Response from Melody:
“The women who have received this award in the past have made a name for themselves in our community for the work they do to help make the lives of others better throughout their own life. They have played a vital role in contributing to the success of our community’s health by sharing their love of our city, their jobs, their communities and the people within them, sharing their experiences and by mentoring others. I can’t wait to see who receives the award this year!”
Final thoughts: We asked LaKisha to share her thoughts on the legacy moments experienced in committee when the outgoing chair passes the torch to the incoming chair. Favorite moment? “Wow, if I had to only pick one “favorite” memory, I would say it was my last meeting,” said LaKisha. “When you are passing the baton, so to speak, as a leader you want to know you are leaving your post in good hands and with clear vision. At that meeting, I watched a full room of eager, aspirational women business leaders plan for how they will continue to meet the challenge of continuing to make an impact that’s on mission and on purpose. Their plans include continuing the work we started during the prior year and building upon ideas we generated last year. I couldn’t be prouder of Melody and of the work of the 2023 WOI Committee.”