Dottie Berger MacKinnon Woman of Influence Award
For Immediate Release - March 7, 2025 Tampa, FL – The Tampa Bay Chamber proudly presented the 2025 Dottie Berger MacKinnon Woman of Influence Award to Dotti Groover-Skipper, nationally recognized for her advocacy against human trafficking. The Founder and CEO of HeartDance Foundation, Inc. became the 14th community leader to be recognized by Chamber Members and the business community during National Women’s History Month.
For decades, Groover-Skipper has trained law enforcement agencies, school districts, business sectors, civic and faith-based organizations to combat human trafficking and substance abuse. Her expertise has helped to develop numerous sustainable community coalitions and she is credited as a catalyst to increased community awareness of human trafficking. Recognized by former Florida Governor Rick Scott and former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, she was named Florida's “Human Trafficking Advocate of 2013” and went on to serve 7 years on the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking.
“This lifelong career of serving in the anti-human trafficking trenches has been fraught with adversity,” said her nominator Bernadette Pello of the Florida Trade Association. “Forty years ago, people responded to Dotti in disbelief that human trafficking was even a thing. Back then, there was no label assigned to this crime. It was a challenge getting individuals on board, but Dotti was persistent! She devised a comprehensive community strategy. On a regular basis, Dotti gathered key community stakeholders, including media personalities and high-profile policy leaders, to educate and activate. Over time it worked!”
The honor was bestowed during the 19th Annual Woman of Influence Luncheon presented by Tampa General Hospital. The award pays tribute to a local woman exemplifying outstanding professional values, going above and beyond the normal expectations of a leader.
The sold-out event at the J.W. Marriott Tampa Water Street, featured keynote speaker Sarah Thomas, the NFL’s first female official. Named “100 Most Influential NFL Figures of All Time” by Sports Illustrated, she officiated her first game in 2015. Her hat, whistle and flag are on display at the NFL Hall of Fame! In 2021 she made history once again, right here in the Tampa Bay region when she became the first female to officiate a Super Bowl!
Speaking to a crowd of 650+ business and community leaders, this trailblazer shared her inspiring story – how the little girl in Pascagoula, Mississippi grew up to take her place on the national stage, changing the game in the world’s quintessential male-dominated sport - football. Drawing thunderous applause from the audience, Thomas encouraged everyone to adopt a mindset where “no barrier or ceiling is shatterproof.”
Learn more about the Chamber’s Women of Influence and Women’s Programming initiatives.