leadership

The Gainesville Area Women’s Network (GAWN) is governed by its own members through an elected board of directors. Every member in good standing is eligible for a leadership position. We rely on volunteers to serve on the board and committees, and to help with individual events. Leadership networking gives our members invaluable business connections.

GAWN’s fiscal year begins August 1, when the new board members are installed; it ends on July 31. Applications to serve in the next fiscal year are due in May and June, but we invite you to submit an application at any time. All hands are welcome. The board consists of four Officers; Chair, Incoming/Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. All other positions are considered Directors, including at large members.

2022-2023 BOARD

CHAIR - JANE HARRIS

Jane has 17 years of experience in the banking and financial services industries, serving in a host of roles in both commercial and retail lending. She specializes in commercial loans and banking solutions, including commercial real estate, investment real estate, construction, SBA financing, C & I, lines of credit, and equipment financing.

Jane is active in the Gainesville community, serving as an Ambassador for the Builders Association of North Central Florida, Advisory Board Member for the F.W. Buchholz Academies of Finance and Entrepreneurship, and an Auxiliary Board Member for Children’s Home Society. She is also a graduate of Leadership Gainesville Class 39 and has served on many other non-profit boards and committees in roles such as Chairperson, Co-Chair, and Treasurer. She has three children - two daughters, who attend school at FSU and Rasmussen Nursing School, and a son, who is establishing himself in the music industry. https://flcu.org

VICE-CHAIR & WEBSITE & SOCIAL MEDIA ADMINISTRATOR - CAITLYN ADAMS

Caitlyn is the owner of Heart Mind Healing, where she empowers people to heal from the inside out through energy work, gentle yoga, and meditation. She moved to Gainesville in 2019 with her husband and dogs, and joined GAWN the same year. In her free time, she is going on walks with her rescue dogs, cooking vegan comfort food, or doing jigsaw puzzles. www.heartmindgnv.com

TREASURER - B SAMANTHA BACCHUS

Samantha is a board certified pediatrician and entrepreneur living in the Gainesville area since 2015. Even though this was planned to be a temporary move to be with her husband after she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Ovarian cancer, she fell in love with Gainesville. It has been restorative to her entire being! It reminds her of her childhood and now she has her mother and brother here with her. She has since consolidated her businesses from other states and plan on starting a new venture here, Prancing Horse Farm Event Center and an Airbnb.

In September, she will be returning to practicing pediatrics at Alliance Pediatrics and can’t wait to care for the next generation of children! She loves spending time with family and friends at her farm, event planning, cooking and playing tennis.

SECRETARY - CHRISTINE DAMM

Christine Damm is currently an Account Manager at GRUCom, providing internet, data transport, colocation leasing, tower leasing and backhaul networking solutions for businesses within locations in Alachua County. She moved to the Gainesville area in 2007, worked a few years at UF in hospital administration, then accepted a position with GRUCom in 2011. Prior to her time at UF, she worked many jobs including as a fitness instructor teaching hi-low and step aerobics classes. She ran her first marathon in 2003 and enjoys walking, running and working out. She is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, with a BS from George Washington University and a MBA from Norwich University.

MEMBER SERVICES - LISA HOOVER

Lisa earned her Bachelor's Degree in Education from the University of North Florida. She was a Navy spouse who moved frequently, returning home to Florida in 2019. She is a mom of 4 grown children and a full time residential realtor with Keller Williams Gainesville Realty Partners . She has been helping people fulfill their real estate goals for five years. Lisa enjoys the networking opportunities GAWN provides . She is able to meet and learn from other business women in the Gainesville area.

REGISTRAR - SARAH CHREST

Sarah is Director of Operations and CNA Program Manager for GatorCPR and GatorCNA in Gainesville. Additionally, she coaches competitive gymnastics at Sun Country in Gainesville. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor's Degree in full time Organizational Management and plans on going on to pursue her Master's Degree in Business Management. Sarah is also a mommy to 1 sweet little girl who is her world. When she is not working or doing school work, you can find her spending time with her family, spending her time in her kayak, or with her nose in a book.

ADVISOR - KRISTY MOFFAT

Kristy served as GAWN's Chair for both the 2016-2017 and 2021-2022 terms, and currently acts as Adviser to the board. She owns Brightway Insurance, The Moffat Agency, serving clients across Florida primarily through personal lines insurance policies such as homeowners, auto, and umbrella insurance. She is a board member and Past President of the North Central Florida Chapter of the CPCU Society, as well as a member of the Gainesville/Alachua County Association of Realtors (GACAR) and BNI Chapter 212. She is also a graduate of Leadership Gainesville Class 44. She earned her BS and MEd from the University of Florida and has worked in the insurance industry her entire career. Wife to Iain and mother to Aedan, they enjoy traveling as much as possible. www.brightwaymoffat.com

PROGRAMS - ROBYN BREWINGTON

Robyn Brewington was born and raised in Alachua County and currently resides in nearby High Springs. She works as a Client Relationship Specialist for James Moore. She attended the University of Florida (Go Gators) and later went back to school and received a Master’s Degree from Webster University. She is newer to her current position as Client Relationship Specialist and is enjoying learning a lot about the tax and accounting world and getting to know her clients. Before this position she spent over 16 years in the insurance industry.

She enjoys being part of GAWN because she loves being inspired by the many success stories she sees among the women who attend. During her career she has had opportunities to be part of leadership groups and earned a Master’s in Leadership and Management, but she says she always has more to learn from other successful women and that is why she loves GAWN.

HISTORIAN - VACANT

AT LARGE DIRECTORS

SLATE JACKSON

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P.O. Box 357051
Gainesville, FL 32635
info@gawn.org