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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.
2024-2025 BOARD
CO-CHAIR - CAITLYN ADAMS
CO-CHAIR - JANE HARRIS
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 & COMMUNITY OUTREACH - MICHELLE "SHELLEY" VICKERS
Shelley was born and raised in Alachua County and is extremely active in the Gainesville and Alachua communities. She serves on the board of directors for the Builders Association (BANCF), Chair of the BANCF Ambassador Committee, Chair of the BANCF Horseshoe Tournament, serves on the Alachua Chamber Board, heads Alachua Chamber Membership committee, serves on the Junior Achievement Board of Directors, coordinates events for Rebuilding Together, is a volunteer volleyball coach at the Alachua Rec, is a member of the Gainesville Chamber, the Gator Quarterback Club, part of Leadership Gainesville Class of 49, and is part of the University of Florida and City of Gainesville Mentor Protégé Programs. She has one daughter who plays volleyball and is interested in being a large animal veterinarian. When not working or volunteering her time, she enjoys time with her family, being on the water or watching the Florida Gators. TREASURER - B SAMANTHA BACCHUS 
Samantha is a board certified pediatrician and entrepreneur living in the Gainesville area since 2017. 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 2022, she joined Alliance Pediatrics and is practicing full time caring for the next generation of children! She is also an avid advocate for Ovarian cancer and host an annual 5k run/walk in March at Prancing Horse Farm. Educating females of all ages about their bodies is her passion to crucial to finding a cure. For fun, she loves spending time with family and friends at her farm, event planning, cooking and playing tennis. SECRETARY - CHRISTINE DAMM Christine Damm works for the Energy Delivery department of Gainesville Regional Utilities. She moved to the Gainesville area in 2007, worked a few years at UF in hospital administration, then accepted a position with GRU 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 - RYNNI HENDERSON
ACTING REGISTRAR - MERIBETH CULVER
Currently serving on Board of Directors and as the Area Governor for the Florida SunCoast Chapter of the BMW Car Club of America covering Gainesville/Ocala/The Villages. We are a 501(c)7 organization. Instagram @cdcnmac WEBSITE ADMINISTRATOR - ELIZABETH MATTKE
PROGRAMS & EVENTS ROBYN BREWINGTON
Robyn Brewington was born and raised in Alachua County and currently resides in nearby High Springs. She works as a Client Development Specialist on the business development team for James Moore and Company. She attended the University of Florida (Go Gators) and later went back to school and received a Master’s Degree from Webster University. Before joining James Moore and Company she spent over 16 years in the insurance industry. She enjoys being part of GAWN because surrounding herself with like-minded women who are passionate about what they do is inspiring. There’s always something new to learn and new people to meet. ELINOR ROBIN, PhD
Elinor Robin, PhD is a Mediator whose area of expertise is professional and personal relationship conflict. Seventeen years ago she co-founded A Friendly Divorce, a service that provides divorce mediation and document preparation to couples who want to divorce without hiring lawyers. Today, she remains committed to providing her clients with a process that allows them to uncouple while saving money, time, and heartache. Elinor’s quotes and articles have appeared in Entrepreneur.com, Forbes.com, and other media. She is the author of The Professional Woman’s Guide To Conflict Management (Packt Publishing, 2014). In addition, some of her greatest accomplishments include: Earning a PhD in Psychology, with a Specialization in Conflict Management; Licensure as a Mental Health Counselor and a Marriage and Family Therapist; Certification from the Florida Supreme Court as a Mediator and Primary Mediation Trainer. Elinor is excited to be a part of the GAWN Board once again and encourages you to reach out if she can assist you or your business in any way. SOCIAL MEDIA ADMINISTRATORS ALYSSA CIACCO - ACTING
Alyssa is a former teacher turned psychic medium who focuses on healing her clients through spiritual connection. Originally from New York, she moved with her husband and children to Gainesville in 2014 to be closer to family. Alyssa enjoys reading, gardening, art, and video games - but wishes she had more time for all of it. MICHELLE DORMINEY
She also has work experience in management and training and is always open for chances to learn and grow. She is looking forward to new opportunities in the future with GAWN. HISTORIAN - BONNIE LOSAK
Bonnie Losak is a lawyer and a writer. She earned her J.D. at UF and her master’s in fine arts in creative writing at F.I.U. Bonnie practiced law in Miami for over thirty years. Her writing has won awards and has been published in various literary journals as well as in the book, Flash! Writing the Very Short Story by John Dufresne. Bonnie moved to Gainesville from Miami Beach in 2021. She is available for consulting services, tutoring, and writing/editing projects. ADVISOR - (VACANT) AT LARGE DIRECTORS - (VACANT) |
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 
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. 
Shelley Vickers has over 20 years in the construction industry. She is enthusiastic and has a great deal of knowledge dealing with subcontractors, workflow, safety coordination and customer satisfaction. She serves as the Marketing Director and Executive Administrator at Scherer Construction. .jpg)
Rynni has almost 30 years in print and digital media publishing and advertising. Owner/Publisher of the Gainesville City Lifestyle Magazine and former regional Publisher for the Gainesville, Ocala, and Leesburg newspapers. Have held similar positions in New Mexico, Oregon, Louisiana and Florida. Native New Orleanian and husband is 5th generation Floridian. We share our home with dogs, a cat, and chickens. Daughter and two granddaughters live in Winter Garden. Left Florida in 1999 from Key West - and moved back in 2019. 
After many years in procurement, Elizabeth is having fun exploring new opportunities and personal goals. She is a Certified Public Procurement Officer who moved to Gainesville in 2014 while working for GRU, where she participated in the City's Emerging Leaders program and earned an MBA from the University of Liverpool. She loves travel (60+ countries to date) and pursuing a variety of artistic expressions. Always inspired by conversation at GAWN events, she is honored to serve on its Board.
Michelle is a hairstylist for a living and an artist as a hobby. She mostly make needle felted replicas of pet dogs as a side job. She loves growing (and trading cuttings of) plants and flowers, and she will always have as many pets as she can keep. 
Want to know more?
- Chair
- Vice Chair
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Advisor
- Registrar
- Programs & Event Coordinator
- Website Administrator
- Social Media Administrator
- Member Services
- Community Outreach
- Historian
- At Large and All Board Positions
Click Here to apply for a Board or Volunteer Position