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.
2023-2024 BOARD
CHAIR - CAITLYN ADAMS
VICE-CHAIR - APRIL GREEN
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 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 - RYNNI HENDERSON
REGISTRAR - SARAH CHREST
ADVISOR - JANE HARRIS
PROGRAMS - SAMANTHA REHTORIK
SOCIAL MEDIA ADMINISTRATOR - 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. WEBSITE ADMINISTRATOR - ELIZABETH MATTKE
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. 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. AT LARGE DIRECTORS ROBYN BREWINGTON
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. 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. |
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