Pinellas Park, FL (September 3, 2021)

A financial data industry disruptor, a US Army intelligence officer, one of the first to offer a truly effective alternative to CPAP, a banking trailblazer whose career spans four decades, and a leader for academic affairs, student affairs, enrollment management, and facility operations…these are the women being honored on Friday September 17th when Girls Inc. of Pinellas holds their annual luncheon honoring five female leaders in STEAM fields. Girls Inc. is counting on the support of their sponsors to make an investment in the lives of girls and in their futures. This year’s sponsors include Bayfront Health St. Petersburg, Publix Supermarket Charities, BayCare Health Systems, St. Petersburg College, Miller Electric Company, Sheila Barry Oliver, Suncoast Credit Union, Nielsen, USF College of Engineering, National Forensic Science Center, Celestar Corporation, Pilot Bank, Pinellas County Sheriff, The Longmire Family, Tampa Bay Rays, Park & Eleazer
Construction, First Home Bank, All Children’s Hospital, Power Design Inc, BKS Partners.

While nearly half of the US workforce is women, they make up only 27% of STEM workers and earn only 74% of men’s median earnings in STEM fields. By the time students reach college, women are significantly underrepresented in STEM majors — for instance, only around 21% of engineering majors are women and only around 19% of computer and information science majors are women. “At Girls Inc, we hope to change that with our approach to STEAM enrichment which inspires girls through hands-on, interactive workshops and exposes girls to female leaders in fields of study in which women, particularly women of color, are underrepresented” shared Darla Otey, Executive Director, “In addition to STEAM activities, girls receive programming to support their social and emotional well-being.” Girls Inc of Pinellas is the leading non-profit that inspires and benefits 500 girls annually through services designed to teach all girls to be strong, smart, and bold.

There are a small number of individual tickets remaining for the luncheon – visit https://girlsinc-pinellas.org/sag/ to purchase. Companies interested in sponsorship or corporate tables can visit https://girlsincpinellas.org/celebrating-women-in-steam-luncheon/ or call (727) 544-6230 x112. The 2021 Honorees are Rachel Carpenter, Founder and CEO of Intrinio, Dr. Trina Espinola, Chief Medical Officer of Bayfront Health, Dr. Leslie Hafer, St. Petersburg College Provost, Lori Larsen, Chief Strategy Officer at Celestar Corporation and Rita Lowman, President of Pilot Bank.
To register your daughter for Girls Inc. of Pinellas’ after-school enrichment program visit https://girlsincpinellas.org/after-school/.