Collier/Lee Hadassah announces second annual Inspiring Women honorees

By Diane Schwartz

Collier/Lee Hadassah announces and celebrates the 2023 Inspiring Women from Collier and Lee counties. Dr. Jaclynn Faffer, Mia Hyatt and Gail Markham will be honored on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023. Hadassah is proud to present each honoree with the Lynn Wilner Award in recognition of the chapter’s late past president who inspired so many to join and become active in Hadassah.

Through its programs, training and work around the globe, Hadassah empowers women to learn and lead in their career, volunteer and serve in community leadership roles. With this emphasis in mind, the Collier/Lee Chapter of Hadassah created the Inspiring Women event to recognize the importance, value and impact empowered women make in our communities.

The honorees used their leadership skills, dedication, experience, generosity and time to make a difference in their organizations and the quality of our lives. Ultimately, their efforts impact so many people in our communities and Hadassah is proud to honor these Inspiring Women.

“It’s exciting to recognize Dr. Faffer, Mia Hyatt and Gail Markham not only for their individual accomplishments but also for their impact,” said chapter President Joyce Toub. “Geared to the community as well as Hadassah members, attendees and supporters of these Inspiring Women will have an opportunity to celebrate their talents and gifts, and their passion for what they do.”

Dr. Jaclynn Faffer

Dr. Jaclynn Faffer

A visionary leader in the field of human services for over 35 years, Dr. Jaclynn Faffer is the president/CEO of Naples Senior Center at JFCS, a nonsectarian human services agency. She received her Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from Tulane University and her doctoral degree in social welfare from Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University. Past positions include directorof human services at UJA- Federation of New York, where she was responsible for planning and allocations for 11 New York human service agencies, director of adult and geriatric psychiatry and social work at Brunswick Psychiatric Hospital on Long Island and CEO/executive director of Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service of South Palm Beach County.

Dr. Faffer has served as a consultant to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society on issues related to the psychological impact of chronic illness. She has been an adjunct faculty member at Adelphi University, Hunter College, Wurzweiler and Barry University Graduate Schools of Social Work. Dr. Faffer has published numerous articles in juried professional journals on social work practice and administration and human resource development.

She is past chair of the Collier County Leadership Coalition on Aging and is a graduate of Greater Naples Leadership Class XVIII, where she serves on the Board. In July 2014, Dr. Faffer attended the Harvard Business School Executive Education program for CEOs, Strategic Perspectives in Non-Profit Management. In March 2016, Dr. Faffer was recognized by the Naples Daily News in its 2016 class of “25 over 50” for the impact she has had in the Collier County community. She was recently appointed as Chair of the Collier County Dementia Care and Cure Initiative by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs.

Mia Hyatt

Mia Hyatt

Mia Hyatt is a vice president and private banker in the Naples office of J.P. Morgan Private Bank. With a 15-year career in financial services, she provides experienced advisory guidance for the wealth management needs of her clients, including investment management, strategic planning and asset allocation. Most recently, she was a vice president at FineMark National Bank & Trust as a private wealth advisor/portfolio manager attending to the sophisticated needs of high-net-worth clients. Prior to FineMark, she spent seven years at Wasmer Schroeder, focused on fixed income.

Hyatt has a B.S. in International Economics from the University of Florida. She has her Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) professional. Hyatt is the vice president of the CFA Society Naples and is a co-founder of SWFL Women in Investment Management. She is on the advisory board of the Salvation Army-Naples. Mia was previously a volunteer for Guardian ad Litem of Collier County, serving as an advocate for abused, neglected and abandoned children. Hyatt is a member of the Leadership Collier Class of 2021 and of GAIN (Growing Associates in Naples), class of 2012. She was also a Gulfshore Business 40 under 40 award recipient in 2021.

Gail Markham

Gail Markham

The founding partner of Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Company, P.A. Certified Public Accountants and Consultants, Gail Markham graduated cum laude from the University of Maryland College of Business and Management.

Markham has extensive experience in litigation support services, family mediation and forensic accounting. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), accredited in Business Valuation (ABV), certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) and is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator.

Markham is being recognized for her commitment to her community through business leadership and philanthropy. A noted and recognized business leader, she is chair of the advisory board of the Lee

Country Industrial Development Authority and a member of the Charter Class and Charter Steering Committee of the Chamber of Southwest Florida, Leadership Lee County.

Committed to her community, Markham is also a trustee and vice chair of the SWFL Community Foundation (Collaboratory). She is a member of the Board of Directors of the FGCU Foundation, Finance Committee and a member of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee. She founded the Lee County PACE Center for Girls which she chaired for seven years. The PACE Center for Girls envisions a world where all girls and young women have power in a just and equitable society.

Some of the highlight honors bestowed upon Markham include the 2022 ERC Thomas Burrage Award from the Expert Resource Connection honoring professionals who display expertise in business valuation and forensic accounting and offer mentorship to future leaders and philanthropy to their community; the 2018 Gulfshore Business Lifetime Achievement Award; and in consecutive years, the 2011 Gulfshore Life magazine Woman of the Year Award and 2010 Gulfshore Life magazine Philanthropist of the Year Award. Accounting Today honored her firm as the Best Accounting Firm to Work For 2020-2022.

You are invited to mark your calendar for the Feb. 26, 2023 event, a brunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Audubon Country Club. For information and to receive an invitation, please email collierleehadassah@gmail.com

IF YOU GO

2023 Inspiring Women Presented by Collier/Lee Hadassah

When: Sunday, Feb. 26, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

Where: Audubon Country Club 625 Audubon Blvd., Naples

Email collierleehadassah@gmail.com for information and to receive an invitation.