Proudly continuing its milestone 20th anniversary celebration, The Boca Raton Observer remains steadfast in our commitment to the community, as we have since the magazine’s inception. In this April Women’s Issue, we shine a light on five influential and inspiring women who are dedicated to improving the quality of life in South Florida. Through their organizations they have witnessed and contributed to the growth, evolution and enrichment of our community, driven by their vision and inspirational leadership. All five live the adage, “Be the change you wish to see in the world” through their actions, exemplifying emotional intelligence, the ability to listen and connect with others, a love for what they do and a deep commitment to our community.
“Female leaders show up in a noticeably different way than male leaders in terms of building caring connections, mentoring and developing others and exhibiting concern for the community. In today’s business environment, this acts as a superpower,” says Cindy Adams of Leadership Circle, a consulting group for business executives, on Forbes.com.
Superpower, indeed. We raise a toast to each of these exceptional community builders: Christine E. Lynn, South Florida philanthropist and Trustee of the E.M. Lynn Foundation; Kelly Smallridge, CEO of the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County; Marla Weiss Egers, Executive Vice President of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County; Meghan Shea, President of the Junior League of Boca Raton and Dr. Stacy Volnick, Interim President at Florida Atlantic University (FAU).
Their hard work, initiative and commitment to giving back strengthen the fabric of this community and beyond and are cause for celebration today and every day.
A Lasting Legacy
Growing up in Denmark, Christine E. Lynn never dreamed she could make the profound impact she has on healthcare in Boca Raton and the South Florida community. Anyone who has had a mammogram at the state-of-the-art Christine E. Lynn Women’s Health and Wellness Institute or has been treated at Boca Raton Regional Hospital is indebted to Lynn and her late husband, Eugene. The Lynn name is prominent across numerous local institutions, including Lynn University, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing at FAU and through many initiatives at the hospital and other organizations. The Christine E. Lynn Rehabilitation Center for The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at UHealth/Jackson Memorial in Miami is a cutting-edge facility for treating patients recovering from traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, cancer treatment and other complex conditions.
A businesswoman and Trustee of the E.M. Lynn Foundation, Lynn currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Lynn University and Boca Raton Regional Hospital and is a board member of Stetson University and LIFE (Leaders in Furthering Education).
Lynn, an RN and former surgical nurse, met her future husband, an American insurance magnate, while working on a Norwegian cruise ship.
“I would have never imagined this lifestyle at all,” says Lynn. “I was happy in my profession, I had good friends, traveled. I had no debt. I did everything. I never thought the lifestyle that I’m living today would be obtainable. I’m just very lucky and feel very fortunate to be able to do what I do,” she says.
What Lynn didn’t know about her husband when they met was the extent of his charitable endeavors. That changed her life and her outlook. “When I married my husband, I never knew about his philanthropy. I’m really continuing the charities he carried out. I have fulfilled his dream and am doing even more.” Lynn adds, “Coming from Europe, we’re not very philanthropic, not like generous Americans. It’s because of them that we have facilities and quality care.”
When Lynn arrived in Boca Raton in 1980, it was a very small town. She says, “There wasn’t even a Town Center. As time has progressed, it certainly has grown. It will continue to change as we go forward because people want a better lifestyle, quality healthcare and more activities. That’s been happening in our community over the last 40 years.”
For all her formidable stature in the community, Lynn says, “I’m very down to earth.” A typical day for the busy philanthropist starts with getting up early and going to work at the Foundation office for three hours. A workout or swim at home follows, and in the evening, when she doesn’t have a professional obligation, she has dinner with close friends nearby.
When she needs quiet time, she heads to Miami. “Nobody knows me there except the waiters,” Lynn quips. But wherever she goes, she is humbled by the reminder of how much her generosity has impacted the community. She remembers instances of, after dining out with friends, asking for the check and hearing the waiter reply, “There is no check.”
“I look around and there’s no one in the restaurant that I know. It touches my heart because I know I’ve touched lives in one way or the other,” she says.
Lynn concludes, “My greatest satisfaction is knowing that I’m helping others in the community to be able to get the best care possible.”
Nurturing Business & Social Networks
Business is booming in the region, in no small part thanks to Kelly Smallridge. President and CEO of the not-for-profit Business Development Board of Palm Beach County (BDB), Smallridge has been at the forefront of economic development in the county for the last 36 years, bringing in new business and creating jobs. Corporate headquarters, aviation, finance, sci-tech and healthcare are just some of the sectors that have found Palm Beach County to be “the perfect business climate,” as BDB’s tagline says.
Smallridge competes to win businesses for Palm Beach County, pitching companies interested in relocation or looking to expand here. She also sits on the board of SelectFlorida, an entity founded in 2023 to lead the state’s international commerce functions.
Companies moving to Palm Beach County during the pandemic, which was a transformational moment for economic development, says Smallridge, spurred an unprecedented migration of wealth to the region. Florida’s open-for-business mindset, favorable taxes, ability to work from anywhere and year-round outdoor lifestyle are game changers.
Smallridge, who grew up in Palm Beach County and lives in Wellington, began honing her communication skills at the University of Florida, where she earned a degree in public relations and business administration. It speaks to her savvy that she was offered a job at BDB before graduation.
“I think the knowledge that I have of Palm Beach County having been raised here gives me a lot of confidence. That also makes me a great communicator, the way that I present a very confident message, that I know assets of this county.”
Having the confidence to “sit at the table,” as she did from the beginning, is advice she would give to young women starting in their careers.
The CEO envisions Palm Beach County as “a midsize metropolis.” She adds, “I want good quality, sustainable economic development and to grow Palm Beach County into a mecca for good ideas and good technology where smart people want to live and raise a family.”
Maintaining the balance between economic growth and quality of life is key, she says. Smallridge advocates for cities approving business growth in certain areas to be mindful that parks, culture, recreation, beaches and green spaces are what make the county so attractive.
When Smallridge graduated from college, she says, there were minimal job opportunities in the county. To secure a well-educated workforce that attracts companies and to dispel any negative perceptions about Florida’s education system, the BDB’s nonprofit arm, Business Development Board Foundation, has several components that focus on addressing and enhancing both public and private education in Palm Beach County.
“The nonprofit has a very large focus in making sure that our children that go to school here understand they don’t need to go to New York, Chicago or Boston to get a job,” says Smallridge.
Turning Hope Into Action
Moving to Florida from New York with her family shortly after 9/11, Marla Weiss Egers made a life change 23 years ago. Since then, she has been a force for positive change in her role as executive vice president at Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County. She is part of the organization’s leadership team making an impact on the diverse Jewish community here and worldwide.
Comprising various Jewish and social service organizations, synagogues and schools, the Federation provides services and programs to support and nurture Jewish life and aims to keep Israel a strong part of Jewish identity. “That has always been, and continues to be, one of our primary responsibilities,” Egers says.
After the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, “We were already working the next day to launch an emergency campaign,” Egers says. She describes the organization as “very nimble” when it comes to responding to a crisis. Working with the Jewish Federations of North America and local groups, the millions in funds raised were distributed to benefit 60 to 70 organizations in Israel.
Egers, who has spent most of her professional life in the Jewish community, speaks warmly of her fellow female leaders and volunteers. “The women in our community are powerhouses,” says Egers. “Our women’s philanthropy raises more than half of the dollars of our annual campaign. We work together to do the best for our community.”
During her tenure, Egers has seen a shift in demographic to a younger population and more full-time residents. “When I first came down, we talked about this community as a snowbird community. That has really changed. For the most part, we are running at full speed 12 months out of the year. That makes us so happy.”
She notes that more young Jewish families and post-college-age adults are attracted to the area because of a thriving Jewish connection. “We are a great community for young Jewish families and young Jewish professionals to make a life,” Egers says.
The engagement extends to all phases of life. The PJ Library, instituted 10 years ago, offers programs and free Jewish children’s books to connect young families who may not know anyone in the community. The Toby & Leon Cooperman Sinai Residences, a continuing care retirement community on the Federation’s 100-acre campus in West Boca, opened in 2016. “It allows seniors to age in place in a wonderful Jewish and very safe environment,” says Egers.
The Federation, which serves Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Highland Beach, also works to bring synagogues of different branches of Judaism together. In 2018 it won the Jerusalem Unity Prize, the only federation community outside of Israel to be honored for promoting Jewish unity.
Despite the recent rise in antisemitism in the world, Egers remains optimistic, drawing strength from the Israeli national anthem “Hatikvah” which translates to “the hope.”
“That’s who we are,” says Egers. “It feels like the road is long. We see there are a lot of problems both nationally and in Israel. That’s when you dive in. You use your friendships and partnerships to work together.”
Empowering Female Leaders
Recently, JLBR updated its mission to focus on women’s leadership development and community impact through its nonprofit partners and volunteers. The updated mission “is a testament to the refocus of what the Junior League has become,” says Shea. “It’s always been a training organization. Our previous mission didn’t speak to how much training was really happening. We’re training women to become leaders.”
Within the league, women have opportunities to chair committees, run major fundraisers, plan events, work with other community leaders and develop interpersonal and computer skills.
JLBR networks with partners to address and solve pressing needs in the community, with a focus on child welfare and nonprofit support. “We find a need in the community that nobody else is fulfilling,” says Shea. “We work well when we partner with people to move it forward.” Among its significant achievements since the chapter’s founding in 1971 are establishing the Boca Raton Historical Society, Boca Raton Children’s Museum, the Community Garden and the Diaper Bank of South Florida.
JLBR’s annual Woman of the Year Volunteer Luncheon, which celebrates outstanding women in the community nominated by nonprofit organizations, is a calendar highlight that celebrates the invaluable contributions of volunteers in the community.
Shea, who has lived in Boca Raton for 16 years, moved here from New Jersey to start a debt settlement business with her brother. She is currently a Process Improvement Specialist at the Craneware Group, a company headquartered in Scotland. Her job entails making sure a project reaches a successful conclusion with everyone working to maximum efficiency. The communication skills required have also come in handy for leading the organization.
Raised in a family alongside two brothers, Shea set out to prove there was nothing a girl couldn’t do. She is proactive when it comes to self-improvement. If there’s a particular ability she needs to develop, she’ll take a course at a community college to enhance her expertise.
Women often doubt their potential and what holds them back is fear of failure, Shea says. “They don’t step up to the plate enough. It’s the mindset that they don’t apply for the job unless they have every single skill that’s listed.”
She believes women should give themselves grace, though. “You can’t be everything to everybody,” she says. Shea calls on others when she needs a hand. “I pick up the phone. If there’s an idea that’s better than mine, I’ll take it. We succeed together. I was able to help, and I took the help I needed.”
She encourages women to extend their circle of advisors. “They come back at you with some really great ideas,” she says.
Transforming Lives Through Education
“That’s something we even celebrate at our commencement ceremonies,” she says. When [students] know that I’m first generation, they know they can literally do whatever they want, especially for young women.”
Volnick, a three-time FAU alum, was appointed as interim president in October 2022 and has served the institution since 1991 in various administrative roles, including as Vice President for Administrative Affairs and Chief Operating Officer. Her tenure as interim president will extend until late 2024 or a new president is installed.
“We have doubled our four-year graduation rates,” says Volnick. “What’s significant about that is that there’s no difference in how our students succeed based on their background, race or socioeconomic status. We are really changing the lives of our students. Forty percent of our students are considered low-income students. Thirty percent are first-generation. That’s a significant population and imagine that we are transforming not just their lives, but of their families or their future families. This is something that we’re really proud of.”
Volnick, whose doctoral dissertation addressed the challenges facing women college presidents, is a staunch believer in the unique challenges and perspectives of women in leadership roles.
“We really want to focus on women mentoring women — young women — really showing them that they can do whatever they want. There are going to be barriers, but those shouldn’t stop them. There’s a price for breaking through the glass ceiling, and you just need to know that’s going to exist and that you can still do what you want to do. Mentoring is critical and making sure organizations have opportunities for women to have a pathway to leadership.”
With approximately 30,000 undergraduates at FAU, one of the biggest challenges Volnick faced was the pandemic. “I’m really proud of the fact that we came together as a university, as a community, to make sure that our students could live here safely, still have some type of a collegiate experience and continue their academic pursuits.”
Looking ahead, Volnick is committed to further enhancing the university’s quality of education, student services and overall experience and aims to elevate the prestige of the university.
FAU has been an integral part of the community and its growth has paralleled the development of Boca Raton. Volnick speaks to the strength of the symbiotic relationship between the university and the community.
“Our entire mission is to serve the community,” says Volnick. “When we look at what the workforce needs are right now, healthcare is huge. There’s a shortage of physicians and nurses. To that end, we’re expanding our enrollment in our College of Medicine and our College of Nursing Research. We are doing research that’s seen internationally and is solving problems of the world. It’s research, education and workforce needs. Whatever we’re doing within our walls, it’s impacting not just the city and the state, but the world.”
Photos By Stephen Luttinger