The Power of Volunteering

A Fort Lauderdale native and Stranahan High graduate, Lisa received a BS in communications from FSU. She then became Director of PR for the Center for Theoretical Physics at UM. Several years later she accepted a position with the Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce which led her to her role as President and CEO of Winterfest 26 years ago.

Lisa's love for Winterfest developed when she watched every parade from early childhood. She is committed to creating a quality, high profile event for the community that brings family and friends together. Winterfest, celebrating 50 years, has grown into an internationally recognized event and The Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade has earned the title "The World's Most Watched Boat Parade." With over a million cheering spectators, the Parade has become not only the largest one-day live audience of any event in Florida, but also the seventh largest one-day spectator event in the country! Lisa is very proud that this Fort Lauderdale holiday tradition not only contributes to the aesthetic, cultural, and tourist development of the area, but it makes an economic impact of over $50 million per year on her hometown!

Lisa enjoys her community and charity involvement. Lisa has enjoyed serving on a variety of boards, including, but not limited to, the Fort Lauderdale Marine Advisory, Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, Symphony of the Americas, Fifth Third Bank, PINION (for Special Olympics), Marine Industry Cares Foundation, International Swimming Hall of Fame and Beaux Arts. She is a member of Rotary Club of Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale Women's Club, Junior Achievement Circle of Wise Women, Leadership Broward Foundation, Leadership Florida Foundation, Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale, Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, Beaux Arts Associates, Broward Women's Alliance, both International and Florida Festival and Events Associations, as well as a variety of Event and Marine related associations.

Lisa's notable distinctions include the Fort Lauderdale Chamber Circle of Excellence Award, March of Dimes Woman of Distinction, Symphony of the Americas Woman of Style and Substance, Cystic Fibrosis Fort Lauderdale's Finest, amongst others from In Focus Magazine and the Hispanic Chamber. Lisa was involved on both the Fort Lauderdale and Broward County Centennial Boards. She was named the 2011 Broward College Distinguished Alumnae and City of Fort Lauderdale's 2011 Centennial Citizen of the Year, 2014 Historical Society Founders Award and named the Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale Tribute Honoree in 2014. In 2017, Lisa was honored by the South Florida Business Journal as one of "The 25 Most Influential Business Women in South Florida" and the Broward Education Foundation with the Hall of Fame Award. In 2018, she accepted the Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce Marine Business of the Year Award on behalf of Winterfest. In 2021 she received a gubernatorial appointment by Governor DeSantis for the Florida Film & Entertainment Advisory Commission.

Lisa and David have been married for 21 years, live life to its fullest, and love being surrounded by their family, friends and their two puppies.