The Lady Lake Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its third annual Power of Women Brunch on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at Water Oak Country Club Estates in Lady Lake. The event brought together female professionals, entrepreneurs and community members for a morning of inspiration, networking and connection.

The yearly event is part of the chamber’s ongoing effort to recognize the achievements of women in business and strengthen connections within the community.

This year’s theme, “The Inner Mirror,” encouraged attendees to consider how they speak to and see themselves, focusing on self-awareness, confidence and the importance of lifting themselves up.

Chamber Executive Director Leslie DiCesare says the brunch was important to her because she wanted to dig deeper into real life challenges faced by women daily.

“This is our third year, and as a way to offer women something more than just work-life balance as a topic, we wanted to address issues that real women face every day,” she says. “I always want to think outside the box and offer something that’s of value to everyone. The diverse backgrounds we all bring with us allow us to do that.”

Local businesses and organizations were well represented today and the mimosas were flowing.

The panel included author and motivational speaker Latisha Anderson, retired pilot and business owner Dr. Tweet Coleman, senior life coach Nancy Stampahar and Lake Hypnosis owner Heather McFall. Together, they shared personal stories and practical advice on confidence, leadership and the power of staying connected.

“Coming together today empowers us and gives us tools we can take with us,” Latisha says. “When you look in the mirror, how you see yourself really determines how others see you, and by coming together we can inspire each other to see that good in each other.”

Dr. Coleman spoke about her decades-long commitment to helping women break barriers in aviation and beyond. 

“I started a scholarship fund for women in Hawaii back in 1990,” she says. “At the time, only about two percent of pilots were women. The fund was created to help more women learn how to fly, and supporting women in all professions has been a passion of mine ever since.”

She lives here now and is the owner of Leahi Foods in The Villages.

Nancy focused on women’s confidence and community. 

“It’s really important that we empower one another,” she says. “We’ve come a long way but there’s a lot more for us to do. The camaraderie we build together, the understanding and compassion we have for one another, is wonderful, and we have to keep going.”

Heather reminds us that human connection still matters most.  

“Social media and technology have made people less connected, which can lead to isolation,” she says. “Events like this remind us how important it is to be around each other, to talk face to face, to feel that energy and remember we’re not in it alone.”

Photos by Gina Horan