Leadership Florida Presents Ethel Isaacs Williams with the 2024 Distinguished Member Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Jennie Kroeger

jkroeger@leadershipflorida.org

(850) 556-2123

June 24, 2024

LEADERSHIP FLORIDA PRESENTS ETHEL ISAACS WILLIAMS WITH THE 2024 DISTINGUISHED MEMBER AWARD

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Leadership Florida presented its 2024 Distinguished Member Award to Ethel Isaacs Williams, attorney and president of The Links, Incorporated, at its Annual Meeting in Charlotte Harbor earlier this month.

Each year, Leadership Florida recognizes one member whose continued leadership activities outside of their professional responsibilities have exemplified the highest standards of the organization and whose activities achieved results or set an example of statewide influence.

“We are thrilled to have Ethel Isaacs Williams as this year’s Distinguished Member Award winner,” said Wendy Spencer, president and CEO of Leadership Florida. “As a lifetime member and graduate of Leadership Florida’s Cornerstone Class 37, Ethel is an integral part of the Leadership Florida family and serves as an example of what you can do with a clear vision and a heart for people.”

Ethel currently serves as the elected president of The Links, Incorporated, an international not-for-profit corporation and one of the nation's oldest and largest volunteer service organizations. It has more than 17,000 members in more than 300 local chapters, 20 of which are in Florida. The members of the Links provide more than one million hours of documented community service annually. In the over 79-year history of the organization, Isaacs Williams is the only the third Floridian to serve as an international president.

“Ethel is the ideal recipient of the Distinguished Leadership Award because her 30-year history of visionary leadership is positively changing communities on a local, state and international level,” said Joseph Gibbons, president of Gibbons Consulting Group, who nominated her for the award. “She puts into action the principles that are the cornerstone of Leadership Florida. She has continued to live out her vision of servant leadership and uses her platforms to give back to underserved communities.”

Under Isaacs Williams’ leadership, The Links have expanded national initiatives to include STEMReady, a national mentoring program for students, as well as expanded financial literacy programming. She also created a National Impact Day of Service in which every local chapter focuses on a holistic approach to family wellness. Prior to being elected president, she initiated 10 chapters into the organization, expanding its global and local reach.

Her other community service involvement includes serving as chair of the Quantum Foundation, chair of the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce, founding member of the West Palm Beach chapter of 100 Black Women and founding board member of Foundcare, Inc.

About Leadership Florida

For the past 42 years, Leadership Florida has engaged more than 3,500 leaders through a competitive application process who represent all sectors of Florida’s economy and reflect the diverse demographics of the state. Through experiential classes, these leaders renew their leadership skills and build their networks with the goal of addressing key issues facing the state of Florida. For more information, visit www.leadershipflorida.org. Leadership Florida is a federally registered trademark.

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