This one's for the ladies...

Posted on March 31, 2021

Dear friend,

Back in the day, women were often described as emotional, bossy, or fragile.

Oh, how times have changed!

Confident. Courageous. Passionate. Purposeful. Bold. Ambitious. Intelligent. Insightful.

These are just some of the words that describe the women Firefly is fortunate to work with. These women are our clients and colleagues, and many have become our friends.

As a female-founded, woman-owned business with a historically all-female staff, we thought it fitting to close out Women's History Month with a shout-out to these women.

Some are the faces of their organizations. Others work diligently behind the scenes. All of them are making things happen in their professions and industries.

They are part of Firefly’s history and success and we celebrate them!

With much admiration,

Stacy Weller Ranieri, founder, president & Chief Illuminator

Melissa Zolla, Creative Director & Jartender

Tiffany Smith, Account Executive & Sparkstarter

Alyssa Scheible, Account Executive & Sparkstarter

Wonderful Working Women

Beth Beltran leads Martin County’s Metropolitan Planning Organization which is responsible for facilitating more than $30 million a year in funding to improve all facets of the transportation network in Martin County. She is supported by planner Joy Puerta and admin specialist Florence Allen.

Beth Beltran, MPO Administrator

Joy Puerta, Planner

Florence Allen, Administrative Specialist III

Jill Quigley, AICP, is a Senior Associate at Tindale Oliver, which provides transportation, community planning and design, transit and public finance solutions to public sector clients throughout the country.

ï»¿Jill is the Project Manager for the Martin MPO Public Participation Plan update.

Jill Quigley, AICP, Senior Associate

Christina Fermin, AICP, LEED Green Associate and Strategic Planner along with Planning Manager Lisa Mack lead the Marlin Engineering team for the City of Port St Lucie’s Village Green Drive Corridor Revitalization project. MARLIN is a full service multi-disciplinary planning and engineering firm.

Christina Fermin, AICP, LEED

Lisa Mack, Planning Manager

Jennifer Davis is the City of Port St. Lucie’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Project Manager. She joined the City in 2019 after working in both local and state government leadership roles for over two decades.

Jennifer primarily focuses on projects within the City’s Eastern CRA Areas and joins a highly skilled project management team tasked with creating the ultimate destinations for Port St. Lucie with The Port District, City Center and Southern Grove.

Jennifer Davis, CRA Project Manager

When you hear the words Country Club, most people think of golf, tennis, fine dining and luxury living. All of those things are made possible because of staff working behind the scenes.

Pegi Austin is one of those invaluable people who helps make Piper’s Landing the award-winning County Club it is today.

Pegi Austin, Marketing and Membership Manager

When you think of the marine industry, you probably think of men. In fact, for centuries, women were considered bad luck to even have on a ship. Well, those days are long gone and the well-oiled crew at Shearwater Marine employs three women who are essential to keep operations sailing smoothly at the company. Mary, Crystal, and Nicole are dynamic, multitaskers who are thriving in a male-dominated industry. Shearwater Marine & Industrial in Stuart, FL offers engine and generator sales and service, retail parts sales, and mobile services. Shearwater also has a full-service boatyard at Safe Harbor in Ft. Pierce, Florida.

Mary Jackson, Office Administrator

Crystal Krick, Service Administrator

Nicole Spatafora-King, Service Administrator

We know Pete Tesch would agree that the wheels of the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County wouldn’t turn without his hardworking all-female staff. The EDC has been successfully attracting new businesses, supporting expansion and retention of existing businesses, and advancing community and economic development throughout St Lucie.

Another decades old and valued client is Miami Corporation, a privately owned family investment company incorporated in 1917 by descendants of the family that started Deering Harvester and International Harvester, world-renowned farm implement companies that revolutionized agriculture in the late 1800s and early 1900s. They have been outstanding land stewards of the Farmton Tract in southern Volusia and northern Brevard counties. The 67,000 acres have been owned and managed for more than 100 years with a focus on sustainable agriculture, water resource management, responsible development and long-term conservation.

Helen Hutchens is the Manager of Farmton with support from her administrative assistant Nicole Jasmont.

Helen Hutchens, Farmton Manager

Nicole Jasmont, Executive Assistant