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Front two rows: Youth Advisory Council (YAC) with Vice Mayor Kate Abbott sitting in the center of the front row wearing a red top.
In celebration of Women’s History Month, female leaders in the Village of Pinecrest reflected on the vital role women play as public servants throughout South Florida. The Village stands out amongst other municipalities when it comes to the number of women in leadership positions, such as the Pinecrest Department Police, which has a force made up of 25 percent women – almost twice the national average.
In 2020, the Village became a majority female council – a first since its incorporation in 1996. With the hopes of inspiring more young women to become involved in local and state government, elected and appointed female officials at the Village shared their thoughts on how they are working to make female voices heard.
Vice Mayor Katie Abbott has been serving the Pinecrest community in various roles for more than a decade. She is particularly honored to support the young women who are part of the Youth Advisory Council, or YAC as they loved to be called. Vice Mayor Abbott has been working closely with these students, encouraging them to learn about serving in government and the power of volunteering.
“My hope is to have these young women become civic champions for South Florida and hopefully grow roots in this great community they helped to prosper,” said Vice Mayor Abbott,
who also helps lead the Youth Advisory Council.
The Village set the tone for female empowerment as far back as its first elected mayor, Evelyn L. Greer. That spirit continues, as championed by Councilwoman Anna Hochkammer, who has been an advocate for equal pay and human rights in Pinecrest, and whose goal is to make it a premier community for families.
“Women are often our community caregivers, and as a result often have a more comprehensive understanding of our needs at every stage of life,” said Councilmember Hochkammer.
Councilmember Shannon del Prado believes wholeheartedly that local government should be focused on solving problems, and for her and other female leaders, part of their legacy is to build a community where everyone prospers equally and fairly.
“More often than not, women are faced with competing demands: being a professional and being a mother,” said Councilmember del Prado. “Women have solid ideas on community building and raising families. This is not to the exclusion of men, but certainly we bring ideas to the table.”
Village Manager Yocelyn Galiano, ICMA-CM rounds out the group of female leadership in this municipality. She facilitates the council’s vision by leading a group 187 public servants spread out throughout multiple departments from police to parks and public works. She is versed in all aspects of public administration and is a passionate leader.
“It is my honor to serve the Pinecrest community and help further the Village Council’s mission and vision,” said Manager Galiano. “It gives me a great sense of pride to think how far women have come from a historical standpoint. I hope to inspire other women to shatter glass ceilings.”
