Boards and Committees

Commission on the Status of Women (COSW)

This Commission was created to study and make recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners on issues pertaining to the status of women, including; discrimination, employment, education, day care, and health care. These recommendations are presented as comprehensive reports to the Board and distributed to the public and interested parties.

Membership:

The membership of this board shall be appointed by the BOCC and shall be comprised of 15 members. Composition is as follows:
  • Hillsborough County Commissioners - one member each

The Board of Directors of the following organizations shall each provide a nomination to the BOCC:

  • The Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce
  • The Helen Gordon Davis Centre for Women
  • League of Women Voters of Hillsborough County
  • The Spring of Tampa Bay, Inc.
  • Hispanic Professional Women's Association, Inc.
  • National Council of Negro Women
  • University of South Florida
  • Hillsborough Community College
  • Hillsborough County Children's Board

Terms:

Members shall serve staggered terms as follows:
  • BOCC Representatives
    • Shall serve for the term of the appointing commissioner. When a Commissioner is no longer in office, that commissioner's appointee shall continue to serve until such time as the new Commissioner reappoints that member or a new appointment is made to that position.
  • Members of the following organizations shall serve four year terms
    • Tampa Chamber of Commerce
    • The Helen Gordon Davis Centre for Women
    • The League of Women Voters
  • Members of the following organizations shall serve two year terms
    • The Spring of Tampa Bay, Inc.
    • Hispanic Professional Women's Association, Inc.
    • Tampa Metro Section - National Council of Negro Women
    • University of South Florida
    • Hillsborough Community College

Authority:

Board of County Commissioner's Resolution R-03-74; as amended by R-04-174; as amended by R07-059; and as amended by Resolution No. R13-171.

Meetings:

At least ten times a year.
County Center
601 E. Kennedy Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33602

Contact:

Beth Cardenas, Director
Compliance Services Division
Government Relations & Strategic Services
601 E. Kennedy Blvd. 26th Floor
Tampa, FL 33602
Phone: (813) 274-6790

COSW Meeting Schedule  Women's Hall of Fame

Members:

Member Position Dates of Service
Ms. Debra Bellanti
Commissioner Mariella Smith
12/20/2018 -
11/30/2022
Ms. Judy Bensinger
 Commissioner Lesley "Les" Miller, Jr.

02/18/2019 -
12/31/2020
Ms. Dotti Groover-Skipper Commissioner Ken Hagan 05/18/2005 -
11/30/2022*
Ms. Elizabeth Gutierrez  Commissioner Kimberly Overman
01/22/2019 -
11/30/2022 
Ms. Nicole Hubbard Commissioner Sandra Murman 01/22/2018 -
12/31/2020*
Ms. Susan Leisner Commissioner Stacy R. White 05/21/2003 -
12/31/2022*
Ms. Lee Lowry Hillsborough Community College
 04/04/2018 -
04/30/2020
Ms. Jessica Muroff  The Girl Scouts of West Central Florida 03/06/2019 -
03/25/2023 
Ms.Marggie Nichols Hispanic Professional Women's Association, Inc. 07/01/2017 -
06/30/2023*
Ms. Kelley Parris  Hillsborough County Children's Board
02/06/2019 -
11/31/2023
Dr. Idelia Phillips The League of Women Voters 07/17/2019 -
07/30/2023*
Ms. Sartura Smith  The Helen Gordon Davis Centre for Women 03/06/2019 -
03/25/2023 
Ms. Tempress (Tee) Solomon National Council of Negro Women 07/15/2015 -
07/31/2023*
Ms. Rena Upshaw-Frazier Commissioner Pat Kemp 02/09/2017 -
11/30/2020
Ms. Stephanie Wilson The Girl Scouts of West Central Florida 06/27/2012 -
06/30/2018*
Ms. India Witte University of South Florida 12/04/2019 -
03/05/2023

Tampa Bay Chamber

* Reappointment