PFAWL Board of Directors 2025-2026
Alina Husain
President
Alina Hussain is the 2025-2026 President of the Pinellas County Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers.
Alina relocated to St. Petersburg, Florida in 2018 and feels fortunate to have been introduced to the wonderful community of female attorneys at PFAWL to help develop her personal and professional network. She studied Political Science and Anthropology at the University of Toronto in Canada and completed her legal degree at American University Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C.
She began her career in human rights law, working with immigrant survivors of violence. She now practices immigration and employment law for an international law firm in Tampa. Prior to attending law school, she worked with non-profit organizations, the media, and educational institutions in North America and internationally.
Outside of work, Alina tries to maximize her time with her husband and two children. She loves traveling, reading, running, and experimenting in the kitchen.
Jennifer Codding
President Elect & Parliamentarian
Jennifer Codding is the 2025-2026 President-Elect and Parliamentarian for the Pinellas County Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers.
Jennifer Codding is a senior attorney with Alexander S. Buchanan, PLLC with offices in St. Petersburg, Florida and Nashua, New Hampshire.
Her practice focuses on Florida and New Hampshire real estate transactions and Florida declaratory actions pertaining to unidentifiable mobile homes.
Adriana Dinis
Secretary
Adriana Dinis is the 2025-2026 Secretary of the Pinellas County Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers.
Adriana Dinis is an attorney with the Immigration Law Group of Florida, P.A. which she opened in St. Petersburg with her business partner, Kathlyn Mackovjak, in 2014. Adriana previously represented undocumented children through the GLS CHILD (Children’s Immigration Legal Defense) Project of Gulfcoast Legal Services. While at Gulfcoast, Adriana ran AILA Citizenship Day and the legal advice clinic at the Intercultural Advocacy Institute from 2008-2014.
Through her career, Adriana has provided training to law enforcement, community-based organizations and attorneys on the immigration benefits available to children as well as Know Your Rights presentations to the immigrant community. She and her business partner Kathlyn have continued to provide a free monthly legal advice clinic at the Intercultural Advocacy Institute from 2014 to present.
Prior to working at Gulfcoast Legal Services, Adriana was an intern at the Attorney General’s Office, Children Legal Services Division, in Tampa, Florida, a Diversity Fellow with Carlton Fields, PA and a Guardian Ad Litem. She earned her bachelor’s degree, with honors, from the University of Florida in 2005 and her law degree, with honors, from Stetson University College of Law in 2008.
In her free time Adriana enjoys spending time with her friends, family and her two dogs, Miles and Phoebe, as well as fostering dogs for local rescues.
Elise Winters
Treasurer
Elise Winters is the 2025-2026 Treasurer of the Pinellas County Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawers.
Based in Clearwater, Elise K. Winters, P.A. assists clients in a range of commercial matters, including real estate, landlord-tenant arrangements, construction, corporate law, and business transactions. Ms. Winters has thirty years of legal experience and a diverse background and range of commercial expertise. Since 1980, she has personally managed all of her clients, representing a wide range of developers, commercial landlords, and businesses. With extensive litigation experience earlier in her career, Ms. Winters’ transactional clients regularly request her services as in-house counsel, so that she can oversee her clients’ trial attorneys when litigation arises.
Ms. Winters is a longtime officer and director of the Clearwater Bar Association, and served as President of that organization from 1991 to 1992. She is also a Past Chair of the City of Clearwater Downtown Development Board. Ms. Winters has received an award from the Florida Supreme Court in recognition of her pro bono work and devotion to public service. Ms. Winters received her B.S. and J.D. from the University of Florida, graduating with honors for both degrees. She was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1980.
Samantha Van Scoik
Membership Director
Samantha Van Scoik is the 2025-2026 Membership Director of the Pinellas County Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers.
Samantha Van Scoik graduated from Georgia State University in 2004 and is currently a Division Director for the Public Defender’s Office in the Sixth Judicial Circuit. Samantha also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Stetson University College of Law where she teaches Trial Advocacy and coaches Trial Team competition teams.
Mercedes Buntz
State FAWL Representative
Mercedes Buntz is the State FAWL Representative of the Pinellas County Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers.
Mercedes helps residents of Tampa Bay and of surrounding counties plan in order to save their loved ones money, time, and aggravation in the future. As the founder of Mercedes Buntz Law, PLLC, Mercedes focuses on Wills and Trusts, Probate, and Trust Administration to help clients plan for and navigate life’s major events. She is a Spanish speaker and practically a Florida native, having moved to Pinellas County, Florida at a young age from Puerto Rico. Mercedes graduated from The Florida State University College of Law and The University of Central Florida.
Mercedes uses her 24 years of legal experience to help clients make informed decisions about estate planning and probate. By informing clients about positive choices available and recommending options that suit the clients’ unique personal and financial needs, Mercedes helps clients keep control over what happens to themselves and their assets. Whether clients have a large or modest estate, they deserve the peace of mind from knowing their wishes will be honored and from providing loved ones a legacy in the most effective and efficient way.
In addition to being a member of PFAWL, Mercedes is a member of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law and of the Elder Law sections of the Florida Bar, the Clearwater Bar Association, the Tampa Hispanic Bar Association, the Guardian Association of Pinellas County, and BNI Business Connections chapter.
Amy Dilday
Programming Director
Amy Dilday is the 2025-2026 Programming Director for the Pinellas County Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers.
Amy has been practicing law in the Tampa Bay area since 2005. She is Board Certified by the Florida Bar as an expert in appellate practice, and regularly handles appeals in both Florida state and federal courts. Certification is the highest level of evaluation by The Florida Bar of the competency and experience of attorneys in the areas of law approved for certification.
Prior to beginning her practice, Amy graduated cum laude from Stetson University College of Law. While in law school, she served as an associate for the Stetson Law Review. She was also a member of Stetson’s Moot Court Board, competing in both workers’ compensation and bankruptcy moot competitions. Amy also was invited to and completed Stetson’s Honors Program.
Upon graduation from law school, Amy was a staff attorney for the Honorable Douglas A. Wallace at Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal. She then practiced in the appellate departments of two insurance defense law firms before joining Englander Fisher’s appellate practice group.
In her professional career, Amy has also been a steadfast advocate for pro bono appeals on behalf of the Florida Guardian Ad Litem Office, firmly believing in the law’s ability to drive positive community change. Her unwavering commitment to providing legal assistance to those in need has garnered significant recognition, as she was among those honored at the 2024 Florida Bar Convention for her outstanding contributions to pro bono appellate work.
In her free time, Amy enjoys cooking, music, and time with her family.
Catherine Henry
Sponsorship Director
Catherine Henry is the 2025-2026 Sponsorship Director of the Pinellas County Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers.
Catherine Henry began her legal career in 2016 representing indigent people accused of crimes in Pinellas County as an Assistant Public Defender. During her time as a P.D., she gained invaluable skills managing large caseloads and taking several cases to jury verdict. Most notably, during her time as a P.D. she partnered with the American Civil Liberties Union (“ACLU”) to secure affordable bonds and pretrial release for her clients held in custody on high monetary bonds.
In April of 2021, Catherine left the Public Defender’s Office and opened her solo law practice, Henry Defense, PLLC, where she handles criminal cases, as well as civil injunctions. While she specializes in domestic violence charges, she represents people accused of both misdemeanors and felonies throughout Pinellas, Manatee, Hillsborough, and Sarasota counties.
Catherine is current Sponsorship Director for the Pinellas Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers (“PFAWL”), after previously serving as the CLE Chair last year and Young Lawyer / Pro Bono Director 2021-2022. Further, Catherine was also a board member of the Sarasota Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers (“Sarasota FAWL”) in 2016.
Whitney Green
Immediate
Past President
Whitney Green is the 2025-2026 Immediate Past President of the Pinellas County Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers.
Whitney is a native and life-long Floridian. In 2009, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English at the University of Florida, cum laude. In 2012, she obtained her law degree from the Florida State University College of Law, with honors, and was admitted to The Florida Bar.
After law school, Whitney relocated to St. Petersburg. Wanting to focus her career on public service, she served for six years as a staff attorney in the Office of Court Counsel for the Sixth Judicial Circuit, followed by a three year tenure as an Assistant State Attorney in the Sixth Judicial Circuit where she specialized in postconviction litigation. Whitney currently practices local government law with the Hillsborough County Attorney’s Office in the regulatory and employment division.
In addition to PFAWL, Whitney has served on the board of the Junior League of St. Petersburg. She also volunteers with Lawyers for Literacy and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay. In her free time, Whitney enjoys yoga, trying out new restaurants, and traveling with her husband Henry and son Jude.
In addition to the Board of Directors, PFAWL also has a group of amazing women serving as committee chairs who report directly to one of the Directors listed above and the Board. PFAWL is always happy to find members who would like to serve on a committee. Members can choose to serve on the following committees:
Awards: Chair- Molly Buie
Bead-My-Valentine: Chair- Meredith Gaunce
CLE: Chair- Kimberly Kuhn
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Chair- Starlett Massey
Health/Wellness: Chair- Jessica Warwick
Judicial & Gov’t Practice Liaison: Chair- Samantha Sealy
Lobby Days: Chair- Joann Burnett
Membership Drive: Chair- Christina Pacheco
Past Presidents Council: Chair- Kristina Feher
Public Relations and Community Impact: Chair- Victoria Bell
Social Media & Creative: Chair- Omote Ekwotafia
Socials: Chair- Tatiana Zuniga
Table for 8: Chairs- Courtney Fernald & Daniela Carrion
Website: Chair- Emily VanOosting Bollman
YLD: Chair- Jordan Baer
Interested in Joining the PFAWL Board of Directors or Joining a Committee?
There are always opportunities to join PFAWL Leadership! If you’re interested and would like to become involved, please complete the form below. Would you like to become more involved but maybe not commit to a board position yet? You can join a committee, become a sponsor, or join us as a member! Feel free to let us know by filling out and submitting the form below!
Presidential History:
2025-2026: Alina Hussain
2024-2025: Whitney Green
2023-2024: Rebecca Deming
2022 - 2023: Daniela Carrion
2021– 2022: Meredith Gaunce
2020– 2021: Nicole Bell Cleland
2019 – 2020: Shavarne Bisnaught
2018- 2019: Kristina Feher
2017 – 2018: Carmen Johnson
2016 – 2017: Regina Kardash
2013 – 2015: Jennifer Codding
2012 – 2013: Kyleen A. Hinkle
2011 – 2012: Brittany Maxey-Fisher
2008 – 2011: Robyn Featherston
2005 – 2008: Donna Rose
2003 – 2005: Susan Hartman
2001 – 2003: Elise Winters
For the latest copy of our bylaws, please email pfawlsecretary@gmail.comand request a copy!