PFAWL Board of Directors 2025-2026
Jennifer Codding
President
Jennifer Codding is the 2026-2027 President of the Pinellas County Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers.
Samantha Van Scoik
President-Elect
Samantha Van Scoik is the 2026-2027 President-Elect for 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.
Molly Buie
Secretary
Molly Buie is the 2026-2027 Secretary of the Pinellas County Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers.
Molly Buie is an attorney with Gaunce Law and prior to joining the firm had nearly 20 years of experience practicing federal sector employment law with a boutique firm in Washington, D.C. During that time, she developed an expertise in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and related laws and regulations.
A Florida girl at heart, Molly grew up in Pensacola, Florida and moved back to the state in 2014 to be near her family. She now lives in St. Petersburg. Molly is an avid cook and baker who enjoys trying new restaurants and breweries around St. Pete as well as spending time with her family.
Elise Winters
Treasurer
Elise Winters is the 2026-2027 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.
Leah Ellington
Member Retention Director
Leah Ellington is the 2026-2027 Member Retention Director of the Pinellas County Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers.
Leah practices in real property law, community association law, contracts, covenant enforcement and general corporate governance. She is a Florida Bar Board Certified Expert in Condominium and Planned Development Law.
Leah earned her Juris Doctorate from Stetson University College of Law, where she was a student editor for the Journal of International Wildlife Law and Policy and was active in several campus organizations. Leah was the recipient of the Hearne Environmental Law Award, the William F. Blews Pro Bono Service Award, an Equal Justice Works Summer Stipend and the inaugural Public Interest Summer Fellowship from the Florida Bar Environmental and Land Use Law Section.
Leah was also a Biodiversity Fellow while in law school, completing projects concerning international law, treaties and conventions. Prior to that time, Leah worked for the Clean Water Network of Florida, a statewide environmental organization.
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 28 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, and BNI Business Connections chapter.
Erica Peterson
Programming Director
Erica Peterson is the 2026-2027 Programming Director for the Pinellas County Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers.
Erica is an attorney with Rausch Sturm, LLP and graduated from Stetson University College of Law in 1993. Erica was admitted to practice in Florida in 2008.
Jordan Block
Sponsorship Director
Jordan Block is the 2026-2027 Sponsorship Director of the Pinellas County Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers.
Jordan is an attorney with Maxey-Fisher, PLLC where she is an intellectual property associate with a focused practice in both prosecution and litigation. Jordan was admitted to practice in Florida in 2025 after graduating from Stetson University College of Law.
Originally from West Palm Beach, Jordan earned a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from Florida State University. Her background as a research assistant in a neuroscience lab provided her with a unique perspective on the intersection of biotechnology and public health.
Courtney Fernald
Awards Director
Courtney Fernald is the 2026-2027 Awards Director of the Pinellas County Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers.
Courtney Fernald is an experienced appellate and litigation attorney, having practiced in the Tampa Bay Area for almost twenty years. Courtney has been recognized by the Florida Bar as a Board-Certified Specialist in appellate practice since 2016, and has successfully handled appeals in Florida’s District Courts of Appeal as well as the federal Eleventh Circuit. Courtney also regularly advocates for clients in complex commercial and business litigation matters, and has helped to achieve favorable results in multiple trials in both state and federal court, including bench and jury trials, as well as arbitrations.
Emily Long
Pro Bono Director
Emily Long is the 2026-2027 Pro Bono Director of the Pinellas County Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers.
A Florida native and sixth-generation entrepreneur, Emily was admitted to practice in Florida in 2019 and founded her own firm, Long Legal, to offer a more modern and personalized approach to legal support for founders, small businesses, and nonprofits.
Emily’s practice includes business law, contract disputes, construction litigation, and nonprofit work.
Starlett Massey
Member Recruitment Director
Starlett Massey is the 2026-2027 Member Recruitment Director of the Pinellas County Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers.
Starlett Massey is the founding shareholder of Massey Law Group (MLG), where she practices commercial litigation, corporate transactions, and real estate law. Fairness, equity, and diversity are central to Starlett’s law practice and her community engagement.
Starlett has worked extensively with the Florida Association for Women Lawyers (FAWL) and PFAWL, their Pinellas County Chapter. From 2023-2026, she served as the DEI committee chair for PFAWL. She has represented PFAWL on its delegation in Tallahassee and enthusiastically spearheaded PFAWL’s participation in the St. Pete Pride Parade. In 2024, Starlett was recognized with the FAWL President’s Award for her work in forming the non-profit FAWL Support Organization Inc. (FSO), increasing FAWL’s impact and service projects to support women lawyers. In 2025, Starlett was named PFAWL’s Lawyer of the Year for her contributions, service, and for fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession and her community.
Alexis Selvy
Public Relations Director
Alexis Selvy is the 2026-2027 Public Relations Recruitment Director of the Pinellas County Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers.
Alexis was born and raised in Illinois. She attended Eastern Illinois University and graduated Summa Cum Laude with her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a dual minor in Business and Pre-Law. She attended law school in Florida at a satellite campus of Western Michigan University Thomas Cooley Law School and graduated with her Juris Doctor degree Magna Cum Laude in the top 5% of her class. While attending Law School, Alexis was the Managing Associate Editor of the Law Review, received Certificate of Merit Awards in 17 classes, received the distinguished student award, and received the scholars in service award. Alexis is admitted to the Florida Bar, the Middle District of Florida, the Northern District of Florida, and the District of Colorado.
Alina Husain
Immediate
Past President
Alina Husain is the 2026-2027 Immediate Past 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.
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:
Bead-My-Valentine Chair: Meredith Gaunce
CLE Chair: Kimberly Kuhn
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Chair: Jordan Baer
FAWL Awards Chair: Rebecca Deming
Judicial & Gov’t Practice Liaison Chair: Samantha Sealey
Lobby Days Chair: Joann Burnett
Membership Drive Chair: Omote Ekwotafia
Newsletter Chair: Adriana Dinis
Past Presidents Council Chair: Kristina Feher
Social Media & Creative Chair: Kayla Dougherty
Table for 8 Chair: Daniela Carrion
Website Chair: Emily VanOosting Bollman
YLD Chair: Abigail Cavanaugh
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:
2026-2027: Jennifer Codding
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!