TALLAHASSEE — Leadership Florida presented Senator Arthenia Joyner with the 2023 LeRoy Collins Lifetime Achievement Award at its Annual Meeting in Boca Raton this past weekend.
The award recognizes an individual who has gone above and beyond by using their leadership abilities over a lifetime to improve the quality of life for all Florida citizens and its future generations.
“We are thrilled to recognize Senator Arthenia Joyner and the incredible impact she has made throughout her life,” said Wendy Spencer, president and CEO of Leadership Florida. “She is a shining example of the standard of leadership set by Governor LeRoy Collins, and we are proud to have her as a part of the Leadership Florida family.”
Senator Joyner is widely recognized for her leadership as an example of the search for equality in women’s and human rights issues. Her award nomination stated, “She was never afraid of a good debate and often won over the opposition with her preparation, intelligence, logic, and a way about her that charmed all the opposition.”
Joyner is of counsel at Swope, Rodante P.A. in Tampa, practicing in the area of personal injury. She has practiced law for 53 years—longer than any other Black woman in the history of Florida. She served in the Florida Senate from 2006 – 2016, with the last two years as Senate Minority Leader—the first Black female to hold the title.
About Leadership Florida
For the past 41 years, Leadership Florida has engaged more than 3,500 leaders through a competitive application process who represent all sectors of Florida’s economy and reflect the diverse demographics of the state. Through experiential classes, these leaders renew their leadership skills and build their networks with the goal of addressing key issues facing the state of Florida. For more information, visit www.leadershipflorida.org. Leadership Florida is a federally registered trademark.