International Women’s Day Event Inspires Hundreds of Colleagues to #AccelerateAction

On March 5, 2025, we celebrated International Women’s Day with an inspiring virtual event, bringing together employees from across our company to share their journeys and insights on professional growth, mentorship and breaking barriers. This year’s event highlighted the powerful contributions of women and emphasized the theme of Accelerate Action.

The event featured engaging discussions from dynamic speakers, each offering unique perspectives on leadership, career development, mentorship and overcoming challenges.

Zeenat Mansuri, Sr. Administrator, Sales, Supply Chain and Procurement, based at the Thames Refinery, shared how training and development have played a crucial role in accelerating her career. Over the past 14 years, she has grown within the company, moving through three different roles. Each one built and expanded her skill set. 

"I believe training empowers employees to excel in their roles," Zeenat said. "Every achievement, no matter how small, deserves to be celebrated."

Her journey is a testament to the power of training and mentorship, reminding us all of the importance of investing in our growth and uplifting the next generation of women in the workforce.

Maria Merkle, Sr. Director of IT, based at our headquarters in West Palm Beach, Florida, shared her experiences in leadership development, discussing the impact of mentorship and training programs, including the Coming into Your Own program, which helped her refine her leadership skills.

“The program was a space for women to come together, be real with one another and focus on developing leadership skills,” Maria said.

Ginnel Ozaeta, Program Director, Progressive Sugar Cane Producers, Orange Walk, Belize, delivered a moving story about her journey in a male-dominated industry, recounting how she broke barriers as a cane farmer and environmental engineer.

“I challenge the status quo every day,” said Ginnel. “I am a first-generation college graduate, and I am proof that hard work and perseverance make a difference.”

Tori Smith, Sr. Corporate Packaging Engineer based at the Chalmette Refinery, addressed the importance of employees in STEM fields, emphasizing the need for mentorship, career development and recruiting talent in technical roles.

“Accelerating action means ensuring that I am not the only woman in the room,” said Tori. “It takes all of us to make diversity a priority.”

Yvonne Castro Lopez, Sanitation Supervisor at the Distribution Center, shared her incredible journey from receptionist to leadership, crediting our tuition-reimbursement program for making her MBA dream a reality.

“I was afraid to ask for support, but when I did, I received a ‘yes,’” said Yvonne. “That ‘yes’ changed my future.”

One of the key messages that stood out throughout the event was that mentorship and support are crucial to career success. Whether through formal leadership programs, networking opportunities or self-advocacy, each speaker reinforced that women must continue to lift each other up and take action to create lasting change.

The event concluded with employees sharing their own career milestones, promotions and achievements over the past year, demonstrating how we are fostering a culture of empowerment and professional growth.

"I was truly honored to serve as the moderator for our company event this year in celebration of International Women's Day,” said FCI Residential Operations Manager Andrea Martinez. “The stories shared by our speakers were incredibly empowering and left a lasting impact on me. It was a privilege to be part of such an inspiring event."