Florida Crystals Corporation, a leader in sustainable agriculture and America’s first producer of certified organic sugar, proudly celebrated International Women’s Day with an inspiring virtual event that united employees across the organization. The theme, “Accelerate Action,” reflected the company’s ongoing commitment to fostering empowerment, mentorship, and leadership for women in the workplace.
Florida Crystals Corporation is a fully integrated cane sugar company headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida. Founded by the Fanjul family in 1960, the company farms approximately 190,000 acres in South Florida and is the only producer of certified organic sugar grown and milled in the United States. Florida Crystals is part of a family of companies that includes Domino Sugar, C&H Sugar, and American Sugar Refining. The company is committed to sustainability, innovation, and community, operating North America’s largest biomass renewable power plant and leading efforts in regenerative organic farming.
The event brought together voices from across Florida Crystals and its global operations—from West Palm Beach to Belize to the UK—featuring stories that emphasized professional growth, resilience, and the importance of investing in women at every stage of their careers.
Andrea Martinez, Operations Manager at FCI Residential
“This year’s celebration was a powerful reminder of how far we’ve come and the importance of continuing to lift one another up,” said Andrea Martinez, Operations Manager at FCI Residential and event moderator. “The stories shared by our colleagues were incredibly empowering and left a lasting impact on me.”
Highlights from the event included:
- Zeenat Mansuri, Sr. Administrator at Thames Refinery, reflected on her 14-year journey within the company, emphasizing the importance of training and mentorship. “Every achievement, no matter how small, deserves to be celebrated,” she said.
- Maria Merkle, Sr. Director of IT in West Palm Beach, spoke about her leadership evolution and the impact of programs like Coming into Your Own that created space for women to grow and connect. “It was a space to be real with one another,” she shared.
- Ginnel Ozaeta, Program Director in Belize, inspired attendees with her story of breaking barriers as a first-generation college graduate and environmental engineer in a traditionally male-dominated field. “I challenge the status quo every day,” she said.
- Tori Smith, Sr. Corporate Packaging Engineer at the Chalmette Refinery, highlighted the importance of representation in STEM roles, noting, “Accelerating action means ensuring that I am not the only woman in the room.”
- Yvonne Castro Lopez, Sanitation Supervisor at the Distribution Center, shared her journey from receptionist to MBA graduate, made possible by the company’s tuition reimbursement program. “That ‘yes’ changed my future,” she said.
The event closed with employees from across the company sharing their own promotions, career milestones, and personal victories from the past year—further underscoring Florida Crystals’ mission to create a culture of growth, inclusion, and opportunity.
As a company rooted in innovation and sustainability, Florida Crystals recognizes that accelerating gender equity is essential to driving progress—both within the workplace and in the communities it serves. Through mentorship, education, and leadership development, Florida Crystals continues to pave the way for women across its operations to thrive and lead.
To learn more about Florida Crystals Corporation, visit https://www.floridacrystalscorp.com