We are so excited to celebrate and honor this year’s Manatee Wonder Women, Chief Melanie Bevan, Dr. Diana Greene, and Dr. Teresa Rawe, at the Founders’ Legacy Luncheon. The Founders’ Legacy Luncheon is about celebrating the accomplishments of these women that have made outstanding contributions in our community. Read on to learn more about these three exceptional women.

 

Meet Chief Melanie Bevan, Ed. D.
Chief of Police at Bradenton Police Department

Melanie Bevan became the Chief of the Bradenton Police Department in February of 2016. Prior to this, she served the St. Petersburg Police Department for 29 years, retiring at the rank of Assistant Chief at the time of her selection as Chief of Bradenton. She served in a variety of specialized positions during her tenure, including Vice and Narcotics Detective, Field Training Officer and Supervisor, SWAT Team Member, Canine Unit Commander, Intelligence Unit Commander, and Street Crimes Unit Commander.

Chief Bevan has a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, a Master’s degree in Public Administration, and a Doctor of Education degree in Organizational Leadership.

Chief Bevan is also a member of the International Leadership Association “for those who practice, study and teach leadership”, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Florida Police Chiefs Association.

Chief Bevan has also give of her time to help mentor students, including with Take Stock in Children (2004-2016) and Lealman Discovery Middle School (1993-2000).

Her commitment to innovation, fairness, and helping her team achieve success comes through in any conversation you have with Chief Bevan about her vision and goals for the Department. She is a recognized leader in a professional historically dominated by male leadership. Imagine the impact she has on girls who might not otherwise consider a career in law enforcement if not for the strong, compassionate example she sets.

Meet Dr. Diana Greene
Superintendent of the School District of Manatee County

Dr. Diana Greene was sworn in as Superintendent of the School District of Manatee County on May 27, 2015 and has made positive strides forward academically, financially and in terms of its public perception.
She has put forward a leadership plan consisting of what she named the Five C’s: Calmness, Consistency, Civility, Confidence and Community.
Dr. Greene’s tenure has resulted in the rise of the Manatee District’s state accountability scores. In addition, the Manatee District’s graduation rate rose 5.6% during the 2015-2016 school year and is now 2.8% higher than the statewide graduation rate.
Aside from academics, Dr. Greene has tackled the financial issues that surround the School District and in fact the District has posted a third-straight balanced budget and met the state’s fund balance requirement, which led global credit ratings leader Fitch Ratings to raise the financial outlook for the School District for the second time in two years.
The improved academic and financial performance of the School District played a big role in Manatee County voters approving a half-cent sales tax to invest in the District.
Dr. Greene worked tirelessly with parents, citizens, fellow District employees and community leaders to ensure passage of the referendum.
Dr. Greene works to involve the community with the School Board to ensure that our children are given the best possible opportunities to succeed. An example of this is SOAR in 4. This program is Manatee County’s movement to ensure all 4 year olds and their families have the opportunities and support they need for success in preschool, school and beyond.

Meet Dr. Teresa Rawe
Medical Director – Emergency Medicine

Dr. Teresa Rawe, a lifelong resident of Manatee County is the epitome of a Wonder Woman. Growing up in Bradenton and attending Manatee High School, Teresa was one of the first Golden Herald Award winners – an award that focuses not on just academic excellence but excellence in community service and she has continued this community service throughout her life. Teresa found medicine as her calling after spending time in the hospital after an accident as a teenager- she was the first woman in her family to attend college.
As the Medical Director of Manatee Memorial’s Emergency Room Teresa was one of the very first to raise the alarm about the opioid epidemic here in Manatee County – she talked to the Sheriffs Department, County Commissioners and anyone who would listen, eventually they listened.
Teresa has taken this fight against opioids to the front line – she researched a program initiated in New Jersey called ALTO (Alternatives to Opioids) – this program aims to cut down on the prescription of opioids by seeking alternative routes to pain management. ALTO has been implemented at both Manatee Memorial Hospital and Lakewood Ranch Hospital this year in an effort to reduce the flow of prescription opioids into the community and these two hospitals are the first healthcare providers in the state of Florida to implement it. The program involves using over the counter pain relievers such as Motrin and Tylenol that do not work quite as fast but have less harmful effects. Treatment is also about partnerring with local addiction services and bring outreach services to the addicted patient in the emergency room.
A graduate of Leadership Manatee and currently a member of Leadership Florida Cornerstone Class XXXVI Teresa is dedicated to the betterment of both our community and state. A huge supporter of the Women’s Resource Center, PACE Center for Girls, Planned Parenthood, DeSoto Historical Foundation, Manatee Performing Arts Center and so much more she is the first to throw a welcome, birthday, anniversary, congratulations or “just-for-the-heck-of-it-get-together” party, the first to cheer up a friend, the first to lend a helping hand with no regard to how many hours she has just put in at the Emergency Room.