Vinette Godelia Recognized as a 2026 Tampa Bay Business Journal, BusinessWoman of the Year Honoree

TAMPA, FL — Stearns Weaver Miller announced that Land Development, Zoning & Environmental Shareholder Vinette Godelia has been selected as a 2026 Tampa Bay Business Journal BusinessWoman of the Year Honoree. The award recognizes women in the Tampa Bay region who demonstrate business success, deep community involvement, strong leadership and influence. Vinette was one of only 32 honorees chosen from several hundred nominations. In recent years, the TBBJ intentionally narrowed the field to elevate the significance of this honor even further.

“I’m deeply humbled to stand among this exceptional group of women whose leadership is shaping a stronger Tampa Bay,” said Godelia.

Vinette focuses her practice on the defense and negotiation of complex land development approvals under Florida’s growth management laws and local government regulations. She is a skilled negotiator and has successfully secured approvals for large-scale projects, including negotiating high-profile development agreements for clients that cumulatively exceed $20 billion. Vinette has particular experience advising clients in resource extraction and energy operations ranging from due diligence to establishment of projects across the state to novel issues relating to the redevelopment of legacy mining lands for agricultural, residential, commercial and industrial uses.

Vinette has served on the Executive Board for Florida State University (FSU)’s Center for Real Estate Education and Research since 2022. She also serves as an Adjunct Professor for FSU College of Law and previously served as a Juris Doctor Advisor from 2014-2021. Vinette is an active member of several Florida Bar Sections including the Real Property, Probate Trust Law Section (serves on the Membership & Inclusion Committee and Development & Land Use Committee); Environmental and Land Use Law Section; and City, County and Local Government Law Section. She is also co-chair of the Fellows Selection Committee for the American College of Environmental Lawyers (ACOEL) and an active member of the American Planning Association.

For the past 3 years, Vinette has taught at-risk youth the fundamentals of Urban Planning and land development law as part of the Tampa Heights Junior Civic Association’s Summer Speaking Program. Her lessons spark meaningful dialogue with the students and help lay the groundwork for their understanding of the development process and, more importantly, their right to advocate and negotiate for a future they want to see in their neighborhoods.

Vinette has been recognized in legal ranking publications including Chambers USA, Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use (North & Central Florida) since 2025,Florida Trend Legal Elite NOTABLE – Women Leaders in Law in 2024, Florida Super Lawyers since 2020, and The Best Lawyers in America® since 2018.

Honorees will be recognized at the Tampa Bay Business Journal BusinessWoman of the Year black-tie Gala and Awards Presentation on March 27, 2026, at the Hilton Downtown Tampa. See the full list of honorees here.