Women who Meant Business

Florida’s economic history is often told through railroads, cattle barons and land booms. But across Sarasota, Manatee County and the Gulf Coast, women were shaping commerce in ways both visible and enduring. They invested in land, turned natural resources into marketable goods, preserved agricultural traditions and protected working waterfronts. This week, we spotlight four women whose business decisions helped shape the region’s economic landscape.

Bertha Palmer (1849–1918)

Born in 1849, Bertha Palmer became one of the most influential landowners in early Sarasota. After the death of her husband, Chicago businessman Potter Palmer, she purchased tens of thousands of acres in Southwest Florida and began modernizing agricultural operations. Palmer introduced improved cattle-breeding practices and diversified farming techniques that strengthened the region’s agricultural output, according to the Florida Department of State.

At a time when large-scale land development was dominated by men, Palmer actively oversaw ranching operations and promoted Sarasota as a winter destination for affluent northerners. Her investments in ranching and land development laid groundwork for both agriculture and real estate expansion in the region, according to the Sarasota County History Center. Palmer operated not simply as a philanthropist, but as a strategic investor who helped reshape the Gulf Coast economy.

Mary Ward (Early 20th Century)

In 1914, Mary Ward settled near the northeast corner of Manatee Avenue and 26th Street and launched what became one of Manatee County’s earliest artistic commercial enterprises. Originally from Tennessee and previously employed in the pottery trade in New York, Ward searched along the Manatee River until she discovered a workable blue clay deposit, despite local claims that no suitable clay existed. According to Nick Baden’s 2011 presentation to the Manatee County Historical Society titled “Ward-Graack Pottery; A Brief History of Manatee River Art Pottery,” Ward established production in Fogartyville using both electric and foot-powered wheels.

Ward’s pottery featured Florida birds, palmettos and water motifs, and she employed local women artists to decorate the pieces. Carrie Phillips, later known professionally as Caroline, painted many of the works, according to a 1969 Manatee County Historical Society presentation titled “Manatee River Pottery” by Mrs. Dowd. Though low-temperature kerosene kilns prevented glazing, demand for Manatee River Art Pottery grew nationally. Ward sold her interest in 1921 and moved to Orlando, where she founded Orlando Potteries. Her enterprise demonstrated that Florida’s natural resources could support not only agriculture, but also a marketable art industry.

Eleanor Searle Whitney McCollum (1918–2018)

Born in 1918, Eleanor Searle Whitney McCollum became a prominent figure in Florida’s cattle industry. A member of the Whitney family, longtime ranchers in Manatee and Sarasota counties, McCollum managed extensive agricultural operations and helped preserve ranching land amid rapid development pressures, according to the Florida Cattlemen’s Association.

Operating in an industry historically dominated by men, McCollum played a leadership role in sustaining Florida’s ranching heritage while maintaining profitable operations. According to ranching and agricultural historical accounts, her stewardship contributed to the continuation of one of Florida’s oldest industries at a time when suburban growth threatened traditional agricultural land use. McCollum represented a generation of women who balanced business management with land preservation.

Karen Bell (contemporary)

Cortez native Karen Bell represents the modern face of Florida’s working waterfront economy. A lifelong commercial fisherwoman, Bell owns and operates a seafood business while advocating for the preservation of Cortez as one of the Gulf Coast’s last remaining working fishing villages. According to the Florida Humanities Council, Bell became the first female president of the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage and has worked to sustain commercial fishing access amid increasing coastal development.

Bell’s leadership reflects the intersection of commerce and conservation. By maintaining a viable seafood enterprise while promoting cultural preservation, she has helped ensure that Cortez’s fishing industry remains economically and historically significant, according to the Florida Humanities Council.

Bertha Palmer invested in land and reshaped Sarasota’s agricultural economy. Mary Ward turned river clay into a nationally marketed art enterprise. Eleanor McCollum sustained ranching operations during decades of rapid growth. Karen Bell continues to fight for the survival of Florida’s working waterfront. Different industries. Different eras. The same instinct — to build something lasting in a state that never stops changing.