The City of Tampa will commemorate Women’s History Month next Tuesday at the 29th Annual Women’s History Month Celebration, an annual tradition recognizing the impact of women in public service and the contributions they have made to the Tampa community.
Organized by the City of Tampa Women’s History Month Committee, the ceremony will take place on Tuesday, March 3, from 10:30 am to 11:30 am at the Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Water Street.
A centerpiece of the celebration is the presentation of the Josephine Howard Stafford Memorial Award, the City’s highest honor recognizing a female municipal employee who has demonstrated exceptional dedication to her position and has enriched both the organization and the broader community. The award is presented to a current or former employee with at least five years of service.
This year, the City of Tampa Women’s History Month Committee has selected Heather Wolf Erickson, Athletics, Aquatics, and Special Facilities Manager, as the 2026 recipient.
Erickson is a community-driven leader who has served the City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department for more than 39 years, dedicating her career to using parks, sports, and recreation to create connections and belonging among Tampa residents. As the first woman to serve in her role, she oversees citywide youth athletics amenities, public pools and splash pads, youth sports partnerships, and specialty recreation facilities, helping ensure accessible and high-quality recreational opportunities across Tampa.
A former collegiate athlete, Erickson has focused her work on expanding access to sports and recreation. She has helped scale affordable programs, modernize facilities, and create meaningful pathways for young people, especially girls, to participate, lead, and thrive through athletics.
Most recently, Erickson was invited by the National Recreation and Park Association to serve on a Nike advisory panel focused on gender equity in sports. The group developed a national roadmap to help thousands of parks and recreation agencies expand access and foster environments where girls and women can succeed in athletics.
Erickson and her husband, Brian, are the proud parents of three daughters, all of whom grew up in Tampa Parks & Recreation Department programs.
In addition to spotlighting Erickson for her work, this year’s event will feature Mistress of Ceremonies Emerald Morrow, News Anchor for WTSP 10 Tampa Bay.
Media outlets are invited to attend. Additional information about the Josephine Howard Stafford Memorial Award and the 2026 honoree is available here. To learn more about the City of Tampa Women’s History Month Celebration, visit tampa.gov/womens-history-month-celebration