During her nearly 30-year career with the United States Navy, retired Rear Admiral Marsha “Marty” Evans held numerous leadership positions in cities around the globe, including Atsugi, Japan; Garmisch, Germany; Washington, D.C.; and San Francisco, where, in 1990, she became the first woman to command a U.S. Naval base.

In 2011, though, she happily put down roots in Ponte Vedra.

In Northeast Florida, she follows in the footsteps of many a Florida retiree, lapping up the state’s sublime weather and natural beauty. She’s an avid golfer (and also a former director of the Ladies Professional Golf Association), as well as a triathlete.

“The quality of life here is tremendous,” said Evans, who rattled off many reasons, from outdoor activities to friendly neighbors, the region won her heart.

Evans’ husband, Jerry, who grew up in Pensacola, always dreamed of living in the Jacksonville area. So in 2008, the couple tried it out, splitting time between Florida and their home in Washington, D.C.

“It was always so refreshing to come down to Florida,” she said. “And not just because the traffic is so much better than in D.C.! Jacksonville has the same assets as almost any major city—culture, business, an airport—but it moves at a less frantic pace. It wasn’t long before I developed a nice network of friends and felt like this was home.”

Evans’ present life is not all about rest and recreation, though. Through the Junior ROTC program at Nease High School, she has met several young women with whom she shares sage advice from her storied career that included posts with a number of organizations and companies, such as Girl Scouts of the USA, the American Red Cross, Weight Watchers International and Office Depot, following her retirement from the military. “It’s been a privilege to know and work with these future leaders,” she said. “They inspire me.”

Mentoring and motivating women rank among Evans’ top passions, and as such, she jumped at the opportunity to serve as a moderator at the Generation W 2016, a women’s leadership conference featuring more than 30 speakers, April 8, at the University of North Florida.

“I’ve been to many women’s conferences all over the country and this is truly one of the best,” she said. “Women play a very important role in our community, whether they own a small business, work for a nonprofit or volunteer. This is a great forum for our leaders to meet, connect and avail themselves to new opportunities.”

“Great things happen when women get together and share their stories,” she continued. “Time after time, we discovered we’ve experienced similar challenges and persevered to overcome them. It’s comforting to know we’re not alone in the struggles we face and empowering to learn how others step up to the plate.”

Want to learn more about this fascinating Floridian? Don’t miss Generation W 2016. Click here for registration details.