COVER STORY 24 MAY 2026 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition Each year GOOD NEWS is honored to recognize inspiring Women of Distinction whose leadership, strong faith and community involvement reflects the traits of a virtuous woman as depicted in Proverbs 31. “Many women do noble things, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised” (Proverbs 31:30). Here are their thoughts on God’s calling along with a few words of advice. Alina Ali Financial Advisor, One Cornerstone Group A financial advisor for seven years, Alina Ali offers traditional and values-based investing through One Cornerstone Group, formerly the Foreman Cook Group. She is active in the community, serving on nonprofit boards and as a coach for Lifework Leadership, an 8-month leadership journey equipping professionals to integrate faith and work, and enjoys helping clients align their portfolios with personal, ethical or faith-based preferences. She previously worked in commercial banking with Ginger Martin, former president of American National Bank, now United Community. She and her husband Ilyas Maqsodi, an IT consultant, have been married for about four years, and she attends Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale. While she’s always had a passion for helping others, growing up in a Muslim family with parents from Afghanistan, where she was born, has shaped who she is today. “My parents came from a very different Afghanistan. It was modern, educated and more tolerant of people of different faiths. They raised me to be open, to learn about others and to treat people with dignity regardless of beliefs. That gave me a natural curiosity about people and a respect for community,” she said. Over time, God began working in her life through people who loved her well. Ginger Martin was one of the first to walk alongside her, introducing her to others who prayed for her, encouraged her, and gently pointed her to truth, giving her space to ask questions and experience God personally. “When I encountered the Lord and gave my life to Christ, everything changed. I now have a daily relationship with Him, a constant sense of His presence and peace. There’s security in knowing He’s with me, which anchors everything I do. My passion for philanthropy and community advocacy flows out of that and a desire to love people well and point them to the hope I’ve experienced.” What is God’s calling for you? My calling is to share the truth of the gospel in underserved regions, using my testimony as the foundation, especially in places marked by oppression. As a financial advisor, I’m also called to help people align their financial decisions with their values and their God-given calling. What charities do you support? I am serving as a coach this year for Lifework Leadership, which has been very rewarding. The program goes deep, you build lifelong friendships, and you’re given a day to unplug from the stresses of work and tune in to a greater purpose. As an ambassador for StrikeForce Giving, I get to share the impact of pooling resources to support deserving organizations doing great work in the community. It’s an honor to be part of. I also support Junior Achievement of South Florida and appreciate how their curriculum equips students with financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills for future success. As a member of the Circle of Wise Women, I volunteer each year for the stock market challenge and co-chaired their “Rose Soiree.” I also support 4KIDS, which helps abused, neglected and at-risk children in foster care. What Bible verse has encouraged you? “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3: 5-6). What has been your most challenging time? The most challenging time was when I first came to South Florida. I was separated from my ex-husband and had no family here. But that season became one of the most pivotal moments of my life that God used to draw me closer to Him and pull me in like a magnet. It helped me see how blessed I was by the support of the community and the women around me. What are you most proud of or do you find most rewarding? My career is very rewarding. I’m blessed with wonderful clients where it’s not transactional, it’s a true relationship. It’s an honor to step into their lives, to see the good and the bad, and to be trusted with that transparency. It’s something I hold with a lot of honor. It’s deeply rewarding to serve them in every way and help them steward their finances in a way that aligns with their calling. Do you have a hobby? I enjoy hiking in the mountains. My husband and I both love fishing, and I also raise a flock of backyard chickens, so I love nature, God’s creation. What advice would you offer to other women? My biggest advice is to get out of your comfort zone. If your goals don’t require faith, they may not be big enough. The people who make the greatest impact don’t avoid risk. They take the right risks aligned with their purpose. That’s where growth happens: outside the comfort zone. Jennifer Kennedy Cassidy Chairman of the Board, Coral Ridge Ministries Jennifer Kennedy Cassidy, daughter of the late Dr. D. James Kennedy, serves on the board and capital campaign committee at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, founded by her father in Fort Lauderdale in 1959. An only child, she was adopted at three weeks old and raised in the church, where she still sings in the choir and teaches level one evangelism. She is Chairman of the Board of Coral Ridge Ministries, a media outreach focused on the cultural mandate, addressing the issues of our day from a biblical perspective, and serves on the board of Evangelism Explosion International. An alumna of Westminster Academy, she also serves on its capital campaign committee. In addition to stewarding the ministries founded by her father, she is a frequent guest speaker at Christian events nationwide. Jennifer had a long career in nursing, and said she wanted to be a nurse since first grade. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Auburn University and worked for Tenet Healthcare for 22 years in roles ranging from staff development at Delray Medical Center to the spinal cord and head injury unit, eventually becoming acting manager of the unit at Pinecrest Rehab. She later worked in employee health, recruitment and guest relations at West Boca Medical Center, and served as Risk Manager at Northridge Medical Center before leaving to help her mother oversee her father’s ministries after his passing in 2007. Jennifer and her husband, Chip Cassidy, have been married 25 years. She is stepmom to his two daughters, and they have five grandchildren, along with two pets, a Jack Russell and a Chihuahua. Ilyas Maqsodi and Alina Ali Good News Applauds Women of Distinction 2026 Shelly Pond GOOD NEWS Editor Jennifer Kennedy Cassidy and Chip Cassidy
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