ABOUT LEADERSHIP FLORIDA®
MISSION
We convene a statewide community of leaders to recharge their leadership skills and to educate and inspire them to work for a better Florida. We provide meaningful forums for sharing essential information and viewpoints; we create opportunities for experiences that are inviting, inspiring, and of lasting value.
VISION
As a strong, trusted, diverse, and growing community of Florida leaders, we are an important catalyst for creating new opportunities for our state through our powerful connection to one another.
VALUES
We are unified in our respect for and accessibility to one another, and in our passion for Florida. We draw strength from our diversity. Florida has experienced one of the greatest economic and population growth of any state in the nation. Our state faces many challenges, but we are blessed with at least as many opportunities. What we do with those opportunities will define Florida in the 21st century. To progress with strength, we must develop a common vision and a statewide commitment to excellence. Since its founding in 1982 by the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Florida has provided a non-partisan, non-parochial perspective about statewide topics of concern and opportunities while encouraging interaction among the state’s leadership.
LEADERSHIP FLORIDA’S CORNERSTONE CLASS PROGRAM
One of the many ways we work to accomplish our mission is through our Cornerstone Class program. Leaders aged 40 and older are chosen to participate in a stimulating and thought-provoking ninemonth educational program that consists of a series of sessions held in cities throughout the state. These sessions include programming on issues critical to Florida, refining well-developed leadership skills via sessions with leading experts, and relevant information on Florida’s history, demography, diversities, challenges, and opportunities.
One of the program’s most rewarding and lasting benefits is the chance to spend valuable time interacting with other leaders from various professions, philosophies, and geographies who represent Florida’s diverse ethnic and racial composition. The program sessions provide ample experiences designed to facilitate the deepening of relationships among the Class members and thus extend the network of relationships that form the fabric of our statewide leadership.
Graduating from our classes does not signify the end, but the beginning of a lifetime of opportunity as a Leadership Florida membership network member. Leadership Florida convenes regular regional and statewide meetings to facilitate continuing issues-oriented education, advanced leadership training, networking, and the opportunity for members to work together toward shared goals.
3500 Financial Plaza, Suite 300 Tallahassee, FL 32312 (850) 521-1220
www.leadershipflorida.org
2024-2025 CORNERSTONE CLASS PROGRAM CHAIR
BEMETRA SIMMONS, CORNERSTONE CLASS 42 CHAIR
President & CEO, Tampa Bay Partnership
Cornerstone Class 38 p bsimmons@tampabay.org (813) 872-2804
Bemetra Simmons is the president and CEO of the Tampa Bay Partnership, a coalition of regional business leaders working together to improve the personal and economic well-being of Tampa Bay residents.
Bemetra previously served as the chief strategy and operations officer for United Way Suncoast, and she has held leadership and executive leadership roles at Mutual of Omaha Bank, Wells Fargo and BB&T.
She is active in her community, and currently serves several boards, including the board of trustees for St. Leo University, the Tampa Bay Sports Commission and the St. Pete Free Clinic. Bemetra is a Leadership Tampa graduate and a member of Leadership Florida Cornerstone Class 38. She was named a finalist for the Business Woman of the Year by Tampa Bay Business and Wealth Magazine in 2023. She is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Bemetra is the daughter of an Air Force Chaplain and has lived in ten states and two countries. She attended Christian Brothers University in Memphis, TN, on a basketball scholarship and received a B.S. in business administration and her MBA from Wake Forest University.
Along with her twin sister, Demetra, she co-founded Corporate Homie, a career, lifestyle, and advice company and podcast dedicated to assisting professionals in navigating the waters of corporate America.
CORNERSTONE CLASS 42 MEMBERS BY REGION
Calusa
Erin Duggan
Erin Minor
Zayne Smith
East Central
Fernando Flores
Jose Juarez
Kenyatta Lee
Ron Piccolo
Jason Searl
Gold Coast
Audra Berg
Lisa Davis
Dana Macdonald
Julie Price
Lori Wheeler
Reggie Zachariah, Jr.
Gulfstream
Eric Coleman
Danita DeHaney
Bryan Garner
Curtis Johnson
Lisa Johnson
Dave Markarian
Northeast
Kristen Anderson
West Herford
David Johnson
Trina Medarev
Paris Owens
Alicia Somers
Northwest
Carol Dover
Andrew Hobbs
Casey Reed
D.C. Reeves
Jessi Truett
Shairi Turner
Frank Walker
Southeast
Shari Bower
Isabel Diaz
Jim Haj
Ryan Holmes
Danny Morgalo
Veronica Nur Valdes
Roshell Rinkins
Southwest
Darla Bonk
Erika Donalds
Jennifer Johnson
Shontra Powell
Shawn Smith
West Central
Damian Brooke
Chip Fletcher
Casey Gonzmart
Ray Hawat
Isaac Henderson
Tom Palermo
Mindi Richter
Christine Turner
Chip Whitworth
Jason Woody
NUMBER OF CORNERSTONE CLASS 42 MEMBERS BY REGION
Alicia Somers
Community Relations Manager
First Horizon Bank alicia.somers@firsthorizon.com (904) 716-5899
Northeast Region
Alicia is a sales, marketing and business development professional with more than 25 years of experience in the banking industry. She has a proven track record in building exceptional relationships among community leaders, clients, and stakeholders in creating organizational growth, and facilitating community and employee engagement.
In her current role, she develops and supports market strategies and community investments to enhance client experience and increase revenues. She is also an active board member of several nonprofit and civic organizations, such as 904WARD and Arc Jacksonville. She has served as the development council chair for the Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville for the past seven years.
She has received numerous awards and recognition for her leadership and service, such as the Jacksonville Business Journal Women of Influence Award and the Jim and Jeanne Wilson Community Impact Award. She is passionate about financial wellness, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and making communities stronger and more resilient.
Andrew Hobbs Chief Deputy
Escambia County Sheriff’s
Office
anhobbs@escambiaso.com (850) 698-0005
Northwest Region
Andrew is a career law enforcement officer. He began his career in 2003 and has held many different assignments within the agency, including serving as the agency representative for domestic security, hurricane preparedness and large event coordinator.
Andrew was selected as an In Weekly “Rising Star” in 2015 and is a member of Leadership Pensacola Class of 2018. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Manna Food Pantries, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Mr. Robbins’ Neighborhood, Covenant Care Foundation, Pensacola MESS Hall and the Escambia County Sheriff Foundation.
Andrew has a B.S. in criminal justice administration. He is a graduate of the National Command and Staff College, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Leadership Academy Class 21 and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Chief Executive Seminar Class 56. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, class 282.
He is a proud father of Granger (8) and Nora (4).
Audra Berg President & CEO
Jewish Federation of Broward County
aberg@jewishbroward.org (312) 282-0104
Gold Coast Region
Audra is leveraging more than 25 years of work experience in the Jewish Federation system to transform one of the largest Jewish communities in North America. With experience in senior positions at the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, the Jewish Federations of North America and the 92nd Street Y, Audra is well-positioned to successfully address the Broward Jewish community’s priorities locally, in Israel, and around the world.
Audra is a UF graduate and a past board chair of JPRO, the professional association for those who work in Jewish communal organizations. She is also an alumnus of the Wexner Heritage Program and the Wexner Leadership Program at the Kennedy School at Harvard University.
She is married to Josh Fienberg and they are the proud parents of two boys – Jonah, an incoming freshman at Vanderbilt University, and Levi, who will be a sophomore at the David Posnack Jewish Day – and a labradoodle named Kona.
Bryan Garner
Senior
Director, Marketing & Communications
Florida Power & Light Company bryan.garner@fpl.com (561) 281-6275
Gulfstream Region
Bryan leads the team responsible for providing outstanding communications support for FPL’s major business units, as well as all external communications with the company’s 12 million customers across Florida. He also oversees the company’s communications during emergencies, including FPL’s restoration efforts following Hurricanes Irma, Dorian and Ian.
Prior to his current role, Bryan led communications for FPL’s sister company, NextEra Energy Resources, a world leader in renewable energy.
Bryan spent 15 years working in television news, as an award-winning reporter and news manager. He earned a B.A. in English and history from Duke University and an M.S. from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. He serves on the board of directors for the United Way of Martin County and is a volunteer with YoungLife Martin County.
Bryan and his wife, Kelly, have two children – Emma (21) and Graham (17). They live in Palm City with their Brittany Spaniel, Mako (everyone’s favorite).
Carol Dover President and CEO
Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association
cdover@frla.org (850) 879-2644
Northwest Region
With 45 years of executive leadership, including three decades dedicated to advancing Florida’s tourism and hospitality industries, Carol has a proven ability to navigate complex political landscapes and emergency events to safeguard and promote the nearly $112 billion industry.
As CEO of FRLA, she has elevated the 10,000-member association to a leading trade group at both state and federal levels, advocating for the wellbeing of Florida’s restaurants, hotels, attractions and suppliers, along with its 1.5 million industry employees.
Carol is an FSU Dedman School of Hospitality graduate and holds an Honorary Doctorate in business administration from Johnson & Wales University. She’s been honored in various publications, including Florida Trend 500’s Most Influential Leaders, City and State Power 100 and Top 100 Women in Florida Politics. She was inducted into the Florida Tourism Hall of Fame in 2024.
Carol cherishes her roles as wife, mother and grandmother, and is an accomplished equestrian.
Casey Reed
Vice
President
- Governmental Affairs & Policy
AT&T
cr8243@att.com (850) 591-6002
Northwest Region
Born into an Air Force family in Alaska, Casey grew up living all over the world, including Mississippi, The Philippines, and Ohio before finally moving to Florida. After high school, Casey attended a local college to remain close to home while his father battled terminal cancer. As his father’s cancer went into remission, Casey enrolled at FSU where he obtained degrees in political science and history.
After earning his J.D. from FSU, Casey took a low-level staff position in the Florida House of Representatives to begin building his political career. After four years as a staffer, Casey joined a lobbying firm representing Fortune 500 companies and not-for-profits. He also served as legislative director for the Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida. Casey joined AT&T in 2012, leading their governmental affairs efforts in Florida.
Casey resides in Tallahassee with his long-time partner, Amy, and their two dogs, where they enjoy spending time with friends and family and traveling.
Casey Gonzmart
Fifth-Generation Owner/Operator
1905 Family Of Restaurants
CaseyGJr@crg1905.com (813) 294-2691
West Central Region
A fifth-generation steward of the 1905 Family of Restaurants, Casey is building upon the heritage of Tampa’s iconic Columbia Restaurant by driving company growth and innovation. During his tenure, the 1905 Family has expanded to 14 locations and more than 1,500 employees.
His career began with Levy Restaurants and Compass Group, where he worked with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and spearheaded such high-profile events as Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa and the NBA Finals in Miami.
Casey graduated from Florida State University, focusing on hotel and restaurant management. A prestigious apprenticeship at Familia Torres winery in Spain broadened his culinary and cultural horizons.
Casey is the co-chair of the Boys & Girls Club of the Suncoast’s annual breakfast. A Tampa Jesuit High School alumnus, Casey is married to Jennifer Gonzmart. Together they are raising the family’s sixth generation legacy, Adalyne Mary and Casey, III.
Chip Fletcher
Vice President, Deputy General Counsel
Moffitt Cancer Center
chip.fletcher@moffitt.org (813) 362-1806
West Central Region
Chip joined the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in 2018 and currently manages legal services across all aspects of the 9,000+ employee-strong National Cancer Institute Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and its subsidiaries. He serves as a strategic leader in Moffit’s continued growth and expansion, including the new Moffitt hospital that opened in 2023 and the new Speros Lifesciences campus presently under development.
Chip previously served as the Hillsborough County attorney from 2012 - 2018, where his office provided legal services for the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners. He served as Tampa city attorney from 2008 - 2011 and was previously on the Tampa City Council.
Chip was previously in private practice at the law firms of GrayRobinson, Shumaker Loop & Kendrick, and de la Parte & Gilbert. He is board-certified in state and federal government and administrative practice. He earned his J.D. from the FSU College of Law.
Chip Whitworth VP Electric Delivery
TECO Energy
cswhitworth@tecoenergy.com (813) 373-2467
West Central Region
Chip serves as Tampa Electric’s vice president of electric delivery and brings more than two decades of leadership experience to this role. He began his career at Tampa Electric as a tree trimming contractor and later as a cooperative education student. He began his full-time career with the company in 2000 in electric delivery, where he worked in several engineering and operating departments before transitioning to management.
In 2011, he moved to Energy Supply where he held multiple engineering and operating management positions and ultimately served as director of Big Bend Power Station and as senior director of Bayside and Big Bend Station. In 2021, he served as the vice president of safety and security, and in 2022 was appointed to the vice president of electric delivery.
Chip received his B.S. in civil/structural engineering and his MBA from the University of South Florida.
Christine Turner
Chief Executive Officer
ChappellRoberts cturner@chappellroberts.com (813) 545-8131
West Central Region
As CEO, Christine leads the strategic vision for ChappellRoberts, executing branding with an eye for driving results through calculated methodology. She has 20 years of wide-ranging experience in advertising and branding and has pioneered marketing programs that boost effective growth and brand alignment, winning many awards regionally, nationally and internationally.
A graduate of USF, Christine is committed to strengthening the communities of Tampa Bay. She is the immediate past-chair of the USF Alumni Association and serves on the USF Z School Advisory Council. She serves on the board of the Tampa Downtown Partnership and Greater Tampa Swim Association. She has previously served as chairman for the Leadership Tampa Alumni Association as well as a board member of the Tampa Bay Chamber and the Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture and the Arts.
Christine is married to Tobin and is a proud mom of two daughters. She’s currently training for the Chicago Marathon in October.
Curtis Johnson
City Commissioner
City of Fort Pierce cjohnson@cityoffortpierce.com (480) 205-9238
Gulfstream Region
Curtis has more than two decades of experience helping organizations and individuals overcome challenges and uncover opportunities. Prior to his current role, he excelled in multiple industries in B2B sales with COUNTRY Financial and Regus. He was also in pharmaceutical sales with Gilead Sciences, Pfizer and Eli Lilly.
Curtis earned an MBA with a concentration in marketing from FAMU and is a national board officer in the FAMU National Alumni Association. He is a SHRM certified professional, DISCcertified workshop facilitator, John Maxwell certified speaker, coach, and trainer. He also held 6 & 63 securities licenses.
Curtis serves on three City of Ft. Pierce community committees and volunteers often with civic organizations. He is a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and president of The Phrozen Pharaoh Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization that believes in the power of mentorship to help young people in St. Lucie County and the surrounding areas learn and grow.
D.C. Reeves Mayor
City of Pensacola
dcreeves@cityofpensacola.com (850) 232-2949
Northwest Region
D.C. has spent his professional career as a sports journalist, author, community builder and entrepreneur. After a decade covering college football at FSU and the University of Alabama, he returned home to Pensacola in 2015 to make an impact on his community, spending six years as chief of staff for entrepreneur and community volunteer Quint Studer. In 2017, he founded Perfect Plain Brewing Co., a communityfocused craft brewery in the heart of downtown Pensacola. He expanded to four locations and 50 employees before selling to New Orleans-based Urban South Brewing in 2022.
D.C. was sworn in as mayor of Pensacola in 2022, becoming the youngest person (38) to be elected mayor in 101 years. Following his election, he authorized a top-down study of salaries across the entire organization and signed a 10-year lease agreement with the team from American Magic, one of the premiere sailing organizations in the world.
Damian Brooke
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Tampa International Airport dbrooke@tampaairport.com (817) 343-4062
West Central Region
Damian was born in Manchester, England to a family who emigrated to the U.S. when he was 10. After graduating with a B.A. degree in geography from Central Connecticut State University, Damian followed a passion for travel, which led him to more than 75 countries around the world and a 35-year career in aviation with American Airlines, Qatar Airways, Sabre Holdings, DFW airport and Tampa International Airport. In his current role, he manages the Authority’s finance, procurement and capital planning functions.
Damian has served on Airports Council International’s North America Finance Steering Committee for the past seven years and was chairman in 2021.
An avid Manchester United fan and a big car guy, Damian and his wife Teri, two Australian Shepherds and a golden retriever puppy currently reside in Pinellas County. Their three children all reside in Florida and are all either former or current students at USF, UF and Embry Riddle University.
Dana Macdonald Managing Partner
Panza Maurer
dmacdonald@panzamaurer.com (954) 303-8153
Gold Coast Region
Dana was born and raised in Fort Lauderdale. She was immersed in the political, legal and civic activities impacting Floridians at a young age. Her love of Florida’s climate, beaches, diversity and family has made her a lifetime Floridian.
Dana earned her J.D. from Stetson University College of Law in 2001 and her B.S. from Florida State University in 1998. She began her career at the Broward County Public Defender’s Office as an assistant public defender. In 2006, she joined the law firm of Panza, Maurer & Maynard as an associate and was promoted to partner. She currently serves as the firm’s managing partner. Her primary areas of practice include litigation, labor and employment and education law.
Dana is married to Patrick Macdonald, has two teenage children and is active in the community. She enjoys traveling, tennis, boating, spending time with her family, and culinary and wine experiences.
Danita DeHaney President & CEO
Community Foundation for Palm Beach & Martin Counties
ddehaney@cfpbmc.org (202) 528-2202
Gulfstream Region
Danita brings more than 25 years of experience in higher education leadership to her role. She provides strategic direction for all aspects of the organization, fostering a culture of philanthropy that drives positive change in our communities.
Danita previously served as vice president for institutional advancement and CEO of the Florida Atlantic University Foundation at where she led record-breaking fundraising and spearheaded the university’s second comprehensive campaign. She has also served as the senior associate vice president for external affairs at UF and the senior associate vice president for development and alumni affairs at the University of Maryland.
Danita earned her M.S. from Syracuse University and her B.S. from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. She is currently enrolled in the business administration doctoral program at FAU. She enjoys playing tennis and spending time at the beach.
Danny Morgalo
Assistant Chief of Police
Miami Beach Police Department danielmorgalo@miamibeachfl. gov (305) 335-5053
Southeast Region
Daniel brings 30+ years of dedicated service to law enforcement, marked by a commitment to excellence and a diverse range of roles. Joining the Miami Beach Police Department in 1999, he has held various pivotal positions. In his current role, he commands all patrol and investigative resources, ensuring effective oversight of city-wide law enforcement activities. His proficiency in crisis management and strategic planning led to his appointment as the commander of the Hostage Negotiation and Mobile Field Force Teams.
Daniel has a B.S. in criminal justice from FIU. In 2017, he became the first member of the Miami Beach Police Department selected to attend the Naval Postgraduate School, Center for Homeland Defense and Security, earning an M.A. in homeland security. He is a graduate of the Southern Police Institute’s Command Officer Development Course and the PERF Senior Management Institute for Police. He is also the FEMA training and exercise coordinator and holds a FEMA Master Exercise Practitioner certification.
Darla Bonk Founder & CEO
Darla Bonk Consulting darla@darlabonk.com (239) 322-7251
Southwest Region
Darla is the CEO & founder of Darla Bonk Consulting, a management consulting firm specializing in leading CEOs, boards and C-suite executives to realize people over profits and progress over perfection. She has worked with startups to established companies from manufacturing to fintech.
She is the host of “On Your Way,” a podcast designed to help business leaders overcome obstacles. She currently serves the City of Fort Myers as a council member representing Ward 6.
Darla received her B.A. from Lee University in communication and is a certified DISC trainer. Most recently she was named one of the “40 over 40 Women to KNOW in Business” in America.
Darla and her husband, Jeff, live in Fort Myers, where he operates their family business, Architectural Metal Flashings. They have four adult children.
Dave Markarian Managing Director
Jeck, Harris, Raynor, Jones, Zaloom & Markarian dmarkarian@jhrjpa.com (202) 412-7007
Gulfstream Region
Dave is a native Floridian, raised in Miami by Armenian immigrants. He provides nimble advocacy and legal counsel in courtrooms, boardrooms and before regulatory authorities.
Dave previously led FPL’s federal affairs team in Washington. He later brought his versatile background and national experience home to Palm Beach County to counsel businesses and innovators to achieve their dreams.
Dave is the immediate past chair of the Board of the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce and will serve as chair of the board of Career Source Palm Beach County this fall. Dave’s other activities include membership in the Economic Council of Palm Beach County and the Board of Habitat for Humanity, Palm Beach County.
Dave has five children and is passionate about the environment and technology. He lives in Palm Beach Gardens with his wife, Soli, and the two best dogs in the world, Bo and Loki.
David Johnson
Regional Public Affairs Lead for Florida and Senior Manager, Government Relations
Fidelity Investments
davidpauljohnson13@gmail.com (904) 860-6334
Northeast Region
David joined Fidelity Investments in 2022 after serving in a leadership role at the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and in his previous career as a sports reporter and editor. He previously served as the organizer and TED licensee for TEDxJacksonville.
He has served on missions to Tarma, Peru, and in his community service and volunteer work in Florida, he has volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida, the Jacksonville Children’s Chorus and the Friends of the GTM Research Reserve. He serves on boards and committees for the Florida Chamber Foundation, the JAX Chamber and the Florida Securities Dealers Association.
He is a proud alumnus of Stanton College Prep in Jacksonville, the University of North Florida, and the University of Florida. In his free time, he enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking and kayaking, as well as traveling.
Eric Coleman Major
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office
colemane@pbso.org (561) 389-3432
Gulfstream Region
Eric is a career law enforcement professional who has served with distinction in Palm Beach County since 1985. As a law enforcement major with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Eric is responsible for overseeing the West Regional Bureau, which is comprised of nine Sheriff’s Office districts for mid-western and western Palm Beach County.
Eric has served in a variety of assignments throughout Palm Beach County while being promoted through the ranks, including: Uniform Operations, investigative assignments in Crime Property, Homicide, Special Victim’s Unit, Court Services, Internal Affairs, and Narcotics.
Eric earned his B.A. from Barry University and graduated from the prestigious FBI National Academy in 2016. He is a board member for Families First, which is dedicated to assisting PBSO employees in crisis. He was also the recipient of the 20172018 United Way Coordinator of the Year Award. Eric is a graduate and active member of Leadership Palm Beach County and is a proud father and grandfather.
Erika Donalds Chief Executive Officer
OptimaEd
erika@optimaed.com (239) 287-6287
Southwest Region
Erika is an education entrepreneur passionate about expanding education freedom through the innovative delivery of time-tested classical curriculum. Prior to founding Optima, Erika was a CPA and spent 20 years in financial services, most recently as chief financial officer and managing partner at DGHM. She was a member of the Collier County School Board, the FGCU Board of Trustees, and the 2017-2018 Constitution Revision Commission. Her awards include the Florida Small Business Development Center’s Servant Leader Award and FAU’s Distinguished Alumni Award.
Erika is a visiting fellow with the Heritage Foundation’s Center for Education Policy, guest faculty for the Leadership Institute’s School Board Programs and serves on advisory boards for Classical Learning Test, Moms for Liberty, and the Independent Women’s Forum Education Freedom Center.
She holds a B.S. in accounting from FSU and a master’s in accountancy from FAU. She lives in Naples with her husband, Congressman Byron Donalds, and their three sons.
Erin Minor
Chief Executive Officer
Harvest House
erin@harvesthousecenters.com (941) 228-4310
Calusa Region
Erin, a native of Sarasota, has spent two decades silently driving change, serving our most vulnerable neighbors. Under her leadership since 2010, Harvest House has expanded from 100 beds across two campuses to 10 campuses and 25 affordable rentals, providing 380 beds and numerous programs in Sarasota and Manatee Counties. Erin’s business acumen and leadership have led to multimillion-dollar increases in revenue and asset values over the last 14 years, with minimal debt. Her relentless pursuit of breaking barriers to human prosperity shapes a brighter future for those in need of supportive, equitable, and inclusive communities.
Erin earned her B.A. in psychology from USF in 2004. She became a Certified Addictions Professional and Certified Mental Health Professional through the Florida Certification Board.
Erin and her wife, Jill, enjoy exploring the world through travel. They are enthusiastic fans of national parks, seeking out locations that allow Erin to exercise her passion for wildlife and landscape photography.
Erin Duggan President & CEO
Visit Sarasota County
eduggan@visitsarasota.com (941) 356-0432
Calusa Region
Erin leads a team of professionals to shape the strategic direction of group sales, media relations/placement, communication, research, and intellectual property management for Visit Sarasota County. She previously served as a special events and marketing coordinator for the City of Casselberry (1999 – 2000), director of marketing and communications for United Way of Manatee County (2000 – 2004), community relations manager for the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County (2004 – 2005) and public relations manager for Visit Sarasota County (2005).
Erin served as the Junior League of Sarasota president (2017 – 2018), where she has been a member since 2001. She also currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Community Foundation (Sarasota) and the Lakewood Ranch Community Activities Association and is an active volunteer at her children’s schools.
Erin has a B.S. in communications arts from Florida Southern College. In 2012, she earned her certification in destination management executive credential from Purdue University and Destinations International.
Fernando Flores
VP,
Universal Parks & Resorts Vacations & Consumer Sales Ops Universal Orlando fernando.flores@ universalorlando.com (407) 714-8365 East Central Region
With 25+ years in marketing, sales and customer care, Fernando joined Universal Destinations & Experiences in 2012. Previously, he held several leadership roles at Fiesta Americana Hotels, culminating as VP of international sales and trade marketing. He also served as a managing partner at InfoAmericas.
Fernando holds a B.A. in international relations from the National University of Mexico, a master’s in tourism administration from George Washington University, and had an internship at the National Geographic Society’s Center for Sustainable Tourism in D.C. He also completed international business and the environment coursework at the London School of Economics.
Passionate about sustainable travel and hospitality, Fernando has lived in twelve countries spanning four continents and can speak English, Spanish and Japanese. He resides in Orlando with his wife, two sons (14 and 17), and their pet Shih Tzu. His other interests include cooking, tennis, chess and rock climbing.
Frank Walker
Executive Vice President
Florida Chamber of Commerce fwalker@flchamber.com (850) 661-0824
Northwest Region
In his current role, Frank leads the Chamber’s extensive legislative and political operations. Prior to joining the Chamber, he spent over a decade in Washington, D.C., serving in key leadership and policy roles for two members of Congress, two U.S. senators and the governor of Florida. Having most recently served as chief of staff to U.S. Representative Daniel Webster, Frank also worked on multiple successful congressional campaigns.
Frank was raised in Tallahassee, where he attended Maclay School. He graduated from Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina, with a B.A. in history and a now-distant memory scratch handicap. After college he moved to Kanazawa, Japan to teach English through the Japanese Exchange Teaching program before returning home and heading to our nation’s capital. He and his wife, Katie, reside in Tallahassee with their two daughters and enjoy time in the aptly named Panacea, Florida.
Isaac
Henderson Division Vice President
Jacobs isaac.henderson@jacobs.com (813) 774-0725
West Central Region
Isaac is known for integrity and compassion. Under his leadership, his global teams garnered multiple accolades for delivering top-notch enterprise IT solutions for the nation’s fourth-largest DoD network.
Isaac’s contributions have earned him notable recognitions, including the U.S. Special Operations Command CIO Appreciation of Service award. As a Tampa Chamber Leadership Tampa alumnus and a past Tampa Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree, his impact resonates both in business and the community, reflecting his passion for helping others.
Educated at the University of Louisiana at Monroe and Saint Leo University, Isaac holds a bachelor’s degree and an MBA. Notably, he is a recipient of the SLU 2023 Mission Driven Leader award, a testament to his success and demonstration of core values.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Isaac, alongside his wife Miranda, finds joy in spending time with their son and actively supporting their community.
Isabel Diaz Attorney/Partner
Holland & Knight isabel.diaz@hklaw.com (305) 216-0256
Southeast Region
Isabel focuses her practice on commercial real estate transactions. She previously served as associate general counsel at FIU. She is cochair of Holland & Knight’s Hispanic Affinity Group and was recently acknowledged in The Best Lawyers in America guide, Real Estate Law (2024). Her most rewarding community involvement includes her prior service as the co-chair of the Cuban American Bar Association Pro Bono project, where she played a significant role in increasing the provision of legal services to those less fortunate, as well as her prior role as a Guardian Ad Litem volunteer.
Isabel earned her bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in political science from FIU, and her J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law.
Isabel and her husband, Ernie, a Miami-Dade County Police Officer, are the proud parents of two amazing young men, Ernie and Jorgie. Isabel thoroughly enjoys watching her sons play baseball and cheering for them from the stands!
Jason Searl
Attorney / Partner
GrayRobinson
jason.searl@gray-robinson.com (407) 463-9269
East Central Region
Jason is an experienced real estate transactional lawyer serving clients across Florida, focusing on I-4 corridor land use, real estate and local government affairs. He represents businesses and individuals in public and government law matters, with a focus on land use, environmental, real estate, banking, corporate and higher education.
A Central Florida native, Jason is an active thought leader in the real estate development space, serving on the Municipal Planning Board for the City of Orlando and as the firm representative for the Association of Florida Community Developers. He also serves as an assistant city attorney for the Towns of Astatula, Windermere, and Howey-in-the-Hills, and the cities of Fort Meade, Polk City and Wauchula. He also represents the District Board of Trustees of Seminole State College.
Jason received his J.D. and MBA from Stetson University and his B.A. from Furman University.
Jason Woody President & Chief Executive Officer
Lions World Vision Institute
jason.woody@lwvi.org (813) 928-1969
West Central Region
Jason and his dedicated team have helped bring the “gift of sight” to over 160,000 men, women and children around the world. His true commitment to help those who are blind or visually impaired has been demonstrated by his 33-year tenure with the Lions World Vision Institute.
Jason is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program and the Jim Moran Institute Small Business Executive Program at FSU. He serves on multiple boards and committees such as the Tampa Bay Economic Development Counsel, Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce, Donate Services Laboratory and Donate Life America.
In addition, Jason serves on the Organ and Tissue Education Panel for Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration to represent the interests of the public with regard to increasing the number of organ and tissue donors within the state.
Jennifer Johnson Founder and Author
True Fashionistas
jennifer@truefashionistas.com (239) 450-3600
Southwest Region
Jennifer is a multifaceted entrepreneur, author and podcast host and is actively involved in her community. She owns True Fashionistas (Florida’s largest lifestyle resale store), Pink Farmhouse (online store), and The Confident Entrepreneur, which encompasses her podcast, blog, motivational speaking and coaching business for women entrepreneurs. She is also a twotime author with her newest book, Grace and Grit: Becoming a Confident Entrepreneur, hitting Amazon Best Seller Status three times.
Jennifer and her husband, Brad, started True Fashionistas in 2011. After moving to Naples from Minnesota, they realized the need for a store like True Fashionistas right in Collier County. They came up with a concept to combine designer brands like Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Gucci along with brands like Lululemon and Lilly Pulitzer. 100% of their merchandise is also for sale on their website as well as many other platforms online, allowing them to have worldwide reach.
Jessi
Truett
Director of Research and Development
Andrews Research & Education Foundation
jessica.truett@andrewsref.org (850) 356-8835
Northwest Region
Jessi is a dynamic professional who combines her expertise in behavior analysis with a passion for science and athletics. As the director of research and development at the Andrews Research & Education Foundation, she drives innovative advancements in regenerative medicine, fueled by her lifelong dedication to excellence in science and athletics.
As a board-certified behavior analyst, Jessi extends her impact by serving as an adjunct professor at the University of West Florida’s Center for Behavior Analysis Graduate Program. An alumna of the same university, she is currently pursuing a doctorate in human performance technology.
Jessi is deeply committed to her community, actively volunteering with organizations such as The Pensacola Mess Hall, Autism Pensacola, the Escambia County Animal Shelter and the Escambia County School District.
Balancing her professional and community efforts, Jessi enjoys an active lifestyle with her husband, Chet, and their children, Ollie and Cy.
Jim Haj President/CEO
The Children’s Trust jhaj@thechildrenstrust.org (786) 299-8822
Southeast Region
Jim joined The Children’s Trust as president and CEO in April 2016. With him at the helm, The Trust investment in programs and services for children and families in Miami-Dade County has risen to its highest levels. At the same time, administrative expenses dropped to their lowest percentage in the organization’s history. He also expanded funding for emergency assistance programs, strengthening neighborhood support, and serving as an essential voice for children and families during unprecedented hardships.
With a lifelong dedication to education, Jim’s journey began in Miami as a teacher, progressing to the roles of middle and high school principal. His extensive experience culminated in his appointment as assistant superintendent of MiamiDade County Public Schools, a position that prepared him well for his current role at The Trust.
Jim received an MBA in business management from UM and a B.S. in education from FSU. He and his wife, Karen, are parents of three children.
Jose Juarez President/CEO
Victory Solutions jose@victorysolutions.com (352) 572-9405
East Central Region
Jose was born in Havana, Cuba, and at the age of 5, his family immigrated to the U.S. He previously served as vice president of sales at Mark III in Ocala and at StarCraft Automotive in Indiana. In 2003, he founded Victory Solutions – a direct marketing and customer follow-up company specializing in the motorcycle industry.
In 2015, Jose won the grand prize in the America’s Next Grill Star competition and was awarded the title of America’s Next Grill Star by the Food Network chefs, returning to the show five times as a guest chef. In 2016, he founded BarbaCuban, LLC, a specialty sauce company based in Ocala.
Jose has worked on many fundraising events with Publix, HUGS, Royal Dames, United Way for the Kimberly Center, Marion County First Responders charity, and Boys and Girls Club.
Jose met his wife, Kelly Dority, while they were students at FSU. They got married in 1986 and have two children and four grandchildren.
Julie
Price President/CEO
Arc Broward
jprice@arcbroward.com (954) 732-1668
Gold Coast Region
Julie has served in leadership for 38 years and is a champion for children and adults with disabilities. She provides inspirational leadership and direction for the organization and is focused on designing and delivering cutting-edge programs that transform the lives of people with disabilities. She has a stellar reputation in her industry and with her legion of partners, supporters and team members. Julie has been blessed with so many opportunities at Arc Broward and has committed her life to advocating for and supporting our community’s most vulnerable citizens, children and adults with disabilities.
Julie is a native of Broward County and proud FSU graduate. She is active in many state and local organizations, serving on boards that fill her passions. She’s incredibly proud of her daughter, a recent graduate of Flagler College. Julie enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and friends.
Kenyatta Lee Chief of External Affairs
Greater Orlando Aviation Authority
kenyatta.lee@goaa.org (561) 337-0195
East Central Region
In her current role, Kenyatta oversees public affairs, government affairs, board services and special projects. She takes pride in working with highperforming teams to enhance Florida’s multimodal transportation network.
Previously, she served in several leadership roles with the Florida Department of Transportation, Hillsborough Area Regional Transit, Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Jacksonville Port Authority and the Port of Palm Beach.
Kenyatta has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Bethune-Cookman University and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix. She was named a Businesswoman of the Year by the Tampa Bay Business Journal in 2018.
Kenyatta and her husband Tyrone have two amazing kids who are thriving at Florida colleges. Kenyatta enjoys spending time with her family volunteering and embarking on fun travel adventures.
Kristen Anderson
Senior
Director
of Enterprise Communications and Creative Services
Florida Blue
kristen.anderson@bcbsfl.com (440) 463-6359
Northeast Region
Kristen is responsible for leading executive communications, internal communications and creative services for GuideWell and Florida Blue, developing the company’s thought leadership strategy to amplify its reputation.
Kristen previously served as director of communications for Feeding Northeast Florida, strategic account executive with Dalton Agency and public communications officer for the City of Jacksonville. She also spent a decade in television news as an anchor and reporter for stations across the East Coast.
Kristen holds a B.S. in broadcast journalism from Ohio University and is a graduate of GuideWell’s Leadership Academy.
A proud wife and mother, Kristen enjoys spending time with her family doing all that Florida has to offer, from zoo trips to Sunday morning church service.
Lisa
Davis Director, Corporate Community Impact
JM Family Enterprises
Lisa.Davis@jmfamily.com (954) 540-2172
Gold Coast Region
Originally from New Jersey, Lisa began her career at the New Jersey State Aquarium, where she developed and managed the volunteer program. After dedicating seven years to the nonprofit sector, she moved to Florida and joined JM Family Enterprises, Inc. She has spent the past two decades contributing to the company’s corporate giving and associate engagement initiatives. Her current role involves overseeing budget, leading efforts to create positive change and supporting causes that impact the community.
Beyond her work at JM Family, Lisa’s commitment to service extends to her involvement in numerous committees and boards. Additionally, she actively participates in service organizations like Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs, demonstrating her dedication to making a difference both locally and beyond.
Lisa’s professional and personal lives are deeply intertwined. She excels in her career and volunteers at her daughter’s school, showcasing her commitment to supporting education and fostering community connections.
Lisa Johnson Chief Executive Officer
Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida ljohnson@gssef.org (561) 722-8000
Gulfstream Region
Lisa was raised in St. Lucie County. After graduating from UCF, she moved to Charlotte, NC where she embarked on a career in mission-driven work with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the American Red Cross. She earned her MBA from UNC Charlotte. She moved back to Florida in 1996 and joined the team at Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida.
A graduate of Leadership Palm Beach County, Lisa served as board chair from 2018-2019 and led the organization’s strategic planning in 2023. She was recognized with the LPBC’s Leadership Excellence Award in 2024. She also earned certificates for both DEI in the Workplace and Inclusive Leadership.
Lisa’s community involvement includes serving as a South Florida Fair director and founding member and tri-president of Impact the Palm Beaches.
Lisa and her husband are proud parents of two sons and have embarked on a quest to see a game in every major league baseball stadium.
Lori Wheeler Vice President
Marine
Industries
Association of South Florida
lori@miasf.org (561) 239-2870
Gold Coast Region
Lori has lived in Broward County for over 12 years. She grew up in Palm Beach County after moving to South Florida from Massachusetts. She received her degree from Palm Beach State College and also attended Florida Atlantic University.
Before joining the Marine Industries Association of South Florida, Lori managed the State’s Traffic & Bicycle Safety Education Program for the Boca Raton Police Services Department, serving as the City’s liaison to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board. Her career also includes roles as a customer service supervisor and account manager for local companies.
Lori is a prominent community leader, serving on the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and co-chairing its Marine Advisory Council. She is a member of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance Board and chairs the Yacht Service Technician Apprenticeship Program. Her involvement extends to the Winterfest Foundation, CareerSource Broward Workforce Development Board and Habitat for Humanity of Broward.
Mindi Richter
St. Petersburg Managing Partner, IP & Tech Regional Service Line Leader Shumaker mrichter@shumaker.com (312) 498-2034
West Central Region
An experienced trial lawyer, Mindi is board-certified by the Florida Bar as an intellectual property law specialist and litigates intellectual property cases of all types around the country. She also frequently handles trademark cases before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
In addition to litigation, Mindi has extensive experience in transactional intellectual property matters. She routinely counsels clients in developing patent, copyright, and trademark portfolios and handles trademark and copyright prosecution matters. She also guides clients in negotiating, developing, and drafting licenses, assignments, and other intellectual property contracts. In addition, she frequently evaluates the intellectual property aspects of mergers, acquisitions, and financings.
When she’s not providing intellectual property advice, Mindi enjoys spending time outdoors playing golf and boating.
Paris Owens
AVP, Northeast FL Practice Administrator
Nemours Children’s Health paris.owens@nemours.org (904) 254-6501
Northeast Region
Paris has been in healthcare operations for more than 19 years and is passionate about developing and implementing new strategies to improve efficiency and effectiveness. He started at Nemours Children’s Health in 2016, serving in an operations leadership role. His responsibilities included overseeing operations for the Department of Surgery, anesthesia, and multiple medical divisions within the Department of Pediatrics. In his current role, he is responsible for all day-to-day operations in Northeast Florida and the greater Jacksonville service area.
Paris is committed to giving back to his community and serving people. His community involvement includes membership on the First Coast Advisory Board for Blessing in a Backpack. He is also an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated.
Paris earned his B.S. in business administration from Alcorn State University followed by his MBA from Troy University. Paris, his wife Victoria, and son are proud to call Jacksonville home.
Ray Hawat
Deputy Client Account Lead, State of Florida
Accenture ray.hawat@accenture.com (813) 368-7562
West Central Region
Ray’s life story is one of resilience, leadership, and unwavering commitment to community service and education, as a first-generation college graduate. As a teenager, he moved to Florida with little money or English and a big American dream. He then learned (and is still learning) English and earned his Ph.D. at USF in computer science and computer engineering with a focus on artificial intelligence.
In his current role, Ray serves the sectors of education, municipalities, non-profit, public safety, critical infrastructure, transportation and state agencies. He partners with executives to drive transformations and value through co-innovation. His leadership extends into impactful community involvement, notably with Metropolitan Ministries addressing youth homelessness, After School All Stars and the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation.
Ray is a devoted family man and shares his life with his wife, Jenny, and their three children, Maya, Omar and Tarek, as well as their Maltese, Luca. They enjoy traveling and great food.
Reggie Zachariah, Jr. Shareholder
Greenberg Traurig reggie.zachariah@gtlaw.com (954) 294-7746
Gold Coast Region
Reggie focuses his practice on private equity transactions; mergers and acquisitions; corporate restructurings and counseling boards and senior management. He was previously a financial analyst, focusing on mergers and acquisitions for a public company.
Reggie served on the Judicial Nominating Commission for the 17th Circuit from 2012-2018, including vice chair and chair from 2014-2016. Currently, he serves on the Broward College Board of Governors, NSU Art Museum Board of Governors, the Association for Corporate Growth Board of Directors, and the Kids in Distress Elevate Event Committee. He is a founding member of the American Heart Association’s Broward PULSE young professionals’ group and has served on the Ghost Light Soiree Host Committee to benefit the Broward Performing Arts Center, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Beach Bash event committee, Leadership Broward’s Emerge Broward, and Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s event committee.
Reggie has a J.D. from UF and a B.S. in economics from the University of Pennsylvania.
Ron Piccolo
Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives & Assistant to the Provost
University of Central Florida rpiccolo@ucf.edu (407) 929-0792
East Central Region
Ron’s research, teaching and consulting expertise is in strategic planning, leadership development, interpersonal relationships, motivation and performance. From 2020-2023, he served as a special assistant to UCF President Alexander Cartwright. He currently teaches courses in leadership, organizational behavior, research methods and management strategy. At Rollins College, he received the Cornell Distinguished Teaching Award (2015-2016) and the Cornell Distinguished Faculty Award (2011-2012). His co-authored textbook, Organizational Behavior, was recently published in its third edition.
Ron currently serves on the Board of Directors for 1858 Capital Partners. In 2017, he received the Don Quijote Hispanic Community Champion award from the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Prospera.
Ron earned a Ph.D. in management from UF, an MBA from Rollins, and a B.S. in mathematics from Stetson University.
Roshell Rinkins
VP/Grants Administration and Chief DEI Officer
John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
rinkins@kf.org (754) 224-0027
Southeast Region
Roshell, a South Florida native born to Haitian immigrants, has worked in strategic sourcing, procurement and supply chain management at some of the nation’s top companies. Currently, she advances grantmaking at the foundation and drives their core belief of engaged, equitable and inclusive communities.
Roshell currently chairs the NMSDC Foundation Leadership Circle, sits on the board of the Florida Philanthropic Network, is a member of Pipeline Angels and served The Miami Foundation’s Saltwater Fellowship Advisory Council. She was recently featured by Miami Today for the category “Best at Tearing Down Barriers to Unite the Community,” highlighting her commitment to building stronger, more equitable, and inclusive communities.
Roshell earned both her B.S. and MBA from FAMU. Last year, she represented Miami as a participant of Harvard Business School’s Young American Leaders Program.
She is married to Zachary, a thirdgeneration Miamian.
Ryan Holmes
AVP for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
University of Miami
ryanholmes@miami.edu (305) 323-0292
Southeast Region
In his current role, Ryan oversees student conduct, Greek life, student crisis, alcohol and other drug education, veterans’ services, and the chaplain’s association. He presents and has publications on social justice, conflict resolution, student conduct and diversity/equity/inclusion. He consults nationally and internationally and has hosted numerous webinars and trainings. He is also a past president of the Association for Student Conduct Administration.
Ryan completed a BME from Loyola University – New Orleans in music education, a Master of Arts degree in counseling and personnel services from the University of MarylandCollege Park, a second master’s in bilingual/bicultural studies from La Salle University and his Ed.D. in educational leadership and administration from the University of Texas at El Paso.
Ryan is from Shreveport, LA and has two children. He has one U.S. state (Hawaii) and two continents (Antarctica and South America) left to visit, and yearns to experience more in Florida.
Shairi Turner Chief Health Officer
Crisis Text Line
shairi@crisistextline.org (617) 905-3746
Northwest Region
With more than two decades of experience in mental health, traumainformed practices and suicide prevention, Shairi has demonstrated a commitment to and advocacy for people in crisis. She is an internist and pediatrician who leads policy, advocacy and partnership initiatives to address the mental health epidemic.
A graduate of Stanford, Case Western, and Harvard with degrees in medicine and public health, she was the inaugural chief medical director for the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice and the deputy secretary for health at the Florida Department of Health. She was also a faculty consultant with The National Center for Trauma-Informed Care and co-director of the U.S. Office on Women’s Health Trauma-Informed Medicine e-Cases. She co-hosted NIKE’s No Off-Season Podcast and was a mental health expert with outlets like Meet the Press, CNN and NPR.
Shairi and husband Jimmie Davis have been proud Tallahassee residents for almost two decades and have two children in college.
Shari Bower
Regional Executive
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta shari.bower@atl.frb.org (917) 626-2441
Southeast Region
Shari has worked for the Federal Reserve since 2004, helping to advance its public service mission. She currently leads the bank’s public outreach and community affairs initiatives across South Florida. Her work with business leaders in the branch’s 13-county area brings real-time economic insights to monetary policy deliberations. She also oversees the branch’s board of directors and advisory council.
Shari began her career at the New York Fed and joined the Atlanta Fed in 2020. She is a policy expert who previously focused on payments and financial market infrastructure. She serves on the boards of Junior Achievement of Greater Miami and the Center for Financial Training International.
A native of Queens, New York, Shari earned a B.S. in international relations and anthropology from Tufts University and an MPA from NYU. She is married to a Miamian and spends her free time cheering at her daughters’ soccer games with their dog Daisy and practicing yoga to recover.
Shawn Smith
General Manager, FL Operations
Boston Red Sox
shawnsmith@redsox.com (704) 918-3113
Southwest Region
Shawn’s career in professional sports spans 30+ years with pivotal roles within the Boston Red Sox organization, and he is the driving force behind a multi-faceted operation in Florida. He was previously with the National Basketball Association as the vice president and chief marketing officer of the NBA Development League (now the Gatorade League) and vice president of the NBA’s esteemed Team Marketing and Business Operations division.
Shawn also devotes time to the Horizon Council, Lee County Foundation for Public Schools, Captains for Clean Water and a multitude of other organizations.
Shawn earned his master’s from Syracuse University and his undergraduate degree from Purdue University. He was inducted into Syracuse University’s Newhouse Professional Gallery (2012) and Providence Day School’s Athletic Hall of Fame (2007).
Though their children are spread across the country, Shawn and his wife Heather call Charlotte County their home.
Shontra Powell
VP Sales & Marketing, Harsh & Heavy Industrial Hubbell shontrapowell@gmail.com (262) 349-0221
Southwest Region
Shontra is a global business leader with more than 30 years of experience leading business strategic growth initiatives, large-scale business transformation initiatives and operational P&Ls for Fortune 500 multinational industrial and service industry firms. She has deep experience working with corporate board leadership. She has a track record of delivering operations and growth strategies to startup and growth phase companies as an accredited investor and advisor.
Shontra has served on non-profit boards for more than 25 years and is a writer and published author. She established the women’s lifestyle brand, Proven Not Perfect™️ in 2021, launching a podcast that serves a global community of listeners. In 2023, she launched a YouTube channel, expanding her content and community.
Shontra has an executive MBA from Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management and a BBA in finance from Loyola University of New Orleans. She is a proud mom of three and a wife to her best friend Andre.
Tom Palermo Circuit Judge
Hillsborough County 13th Judicial Circuit thomas.palermo@fljud13.org (813) 892-5984
West Central Region
Tom has served as a circuit judge since 2019, presiding in unified family court (dependency, delinquency and domestic relations). He is the recipient of the Patton Outstanding Jurist Award and the Cabassa Award for leadership in the Hispanic community.
He previously served for 12 years as a federal prosecutor at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. There he served in the Transnational Organized Crime, Violent Crime & Narcotics, Economic Crimes, and Organized Crime Sections. He served as the district opioid coordinator, leading the anti-opioid efforts for the secondlargest district in the U.S. He was also the human trafficking task force coordinator and had TS/SCI clearance.
Tom has an LL.M. from King’s College London in banking and finance, a J.D. from FSU, and a B.A. from American University. He is the proud father of a 14-year-old future Eagle Scout and owner of his rescue dog, Apollo.
Trina
Medarev President & CEO
World Affairs Council of Jacksonville
trina@worldaffairscounciljax.org (904) 563-4898
Northeast Region
Under Trina’s direction, the World Affairs Council of Jacksonville has grown from a small organization to a vital one reaching thousands of individuals every year through several acclaimed speaker series, educational programming, special events and an expanding network of young professionals.
Trina has been recognized as a Woman of Influence by the Jacksonville Business Journal and named the 2020 International Individual of the Year by the JAXUSA Partnership for support of international business growth in the Northeast Florida region.
With her passion for learning about the world and its people, Trina enjoyed leading the Israel: Land of Cultural Treasures Tour in March 2020 and a Classical Mediterranean Cruise exploring Malta, Tunisia and Sicily in May 2024 via the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia’s flagship Travel the World program. She is looking forward to leading a tour of Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea in July 2025.
Trina is the mother to FSU graduates Steven and Katie.
Veronica Nur Valdes
Senior Vice President
Moss & Associates
vvaldes@mosscm.com (305) 323-2444
Southeast Region
Veronica is a seasoned leader known for her direct and sharp approach to getting results and growing business. She joined Moss in 2023 after a series of leadership roles in a range of industries and organizations, including Meta, Bacardi-Martini, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Citrix and Restaurant Brands International (Burger King, Popeyes and Tim Hortons).
At Moss, Veronica is responsible for making sure the mission, vision and targets are clearly understood and embraced. She also ensures that resources and efforts are aligned with long-term goals and objectives. Her experience in executive counseling, thought leadership and corporate communications has given her the perfect toolkit to set a tone from the top that resonates across different audiences and moves them to achieve more.
Veronica is a lifelong Miami resident of Cuban American heritage and fully fluent in English and Spanish.
West Herford President & CEO
On Ideas west@onideas.com (904) 450-5001
Northeast Region
West is an accomplished marketing professional with a diverse background in global advertising and PR. He began his career at DDB Paris, where he mastered the art of navigating spirited debates with the French. He later held leadership positions at global agencies including Grey, DDB London, and Arnold/Havas. Along the way, he raced go-karts against Formula 1 champions and sipped Tennessee whiskey with Chinese focus groups.
West’s leadership style encourages open discussions and embraces diverse perspectives, allowing a wide range of voices to contribute ideas and facilitate professional development.
West serves on the board of Hubbard House domestic violence shelter. He also volunteers and provides pro bono services to numerous organizations, such as All Faiths Food Bank, Don’t Miss A Beat, United Way of Northeast Florida, the Community Foundation for Northeast Florida’s Women’s Giving Alliance and Wolfson Children’s Hospital.
West has a B.A. from UNC-Chapel Hill and an MBA from UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School.
Zayne Smith Director of Advocacy
AARP
zsmith@aarp.org (850) 228-4243
Calusa Region
In her current role, Zayne leads efforts and strategy on issues including longterm care, prescription drugs, health care, utilities, elections, housing and consumer protection policy. She has represented AARP Florida on various coalitions and advisory groups.
Zayne was honored with the 2023 Above & Beyond Award, recognizing her as one of Florida’s 40 most influential women in government and public service. Previously, she worked as a lawyer/lobbyist on health, poverty, and immigration policy at the Alabama Appleseed Center for Law & Justice, testifying before the U.S. Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Human Rights Coalition.
Zayne holds a B.A. in history and a J.D. from Thomas Goode Jones School of Law. Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, she is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Zayne enjoys tackling DIY home projects, getting lost in a good detective mystery and exploring the great outdoors with her partner, Lisa Marie.
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ONLINE MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY
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LEADERSHIP FLORIDA 2024-2025 CORNERSTONE CLASS PROGRAM
RON CHRISTALDI 2024-2025 Board Chair
Cornerstone Class 36 p
A renowned business lawyer, Ron has a preeminent law practice in both transactions and litigation at Shumaker, the largest business law firm in Tampa Bay. He served the maximum of six years under Shumaker’s term limits on the firm wide management committee and as Tampa Managing Partner, and he continues to serve as President/CEO of its public affairs company, Shumaker Advisors.
Ron’s community efforts are extraordinary. Previously named by Florida Trend Magazine as one of the top 100 lawyers in Florida and by the TBBJ as one of the 100 most influential lawyers in the nation and the Power 100 in Tampa Bay, Ron is the Chair of the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council, Chair of Leadership Florida, Chair elect of the Tampa Museum of Art Board of Trustees, Vice Chair of the New College of Florida Board of Trustees, and a founding board member of the African American Arts and Cultural Center.
Ron is also a past Chair of the Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce, and he has served in the chair or vice-chair role for The Spring (the largest domestic violence shelter in Tampa Bay) , the Business Committee for the Arts, AMI Kids YES, and the City of Tampa’s Cultural Assets Commission. His philanthropy is pervasive, including having served as Chair of the Lions World Vision Institute Eye Ball, the American Heart Association Heart Ball, AMI’s 50th Anniversary Gala, and as Chair of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Light the Night walk.
Ron is often quietly behind the scenes with some of the most important issues facing the region. For example, former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn appointed him to serve as a Commissioner on the City of Tampa Charter Review Commission, where he played an instrumental role in re-writing the City Charter. Ron has played a role in the Sister City relationships with South Dublin, Ireland and Agrigento, Italy. He is a frequent participant in economic development trade missions from the region and has traveled with elected officials and business leaders to London, Frankfurt, Bogota, Toronto, Mexico City, Casablanca, and Santiago, Chile to advance the business interests of the region. Ron and his friend Chuck Sykes led the Rays 2020 stadium efforts, and he is a known influencer in Tallahassee. As Chamber Chair, Ron brokered historic accords with the Chambers in South Dublin and Panama.
Most important to Ron are his five children, Michael (19) , Aidan (19) , Joseph (17) , Julia (16) and Juliet (14) .
WENDY SPENCER
President & CEO
Cornerstone Class 24 p
Before joining Leadership Florida in March 2017, Wendy completed a five-year term as the chief executive officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) , often referred to as the “Nation’s Top CEO of Service.” Wendy was nominated for this federal agency role by President Obama and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment unanimously. CNCS is a $1.1 billion agency which annually invests an additional $1.26 billion in matching local support to engage 345,000 Americans in local community service through AmeriCorps, VISTA and Senior Corps and connects millions of volunteers in programs across the nation.
Wendy served Governors Jeb Bush, Charlie Crist and Rick Scott as the CEO of the Florida Governor’s Commission on Volunteerism where she managed millions of dollars in federal, state, and local grants each year. During the state’s record-breaking 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons, the agency led the state of Florida’s coordination of donations worth more than $85 million and engaged 252,000 volunteers, the largest mobilization of volunteers in the history of U.S. natural disasters at that time. Under Gov. Bush, she also served as director of the Florida Park Service. She currently serves as national trustee on the City Year national board and has been named on the Miami Herald Top 50 Florida Influencers.
Wendy was appointed by President George W. Bush to the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation. She was named a NonProfit Times “Top 50 Leader,” an “Influencer in Aging” by Public Broadcasting Service’s Next Avenue program and served as chair of the American Association of State Service Commissions. She has delivered more than 1,800 speeches, presentations, and trainings throughout her career.
Wendy holds a B.A. in fine arts and speech communications from Valdosta State University. She and her husband Ron have four sons, four daughters-in-law, two granddaughters and three grandsons. She enjoys golf, snow skiing, travel, playing croquet, pickle ball and watching all sports, especially Florida State University!
LEADERSHIP FLORIDA 2024-2025 CORNERSTONE CLASS PROGRAM
ABBEY STEWART
Director of Class Programs
Education
Class 6
Abbey joined Leadership Florida in August 2023 as the director of class programs. She oversees the programming and execution of all Leadership Florida classes: Cornerstone, Connect, Education, and Executive, including the recruitment and selection process for each class. Abbey knows first-hand the value and importance of Leadership Florida as she is a proud member of Education Class 6.
Before joining Leadership Florida, Abbey spent almost a decade at the Florida Department of Education where she held various key roles focusing on improving Educator Quality. Most recently, she served as the chief for the Bureau of Educator Recruitment, Development, Retention, Recognition and Preparation where her team worked to ensure every student had access to the quality education she would expect for her own son and recognizing educators for the positive impact they have on the lives of Florida’s students.
Abbey was born and raised in Miami and is a proud graduate of Florida State University. She lives in Tallahassee with her husband Jason and teenage son Bryce. She loves the beach, travel, great food, good books, and Seminole football!
CARLY LEES
Class Program Manager
Carly came to Leadership Florida in August 2022. Prior to joining Leadership Florida, she served as a program manager for an association management company. In this role, she worked with the National Association of Dental Laboratories, the National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology, and the Foundation of Dental Laboratory Technology. She also previously worked as a meeting coordinator with the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association. In 2019, she was awarded the Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine Board Chair’s Recognition of Extraordinary Accomplishments for coordinating mandatory continuing education on prescribing opioids for over 1,000 Florida physicians and licensed health care professionals.
Carly is a member of the Florida Society of Association Executives and the Florida League of Women Voters. She was born and raised in Tallahassee and proudly graduated from Stetson University in DeLand in 2015 with a degree in communications.
In her free time, Carly enjoys trips to the beach and spending time with friends and family.
LEADERSHIP FLORIDA 2024-2025 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ron Christaldip Board Chair
Shumaker
Cornerstone Class 36
West Central Region
Brian Carterp Audit Chair
Mauldin & Jenkins
Cornerstone Class 38
Calusa Region
Kate Cotner
Connect Class 14
Chair
Florida Power & Light Company
Connect Class 12
Gulfstream Region
Chris Hand
Region Chair Rep. Hand Law
Cornerstone Class 36
Northeast Region
Karen Moorep
Florida Chamber of Commerce Rep.
The Moore Agency
Cornerstone Class 14
Northwest Region
Mark Bennettp
At-Large Member
Bank of America
Cornerstone Class 40
Northeast Region
Michael Wynnp Chair-Elect
Sunshine Ace Hardware
Cornerstone Class 30
Southwest Region
Aundra Wallace Development Chair
JAXUSA Partnership
Cornerstone Class 34
Northeast Region
Jennifer Vignep
Education Class 9 Co-Chair
Education Foundation of Sarasota County
Education Class 4 Calusa Region
Scott Daiglep Cornerstone Class President
TD Bank
Cornerstone Class 41
West Central Region
Mark Wilsonp
Florida Chamber of Commerce Rep.
Florida Chamber of Commerce
Cornerstone Class 26
Northwest Region
Amy Manganp Past-Chair
AdventHealth
Cornerstone Class 37
East Central Region
Robin DeLaVergnep Governance Chair
Tampa General Hospital
Cornerstone Class 38
West Central Region
Ashley Brownp Region Chair Rep.
Women’s Resource Center
Cornerstone Class 31 Calusa Region
Kim Vassar Connect Class President Arc Broward
Connect Class 13
Gold Coast Region
George Formanp
At-Large Member
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office
Cornerstone Class 36
Gulfstream Region
Ex-Officio:
Fred Karlinskyp General Counsel
Greenberg Traurig
Cornerstone Class 36
Gold Coast Region
Allison Hillp Secretary/ Treasurer
LifeView Group
Cornerstone Class 36
Northwest Region
Bemetra Simmonsp
Cornerstone Class 42 Chair
Tampa Bay Partnership
Cornerstone Class 38
West Central Region
Ellice Martinezp Region Chair Rep.
HCA Florida Healthcare
Connect Class 10
Gold Coast Region
Danté Jenningsp Education Class President
Jacksonville Public Education Fund
Education Class 8
Northeast Region
Jeanette Yaegerp At-Large Member
Greatness, Inc.
Cornerstone Class 38
Northwest Region
Wendy Spencerp President and CEO
Leadership Florida
Cornerstone Class 24
Northwest Region
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CORNERSTONE CLASS 42
River Ranch
October 25-27, 2024 (Friday-Sunday)
Jacksonville
December 11-13, 2024 (Wednesday-Friday)
Tallahassee
January 13-15, 2025 (Monday-Wednesday)
Tampa
March 5-7, 2025 (Wednesday-Friday)
Miami
April 22-24, 2025 (Tuesday-Thursday)
Tampa
June 5-8, 2025 (Thursday-Sunday)
