President’s Circle

Robert Sadler Clark

THE PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE

OF THE WELLINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

OUR PRESIDENT’S CIRCLE MEMBERSHIP is comprised of

top prominent local business leaders, community leaders and entrepreneurs. This trustee level of the Chamber grows every year and is a perfect opportunity to maintain a highly visible profile in the community.

Peter was born in Camden, NJ but calls Boca Raton, FL his hometown. He has been married to his wife, Terri, since 1988. Terri is originally from Knoxville, TN but has always “felt led” to the beach. She is a pediatric nurse, and they have three grown children.

Peter received his B.A. in Christian Education/ Psychology from Taylor University, and his M.Div. from Westminster Theological Seminary and Reformed Theological Seminary. He is also certified in Human Resource Administration from Florida Atlantic University. Peter has been working in pastoral ministry since 1990 and has been serving at the Church in Wellington for the past 10 years. Peter is also serving as the Chairman of the Board of Knox Theological Seminary in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Peter is an avid runner, water lover, sometimes golfer, always reader, and loves to simply connect with people. Terri is also an avid runner, water lover, and gifted wife and mom. Keep up with Peter on Christ Community’s website, www.cccpalmbeach.com.

Peter Bartuska

Mark Bellissimo

CEO, Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) and International Equestrian Group LLC; Managing Partner, Wellington Equestrian Partners, Tryon Equestrian Partners, Colorado Equestrian Partners; Publisher, The Chronicle of the Horse magazine. Mark J. Bellissimo is Managing Partner and the largest shareholder of Wellington Equestrian Partners LLC (WEP). As such, he is responsible for all operations of the partnership, including Equestrian Sport Productions, LLC, which owns and manages the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, considered one of the finest equestrian facilities in the world. ESP operates the world-famous Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) as well as the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival. Palm Beach International Equestrian Center is host to WEF, the largest and longest running horse show in the world which attracts almost 6,000 horses from all 50 states and 43 countries and awards over $13 million in prize money. Mark Bellissimo and partners also own The International Polo Club Palm Beach and The Wanderer’s Club in Wellington. These premier equestrian facilities contribute more than $200 million of economic impact to Palm Beach County every year.

Newer projects include the renowned Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) in Tryon, NC, and the Colorado Horse Park in Parker, CO. In 2016, TIEC hosted the U.S. Pony Club Championships East and the American Eventing Championships. The Colorado Horse Park hosted the 2016 NAJYRC. Tryon International Equestrian Center also held the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018. Bellissimo has launched a new venture called Buildz, LLC in NC which is a fully automated robotic modular construction factory for commercial and residential structures less than six stories which will represent a revolutionary approach to fast cycle time, low cost, high quality construction targeting apartments, hotels, senior care, affordable housing, campus housing, and high volume single family homes.

Bellissimo received his bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College and his MBA from the Harvard Business School. Bellissimo, along with his daughter Paige, are the co-founders of the Great Charity Challenge, presented by Fidelity Investments®, which is run by ESP and supported by the WEP partners. The event has raised more than $13.5 million in the last 10 years for more than 240 local Palm Beach County charities. He is the publisher of The Chronicle of the Horse magazine, one of the country’s oldest equestrian publications, based in Middleburg, VA.

Carrie Combes

I joined Edward Jones in 2014 as a financial adviser in Wellington, and continue to serve investors across the country. I began my career in the financial services industry in 2002, focusing on retirement and estate considerations. I became a limited partner with Edward Jones in 2018. I am a graduate of the University of Illinois, where I earned a B.S. in International, Consumer and Resource Economics and an M.S. in Agricultural Economics.

In 2015, I was awarded the CFP® certification. The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. awards CFP® certification to individuals who meet the board’s requirements for professionalism in financial services. I have served Edward Jones through numerous leadership roles, such as a hiring team leader and mentor. I currently serve as the Culture of Compliance Leader for more than 40 branch teams on the east coast of Florida. My husband, Paul, and I have one son, George. We are originally from Central Illinois and relocated to Florida in 2012. I am also a member of the Palm Beach Society of the Four Arts Contemporaries.

Our branch offers more than 30 years of combined experience, and we are dedicated to providing our clients with the highest level of service possible. All aspects of our business are aligned to help us better understand and meet our clients’ unique goals and needs.

Alec L. Domb

Alexander L. Domb is presently a shareholder in The Law Office of Alexander L. Domb, P.A., a law firm specializing in commercial litigation with an emphasis on real estate matters, including real estate transactions and wills and trusts, for more than 32 years. In addition to practicing law, Domb is a member of the Palms West Hospital Board of Trustees, and is a former president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Domb attended the University of Miami undergraduate school of Business Administration, and graduated with a degree in Finance. He also attended the Nova Southeastern School of Law, where he received his Juris Doctor. He is presently a member of the Florida Bar and the Palm Beach County Bar Association. He also maintains a Florida Real Estate Brokers License.

Domb has been married to the former Melody Shernoff for almost 33 years. Melody is a registered nurse and owner of the jewelry design firm Melody Creates. They reside in Wellington, Florida.

Lee Frankhouser

Professional Bank, one of Florida’s fastest-growing financial institutions, announced the arrival of Lee Frankhouser as Executive Vice President/Private Banker. Based in the Palm Beach Gardens office, Frankhouser brings nearly four decades of banking experience to the bank.

Frankhouser spent 10 years as president and COO of Floridian Community Bank, previously based in Davie, which is now owned by Synovus Financial Corp. Under his leadership, Floridian Community Bank grew from $65 million in assets to $650 million. Before that, he served in various executive roles at the former National City Bank (now part of PNC) for nearly three decades. Frankhouser’s addition is an example of how the bank is consistently expanding by hiring top talent. Frankhouser will initially focus on building the bank’s presence in Wellington, where he maintains strong business relationships.

A native of Pittsburgh, Frankhouser has been based in South Florida for more than 15 years. The Jupiter resident is involved with numerous civic and charitable organizations, including Ambassadors of the Honda Classic, the Broward County Sheriff’s Department Foundation, Nova Southeastern University Ambassadors and Advisory Boards and Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center of Wellington. Frankhouser played collegiate baseball and football before earning a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Bethany College in Bethany, W. Va., and a master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Waynesburg University in Waynesburg, Penn.

Jodi is incredibly proud to be a small business owner with her husband, Allen, and to work with their amazing team as Gast Construction Group celebrates its 10th year in business this year.

Born in a small town in Iowa, Jodi had big dreams and goals from an early age. Raised by a father who worked in a factory and a mother who stayed at home and then had a government job, Jodi knew she had to create a different path in order to achieve the life she wanted. Excelling academically, athletically and in leadership roles in high school and college, Jodi achieved success in Iowa, then made moves to South Carolina, then Alabama, and finally to Florida. She prides herself on having her own separate successful 15-year career in the pharmacy technology industry, where she worked with thousands of pharmacies, hospitals and doctors, helping them to open their own small businesses and to automate their pharmacies with technology. In 2016, Jodi walked away from her pharmacy technology career to join her husband and the team at Gast Construction Group full-time, and she couldn’t be more thrilled that she now works in the construction industry.

At Gast Construction Group, Jodi uses her talents not just as an owner but as the company’s CFO, focusing her skills on all aspects of construction accounting. Jodi is also a licensed Realtor® in the State of Florida who currently uses her real estate license and knowledge to build development deals with clients and investors, and to educate other real estate professionals on the value of Gast Construction Group’s construction services.

Jodi is a graduate of Iowa State University, and holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communications. She loves spending time with her family and her two rescue dogs. Jodi is fiercely competitive and has completed two marathons, three half marathons, and was an avid tennis player and CrossFitter until undergoing spinal fusion surgery in 2016. She enjoys boating and fishing with Allen and their two sons.

Jodi Gast

Stuart A. Hack, EA, MS, is the managing member of Hack Tax and Accounting Services LLC. He has provided tax and accounting services to individuals and small businesses since 1988. He has worked closely with high-net-worth individuals, including investment banking executives and business owners, providing them with individual, trust, estate, business and not-for-profit tax preparation and advice. Stuart prides himself on getting to know each client well so that he can serve them on an ongoing basis. Stuart received a bachelor’s in Mathematics and a master’s in Accounting from the State University of New York at Albany, where he also served as one of the play-by-play voices for Albany State Great Dane football and basketball. He is a member of the National Association of Enrolled Agents and the Florida Society of Enrolled Agents. Enrolled Agents are the only federal licensed tax practitioners who specialize in taxation and also have unlimited rights to represent taxpayers before the IRS.

Stuart is a past President (20192020) and the current Treasurer of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. He also chairs the Chamber’s Ambassador Committee and is the former chair of the Small Business Committee. Additionally, Stuart has served on the Board of Directors of Temple Beth Torah. In 2021 Stuart was named Best Accountant in the Best of Palm Beach County contest run by the Palm Beach Post.

A Wellington resident since 2005, Stuart lives with his wife of 29 years, Diann. They have two children, Leah and Corey. In his spare time, this lifelong New York Mets fan watches most sports, and in 2015 performed two standup comedy shows at the Palm Beach Improv. His internet sports-talk radio show, Hack Attack on Sports, which ran for two years, welcomed national sports writers, media personalities and former athletes as guests.

Stuart Hack

Dr. Randy Laurich

In 1998, Dr. Randall Laurich graduated from Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic. He opened his first practice, The Wellness Experience, Inc., in Boca Raton in 2001. After five years of success in that area, he opened his second location, The Wellness Experience of Wellington, also in Florida. After running both offices for two years, he felt a need to live in Wellington to be closer to his practice. He sold his Boca Raton office and has maintained the Wellington location since then. In an attempt to help others become successful, he has structured The Wellness Experience franchise model and formulated a chiropractic coaching program called Chiropractic Adventures. This program encourages community leadership and philanthropy while helping doctors to create successful business relationships. It should be noted that as of October 2021, Dr. Laurich has been in the process of expanding into a new, larger office in Wellington in order to better serve his growing population of patients.

Dr. Laurich has been a member of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce for many years. He has helped create the Medical, Health and Wellness Committee for the Chamber, which has hosted multiple health and wellness events. He has been the Chairman and Co-chairman of Winterfest from 2010-2014. Dr. Laurich was seated on the Board of Directors for the Chamber of Commerce for five years and was President for the 2014-2015 term. He was also among the celebrity judges for 2014 Flavors of Wellington, a Chamber signature event.

Dr. Laurich has served as an administrative volunteer for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life from 2012-2018, helping to raise over $100,000. He is a member of the International Federation of Chiropractors and the Florida Chiropractic Society, and is on the Board of Regents for Sherman College of Chiropractic.

In addition, he is a member of the Palm Beach Ski Club and maintains an active networking organization, which he cohosts, called the Network to Get Work.

Dr. Laurich resides in Wellington and enjoys sharing time and activities with his two children, Hudson and Sophia. He has coached and sponsored recreational activities for children on local teams. He is also active in the community regarding events and activities that benefit people in the area.

Dermot Mac Mahon

Dermot P. Mac Mahon is a Florida Bar licensed attorney and is certified with the Board of Legal Specialization and Education in Real Estate Law. Mr. Mac Mahon was born in Nassau, Bahamas and raised in Miami, Florida. He currently resides in Wellington with his wife and two children, and enjoys water skiing, windsurfing, fishing and tennis.

Michelle Oyola McGovern serves as Corporate Director of Government and Community Relations for Baptist Health, South Florida’s largest nonprofit health care system.

Prior to joining Baptist Health in 2019, Michelle served as a United States Senate State Director and was an 18-year employee with in the office of former U.S. Senator Bill Nelson.

Michelle is past President of the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches, past president of SunFest, and a founding member of West Palm 100. In addition to being a proud member of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, she currently chairs the Palm Beach County Commission on Women, serves on the Board of Directors of the Business Development Board of PBC and the Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County, and is on the Board of Trustees of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches.

Michelle is a Florida native and graduate of Florida Atlantic University. Michelle and her husband, Wellington Vice Mayor John McGovern, have two daughters, Emilia and Victoria.

Michelle McGovern

Florida Power & Light Company External Affairs Manager Stephanie Mitrione is responsible for the communities of Northern and Western Palm Beach County, as well as Okeechobee County. In this role, she serves as the external representative for the company and is responsible for building and maintaining relationships with elected officials and other key stakeholders in these communities. Stephanie joined FPL, the largest rate-regulated electric utility in Florida, in April 2009.

Stephanie takes great pride in being active in her community. Currently, she serves as Chair of the Board of the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, is on the Executive Committee of the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce, and is also on the Board for Quantum House, the Lake Okeechobee Regional Economic Alliance, the South Florida Fair, SunFest, the Economic Council of Okeechobee County and the Okeechobee County Economic Development Corporation. In addition, she is a graduate of the Leadership Palm Beach County Class of 2015 and was the recipient of the 2017 ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award.

Stephanie earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College. She’s a Palm Beach County native, and she and her husband reside in Jupiter with their two children, Bennett and Kaylie.

Stephanie Mitrione

Dawn Quaranta

Dawn Quaranta is the Vice President of Regional Operations at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. She is responsible for all operations for the hospital’s newest Pediatric Specialty Center that opened in Wellington in February 2019. She is also responsible for regional growth initiatives and development.

Dawn has more than 17 years of service with Memorial Healthcare System and Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. Prior to her role in operations, she was the Vice President of Palm Beach Operations and Director of Business Development and Physician Relations for Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. In addition, she served as the Director of Government Relations for Memorial Healthcare System for 10 years.

Jess R. Santamaria

After completing his MBA from the Wharton Graduate Business School and working with IBM in Philadelphia, Jess Santamaria and family in 1974 decided to come to our Western Communities when Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, The Acreage and Loxahatchee Groves had a combined population of less than 4,000 residents.

Jess and his wife Victoria were a young couple with three very young children who needed normal services closer to home. A few years later, Jess started planning the first neighborhood commercial development at the northeast corner of Southern Boulevard and Royal Palm Beach Boulevard. In 1981, Jess brought the first supermarket, the first major drug store, the first medical center (doctors and dentist), the first bank, the first gasoline station, the first McDonalds, etc. Business was not easy, as Jess had to survive the three economic recessions from 1974 through 1993, and the most recent (2006-2011).

Together with the economic difficulties also came opportunities. Working 80 hours a week, Jess and his wife Victoria have converted the above three projects into major successes: The Royal Inn now has 166 suites and rooms, Saratoga Pines and Lakes has 660 homes, and the “Original Wellington Mall” is very successful. Jess also has built more than 3,000 homes in Wellington, the Acreage, Loxahatchee and Royal Palm Beach and several other smaller commercial developments.

Jess has been heavily involved in many public and civic activities since his arrival in 1974, among them: Palm Beach County Commissioner (2006-2014); Palms West Hospital, Chairman of the Board of Trustees (1986-1992); Wellington Regional Medical Center Board of Governors (2002-present); Palms West Chamber of Commerce, President (2000-2001); My Brothers’/Sisters’ Keeper Scholarship Foundation (Founder); My Brothers’/Sisters’ Keeper Charitable Trust (Founder); Citizens for Open Government (Co-Founder); Crestwood Performing Arts League (Co-Founder); and Winterfest 2021 Venue Sponsor.

Today, after 46 years in our Western Communities, Jess continues all his business, civic and community activities together with his wife Victoria and eldest son Chris, who is an attorney.

Michael Stone

Michael Stone is an integral part of the Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) team. He currently serves as the President of ESP, overseeing all aspects of management at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC) as well as holding responsibility for community outreach efforts, alongside marketing and promotional campaigns for ESP. In addition, he oversees management at the new Tryon International Equestrian Center, the Colorado Horse Park and the Rolex Central Park Horse Show. He is the representative and liaison to the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) and other related organizations.

Before joining the ESP Team, Stone worked for the FEI for 10 years, holding an array of job responsibilities during his tenure there. He served as the Secretary General (CEO), Sports Director, Assistant Secretary General and Development Officer during his time in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Stone also held the position of Secretary General for the Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI) in Dublin early in his career. A former International show jumper, he strengthened the Irish show jumping teams, serving as Chef d’Equipe and Team Manager for Irish Equestrian Teams including the Olympics and World Equestrian Games in the ‘90s.

Stone is committed to giving back and serving the community, holding multiple positions in several different committees during his time in Wellington. He was elected President of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce for the 2011 term, and is currently a Board Member of the Central Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of several United States Hunter Jumper Associations and the United States Equestrian Federation Committee as well as a Board Member of the International Jumping Organizers group.