17 minute read
Community Builders
CHRISTINE SYLVAIN
Sylvain is the founder and executive director of the Path to College Fellowship, whose mission is to secure the acceptance of as many high-achieving, low-income students into top-tier universities as possible. Her vision is to answer and address one of society’s most urgent educational inequities: access to higher education. Path to College Fellowship is the way beyond these obstacles for the most overlooked and most hardworking students.
PROFESSIONAL ACCOLADE: The Palm Beach Chamber’s Nonprofi t Leader of the Year 2020 PERSONAL MOTTO: The path to success is not linear. WHO WOULD PLAY HER IN A BIOPIC: I would be honored to be played by Zendaya or Halle Berry. TOP TRAVEL PICKS: Florida Freshwater Springs WHAT SHE WOULD TELL HER YOUNGER SELF: Cut out anything that brings you down. Create rituals and go, baby! There are no limits. HIDDEN TALENTS: I can throw pottery on a wheel and I can sing. FIRST JOB: Radio Shack FAVORITE BOOK: Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie STARTS HER DAY: With co ee and a dog walk GUILTY PLEASURE: Fried food
SARAH ALSOFROM
Senior Director of Community Relations GL Homes
As senior director of community relations for Florida-based GL Homes, one of the largest private homebuilders in the nation, Alsofrom manages statewide philanthropic giving for the company. Each year, GL Homes donates to 150 charities in the Sunshine State and beyond. A Florida native, Alsofrom’s professional background includes careers in the corporate, government, and nonprofi t sectors. She is a past president of the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches and past chair of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches. Alsofrom is the Leadership Florida co-chair for its annual meeting in 2023 in Boca Raton, which will host 800 statewide business leaders.
HOBBIES: Pilates, yoga, gardening, and letter writing AT THE TOP OF HER BUCKET LIST: Attend the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris FAVORITE QUOTE: “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” —Milton Berle ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT (OR STARTING OVER): Don’t burn bridges. In this town, everyone and everything is connected.
MICHAEL J. BURKE
Superintendent School District of Palm Beach County
As the superintendent of the A-rated School District of Palm Beach County, Burke is passionate about ensuring academic excellence and paving the way to post-graduate success for the district’s approximately 170,000 students. With a district employing more than 23,000 people, he oversees Palm Beach County’s largest workforce. His tenure as superintendent began in July 2021 when the school board unanimously elected him, a testament to his extensive experience with all aspects of district operations and administration spanning 25 years.
EDUCATION: Florida State University and Florida Atlantic University TOP BUCKET-LIST DESTINATION: Greece IF HE COULD START OVER, HE WOULD: Be in the U.S. Coast Guard FAVORITE QUOTE: “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.” —Franklin D. Roosevelt HIDDEN TALENT: I’m pretty good with basic carpentry. WHO WOULD PLAY HIM IN A BIOPIC: Edward Norton HOBBIES: Fishing FIND HIM ON WEEKENDS: On the boat GUILTY PLEASURE: Potato chips
MARK BELLISSIMO
CEO Wellington Equestrian Partners
Bellissimo is the founder, managing partner, and largest shareholder of a series of business entities focused on real estate, construction, commerce, and equestrian sport management (entertainment/lifestyle). Equestrian Sports Productions, an entity Bellissimo founded in 2006, is credited with developing Wellington as the world’s premier equestrian lifestyle and sports community, contributing close to $200 million of annual economic impact to Palm Beach County.
EDUCATION: Middlebury College and Harvard Business School FAVORITE QUOTE: “Fortune favors the bold.” BEST ADVICE HE’S RECEIVED: Don’t let others defi ne you. STARTS HIS DAY: Telling my wife I love her. AT THE TOP OF HIS BUCKET LIST: Dramatically increasing accessibility of workforce housing through my construction technology company, Buildz. HIDDEN TALENT: Creating fi reworks displays. FIRST JOB: A paper route when I was 10
STANTON COLLEMER
CEO Cancer Alliance of Help & Hope
Collemer moved to South Florida in 1980 and began a 16-year career in hospitality at the renowned resort The Breakers Palm Beach. Stanton took his work ethic to the nonprofi t sector, and from 1996 through 2015 he held positions at the Intracoastal Health Foundation benefi ting Good Samaritan and St. Mary’s Hospital, followed by launching Palm Healthcare Foundation. He later joined the Center for Family Services as chief fundraising offi cer. In 2016, he sought new challenges as CEO of the Cancer Alliance of Help & Hope, where he has grown the organization from small, grassroots beginnings to a mainstream agency, increasing the annual budget from $250,000 to $2.3 million.
BEST ADVICE HE’S RECEIVED: Listen more than you speak. WHO WOULD PLAY HIM IN A BIOPIC: Hugh Jackman, obviously. Uncanny resemblance. FAVORITE QUOTE: “Learn as if you will live forever, live like you will die tomorrow.” —Mahatma Gandhi HIDDEN TALENT: I’ve been told recently that my culinary skills are top notch. HOBBIES: I am an avid gardener and I love to host dinner parties at my home.
ANDY DEHART
President, CEO Loggerhead Marinelife Center
Dehart has more than 30 years of experience working in the public aquarium industry. In this time, he served in many capacities at the National Aquarium in Baltimore. Dehart has been fortunate enough to be part of the construction and opening teams for three world-class aquarium facilities, including Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha, Nebraska; Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada in Toronto; and the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science in Miami. He brings his passion for education and research to Loggerhead Marinelife Center to promote conservation of ocean ecosystems with a focus on sea turtles.
AT THE TOP OF HIS BUCKET LIST: Diving with a leatherback sea turtle. SECRET IDENTITY: Aquaman, but I know everyone would much rather see Jason Momoa. FAVORITE QUOTE: “In the end, we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we are taught.” —Baba Dioum WHO WOULD PLAY HIM IN A BIOPIC: Matt Damon FIRST JOB: Volunteer docent and admissions representative at the National Aquarium in Baltimore.
LISA HATHAWAY
Library Director Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach
Hathaway oversees a modern, world-class library in the heart of West Palm Beach, providing resources, services, and programs to support and benefi t people in all aspects of their lives. With a vision to encourage a love of literacy for all ages and backgrounds, Hathaway has also established the Mandel Public Library as a vital community gathering space that supports job seekers, economic redevelopment, and lifelong learning. Under her leadership, the library has become among the country’s best, earning numerous national and state awards, grants, and accolades, including being named one of the 11 most beautiful libraries in 2022 by Fodor’s Travel.
FAVORITE BOOK: A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving WHAT SHE WOULD TELL HER YOUNGER SELF: Live in the moment, yet also realize it’s never too late to make a change. IF SHE COULD START OVER, SHE WOULD: Be an investigative reporter. It’s a combination of my love of mysteries, writing, and solving problems. GUILTY PLEASURE: Anything with pasta and cheese!
CHARLENE FARRINGTON
Executive Director Spady Cultural Heritage Museum
Farrington is the executive director of the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum, a Delray Beach nonprofi t established to preserve and share Black history through educational programming and exhibitions. Farrington has a bachelor’s of business administration from Mercer University and most recently received the Twenty-First Century Innovative Leader certifi cation from Carolina Christian College. She holds leadership positions in the South Florida branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History and the local chapter of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. She is also a member of the Palm Beach County Public Art Committee.
BEST ADVICE: Everything will be alright in the end…if it’s not alright, then it’s not the end. PERSONAL MOTTO: Guard your karma FIRST JOB: Part-time sales at Jordan Marsh GUILTY PLEASURE: Candied pecans FAVORITE QUOTE: “You can’t teach what you don’t know and you can’t lead where you won’t go.” —Rev. Jesse Jackson
GREG HAZLE
Executive Director Boca Helping Hands
Hazle is the executive director of Boca Helping Hands, a multiservice agency that helps meet the basic needs of underserved residents of Palm Beach County and helps them achieve self-suffi ciency through job training. Prior to this role, he served as a senior executive at local Fortune 500 companies NextEra and Cemex. Hazle and his wife, Tina, live in Boca Raton and have two daughters and three grandkids.
HOMETOWN: Kingston, Jamaica PERSONAL MOTTO: What’s the worst that could happen? WHO WOULD PLAY HIM IN A BIOPIC: Denzel Washington FIND HIM ON THE WEEKEND: Making bogeys. FAVORITE BOOK: The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson WHAT HE WOULD TELL HIS YOUNGER SELF: Eat more vegetables. FAVORITE LOCAL SPOT TO EAT: Bamboo Fire in Delray Beach COLLECTS: Kindle books WHAT MAKES HIM SMILE: My grandchildren
DAVE LAWRENCE
President, CEO Cultural Council for Palm Beach County
Lawrence serves as the chief advocate for the arts and cultural community, leads constituent engagement, and represents the cultural sector in local, regional, and national matters. Since joining the Cultural Council in 2018, he has worked to rebrand the organization, build a robust artist services team, and launch new initiatives to provide direct funding to the sector. He created the Artist Innovation Fellowship program, awarding established Palm Beach County artists with career-enhancing funding, and the Cultural Resiliency Fund to help cultural organizations recover post-pandemic. Lawrence led the development of the fi rst Arts & Tourism Summit for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in 2021.
FAVORITE QUOTE: “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” —Walt Disney HOBBIES: Pottery and riding rollercoasters (currently 635 coasters all over the world) TOP BUCKET-LIST DESTINATION: Australia BEST ADVICE HE’S RECEIVED: Keep it about the work. IF HE COULD START OVER, HE WOULD: Be a theme park designer FAVORITE LOCAL SPOT TO EAT: Renato’s in Palm Beach
ANN MCNEILL
President M.C.O. Construction and Services, Inc,; Constructively Speaking Inc.; MCO Consulting, Inc.; National Association of Black Women in Construction
McNeill is the “Master Wealth Builder” helping entrepreneurs gain greater clarity in the highest income-producing areas of their business and life. She’s an expert speaker, coach, author, contractor, and the president and CEO of one of South Florida’s few African American female-owned construction companies, a multimillion-dollar construction company. She is the 2022 awardee of the Better Investing Founder Award and has been featured on CBS, Black Enterprise, and World News and in USA Today and Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. M.C.O. Construction and Services Inc. was founded more than 40 years ago and is still one of the leading Black-owned fi rms in Florida in construction management and project controls.
BEST ADVICE SHE’S RECEIVED: Invest and max out all my retirement accounts every year. PERSONAL MOTTO: You must have a dream to have a dream come true. TOP TRAVEL PICKS: Senegal and Cape Town, South Africa STARTS HER DAY: With a daily date with myself by writing my daily a rmations and goals. HOBBIES: Reading, walking, and traveling
NELSON LAZO
CEO Bethesda Hospital East and Bethesda Hospital West
Prior to his current role with Baptist Health, Lazo served nine years as CEO of Doctors Hospital, home to the world-class Miami Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Institute. Prior to leading Doctors Hospital, Lazo enjoyed being a resident of the Upper Keys when he served as CEO of Baptist Health Mariners Hospital for three years. Before joining Baptist Health, he served in executive roles for several health-care organizations, including HealthSouth Corp., Parkway Regional Medical Center, and Mercy Hospital.
ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT (OR STARTING OVER): Make connections, ask lots of questions, and always be yourself. PERSONAL MOTTO: Family fi rst. TOP TRAVEL PICK: My home in the mountains of Boone, North Carolina GUILTY PLEASURE: Onion rings FIND HIM ON WEEKENDS: At the beach or fi shing FAVORITE LOCAL SPOT TO EAT: Prime Catch in Boynton Beach HIDDEN TALENT: I am an amateur ghost hunter.
JAENE MIRANDA
President, CEO Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County is the fi fth largest Boys & Girls Clubs organization in the nation. Under Miranda’s leadership, the organization has fl ourished with the opening of seven club locations, including the Smith and Moore Family Career Readiness Teen Center in Belle Glade. Today, 20 clubs are strategically located throughout Palm Beach County, with plans to expand current clubs, build new clubs, and increase the endowment to guarantee the organization’s future success. Revenue has increased by 80 percent over the last fi ve years to meet the growing demand in the community. As a result, the clubs now serve more than 11,000 children annually.
EDUCATION: University of Miami INSPIRED BY: The overwhelming, personal feeling of accomplishment when you reach a goal. I just want to do it all over again! AT THE TOP OF HER BUCKET LIST: Transatlantic cruise HIDDEN TALENT: I can sleep anywhere. STARTS HER DAY: With HEW Fitness and co ee GUILTY PLEASURES: Spending the day in bed napping, eating, and binging on Netfl ix.
DAVID J. S. NICHOLSON
Chairman Stiles-Nicholson Foundation
Nicholson is a philanthropist, serial entrepreneur, and wealth manager with a demonstrated history of successful results in fi nancial services and education initiatives. He’s a former hedge fund pioneer skilled in asset management, quantitative model building, modern portfolio theory, and advanced investment strategies.
HOMETOWN: Ottawa, Canada PERSONAL MOTTO: Is there a better way? HIDDEN TALENT: Mr. Fix-it TOP TRAVEL PICKS: Ireland, Nova Scotia, and Lake Muskoka HOBBY: Golf AT THE TOP OF HIS BUCKET LIST: Leave the world a better place. ADMIRES: Elon Musk. He thinks outside the box. FAVORITE LOCAL SPOT TO EAT: Jonathan’s Landing Golf Club in Jupiter WHAT MAKES HIM SMILE: My grandchildren and my dogs BEST ADVICE: You learn more from listening than talking. FIRST JOB: Systems engineer at IBM
ERIC ROBY
Executive Director American Red Cross Palm Beach and Treasure Coast
Formerly a television news anchor for more than a quarter century, Roby now enjoys a successful career as a nonprofi t leader. He took the reins of American Red Cross Palm Beach and Treasure Coast chapter during the post-pandemic recovery, charged with re-engaging volunteers, supporters, and crucial programs. During his short tenure, Roby has focused on humanitarian recovery efforts across Florida after the costliest natural disaster in the state’s history while relaunching the much anticipated Sixty-Second Annual International Red Cross Ball.
EDUCATION: American University ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT (OR STARTING OVER): Know there will be scary and di cult days, but trust that your passion will lead you in the right direction. AT THE TOP OF HIS BUCKET LIST: Visiting Machu Picchu. One of my clearest memories is opening a book in the fi fth grade and seeing the Peruvian archeological wonderland of Machu Picchu. This year, to celebrate my fi ftieth birthday, I will make this lifelong dream come true. To make it even more special, I will get to experience it with my two sons and my husband. FIRST JOB: While looking for a job to earn money for college, I found an apprentice position as a professional dog trainer. I held this position in high school and through college for nine years.
RICKY PETTY
Director Healthier Boynton Beach
Petty is the project director of Palm Beach Health Foundation’s Healthier Boynton Beach initiative led by Pathways to Prosperity. He also owns Petty Capital Realty Inc., a real estate brokerage fi rm located in Boynton Beach. Petty’s dedication to and passion for his community are driven by his upbringing in his hometown. He understands the importance of mentorship and giving back. He pays it forward through motivational speaking and mentoring youth and young adults to help them overcome adversity and obstacles. He serves on the board of several organizations and is a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.
EDUCATION: Bethune Cookman University HOBBIES: Sports, reading, and traveling WHO WOULD PLAY HIM IN A BIOPIC: Omari Hardwick HIDDEN TALENT: I’m a pretty good baker. PROFESSIONAL ACCOLADES: Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Omega Man of the Year; Bethune Cookman University 40 under 40 Movers & Shakers Award; Alumni of Leadership Palm Beach County Class of 2021
DENISE SPIROU
Head of School The Greene School
Spirou, founding head of The Greene School (“TGS”), is an accomplished educator and leader. She is the founding principal responsible for leading the development and expansion of TGS from serving six grades to now a total of 11, recruiting expert educators, and establishing an academic environment that not only meets the needs of the gifted academically but emotionally as well. Spirou has created and fostered the vision of the school during her tenure: “Embracing lifelong learning beyond the mere acquisition of knowledge, we prepare students to analyze situations, make decisions, solve problems, and communicate effectively in a dynamic world.” The school launched its new high school beginning with ninth grade in the 2022-2023 school year under Spirou’s leadership.
WHO WOULD PLAY HER IN A BIOPIC: Marisa Tomei TOP TRAVEL PICKS: St. Augustine and Tennessee FAVORITE BOOK: Dare to Lead by Brené Brown WHY SHE CHOSE HER LINE OF WORK: I love working with children and watching them grow into amazing adults.
LINDA TRETHEWEY
Head of School Rosarian Academy
Trethewey cultivates the 97-year-old Independent Catholic School tradition. Her 30 years of experience include roles as an administrator in Maryland Public Schools and the Archdiocese of Miami. Among the initiatives she has undertaken at Rosarian Academy, she partnered with the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to expand the STEM program and allow students increased opportunities in robotics and coding beginning in kindergarten. Having earned her doctorate in education, Trethewey continues to guide the school as it grows to meet the needs of the community. She and her husband have four children and one granddaughter.
HOMETOWN: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania EDUCATION: Chatham University, Towson University, and St. Thomas University SOMETHING FEW PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT HER: I have an identical twin sister. CAUSES SHE SUPPORTS: Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies; Dance Marathon benefi ting Shands Hospital; Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital
ANDREA VIRGIN
President, Chairman of the Board The Center for Arts & Innovation
Virgin is a professional ballerina-turned-land development engineer. After nearly 20 years of working in both commercial real estate and the performing arts, the Boca native decided to combine both passions with her love of the community to spearhead the proposed Center for Arts & Innovation, fi lling a 60-mile cultural gap that’s existed for decades. Since co-founding the center, she has amassed nearly $13 million in donations and in-kind support, engaged major stakeholders and world-renowned consultants, will soon secure a 94-year ground lease with the city, and has commenced exciting and meaningful discussions for major philanthropic support.
FAVORITE QUOTE: “It always feels impossible until it’s done.” —Nelson Mandela BEST ADVICE SHE’S RECEIVED: When they go low, we go high. HOBBY: Ballroom dancing! If I’m not working, with family or friends, or volunteering, you can fi nd me at Boca’s Fred Astaire Dance Studios. STARTS HER DAY: I try to get up before the family, sip on co ee, and meditate before the madness of the day begins.
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The staffs at DECK 84, BURT & MAX’S, MAX’S GRILLE, PAGODA KITCHEN and PREZZO warmly congratulate president BURT RAPOPORTas one ofPALM BEACH ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE’S2023 TOP 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL LEADERS IN PALM BEACH COUNTY. WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO FOR THE COMPANY AND THE COMMUNITY!
