Trustee Program

A West Palm Beach native, Sarah Alsofrom is the Director of Community Relations for GL Homes.  Previously, she worked for Hanley Center Foundation, the State Attorney’s Office of Palm Beach County as the Public Information Officer; at the Gunster Law Firm as Director of Marketing & Public Relations; and at NBC’s WPTV Channel 5. Sarah holds a B.A. from the University of Florida and a J.D. from Stetson University.  She is active in the community and has served on the Boards of The Forum Club of the Palm Beaches, Leadership Palm Beach County, 211 Helpline and is past chair of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches.

Kate Arrizza is the President and CEO of the Cox Science Center and Aquarium.  After receiving her degree from the United States Naval Academy, she served as an Officer in the U.S. Navy for seven years. After the Navy she obtained her master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University. Kate's work at the Science Center over the past twelve years has earned her such recognition as South Florida Business Journal's "40 Under 40” award, Sun Sentinel's Top Workplace Professional Award, Palm Beach County’s 100 Most Influential Business Leaders, Women of Worth Award winner, and ESPN’s veteran of the month. Kate is a board member of Wounded Veterans Relief Fund, the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches, International Women’s Forum, Forgotten Soldiers Outreach, Naval Academy Blue and Gold Officer, and the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches.

Andrew I. Ashby is a 27-year financial professional with extensive Retail Management, Project Manager, Private Banking, Business Banking, and Regional Executive experiences in New York with Citibank through 2002.  For the past two decades, Andrew has held several senior positions at several South Florida banks, managing Retail, Business Banking, Commercial and Middle Market Business segments.  Andrew is an SVP, Senior Relationship Manager with M&T Bank, responsible for growing and managing corporate banking relationships with revenues greater than $10 million.   He is an active community board member serving as Treasurer, head of Strategic and Finance Committee, and Board Chair for the Urban League of Palm Beach County.  Andrew has also served as the Small Business Committee Chair of the Miami Dade-Beacon Council, and an active Board Member of the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce, Inc, and Economic Empowerment. 

Stephen V. Avallone, MD, FACP, PE, is Regional Medical Director of Concierge Medicine for Cleveland Clinic Florida. He received a medical degree from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in 2000 and completed his internal medicine residency training at the Cleveland Clinic Florida in 2003. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine. Dr. Avallone then began his practice in Executive Health, becoming medical director of the Cleveland Clinic Florida Huizenga Executive Health Department in 2010. He also served as co-director of outpatient internal medicine and core faculty for the internal medicine residency program.
Dr. Avallone was awarded the Jose Muniz, M.D. Best Teacher Award in 2008 and the John and Margaret Krupa Distinguished Chair in Preventative Medicine in 2014. He also served as an international medical consultant for the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. 

Sue Ellen Beryl is Managing Director of Palm Beach Dramaworks, a professional theatre company she co-founded with her husband in September of 2000.  A graduate of Pace University, she began her career in theatrical management as Managing Director of the Schimmel Center for the Arts, and Box Office Manager and Publicity Director for Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival. In addition, her business experience includes 10 years in the New York advertising industry and several years managing a family-owned business on the New York Commodity Exchange. She is proud of her service to the community as a former board member of the Palm Beach County Cultural Council, serving two years as Chairman of their Cultural Executives Committee, served three years on the Allocations Committee for the Town of Palm Beach United Way and is a National Ambassador for the Actors’ Fund. Beryl currently serves as a Trustee of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches.

Bill Bone was born in West Palm Beach and graduated from Atlantic High School in Delray Beach. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University Of Florida Warrington College Of Business and his Juris Doctorate degree from the UF Levin College of Law. At graduation he was named to the University of Florida Hall of Fame. He is a Board Certified Trial Lawyer practicing in Florida and principal partner in the firm of Larmoyeux & Bone. In addition to his work representing personal injury clients he is the father of four teenage children. Bill Bone has served the community as an elected volunteer leader in many organizations including: past president of the Forum Club, past president of the Rotary Club, past president of the UF Law School Alumni Association, past president of Healthy Mother?s/Healthy Babies and past president of Florida Stage. In 2011 he was Chairman of the Town of Palm Beach Centennial Commission.

Bill Bramlett is a Senior Commercial Lender with Centennial Bank. Centennial Bank currently has 76 branches in Florida, with the Palm Beach County Commercial Lending headquarters located in West Palm Beach. Bill works closely with business owners and commercial real estate investors to provide cash flow solutions including commercial lending, treasury management and deposit products. Bill is a member of the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County and volunteers his time to SunFest of Palm Beach County, Boy Scouts of America and the Knights of Columbus. Bill currently serves as a Trustee of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches.

Bridging the diversified fields of Management, Negotiation, Fashion, Branding, Philanthropy and Film, Ms. Bratter has defined her career with individualized tactical approaches.  Specializing in Strategic Business Management, Ms. Bratter has served in leadership roles with Chanel, Salvatore Ferragamo, Versace, Celine and Emilio Pucci in addition to leading the Executive Production team for the award-winning films: Better Mus Come and The Black Line. Formerly the Vice President of Development for The Miami Foundation, Ms. Bratter is the Chief Operating Officer for BRATTER PA, a leading International Immigration Law Firm based in Miami Beach and West Palm Beach specializing in exclusive Immigration Representation and Extraordinary Ability Immigration Services for Entrepreneurs, Investors, Athletes, Entertainers, Business/Hospitality Executives, and Family Offices.

Joshua P. Bratter, Esq is the founder of BRATTER PA, a full-service international Immigration Law Firm assisting clients from around the world in their corporate and individual immigration matters. Specializing for over 20 years in exclusive immigration representation for Athletes, Entrepreneurs, Entertainers, Artists and IT Professionals, Attorney Bratter earned his B.A. at Hamilton College and his law degree from the University of Miami School of Law. He currently serves as the official Immigration Counsel to many companies and organizations and has worked at the Council on Hemispheric Affairs in Washington DC and for the Organization of American States. Attorney Bratter currently serves as a Trustee of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches.

Kathleen D. Breland joined the Palm Beach Zoo in July 2009 as Chief Financial Officer. After a 20-year career with national homebuilder/developer Centex Homes holding positions as Controller, VP of Finance, Division President and VP of Operations prior to coming to the Zoo, Kathleen was ready to give back and has found a rewarding home at the Zoo. During her time at the Zoo, Kathleen took on the additional role of COO for several years and served as the Zoo’s Interim CEO. 
 
Kathleen is a Professional Fellow with the Association of Zoo’s & Aquariums where she serves on the Business Operations Committee.  She is a registered licensed CPA in the state of Illinois and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Houston. 

Brandon Cabrera is the Owner and CEO of The BrandX Company, a private real estate development firm with projects from single family homes to multifamily rental apartment complexes. He holds a Contractors license, and a Real Estate license, along with owning a diverse portfolio of properties in Palm Beach County. His company focuses on quality affordable homes and rental apartments for the everyday working-class family. Mr. Cabrera was raised in Greenacres, and invested in his first property at the age of 18. He is continually seeking to improve Palm Beach County with quality housing that anyone can afford, and he also gives back by serving on a variety of boards and committees in the community.

John Carr, President of Roofing & Restoration of Florida a sister company of an established commercial roofing and construction company headquartered in Volusia County since 1948. John, being widely recognized for his restoration and insurance claim process expertise, in the event his clients need help in these areas he can assist them through this complicated process. When not working on storm damage John works with his clients to protect their investment by providing roofing and building solutions that are tailored to each of their needs. John is a former chairman of the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce and currently serves as the Vice-Chair of Palm Beach County Planning Commission, Non-Lawyer Member of the Florida Bar Grievance Committee, 211 Board and the Board of The Meeting Place, Inc. John resides in Jupiter with his wife where he enjoys spending time with his family, boating, and playing golf.

Kelly Cavers has spent over 25 years in the hospitality industry.  For the past eight years, she has led the strategic sales and destination services efforts for Discover The Palm Beaches, Palm Beach County’s official tourism agency.  In 2022 she was named Chief Sales Officer managing both the group and leisure sales for the organization.  She started her career in sales for United Airlines and then transitioned to destination marketing with The San Diego Tourism Authority and Choose Chicago, before arriving in The Palm Beaches.  She is currently active in industry organizations such as PCMA, ASAE, IRF, and Association Forum, and serves on various advisory boards and committees with The Above and Beyond Foundation, Destinations International and PCMA. 

A West Palm Beach native, Matt Chait is the Office Managing Partner of the West Palm Beach office of statewide law firm Shutts & Bowen LLP. Chait focuses his practice on commercial real estate litigation, creditors’ rights litigation, and general business litigation. Recognizing the importance of charitable and civic work, Chait serves on the Board of Resource Depot, formerly served on the the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches, is a member of the American Heart Association’s Executives with Heart, and serves as a member of the Economic Forum of Palm Beach County. He is a graduate of Leadership Palm Beach County. He earned his J.D. from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania.

Joe Chase is a shareholder and business and corporate attorney with the Gunster law firm. In addition to assisting clients with their day-to-day business law needs, Joe has handled numerous complex business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions. He is the chair-elect of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches. He also serves on the board of governors of the Historical Society of Palm Beach County and the board of directors of the YMCA of the Palm Beaches. Joe was previously with Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Chicago, Illinois and is a graduate of Harvard University and Vanderbilt University Law School. At Vanderbilt, he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Vanderbilt Law Review. Joe lives in a historic home in West Palm Beach's El Cid neighborhood with his wife, Alex, and their son, Joe, Jr.

Barbara is the Provost at Palm Beach State College, Lake Worth campus. She was born in Poland and grew up in New Jersey. She received an M.S. in Higher Education Administration from Barry University, a B.S. in Business Administration from St. Peter’s University, a certificate in Emergency Management Supervision from Palm Beach State College and has completed all coursework towards a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership at Florida Atlantic University. 

Barbara is a graduate of Leadership Palm Beach County, Leadership Palms West, and the Chair Academy.  She served as the institutional representative for the American Council on Education Women’s Network of Florida and is a current trustee of the Boca Raton Police Foundation.  She is also involved in community organizations and chambers supporting the College and has served as the United Way College representative and is a member of the West Palm Beach Education Advisory committee. 

Diana Jeanns Cobos, is the President  CEO of Dcobys USA LLC, an international management consultancy firm that promotes business, education, and events abroad. Based in Boca Raton, with branches in Boston, Mexico, and Colombia. Diana is an innate entrepreneur with a global vision and vast business networking experience at the C-Suite level in North, Central, and South America. She has proven experience executing rapid market penetration for startups and SMEs, from processes won through tenders with the government and private sector. Along with business-related certifications from several esteemed universities, Diana holds a B.A. and postgraduate degree in Marketing Management from Columbia’s Universidad del Rosario, and an Executive MBA from Mexico’s Ipade Business School.
 

Charles S. Cohen is the owner and President/CEO of Cohen Brothers Realty Corporation, a private national commercial real estate development and management firm with a portfolio in excess of 12 million square feet of Class A office buildings and design centers across the United States. Signature projects include the revitalization of Manhattan’s renowned Decoration & Design (D&D) Building, the Southern California’s Pacific Design Center (PDC) and the Design Center of the Americas (DCOTA). Mr. Cohen is also the Founder, Owner and Chairman/CEO of Cohen Media Group, an international film production and distribution company.

Ian Cotner is AT&T's Regional Director of External and Legislative Affairs. He is responsible for coordinating AT&T's political, legislative and community affairs in Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast, as well as Glades and Okeechobee Counties. Ian has over a decade of experience in campaigns and legislative affairs, and has been practicing law for more than five years. Before joining AT&T, Ian served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Florida Department of Children and Families and in the legislative offices of former Majority Leader, Adam Hasner, and a former Speaker Pro Tempore of the Florida House of Representatives, John Legg. During his career, he has also worked for some of Florida's premier governmental consulting firms. Ian completed his undergraduate studies in political science at Florida State University in 2002. He went on to graduate with honors from Florida Coastal School of Law in 2008.

Since joining in 2016, Cody Crowell has taken a leadership role guiding Frisbie Group as a preeminent investment organization, focused on placemaking, revitalization, and large-scale mixed-use developments. Prior to FG, Cody was a partner at Portfolio Acquisition Group, a real estate private equity group, where he helped build a portfolio with a total cap of $750M. Prior to PAG, he co-founded Interprise Partners, where he assisted with the acquisition, stabilization and disposition of over $100M of bank-owned real estate assets. Cody currently serves as a strategic advisor to FVLCRUM, a first-of-its-kind fund targeting $250M, focused on creating generations of wealth in minority communities, as well as the Long-Range Planning Committee of Palm Beach and the Town’s Main Street Association. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business development from Vanderbilt University, where he was a four-year starting pitcher for the Division 1, nationally-ranked baseball team. 

Peter L. Cruise, Ph.D. is an affiliate associate professor at Florida Atlantic University. His academic and professional careers have focused on improving the ethical climate in public sector programs and organizations. Since graduating with his Ph.D. from FAU in 1995, he has taught ethics and organizational behavior to both undergraduate and graduate students in universities such as Louisiana State University and Mary Baldwin University. He has published several articles and is the co-editor of the Handbook of Organization Theory and Management: The Philosophical Approach (2nd Edition, 2006). Dr. Cruise has served as a Distinguished Alumnus, Palm Beach County Ethics Commissioner, and was appointed by the Mayor and City Commission to the City of West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority in April 2024. He currently serves on the Palm Beach County Medical Society's Council of Ethical & Judicial Affairs.

Serge D’Haiti was born in Pahokee and is a graduate of Palm Beach Lakes Community High School.  He attained a BBA from Florida Atlantic University and a Master of Accountancy at Nova Southeastern University. He is a Certified Public Accountant licensed to practice in the state of Florida and serves the Broward and Palm Beach County areas under the DBA Serge W. D’Haiti, CPA PLLC.
 
Serge served in the Student Government Association and Phi Beta Sigma, Inc. He volunteered for the Internal Revenue Service’s VITA program through the United Way of Palm Beach County.  Protecting citizens through the Department of Financial Services, he has worked with the Florida Department of Revenue on child support and business tax matters.
 
Serge currently serves as a Trustee of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches.

Mark Dahlmeier is a Jones Foster shareholder and a Florida Bar Board Certified specialist in real estate, focusing his practice in the area of complex commercial and residential real estate transactions. Dahlmeier has extensive experience representing sophisticated clients in the acquisition, disposition, development, redevelopment and financing of retail shopping centers, office buildings and other commercial properties and serves as a trusted adviser to buyers and sellers of high-end residential properties. He also handles transactional work arising out of bankruptcy proceedings as well as commercial loan workouts, loan restructurings and forbearance agreements.
Dahlmeier has been selected for inclusion in several peer-review publications including Best Lawyers in America and the South Florida Legal Guide and holds an AV Preeminent® Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest peer rating based upon legal ability and ethical standards.

Darcy J. Davis, CEO of the Health Care District of Palm Beach County, has held key financial and operational roles during her 30 years in health care. She serves on America’s Essential Hospitals’ Strategic Planning Committee and the United Way of Palm Beach County’s Hunger Relief Advisory Council. In 2018, then-Gov. Rick Scott appointed her to the Palm Beach State College District Board of Trustees where she served for three years. In 2022, she completed the Leadership Palm Beach County Engage Program and ranked 11th among “Florida’s Top 100 Women-Led Businesses” by The Commonwealth Institute of Florida. Davis is a six-time South Florida Business Journal “Power Leader in Healthcare” and a two-time Palm Beach County Medical Society “Hero in Medicine” recipient. She earned her BBA in accounting from Mercer University and her MSM in health care administration from Troy State University.

Donald K. DeWoody, Jr. has been actively involved in commercial real estate since 1988. Currently he is the principal and co-founder of WGCompass Realty Companies, a regional realty services firm. Mr. DeWoody has extensive experience in commercial brokerage and consulting. Previously he worked as a commercial real estate appraiser for Callaway & Price, Inc. He has earned the MAI designation from the Appraisal Institute and currently holds the CCIM designation from the Commercial Industrial Real Estate Institute. DeWoody received his real estate degree from Florida State University. Mr. DeWoody was the 2010 Chair of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches.

Mr. Diffenderfer maintains a diverse governmental practice that includes complex environmental and land use matters, including representation before local, state and federal legislative and regulatory bodies; growth management counseling; comprehensive plan adoption, implementation and defense; DRI approval and implementation; environmental resource permitting; and related litigation. His practice also includes projects relating to special district creation, operation and administration, as well as representation of local general-purpose governments on a variety of specialized governmental, growth management and natural resource issues. Mr. Diffenderfer earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, from Florida State University and his Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center.

. Ray Dorsey, CIC, is a third generation resident of West Palm Beach, Florida. Following in his father and grandfathers footsteps he chose a career in the insurance business; which started in the 1920’s focusing on commercial lines insurance. Mr. Dorsey is Vice President of Insurance Office of America, which is a privately held, full-service insurance agency founded in 1988. His firm is one of the fastest growing independent agencies in the U.S. and has been named one of the “Best Places to Work”, 2007-2010. Active in the community Mr. Dorsey serves on the following boards: Rehabilitation Center for Children and Adults, Flagler Sunrise Kiwanis and Associated General Contractors. Other areas of involvement are: Palm Beach Atlantic University, Economic Forum, Forum Club, Gathering of Men and his church. Recreational time is spent enjoying boating and water sports with his family.

Tara Duhy chairs the firm’s Land Use & Real Estate Law Practice Group. As part of her state-wide land use, natural resource and water law practice, Tara advises clients through every stage of permitting, government coordination and enforcement related to development, including comprehensive land use planning, and zoning, site planning and other local development orders.

David Eiler is the chief banking officer of Locality Bank. A banker for more than 20 years, Eiler’s primary role is developing relationships on the production side, sourcing loans and deposits, and other ancillary bank products. He has been an executive at several local community banks where he has helped start two banks, including his current bank that opened for business in January 2022.
 
A Chi-Town native, Eiler holds a bachelor’s degree in international business from Illinois State University and a Master of International Management from the American Graduate School of International Management in Glendale, Arizona. 

Jervonte “Tae” Edmonds is the Founder and CEO of the 2020 Nonprofit of the Year Suits For Seniors. Mr. Edmonds prides himself on being a Public Speaker, Entrepreneur, Educator, Author, and a Philanthropist. Jervonte obtained his B.S degree in Political Science from Florida Atlantic University.

Alyssa Freeman moved to South Florida in 2008 and began her career with the Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County, eventually promoting to become its executive director. Alyssa was born and raised in Southeast Michigan, where she grew up near the water enjoying boating, fishing, and water sports every summer. Alyssa is an outdoorswoman passionate about the environment and conservation. She is a graduate of Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication. Alyssa graduated with her MBA in Organizational Leadership from Ashford University in 2017. She is part of the Leadership Palm Beach County Class of 2020, Leadership West Palm Beach Class of 2023, and currently serving as a board member for CareerSource Palm Beach County, Junior Achievement of Palm Beach and Treasure Coast, Barky Pines Animal Rescue and Sanctuary, and Resource Depot (advisory board). 

Robert Frisbie Jr. is a managing director of the Frisbie Group, a leading private investment firm with a focus on performance and community leadership. He is committed to the future direction of the firm and, as a project manager on luxury residential developments and large-scale mixed-use revitalizations, Rob is actively engaged in fundamental value analysis, world-class design, and strategic business planning. Prior to joining his family business, Rob was the vice president of acquisitions at 60 Guilders, a New York-based real estate private equity firm. Over a three-year period with 60 Guilders, he helped lead acquisitions of approximately $750M in New York City assets. Rob graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Economics and currently serves as a Trustee of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches.

C. Robin Galanti is the Director of Business Development for Moss & Associates. Ms. Galanti earned her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Central Florida. Upon graduation, she worked for FPL in West Palm Beach as well as Edwards & Zuck, PC and McGraw-Hill Construction in New York City. After returning to West Palm Beach, she worked for The Morganti Group before joining Moss in 2017. She is active in organizations including the Business Development Board, Quantum House, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, Grow for Good, Save the Chimps, and the Leadership program of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches. 

Allen Gast is the Founder and President of Gast Construction Group, an award winning, full-service Construction Management Firm located in West Palm Beach, FL.  Gast Construction Group specializes in Commercial and Residential Construction as well as Property Management in Palm Beach County. Allen is a Licensed General Contractor in the State of Florida and is a graduate of the M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Building Construction at the University of Florida.  He also serves as the Chairman of the ACE Mentor Program of Palm Beach and Martin Counties. 

Jake Geleerd is president and CEO of Palm Beach County-headquartered Tortoise Properties, a well-capitalized, privately held commercial and residential company that focuses on acquiring and developing legacy assets consisting of premier income-producing commercial office, multi-family and mixed-use properties in the South Florida region. Building on his 30-plus year career as an emerging manager, owner, operator and developer, Geleerd is a board member and on the Chairmans Council of the Palm Beach County Business Development Board (BDB), Chief Executives Organization (CEO.org) and Boulder Investment Group. He is an officer on the Board of Young Presidents Organization (YPO) in Chicago, Denver and Palm Beach and a Board Member and Officer of the YPO Golf Network. Geleerd also serves as a Trustee of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches.

Francisco Gil is manager and operator of Sympatico Real Estate, a real estate holding and management firm, which was founded in 2004. Francisco manages a diverse portfolio of properties in South Florida ranging from singular buildings to industrial warehousing. Francisco has an extensive professional background that expands beyond commercial real-estate. Some additional areas of professional expertise include entrepreneurship, management consulting, new business development and strategic planning. His tenacious work ethic, commitment to his clients, and professional passion enable him to maintain his success.

David Gobeo, Esq., is a Partner of FordHarrison LLP who focuses his practice primarily on litigation.  Mr. Gobeo received his J.D. from the University of Florida and undergraduate degree from Stetson University, with honors.  Mr. Gobeo is a member of the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches, Inc., the Palm Beach County Bar Association, and has been an active member of the Associated Builders and Contractors for his entire career.  He is also a Board Member for the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches, and a Board Member of Nonprofits First.  Mr. Gobeo has been named a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers Magazine from 2012 to 2019.

Ned Grace is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner at NDT Development. At NDT, Ned is responsible for business development, deal sourcing, financing, and the strategic direction of the firm.  Prior to co-founding NDT, Ned and his partners built a successful property management company, Kanga Property Management (NDT subsidiary), and have invested, developed, and managed a multi-faceted portfolio of residential, commercial, and hospitality assets in South Florida.
Ned was previously in New York City where he held financial analyst roles at Millennium Partners, Janney Montgomery Scott, and JP Morgan.
Ned received his bachelor’s degree in Economics with a minor in Managerial Studies from Vanderbilt University.

Christopher Guidice exudes hospitality. Having spent his childhood working in bars, restaurants, and catering companies, Chris developed a love of creating memorable experiences for guests from an early age, leading to a life dedicated to service in extending warm welcomes to others.  A graduate of Florida International University with a degree in hospitality management, Chris worked for various hotels, in different roles, including founding his own hospitality consulting firm, where he successfully partnered in launching the Black-Market Bar and Restaurant in Miami. Following stints in NYC and South Beach, Hilton recruited Chris as director of operations for the Waldorf Astoria Atlanta, a Forbes 4-star hotel. Today, Chris oversees the daily operations of the newly renovated Hilton West Palm Beach featuring world-class culinary attractions and an elevated hotel experience unlike anything available in the market. 

Dale R. Hedrick, LEED AP BD+C, is the Founder & President of Hedrick Brothers Construction, a privately-owned company headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida. A fourth generation general contractor active in Palm Beach County since 1979, Dale has been instrumental in building and maintaining the company's reputation for providing quality craftsmanship, professional project management, and conducting business with integrity. Hedrick brothers Construction provides general contracting, construction management and design-build services for Commercial, Luxury Residential, Education, Municipal, Historic Restoration, and Sustainable/LEED construction projects in South Florida. Dale was born and raised in West Palm Beach and graduated from the University of Florida with a B.S. in Building and Construction from the M. E. Rinker, Sr. School of Building Construction.

Clifford Hertz has been named a 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” for Land Use and Zoning Law in West Palm Beach by The Best Lawyers in America©. Only a single lawyer in each practice area and community is honored with this designation. Hertz is a partner in the West Palm Beach office of Nelson Mullins Broad and Cassel, which was previously Broad and Cassel until it combined August 1 with Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP to bring together 750 attorneys and professionals in 25 offices across 11 states and D.C. Hertz is a past chair and current Trustee of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches.

Christopher B. Hopkins is a member of McDonald Hopkins LLC, a business advisory and advocacy law firm. He has more than 20 years of trial and appellate experience representing businesses and families in commercial, construction, legal/medical malpractice, and probate litigation. In addition to his work in the courtroom, Christopher’s practice involves a wide range of emerging technologies such as cybersecurity, e-discovery, Internet crimes, policy/terms-of-service drafting, privacy, and social media discovery. Christopher’s work in those areas permits him to protect client data as well as effectively target discovery and investigation of other parties. Christopher is a frequent speaker on litigation issues and has written over 100 articles as well as an iPhone app.  Admitted in Florida, DC, and New York. Chamber Trustee. Leadership West Palm Beach Class of 2018.

Chadi Irani is the Regional Vice President of advertising at The Palm Beach Post and LocalIQ. He has developed a team that handles all aspects of digital media strategy, planning, media placement, optimization, and reporting. Chadi plays a pivotal role as liaison between vendors, partners, and Gannett Media digital leaders. He has led client seminars with representatives from Google, Facebook and top digital vendors. Prior to joining The Palm Beach Post, Chadi served as Retail Advertising Manager at The Ithaca Journal in Ithaca, New York. In addition to serving as a Trustee, he also sits on the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches.

Barbara James currently serves as Vice President of the Baptist Health Foundation Baptist Health South Florida.  After raising her family in the Pacific Northwest, she returned to her Florida roots in 2017. She is passionate about serving, both personally and professionally, the Palm Beach County community.  She is currently on the Board of the Palm Health Foundation, the Palm Beach County Medical Society, and Families First chairing both their 2021 and 2022 Annual Children’s Day Luncheon.  Barbara is a proud member of Leadership Palm Beach County’s Class of 2019 and is a member of both the Impact of the Palm Beaches and Impact 100 among other service organizations and clubs.  

Kurt Jetta, Ph.D., is the President of Jetta Investment Company (JIC), which focuses on creating affordable housing solutions for non-family households earning under $35K annually. Previously, he was the CEO and Founder of TABS Analytics, a firm providing sales and marketing research to consumer-packaged goods companies, which he grew to 70 employees before selling to TELUS Communications. Dr. Jetta holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Fordham University, an MBA from Duke University Fuqua School of Business, and a BSc in Statistics from North Carolina State University. Featured in The New York Times, Bloomberg, and CBS News, he resides in Delray Beach with his wife, Nancy. Dr. Jetta is active in the Palm Beach County Boys and Girls Club, Gulfstream Goodwill, and the Lord’s Place. To learn more about Jetta Investment Company, visit www.jettainvestmentco.com.

Jeremy Johnson has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Historical Society of Palm Beach County since May 2011. Prior to joining the Historical Society, Jeremy was President of JRJ Partners, an independent consulting practice providing strategic planning and development support for businesses and nonprofits. Before starting his own small business, he was the Vice President of the South Florida Hospital and Healthcare Association, where he promoted the interests of hospitals and healthcare providers among elected officials, the business community and the general public. Jeremy became a Certified Association Executive through the American Society of Association Executives in 2007, was selected as a ?Thought Leader? for the Center for Bioterrorism and All-Hazards Preparedness by Nova Southeastern University in 2006, and was selected as an ?Up & Comer? for executives under 40 by the South Florida Business Journal in 2005.

Jimmy Johnson currently serves as a Senior Client Advisor and Director of Operations with Blue Ocean Capital, a wealth management and multi-family office boutique located in downtown West Palm Beach. Blue Ocean Capital provides investment management, family office and financial, tax and estate planning to individuals, families, and their affiliated businesses. He is a board member for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Palm Beach County and serves as co-chair of the Palm Beach Atlantic University Alumni Association Golf Tournament. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches.

Deborah has dedicated her career to serving non-profit organizations. She sees fundraising as a value proposition and an opportunity to align one’s personal values and purpose to help solve humanity’s most pressing problems.  

Prior to the role of President/CEO of the Trustbridge Hospice Foundation, she served as Chief Philanthropy Officer at the Boys & Girls Club Martin County and was the Vice President of Development for the Everglades Foundation.  She has dedicated over 12 years of her career to independent school education from Fort Myers to Hobe Sound. 

Deborah graduated cum laude from Barry University with a degree in business and marketing.  She is accredited through CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executives) International, where she is one of only 6,800 professional fund raisers worldwide that hold the designation.  Deborah serves as a Trustee of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches.

W. Dale Kahle is the Senior Vice President of Commercial Banking at Truist Bank in Palm Beach County. A veteran banker of over 30 years, Dale possesses vast industry knowledge and expertise in the Commercial and Middle Market company space and excels at delivering top-tier financial advice and customized solutions through the Truist Business Lifecycle Advisory (BLA) service. Dale supports a myriad of organizations with his time and efforts. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors and a Trustee of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches, a member of the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, the Florida East Coast Chapter of Associated General Contractors of America, and is actively engaged with the South Florida Fair and Palm Beach County Expositions, Cacti Park of the Palm Beaches, and Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Kahle earned his bachelors degree in Banking and Finance from Jacksonville University.

Kenneth R. Kennerly is a 29-year sports marketing industry veteran. Kennerly, the President & CEO of K2 Sports Ventures, is also the Executive Director of The Honda Classic, and most recently acquired the Marathon of the Palm Beaches, rebranding the race as The Palm Beaches Marathon. He serves on multiple boards, including Discover The Palm Beaches, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, American Junior Golf Foundation (AJGA), and The First Tee of the Palm Beaches. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College,

 Rex Kirby is President of Verdex Construction, a company recognized by the South Florida Business Journal as Start Up Business of the Year in 2017. Prior to starting Verdex, he was President of Suffolk Construction in South Florida. He is a past Chairman of the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County and member of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the Economic Council of Palm Beach County. Rex graduated with a B.S. in engineering from the University of Florida. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Associated General Contractors.

In 1989, Mr. Kirschner launched Passport Publications & Media Corporation (PP&M) as a high-end custom publishing and media firm specializing in enhancing the brands and identities of business organizations, institutions, destinations, sporting events and government entities, while a student at the University of Miami. Since then, PP&M has produced more than 600 publications and media-related collateral pieces for an A-list roster of clients, with opportunities to share in the advertising and sponsorship revenue. An award-winning publisher, a successful entrepreneur and a dedicated husband and father of four, Mr. Kirschner attributes PP&M’s success to the core team of talent who continue to find creative and effective solutions to clients’ marketing, media and communication challenges.

Don Kiselewski is Senior Director of External Affairs for Florida Power & Light Company, the third-largest electric utility in the United States, serving approximately 4.7 million customer accounts across nearly half of the state of Florida. Prior to joining FPL in May 2005, Mr. Kiselewski served as a Congressional Chief of Staff and was a 14-year employee of the U.S. House of Representatives. Don serves as Chairman of the United Way of Palm Beach County. He is also a Past Chair of the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County and of the Northern Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce and a Past President of the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches. Don holds a B.A. degree in Political Science from Emory University and an M.B.A. from Florida Atlantic University.

Patrick C. Koenig has been active in the real estate industry for over 27 years, acting as a real estate broker, manager and developer of commercial properties. He began his career with Boulevard Bank in Key West where he served as loan officer and bank supervisor. In 1983 Patrick joined W.G. Lassiter, Jr., a prominent south Florida real estate developer as a licensed real estate broker. In 1996, Mr. Koenig joined Richard S. Johnson and Scott A. Johnson to form Flagler Realty & Development, Inc based out of West Palm Beach. Working as a property developer and licensed real estate broker, he developed an impressive client list of nationally recognized retailers which included Publix, Winn-Dixie, Wal-Mart, Target and Home Depot. As a principal of the company, Mr. Koenig brings his comprehensive approach to real estate leasing, management and development to a wide range of clients including investors and owners of real estate properties.

John is Managing Director and founder of the Lacy Wealth Management Group at Merrill. Drawing upon 27 years of experience, his philosophy is "It All Matters." As portfolio Manager and investment strategy co-leader, John manages private client, corporate, and endowment portfolios with tailored wealth planning and asset management strategies to ultra-affluent generational families. He is a designated Sports & Entertainment Advisor with concentrations in estate, income, and sudden wealth management. John is an Economics graduate from the University of Texas at Austin and holds the Certified Private Wealth Advisor certification, administered by IMCA and taught with the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Local philanthropy has included Chairman of Palm Health Foundation, trustee for two regional hospitals, Boys & Girls Clubs of PBC, and co-chair for “A Night for Nature” benefitting Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida.
 

Jill Lanigan is a Principal of Song + Associates, Inc. which provides architecture, planning and interior design services to both public entities and private clients. She is responsible for the planning and programming aspects of each project, and also serves as a client liaison from conceptual design through construction.  Jill studied architecture at the University of Miami including study-abroad in Venice, Italy. Jill proudly serves as a Trustee and Board Member of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches.  She is passionate about education in our community and is involved with the Palm Beach State College STEAM program,  Urban Land Institute, and Florida Library Association.

Joshua joined MarineMax in 2015 as the Store Manager for a new operation in St. Petersburg, FL. He immediately impacted the location, team, and store profitability. Under his leadership, the store quickly became profitable and is now a perennial top ten store in over 100 locations nationwide. His vision for the product is evidenced by early adoption and his ambassadorship of the Aquila Power Catamaran brand. While diversifying and having success with multiple brands, St. Petersburg has remained the #1 Aquila Power Catamaran dealership.

Taniel Koushakjian is the CEO & Founder of BreakThru Strategies, a government relations and political consulting firm. A Palm Beach County native and former candidate for the PBC Commission, he has more than 15 years of experience in federal, state and local government affairs, as well as in strategic public relations, where he successfully advocated on a wide array of policy issues, some of which included transportation, taxes, appropriations, immigration, human rights, international religious freedom and U.S. foreign affairs. Taniel was selected as a 2018-2019 Fellow with the Anti-Defamation League Glass Leadership Institute, as well as a 2019 Fellow with the James Madison Institute. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Florida Atlantic University, an M.A. in Political Management and a Graduate Certificate in PACs from The George Washington University. 

Kimberly Lea, Ed.S., has over 30 years of higher education and leadership experience in Palm Beach County. She is an award-winning community leader with a passion for connecting people and ideas. As the District Dean for Workforce Programs for Palm Beach State College, she aligns the needs of Palm Beach County through strategic partnerships in support of student success and employment.
Kimberly is also working with the Foundation at Palm Beach State College through Achieve Palm Beach County which advocates, collaborates, and leads the community in creating an educational environment which supports all students to attain credentials beyond high school graduation in conjunction with the Florida College Access Network.

Matthew Leger is the Senior Vice President of Public Policy & External Affairs for the Broward, Palm Beaches & St. Lucie REALTORS®, the third largest REALTOR® Association in the nation covering over 120 miles of coastline.  A Boston College Graduate, Matthew has been with the REALTORS® for over a decade advocating on behalf of its 34,000 members on real estate related issues in Broward County, Palm Beach County, and the Treasure Coast.  At the state and national level, Matthew has served in numerous leadership positions for both the Florida REALTORS® and the National Association of REALTORS®.  Locally, Matthew and the Broward, Palm Beaches & St. Lucie REALTORS® currently serve as Trustees for the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches, the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce.

Brandon Leon represents individual and institutional clients in the banking, real estate, mortgage servicing, title insurance, and automotive industries in both litigation and transactional matters. Mr. Leon devotes his practice to complex litigation in both state and federal court, where he has defended clients in individual and class action consumer finance and regulatory matters, as well as commercial business disputes. Mr. Leon’s practice also  involves the representation of national banks and other lenders in numerous actions involving alleged violations of state and federal consumer protection statutes and regulations, including Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”), Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”),
Truth in Lending Act (“TILA”), Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”), Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act (“FCCPA”), Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (“RESPA”).

Ted Leshinski is a Business Development leader for KEITH focused on building community throughout Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast. For more than six decades, KEITH has been providing design solutions throughout Florida and beyond. KEITH’s in-house services include geospatial, planning, civil engineering, transportation and traffic engineering, landscape architecture, and construction program management. Leshinski leads the development of strategic relationships for the KEITH Team throughout Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast in the private and public sectors. 

Gary attended George Washington University, where he graduated with a B.A. in International Affairs.  Gary attended University of Miami School of Law earning his Juris Doctorate. He was a member of Bar & Gavel Society, and served as Associate Editor of the Yearbook of International Law and Editor-in-Chief of Res Ipsa Loquitur, the law school’s newspaper. Gary’s grandfather, Joseph Lesser, founded the firm in 1927, and Gary has continued the Firm’s tradition of community involvement. He serves on The Florida Bar Board of Governors, and has also served as the Chair of the Florida Bar Professional Ethics Committee and Chair of the Advertising Committee. Gary also served as the Chair of the Palm Beach County Bar Association’s Professionalism Committee and Chair of the Medical Legal Committee for many years. 

Scott Lewis, has managed Scott Lewis Gardening & Trimming (“SLGT”) for 41 years.  He attended The Hotchkiss School, graduated from Duke University, and attained an M. Ed. from FAU.   Scott built his business from the ground up, starting out as a tree climber while he was still teaching at The Palm Beach Day School. He now employs 30 full time professionals and his company has been awarded two statewide awards for “Best of State” in landscape maintenance. 
 
 

Acumenian's President, Luis Matos, is an innovative thinker who approaches business with an agile mindset, bringing people together, identifying synergies, and exploring new solutions with an effective, efficient, and flawless implementation. Luis has developed his career by exploring innovative trends while leveraging his formation in Engineering, Electronics, and Business Administration. His passion for technology and making data transparent to others led him to pursue a Data Analytics Specialty at Babson University and become a Certified Key Performance Indicator (KPI) Professional. Luis believes in living a balanced life that fosters helping others to accomplish their dreams. Such a mindset permeates into Acumenian's constant pursuit to help our clients reach their full potential.

Cynthia McCauley is Chief Administrative Officer of St. Mary's Medical Center and the Palm Beach Children's Hospital. She is responsible for all strategic growth, operations and finances of both facilities. Most recently, she served as the Chief Executive Officer of Tenet Florida Physician Services (TFPS), Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties. Prior to Joining TFSP, Cynthia served as the Chief Financial Officer at Good Samaritan Medical Center and West Boca Medical Center. She holds an MBA in Finance from Long Island University, and a BA in Foreign Language from Adelphi University. Cynthia currently serves as a Trustee of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches.

Dr. McConn has been a physician for more than 30 years and is seeing concierge medicine patients in the newly opened UHealth Concierge Medicine at Palm Beach. He is board certified in family medicine and received his medical degree from St. Georges University School of Medicine and completed a family medicine residency at St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center/SUNY Upstate Medical University. Before he attended medical school, he received his undergraduate degree in fermentation sciences at University of California at Davis and worked as an assistant winemaker in California and Bordeaux, France. Prior to joining UHealth, he served as chief medical officer of a large multispecialty group, after which started a successful concierge medical practice. 

Joseph McCool is a Business Development Director in Glenmede’s Florida office. He is responsible for cultivating relationships with endowments, foundations, tax-exempt entities and high-net-worth families. In addition, he fosters and maintains existing client relationships, enhancing the Company’s reputation as a specialized wealth manager. Prior to joining Glenmede, McCool was a founding member of Fieldpoint Private Bank & Trust’s Palm Beach office, where he was instrumental in founding and establishing the company’s Florida presence. McCool earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Columbia University and his Master of Business Administration degree in finance from New York University. He currently serves as a Trustee of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches.

Dr. Susan Merola-McConn is board certified in family medicine. She earned a medical degree from St. Georges University School of Medicine and completed a family medicine residency at St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center/SUNY Upstate Medical University. Prior to joining UHealth, she served as executive vice president of a large multispecialty medical group. Dr. Merola-McConn has more than 30 years of experience as a physician and is available for concierge medicine patient consultations in the newly opened UHealth Concierge Medicine at Palm Beach.

Michael Michuda, PE is Vice President of Industrial Operations at Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida. Prior to joining the Cooperative in 2014, he was a consulting engineer and project manager for a variety of clients in Palm Beach County including Pratt & Whitney, South Florida Water Management District, United Technologies and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
A native of Palm Beach County, Michael is a graduate of Cardinal Newman High School and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida. He currently serves as President of the Florida Division of the American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists, is longtime member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Florida Engineering Society and is a Professional Engineer registered in the State of Florida. Michael currently resides with his wife Nora in the City of Lake Worth Beach.

Jaene Miranda was named President & CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County in August of 2013. Founded in 1971, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County is a not-for profit youth development organization dedicated to promoting the educational, vocational, health, leadership and character of boys and girls in a safe, nurturing environment. The Clubs provide more than a safe, fun and constructive alternative to being home alone – they offer a variety of award-winning developmental programs to help youths build skills, self-esteem and values during critical periods of growth. Miranda came to Boys & Girls Clubs following a Corporate Marketing career that included work as Regional Marketing Manager for Miller Brewing Company, Director of Marketing for Kraft Bakery Company’s Southeast Region, and National Vice President of Brand Management at Rexall Sundown.

Sheri Montgomery, chief executive officer of Good Samaritan Medical Center, has been selected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches. She has more than 20 years of health care leadership experience with an extensive background in hospital operational, financial and strategic excellence. For the last three years, she served as the Group CFO for Delray Medical Center and the five hospitals that comprise the Palm Beach Health Network. Over her many years with Tenet, Montgomery has proven herself through a variety of leadership roles, including CFO of Delray Medical Center and Coral Gables Hospital. Montgomery is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University where she earned her Bachelor of Business Administration degree before completing her Master of Business Administration in Finance at Nova Southeastern University.

Penny Murphy is the President of Pioneer Linens which is located on Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach, Florida. This luxury linen and home accessories store is a 3rd generation family business serving the community for over 100 years. Penny is a West Palm Beach native who received her Bachelor of Science degree in Education from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia and Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education from Wheelock College in Boston, Massachusetts. After ten years of teaching, Penny joined her father, George Greenberg, to work with him at the store. She took over the business in 2007 when he passed away. Over the years, Penny has participated in many organizations including The Red Cross Designer Show House, The Forum Club of the Palm Beaches, The Norton Museum, and The Executive Women of the Palm Beaches. She is also the board member of the Historical Society of Palm Beach County.

Godwin Okolie is the CEO and founder of Wintrice Money Advisors, LLC a money manager, wealth management advisor boutique firm located in downtown West Palm Beach. He provides direction to individuals, families and businesses to reach their investment objectives and other financial goals. Okolie started his career with American Express Financial Advisors in New York and later worked with Merrill Lynch before starting Wintrice Money Advisors. Since its inception, the intention has been to eventually transition Wintrice into a Commercial Bank. Okolie has a degree in accounting from the New York Institute of Technology and a certificate in film production from New York University. He is also the founder of Making Dollars and Sense, Inc. a 501(c)(3) organization established to design a road map to permanently eradicate poverty in Palm Beach County by 2050.

Harvey E. Oyer, III is a partner in the law firm of Shutts & Bowen LLP, an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Miami School of Law, and an Adjunct Professor at the Florida Atlantic University Honors College. He is a fifth generation native Floridian and served for seven years as the Chairman of the Historical Society of Palm Beach County. He also serves as a Director of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches, a Trustee of the South Florida Science Museum, a Director of the Palm Beach Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, a Director of the Palm Beach Community College Foundation, and the Florida Senate President’s appointee to the Great Floridians Committee. He is a former Trustee of the Palm Beach United Way, a former Director of the Palm Beach County Cultural Council, and a Fellow of the Duke of Edinburgh Foundation (United Kingdom). Oyer has received numerous awards, including selection into Best Lawyers in America and the Thomas Jefferson Award for Public Service.

Born at St. Mary’s Hospital, Greg Quattlebaum is a lifelong resident of West Palm Beach. He and his bride Julie have three adult children, Greg, Jr. (Emily), Gretchen (Cody), and Grant; and one grandson. Mr. Quattlebaum has long been active in our community having served as the Executive Director of Leadership Palm Beach County; a Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Quantum House; a current member and past Chairman of the Community Investment Committee of the Palm Health Foundation; a former member of the Advisory Council of the Palm Beach Children’s Hospital at St. Mary’s Medical Center; a former member of the Palm Beach County Medical Society Services Board; a former member of the Advisory Board of the West Palm Beach Police Foundation; a past president of the Sailfish Club of Florida; and was awarded the American Free Enterprise Companion Medal from PBAU.

Gopal Rajegowda is a Senior Vice President at Related Companies and Managing Partner of Related Urban-Southeast, a development platform focused on sourcing, developing, and managing best-in-class mixed-use properties within the southeast United States. 
Mr. Rajegowda joined Related in 2004, and manages all aspects of mixed-use real estate acquisition and development, including financial analysis, deal structuring, partner negotiations, financing, and project and asset management.  His experience includes multiple mixed-use hospitality developments, including the W South Beach in Miami Beach and the Cosmopolitan Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, where he directed the programming, development and grand opening of the food and beverage and retail. 

Amit Rastogi, MD, MHCM is president and chief executive officer of Jupiter Medical Center. Prior to joining, Dr. Rastogi held executive roles at Yale New Haven Health, serving as chief medical officer, chief operating officer, and interim chief executive officer. During his tenure, he instituted numerous safety and quality initiatives and helped implement health care technology solutions. Dr. Rastogi has also served as senior vice president of strategy, growth and innovation at Inova Health, Virginia’s leading health care system, where he led health system strategy, developed innovative care models, and oversaw marketing and philanthropy. Dr. Rastogi earned his medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and pursued postgraduate training at Brigham and Women’s Hospital-Harvard Medical School and St. Vincent’s Medical Center-Yale School of Medicine

Ben Sadler is a native Floridian, having returned from a 20 year sojourn to South Carolina for college, law school, military service, and starting a family.  He is employed as real estate counsel to Florida Crystals Corporation and its affiliates.  Ben graduated from Furman University in Greenville, SC, and attended law school at the University of South Carolina.  Prior to entering active military service after the events of 9/11, he practiced law in Beaufort, South Carolina.  Upon discharge from active duty, he returned to civilian life as in-house counsel for one of the largest power providers in South Carolina, focusing on real estate and economic development. Ben returned to his native Florida in 2018; he is a member of the vestry at Holy Trinity, is active in his son’s Boy Scout Troop, and assists with his children’s rowing practice in North Palm Beach.  He retired from the reserve components as a judge advocate major. 

Timothy (Tim) Sargent began his career with Arthur Andersen LLP as Tax Account Manager where his responsibilities included tax planning and compliance for both domestic and foreign corporations, and trust management for high-net-worth individuals. In 2004, he joined the privately held Huizenga Holdings company, serving as Chief Financial Officer of the Rybovich Boat Company, a super yacht marina and refit facility based in West Palm Beach, Florida. From 2011 to 2016, Florida Governor Rick Scott appointed Tim to serve on the governing board of the 18-county South Florida Water Management District. He currently serves as a Trustee of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches. Following the acquisition of Rybovich Boat Company by Safe Harbor Marinas in 2021, Tim was named Chief Operating Officer for Safe Harbor's newly created International Division, which will be headquartered in Riviera Beach, Florida on the Rybovich Safe Harbor campus.

With over 20 years of experience, Jon Schmidt is the Principal Landscape Architect at Jon E. Schmidt & Associates Inc. Jon's expertise in land planning resonates with an in-depth review of long range comprehensive goals to identify opportunities for compliance, as well as consistency with Land Development Codes. His experience includes all aspects of entitlement and land use matters, such as due diligence, site analysis, master planning, comprehensive plan adoption and public representation before local government and regulatory bodies, as well as transfer of development rights and design standards. He acts as lead consultant directing all planning aspects and strategic outlining, as well as implementation of site/landscape design on a wide variety of projects throughout South Florida. Jon Schmidt is committed to delivering the highest standards of design quality and professional services to his clients and our community.

Alex Schnoeller, is the Managing Director at The Seagate Hotel, where he oversees the Hotel, Golf Club, Yacht Club, Beach Club and Residences.  Alex has spent his career at extraordinary properties, including Mandarin Oriental hotels in Washington, D.C., Las Vegas, Hawaii and Manila; Nobu Hospitality’s Eden Rock in Miami Beach; and Turnberry’s JW Marriott Nashville. He attended the Hotel School Neusiedl am See in Austria and received an Executive MBA from the Royal Institute of Technology in Australia. His passion for creating and managing great dining experiences will be key as we enhance the operations of the six amazing dining experiences which span the property. Alex, has been the Managing Director since September 2022 and is eager to learn and grow with the team.

Dr. Debra A. Schwinn, an accomplished higher education academic leader, innovator, scientist and physician, was named president-elect of Palm Beach Atlantic University on January 16, 2020. Dr. Schwinn previously served as associate vice president for medical affairs, dean of the Carver College of Medicine, and professor of anesthesiology, pharmacology, and biochemistry at the University of Iowa. She will assume the office of president on May 4, 2020, following the retirement of President William M. B. Fleming Jr. after a highly successful eight-year tenure. Prior to her positions at the University of Iowa, Dr. Schwinn served in senior leadership roles at the University of Washington and Duke University, where she was director of cardiovascular genomics in the Center for Genomic Medicine. Dr. Schwinn holds a bachelor’s degree from the College of Wooster and earned her medical degree from Stanford University School of Medicine.

Mike Sophia was named General Manager of CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches, the Spring Training home of the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals, in November of 2022.  He brings 30 years of experience in the sports and entertainment industry, including two years as the Vice President of Sports & Entertainment with Visit Lauderdale, seven years as the Director of the Sacramento Sports Commission and eight years as the Executive Director of the Miami-Dade Sports Commission.
 
Mike began his career with the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, working 4 years in the Sports Department planning and executing the Games in 1996.  As Vice President of the Florida Sports Foundation, Mike worked closely with major events throughout the state including three Super Bowls and two BCS Championships Games. 

Pamela Toussaint, MBA, trainer, author, and consultant is CEO of GPT Enterprises LLC dba Ultimate Image Coach (UIC), and UIC Leadership and Soft Skills Academy, a Certified Small/Minority/Women’s Business Enterprise, specializing in personal branding, leadership and soft skills training, coaching, and consulting.
We help organizations educate their team members resulting in empowered teams and business success. We serve public and private sector clients in the USA and overseas.
 A Fellow with Florida State University’s Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship, she educates business owners and non-profit executives on Leadership and Customer Loyalty strategies and skills. She is author of “The Audacious Woman: Blaze Your Path to Prosperity.”
https://ultimateimagecoach.com/
info@ultimateimagecoach.com

Stephen Travers is the District Manager of Rosemary Square with Related Companies.
 
With more than 40 years in leadership roles
managing teams in hospitality, sales, operation and guest services, Mr. Travers oversees day to day business operations, including parking, food & beverage operations, front of house guest services, maintenance and security at Rosemary Square in West Palm Beach. 
 
Stephen began his career in Ireland with Unilever and transferred to the United States in 1994. He 
became the Advertising Director for the Irish Voice Newspaper in New York, moved his way up 
Operations Manager at NYC OTB and held the role of VP of Hospitality at the New York Racing 
Association for the past 11 years. He joined Related Companies in June 2019. Mr. Travers graduated from Benildus College in Dublin, Ireland, and currently resides in Boca Raton.

Ken is Managing Principal of Urban Design Kilday Studios, a land planning and landscape architecture firm in West Palm Beach, Florida which he owns with his wife Wendy, the firm?s qualifying landscape architect.Ken directs the firm?s major land planning and urban design projects. Ken is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a B.S. in Civil Engineering, B.S. in Agronomy; Business Minor. Prior to taking the UDKS reins, Ken served as VP of Planning, Engineering and Development with WCI Communities, Inc. and held positions with Toll Brothers, Inc., Taylor Woodrow Communities and The Villages. He has been a featured speaker on land use topics for many organizations in South Florida. He sits on the Board of Deaf Services Center of Palm Beach County and is active in other professional and civic organizations. He and Wendy have two children, ages 5 and 4.

John ‘J.P.’ Varvarigos is a 3rd generation florist and owner of Wellington Florist. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, J.P. attributes much of his success in the flower business to his background in hospitality. J.P. assumed the role of general manager of Wellington Florist in 2010 and expanded the shop twice, first in 2014 and again in 2023. Today, the business is a multi-million dollar earning, full-service flower shop specializing in same-day delivery throughout Palm Beach County. Under his leadership, the company is counted among the largest grossing flower shops per square foot nationwide and has won prestigious awards over the years, including the award for Best Florist in Palm Beach County for the last three years.

Debra Vasilopoulos is the Market President of IBERIABANK. She is a recognized leader with more than 30 years of experience in Private Wealth management. Prior to joining IBERIABANK, she was the Regional President of Sabadell Bank & Trust. Prior to that, she was a founding member of Lydian Bank & Trust. Debra also served as the Regional Lending Director and Senior Vice President of OffitBank. She attended Lowell University, College of Financial Planning. Currently, Debra serves as an officer on the Board of Trustees for the Town of Palm Beach United Way and is a Trustee of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches.

Joseph Verdone has been a certified planner and government consultant with Carlton Fields for more than two decades. He has 30 years of professional land planning experience throughout Florida, representing numerous large-scale urban, mixed-use, and high-rise projects, including CityPlace DRI, CityPlace South Tower, CityPlace Office Tower, the Hilton West Palm Beach and the TRG Rybovich Marina CMPD. He has handled various Master Plan Amendments and Transfers of Development Rights approvals. Verdone has a bachelor’s from Florida A&M University and was a planner with the Palm Beach County Zoning Division from 1989-1994. He currently serves as a Trustee of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches.

Lindsey White is Chief Development Officer of the Hanley Foundation, a statewide nonprofit dedicated to eliminating substance abuse through prevention education, advocacy, and recovery support. She has more than 15 years of nonprofit experience with an emphasis on annual and capital campaigns, donor engagement, cultivation events, corporate philanthropy, strategic collaboration and cross-promotional partnerships in support of the greater good. Previously, Lindsey held positions with United Way of Palm Beach County, Society of the Four Arts, and the Norton Museum. She received a BFA from New York University, holds the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential, and served as a board member for the Association of Fundraising Professionals of Palm Beach County chapter. She is a graduate of Leadership Palm Beach County and currently serves as a Trustee of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches. 

William S. Williams, is a partner at the Personal Injury law firm of Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath. He limits his legal practice to personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout the State of Florida. He is a Board Certified civil trial lawyer and is listed in Best Lawyers in America for Plaintiff personal injury and product liability litigation. Williams has had numerous multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements throughout the State of Florida. In addition to his legal practice, he is the author of the book, 'Terror Before Dawn: A Child At War'. He has also served on charitable and business boards. His great grandfather, Henry J. Sterling, was one of the founders of Delray Beach, Florida.

Bret Hoffman, MBA, FACHE is the Assistant Vice President of Business Development at Northwell Health. Northwell Health is NY based healthcare organization dedicated to improving the health of the communities it serves by providing high-quality, patient-centered care. Our mission is to deliver compassionate and comprehensive healthcare services while advancing medical research and education. 

In addition to his role at Northwell Health, Bret is an adjunct college professor for undergraduate students at Cleary University in Howell, Michigan. After a recent return to Florida, Bret is facilitating the expansion efforts of Northwell Health here in West Palm Beach. Bret has a B.S. in Human Resource Management and an M.B.A. in Organizational Leadership. Additionally, he is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in Health Care Leadership. Bret also serves as a Trustee for the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches.