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Board of Directors

Interested in serving on one of our Governance committees or becoming a Board member? We would love to hear your interests. Just complete the Governance Interest Form.

Read our updated bylaws.

GSWCF Board of Directors


Board Officers

Cami Gibertini, President, 2023-2025

Cami Gibertini has more than 30 years of retail banking experience in various senior leadership roles within a few institutions in the Tampa Bay market.

Currently, Cami is the Vice President, Business Center Manager II at Hancock Whitney Bank. She is responsible for the overseeing the sales and service activities of the Tampa Retail branches as well as generating and originating Business Banking lending opportunities to grow market share in the Tampa Bay market.

She was the founder of the “Women Entrepreneurs” later re-named “Women in Business” program at Valley Bank and managed the program in the 4 states as the National Director.

Cami holds prestigious banking certifications from the ABA’s Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the University of Pennsylvania with a Wharton Business School Certificate of Achievement. She also graduated from the FBA’s Florida School of Banking at the University of Florida, BAI’s Graduate School of Retail Banking at the University of Wisconsin- Madison and RMA’s Commercial Lending School at the University of Central Florida. She recently completed a Rutgers Executive Leadership program with Valley’s “Leaders In Action.”

Cami is a proud member of the Board of Directors of the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida and was most recently 3rd Vice President and served on the Fund Development and Executive Committees. She also serves as on Advisory Council for the Centre for Women and is the past President and Treasurer of ECHO (Emergency Care Help Organization). She served at the Chairwoman for the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce in 2016. She was Brandon’s Honorary Mayor 2011-2012 and is a proud graduate of the Leadership Brandon (Class of 2000), Leadership Tampa (Class of 2004) and Leadership Tampa Bay (Class of 2015). Cami also served on the Campo Family YMCA Board of Directors, was a member of the Brandon 86 Rotary Club and member of Brandon Kiwanis.

Cami and her husband Scott live in Tampa and are the proud parents of two grown children: Haley and Ryan. In her spare time, she loves to spend time with her family, is an avid fitness buff, loves to read historical fiction, enjoys fine dining, covets time with her girl-tribe and she and Scott love to travel.

Dr. Deirdre Dixon, President-Elect, 2023-2025

Deirdre Dixon believes that leaders can always continue to develop. After 20 years as an Army officer with combat experience, she decided to apply her knowledge and practical leadership to teaching and designing leadership programs. Dr. Dixon is currently an Associate Professor of Management and Associate Director of the Center for Leadership at the University of Tampa. Deirdre earned her engineering degree from West Point, MBA from Duke University, and her management PhD from Case Western Reserve University.  Her area of research interest is in extremis leadership, when the leader’s life is in danger, looking at resiliency and military, police, and firefighters. She is a graduate of Leadership Tampa, Class of 2005, and serves on several non-profit boards such as the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida and the Tampa Theater. She also serves as a National Director on the West Point Association of Graduates Board.

Lynn Dorman, Vice President of Governance, 2023-2025

Lynn Jackson Dorman thrived as a Junior and Cadette Girl Scout in a small parent-led troop in Baltimore Maryland in the 1970s.  By 1988, she traded her Girl Scout uniform for a US Army uniform and spent the vast amount of her adult life as a military officer until her retirement in 2015.   In 1988, Lynn joined the US Army and served for 27 years retiring as a Colonel.

Professionally, Lynn has served as Executive Officer to the Director for Human Relations Policy for the US Army, Director of Personnel, Director of Diversity, and Director of Compliance.  In her last role as Assistant Chief of Staff for US Army Pacific Command, she led a mentoring and support initiative providing professional development and networking to all Department of Defense women serving in the Pacific Rim.  Lynn is a leader who spent her first career managing, directing and leading change in three distinct areas: diversity program management and leadership, human resource management with a focus in human relations program development, and compliance management fields such as operations, cyber security, and human resource management. 

Lynn’s second career is focused on giving back in a different way.  Currently, Lynn works as a Licensed Mental Health Therapist in Tampa working with those struggling with addiction, grief, marital problems, and issues of adjustment.  Today she works in a local practice focusing on mental health treatment for the city’s ex-offender population.  At the same time, she is working to build her own private practice in St. Pete.  Lynn has a Master of Counseling Psychology degree from Chaminade University of Honolulu, a Master of Education degree with a concentration in Higher Education Leadership and Supervision from Loyola University, and a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Notre Dame University of Maryland. 

Lynn has a profound interest in the mission of women’s service and charitable organizations.  She serves as a member of the vestry at St Andrews Episcopal Church leading the Helping Hands ministry.  She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.  She is a member of the Pierians Inc., a club of women arts enthusiasts, and serves as the President of the national organization’s foundation, which raises and donates money to underserved, minority children who demonstrate talent and interest in the arts.

She and her husband, Edward Dorman, live in South Tampa, FL

Michelene Everett, Treasurer, 2023-2025
Michelene Everett pic

Michelene Everett, CMP DES, is a senior meeting manager for American Express Global Business Travel. She is the Founder and Creative Director of Hyde Park Event Design, an event management company based in Tampa Bay. Her events are designed to ensure that attendees will bring their experiences home with them through interaction and immersion.

As a Corporate Event Professional, Michelene has extensive meeting planning experience from large trade shows and conferences to executive committee meetings. Her industry experience

spans pharmaceutical, medical device, software technology, and non-profit sectors. She is a graduate of the International School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Fairleigh Dickinson University. As an event expert, she currently serves on the Board of Meeting Professionals International (MPI), which is the largest meeting and event industry association worldwide. As the director of strategic alliance, she works with suppliers and event planners throughout Tampa Bay to help them achieve their business goals by sharing strengths and resources. She also serves as the newest board member for Tampa Bay Business for Culture and the Arts (TBBCA).

Michelene has served and will continue to serve her community through action. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors for Girl Scouts of West Central Florida, she has led the Fund Development Committee to a highly successful Women of Distinction event in 2023. She has served as President of The Historic Kenwood Neighborhood Association and is currently an active committee member for the St. Pete Arts Alliance Shine Mural Festival, HK Partnership, and Academy Prep (EOD) committees.

Michelene is a native New Yorker but is proud to call St. Petersburg her home where she resides with her husband, Dr. Farhan Malik.

Stephen Ponzillo, Secretary, 2023-2025

Stephen Ponzillo is an Assistant Vice President & Community Relations Officer with Regions Financial Corporation.  Anchored by Regions’ mission to make life better, Stephen is privileged to build partnerships with nonprofit organizations across West, Central and South Florida – which allow the bank and its associates to focus their time, talents and financial resources toward causes that empower people through education, financial wellness and inclusive economic growth. 

Prior to joining Regions, Stephen served for 17 years as a leader within high-performing nonprofit organizations in Tampa Bay, as well as in Northern Indiana and Washington, D.C. This included two years of post-graduate service as an AmeriCorps member in both south St. Petersburg and the nation’s capital.   He holds a Bachelor of Arts, as well as a Master of Nonprofit Administration (MNA) from the University of Notre Dame. 

A passionate advocate committed to helping children and families overcome obstacles to success, Stephen is honored to champion the next generation of change-makers as a member of our board.  He lives in Hillsborough County with his amazing wife and their precocious daughter Caroline, a proud member of Daisy Troop 1843.   

Mary Pat King, Ex Officio Officer

Mary Pat King, CAE, was named CEO of Girl Scouts of West Central Florida (GSWCF) in March 2020. GSWCF serves nearly 18,000 members spanning eight counties: Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Polk, Citrus, Sumter and Marion.

Prior to Girl Scouts, Mary Pat spent her career working for national organizations focused on issues most impacting youth, families and schools. She led the conceptual design and launch of numerous National PTA programs including: School of Excellence, STEM + Families, Smart Talk, Connect for Respect, Take Your Family to School Week and Family Reading Experience. For the American Diabetes Association, Mary Pat managed ADA’s youth, family and community outreach programs nationwide, including ADA’s 56 Diabetes Camps, Diabetes Expo, Live Empowered, Family Link and Port tu Familia. She also ran two fundraising events nationwide: Father of the Year Awards Galas and School Walk for Diabetes. At Safe Kids Worldwide, Mary Pat managed the first few years of the Safe Kids Walk This Way program, partnering with FedEx to scale up a three-school pilot of International Walk to School Day in 2001 to 300+ participating schools worldwide by 2004. Mary Pat also worked at two Washington, DC-based public relations firms where she managed client portfolios focused on mental health and education issues. She began her career as a news clerk and intern features writer for The Watertown (NY) Daily Times.

During the past 20+ years, Mary Pat has helped to raise more than $10 million in corporate and foundation grants; trained hundreds of staff and volunteers worldwide; and volunteered as an expert advisor to numerous nonprofits and federal agencies in the design of community engagement initiatives including: Action for Healthy Kids’ Every Kid Healthy Campaign, Safe Routes to School National Partnership, SAMHSA’s Talk. They Hear You. Campaign, SAMHSA’s National Wellness Week, Ad Council's StopBullying.Gov campaign, WETA’s (PBS) Well Beings initiative, the White House Convening on Marketing to Youth, and the Jed Foundation’s Set to Go Program.

Mary Pat serves on the Hillsborough Commission on the Status of Women, is a Certified Association Executive (CAE), and is a John Maxwell Certified Leadership Trainer. She is a frequent leadership speaker to community groups, and she is a member of the Florida Society of Association Executives and Girl Scout Staff Association. She has a Master of Science degree in public relations from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse (NY) University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Le Moyne College, Syracuse, NY. Mary Pat and her husband, Eric, live in Palm Harbor, FL with their two children, Mason and Jenna Bea. She is a parent volunteer for her daughter’s Girl Scout Troop.


Members at Large

Courtney Bilyeu, Member at Large, 2022-2024
Courtney Bilyeu

Courtney Bilyeu was born into a Navy family in Monterey, California. She attended high school at Copenhagen International School in Denmark, received a bachelor’s in Mass Communications from James Madison University, and is an alumna of Alpha Sigma Tau sorority. She and her husband Allan, a retired Special Forces Lieutenant Colonel, have called Tampa home since 2012.

Courtney has decades of diverse work and volunteer experience. Her positive can-do attitude is contagious and motivates people when tasks can be overwhelming. She has worked as a Defense Contractor since graduating from college in 1999.

Courtney joined The Junior League of Tampa in 2013 and has held a variety of roles on Leadership Council, Management Council, and the Executive Board including Social Chair, Communications Manager, Fund Development Manager, and Secretary. This year, Courtney led the League's largest fundraiser with the help of the League's biggest committee. With over 50 women on the HGM Team, Courtney helped put on the annual event, which attracts 20,000 shoppers and brings in essential revenue for the League's community work.

Courtney is currently serving as the Tampa Co-Chair of the Green Beret Foundation. She has served on the MacDill Spouses’ Club Board for several years in addition to her leadership roles with The Junior League of Tampa.

Courtney and her husband Allan are members of The Sacred Heart congregation and enjoy traveling and volunteering.

Michelle Bonner, Member at Large, 2022-2024
Michelle Christie

Michelle Bonner is originally from New Jersey. Michelle moved to Florida where she studied Health Sciences and Public Health at the University of South Florida and continues to serve and lead in the community by sharing the message of overall health. She has focused her efforts on health and education program development and coordination coupled with grant writing for local initiatives with her most recent grant securing $500,000. Her experience with fundraising includes work with federal, nonprofit and for profit entities such as Department of Health, Department of Children and Families, Centers for Disease Control, clinics/outpatient centers, financial institutions and more. She also reviews grants for local organizations like United Way Suncoast and Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute as an ambassador. Whether building community gardens or partnerships, Michelle continues to design, develop, and manage content for organizations across the state and increasing health awareness nationwide.

After nearly a decade of training leaders in the implementation of physical, nutrition and mental health programs, for youth and adults, Michelle has transitioned to the finance industry as a Relationship Manager with Regions Bank. Currently, she works with consumer and commercial bankers in West Florida from the panhandle to the Gold Coast to support clients and customers along their journey to financial wellness. In the last year, Michelle has served as a leader in her community as Vice Chair of Emerging Leaders of Tampa Bay. This is a young professional development group with the Tampa Bay Chamber. She also serves on the advisory board for St. Petersburg College, Financial Literacy Chair for the board of Project Prosper, helping immigrants and refugees, as well as the board of USF Black Alumni Society for Marketing and Communications with her alma mater. She enjoys mentoring her six high school, college and graduate students and helping others set personal and professional goals. Her passion for sharing knowledge, talents and time and empowering and connecting leaders are just a few of the ways she supports her community.

Kelly Dunne, Member at Large, 2023-2025

Kelly Dunne is a passionate sales and marketing professional with 13 years of experience. She graduated from Florida State University and moved to New York City to begin a career in Digital Advertising sales at Fox News and Turner Broadcasting. After a few cold winters, she decided to move back to her home state of Florida to be closer to family. While working at CBS and Golf Channel, Kelly expanded her skill set to include traditional and digital marketing. Kelly always wanted to live on the West Coast of Florida, and knew through professional connections that Raymond James Financial, headquartered in St. Petersburg, was an exceptional firm.

In 2018, she came to work for Raymond James as a Team Lead for Private Client Group Corporate Marketing. Kelly provided strategic marketing support for PCG Internal Business units, including the Advisor Inclusion Networks. While working with the advisors and stakeholders in the Advisor Inclusion Networks, she contributed to the continued success of the diverse Advisor networks and their initiatives.

Kelly is a Senior Relationship Manager for the Advisor Inclusion Networks, working alongside advisors and like-minded individuals to continue the efforts Raymond James has and continues to be an inclusive and diverse financial services firm.

In her spare time, Kelly enjoys group fitness workout classes, catching up on her endless book list and walking with her french bulldog, Oliver.

Sue Ryan Goodman, Member at Large, 2022-2024

Sue Ryan Goodman is currently an adjunct instructor for University of South Florida Muma College of Business. She completed her DBA at University of South Florida in 2021, with her dissertation “Understanding Nonprofit Boards: An Exploratory Study of Governance Practices of Regional Nonprofits”, having retired in 2013 after a 24-year career in the investment industry. She has an MBA from Rutgers University and a BS in Accounting from Marquette University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst and a Certified Public Accountant.

Sue and her husband live in St. Petersburg and have two adult children. She is a Lifetime Girl Scout and has served on the Finance Committee of Girl Scouts of West Central Florida, since she moved to Florida in early 2018. From 2012-2018, she was a board member of the Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey, where she also served on the Finance Committee for 10 years and was chair of the Audit Committee. In 2008, she was a GSUSA National Council delegate and, in 2017, was awarded the Thanks Badge, the highest adult award in Girl Scouting. She camped at the Rockwood Girl Scout National Center as a girl and at the Edith Macy Conference Center as an adult and visited Pax Lodge in London with her daughter in 2008. Her daughter is a Girl Scout Gold Award recipient, and her husband and son are both Eagle Scouts.

Tracy Holt, Member at Large, 2022-2024
Tracy Holt

Tracy Holt is a Vice President Market Leader with Pilot, a part of LMCU, specializing in helping others achieve financial stability. Tracy is no stranger to the financial industry. She has spent the past 30+ years working in the banking system in both New York and Florida. She currently manages the operations and community relations for the West Chase Banking Center. Tracy has held various leadership positions throughout her career, including AVP of Operations and VP of a Banking Center. Tracy holds a BS in Business Management from Medaille College, located in Buffalo, NY. 

Tracy believes that we all have a gift and obligation to give our time and talents. She has worked with Meals on Wheels, Children's Museum Art Spot, and Metropolitan Ministries. She served on the Executive Board of the Greater Temple Terrace Chamber, where she chaired the City of Temple Terrace Parade. She also served as Treasurer for Gamma Theta Omega Foundation, an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Gamma Theta Omega Chapter and Leadership Tampa Bay Alumna. Tracy continues to volunteer her time working with USF Women in Leadership and Philanthropy and Girl Scouts of West Central Florida, Camp CEO program.

Vanessa Jones, Member at Large, 2023-2025

Vanessa Jones is the Senior Director of Learner Services, Training & Operations at Ultimate Medical Academy. Vanessa holds a bachelor’s degree in social work and a master’s in public administration. While she began her career in Social Work, she has been with UMA over 11 years supporting students to navigate their programs on their pathway to their allied healthcare careers. In her free time, she enjoys, travelling, volunteering within the community, and spending time with friends and family.

Grace Maseda, Member at Large, 2022-2024
Grace Maseda 09.2014

Grace Maseda is Vice President of Marketing with Helios Education Foundation, oversees the development and implementation of branding and communication strategies that further the foundation’s mission of enriching the lives of individuals by creating opportunities for success in postsecondary education.

Prior to Helios Education Foundation, Ms. Maseda was employed by Hillsborough County Public Schools where she led various marketing initiatives including the implementation of Edsby, the district’s parent communication platform. Additionally, Ms. Maseda enjoyed a tenured career at the Tampa Bay Times were she held advertising, marketing, and community relations roles.

Ms. Maseda has held numerous leadership positions including chair of the board of trustees for SERVE, Volunteers in Education, chairperson of the City of Tampa Mayor’s Hispanic Advisory Council, and chairperson of the board of directors for KidCity.  Ms. Maseda is currently a member of the leadership council of LEAP, Tampa Bay's College Access Network, and serves as co-chair of the network's communications committee.  She has recently completed her second term on the GSWCF Board of Directors.

Ms. Maseda holds the designation of APR, Accredited in Public Relations, from the Public Relations Society of America, is a graduate of Saint Leo University with a Bachelor’s degree in Management and also completed graduate studies at the University of South Florida obtaining a Master’s of Science in Management.

Ashley Nessler, Member at Large, 2023-2025

Ashley Nessler is a Customer Segment Manager in Preferred Banking Controls, Operations and Supervision team at Bank of America. Ashley is responsible for leading strategy development, partner integration, process simplification and risk reduction for over 3900 financial centers. In her role, Ashley is focused on improving the end-to-end process for complex account services and requests.

Prior to this role, Ashley developed and improved credit enablement programming through new program strategies for Small Business sales teammates and the Small Business Administration (SBA) team. In 2020, Ashley led an organization of 400+ campus hires, with Enterprise Independent Testing efforts for the Paycheck Protection Program.

Ashley joined Bank of America in 2003 as a professional teller during her second year in college. The majority of Ashley’s professional experience is attributed to her journey through the Consumer and Small Business Banking, including leading Sales associates, leading large scale transformation initiatives, and driving performance goals.

Ashley is passionate about diversity and inclusion and led the creation of LEAD for Women in Greater Tampa Bay. Ashley serves as the Enterprise LEAD for Women Co-Enterprise Leader, an employee network at Bank of America. LEAD for Women is comprised of over 65 chapters and 44,000 + members worldwide. Ashley serves on the Investing in Women Council for Bank of America to support women at Bank of America. She is active in the Tampa Bay community, by serving as a board member for Centre for Women committing more than 75 hours each year. Ashley was the Bank of America Diversity & Inclusion Award winner in 2017.

Ashley has a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Saint Leo University. In her spare time, she enjoys yoga, photography and traveling. Ashley resides in Tampa, Florida, with her family, and is a new mother to her first daughter, Palmer.

Marion Rich, Member at Large, 2023-2025
Marion R

Marion Rich has been a resident of Pinellas County, Florida for 38 years. She grew up in Massillon, Ohio and graduated from the University of Cincinnati with undergraduate and graduate degrees in Communication Arts and Film Studies.

Marion was a Professor of Communications at St. Petersburg College for 10 years. She began her community volunteer work in 1990 with the Junior League of Clearwater Dunedin. Her training through the Junior League led her into the next 30+ years of volunteer leadership in the Tampa Bay region. Marion currently serves in leadership positions on several nonprofit boards including: 211 Tampa Bay Cares (20 years/past board chairman), Morton Plant Mease Health Care Board of Directors, Pinellas Community Foundation Board of Governors, Girl Scouts of West Central Florida, and the Dali Museum Guild. Previously she served on the governing boards of the Junior League of Clearwater Dunedin (past president), Film Foundation of Tampa Bay (founder and past chair), Morton Plant Mease Heath Care Foundation (past Board chair), Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay, and Ruth Eckerd Performing Arts Center.

Outside of the Tampa Bay region, Marion currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Film at Lincoln Center in New York City.

Marion was the leader of her daughter’s Girl Scout troop for 12 years. The troop spent five years producing a documentary about famous women who were Girl Scouts across the country. Marion continued her involvement with GSWCF by serving on the Board Development Committee, chairing the council’s 100th Anniversary Celebration, chairing Women of Distinction for three years, and serving as Second Vice President on the Board of Directors and Chair of the Fund Development Committee.

In 2002, the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida recognized Marion as a Woman of Distinction; the same year she received the Greater Clearwater Chamber of Commerce Ms. Clearwater Award. In 2017, she was inducted into the GSWCF Women of Distinction Hall of Fame.

Yvette Segura, Member at Large, 2022-2024
Yvette Segura

Yvette Segura is a community leader with more than 37 years of experience in the Financial Services industry. Yvette is the immediate past Chairwoman for the Tampa Bay Chamber, serving as chair in 2021. She recently retired from USAA after 33 years of leadership and most recently as the Regional Vice President in Tampa. In that role, Yvette was the senior officer for USAA in Tampa, Florida serving as the representative to regional civic, industry and military organizations.

Yvette was recognized by Florida Trend’s Florida 500 - Florida’s Most Influential Business Leaders in 2020 and 2021 and The Tampa Bay Business Journal Power 100 in 2020 and 2021.

Yvette has served the community in a multitude of roles providing her leadership experience to several organizations including the Tampa Bay Economic Development Corporation, the Tampa Bay Partnership and the University of Tampa, Board of Trustees. She remains active in the community by serving on the University of South Florida, Muma College of Business Executive Advisory Council, Feeding Tampa Bay’s capital campaign committee and the Stageworks Theatre advisory council. She also proudly serves on the One Tampa Foundation executive board of directors, selected by the Mayor, of the City of Tampa.

In addition to these roles, Yvette is active with the military community. She served two terms as an Honorary Commander at MacDill AFB. During this time, she attended the prestigious Air War College and was identified to represent the Tampa Bay Community as a civic leader to the Air Mobility Command. Yvette is a member of the MacDill civic leader council. She is an active volunteer in the community sharing her time and experience with college students and young professionals in the community.

Yvette has worked in the insurance industry since 1984. Throughout that time, she held a variety of leadership positions to include the Vice President of Claims international and domestic operations. Yvette holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in Business Administration. She has attained the CPCU and CCLA designations. She has attended the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania’s insurance risk management program.

Yvette and her husband, Randal Collette, enjoy boating around the Tampa Bay Area and traveling as often as possible.

Keith Smith, Member at Large, 2022-2024
Keith S

Keith Smith is a shareholder in Gray Robinson’s Lakeland office. Keith concentrates his practice in the areas of corporate law, estate planning, the representation of lenders and financial institutions and utilities law. Keith commenced the practice of law in Florida at Citigroup Inc., in Tampa, Florida, where he served as a Senior Attorney and Vice President. At Citigroup, Keith provided legal support for a variety of transactions in the areas of real estate, technology, e-commerce and shared services. After returning to private practice as a shareholder of a Central Florida law firm, Keith continued to practice in the areas of banking and finance, real estate and corporate law. Keith has since expanded his practice to include estate planning, business succession planning and wealth preservation planning for business owners and individuals. As a part of his corporate practice, Keith acts as outside general counsel to multiple businesses, including Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative Inc., one of the largest rural electric cooperative utilities in the nation.

Lavinia "Vinnie" Vaughn, Member at Large, 2023-2025

Lavinia “Vinnie” Vaughn has been a Girl Scout volunteer for many years, serving Girl Scouts of Suncoast Council and Girl Scouts of West Central Florida as a troop leader, consultant, and cookie program organizer for the Smiling Sisters Community.  She has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2012 and is currently the First Vice President. Vinnie chaired the Long Range Program and Properties Task Force, who completed an assessment of all of our property assets and recommended a long-term plan for enhancement to meet current and future programming needs.  She serves on the council’s Properties Committee and has been invaluable to property transactions, providing legal and practical advice to council and the committee.

Vinnie lives in Tampa and works at Carlton Fields, P.A. as an attorney and shareholder specializing in commercial real estate, finance and business law.  She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in French and Spanish from Montclair State University, a Master of Arts in French from the University of Richmond, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Richmond.

 

Girl Board Members

Bonnie K., Girl Board Member, 2023-2024

Bonnie K. is an Ambassador in the Toppercrest Service Unit and has been a Girl Scout for nine years. She is currently working on her Gold Award. Bonnie attends Steinbrenner High School and is Vice President of her junior class. She is the Junior Secretary of Pet Pals of America and holds officer positions in numerous clubs at school like Outreach Coordinator of FCA and Drive &

Donation Secretary of National Honor Society. Vice President of FFA, a group leader in National Junior Honor Society, and on the student council. Bonnie earned her Bronze Award. In the pursuit of her Gold Award, she represents Girl Scouts at her local church. She believes she can handle the responsibilities and cherish the learning experience she will have as a Girl Member of the Board of Directors.

Grace S., Girl Board Member, 2023-2024

Grace S. has been a Girl Scout in the Rainbow community for almost 10 years and is currently an Ambassador. Grace earned her Bronze and Silver Awards by making a video with her troop for Feeding Tampa Bay to create awareness about the realities of food insecurity for many children. Representing Girl Scouts, she was asked to join their Catalyst Board to create awareness about how teens can help the hunger crisis. She has not held any governance positions but looks forward to being more involved as a Girl Member of the Board.

She is currently a member of the GSWCF CEO Advisory Board and enjoys advocating for older girls in the council. Grace is a member of the Media Girls team and has been interviewed numerous times. Most recently, she was one of the featured Media Girls who spoke at Women of Distinction. She is a Counselor in Training at Camp Wai Lani for two years and is passionate about working with children in her community. She looks forward to being a camp counselor in the future. Grace also participated in Camp CEO and enjoyed learning from female leaders as mentors and servants in the community. Grace believes that one of the most important things about being a Girl Scout is the community that comes with it.


Board Development Committee

The Board Development Committee (BDC) is responsible for partnering with the board to build a high performing board that is as effective as it can be.  The committee recruits and slates nominees for council leadership and works closely with the board to ensure board orientation, ongoing education and assessment.

Michelle Bonner, Board Development Committee Chair, 2022-2025
Michelle Christie

Michelle Bonner is originally from New Jersey. Michelle moved to Florida where she studied Health Sciences and Public Health at the University of South Florida and continues to serve and lead in the community by sharing the message of overall health. She has focused her efforts on health and education program development and coordination coupled with grant writing for local initiatives with her most recent grant securing $500,000. Her experience with fundraising includes work with federal, nonprofit and for profit entities such as Department of Health, Department of Children and Families, Centers for Disease Control, clinics/outpatient centers, financial institutions and more. She also reviews grants for local organizations like United Way Suncoast and Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute as an ambassador. Whether building community gardens or partnerships, Michelle continues to design, develop, and manage content for organizations across the state and increasing health awareness nationwide.

After nearly a decade of training leaders in the implementation of physical, nutrition and mental health programs, for youth and adults, Michelle has transitioned to the finance industry as a Relationship Manager with Regions Bank. Currently, she works with consumer and commercial bankers in West Florida from the panhandle to the Gold Coast to support clients and customers along their journey to financial wellness. In the last year, Michelle has served as a leader in her community as Vice Chair of Emerging Leaders of Tampa Bay. This is a young professional development group with the Tampa Bay Chamber. She also serves on the advisory board for St. Petersburg College, Financial Literacy Chair for the board of Project Prosper, helping immigrants and refugees, as well as the board of USF Black Alumni Society for Marketing and Communications with her alma mater. She enjoys mentoring her six high school, college and graduate students and helping others set personal and professional goals. Her passion for sharing knowledge, talents and time and empowering and connecting leaders are just a few of the ways she supports her community.

Courtney Bilyeu, Board Development Committee Member at Large, 2022-2025
Courtney Bilyeu

Courtney Bilyeu was born into a Navy family in Monterey, California. She attended high school at Copenhagen International School in Denmark, received a bachelor’s in Mass Communications from James Madison University, and is an alumna of Alpha Sigma Tau sorority. She and her husband Allan, a retired Special Forces Lieutenant Colonel, have called Tampa home since 2012.

Courtney has decades of diverse work and volunteer experience. Her positive can-do attitude is contagious and motivates people when tasks can be overwhelming. She has worked as a Defense Contractor since graduating from college in 1999.

Courtney joined The Junior League of Tampa in 2013 and has held a variety of roles on Leadership Council, Management Council, and the Executive Board including Social Chair, Communications Manager, Fund Development Manager, and Secretary. This year, Courtney led the League's largest fundraiser with the help of the League's biggest committee. With over 50 women on the HGM Team, Courtney helped put on the annual event, which attracts 20,000 shoppers and brings in essential revenue for the League's community work.

Courtney is currently serving as the Tampa Co-Chair of the Green Beret Foundation. She has served on the MacDill Spouses’ Club Board for several years in addition to her leadership roles with The Junior League of Tampa.

Courtney and her husband Allan are members of The Sacred Heart congregation and enjoy traveling and volunteering.

Jule Doran Salem, Board Development Committee Member at Large, 2022-2025
Jule Salem

Jule Doran Salem spent her formative years in Sarasota, FL before moving to Tampa to attend the University of South Florida where she received her Bachelors in Finance followed by a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Tampa. She currently serves as Managing Director of Salem Solutions, a nationally recognized workforce management firm that specializes in call center staffing.

While in Sarasota, she actively participated in Girl Scouts and 4-H. She enjoyed equestrian sports where she won numerous awards in hunt seat equitation and jumping.

After receiving her undergraduate and graduate degrees, Jule’s interest in pursuing a career in business continued to grow while serving as a finance and accounting leader for Coca-Cola, Hovnananian Enterprises, XPO Logistics and Vastec. In 2012, she set out to build Salem Solutions with a focus on her vision of humanizing call center staffing and delivering exceptional solutions to both the clients and candidates they serve.

Concurrent to her role at Salem, Jule serves as CFO for Enable America, a non-profit whose mission is to increase employment for Veterans and individuals with disabilities. She is also a Board Member of the City of Tampa Mayor’s Alliance for Persons with Disabilities, as well as a member of the University of Tampa, Board of Fellows, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, American Staffing Association, HR Tampa, Tampa Bay Chamber and Staffing Industry Analysts.

Jule lives in Tampa with her husband, Richard, and their two dogs, Riley and Lilly.

Vanessa Jones, Board Development Committee Member at Large, 2023-2026

Vanessa Jones is the Senior Director of Learner Services, Training & Operations at Ultimate Medical Academy. Vanessa holds a bachelor’s degree in social work and a master’s in public administration. While she began her career in Social Work, she has been with UMA over 11 years supporting students to navigate their programs on their pathway to their allied healthcare careers. In her free time, she enjoys, travelling, volunteering within the community, and spending time with friends and family.

Lt. Col. USAF (Ret.) Jean (Maxwell) Kohler, Board Development Committee Member at Large, 2023-2026

 Lt. Col. USAF (Ret.) Jean (Maxwell) Kohler graduated from Capital University in 1970 with dual chemistry and math majors. As a senior research project, she developed the first computer programs for use in Capital’s chemistry courses. Following a career in the U.S. Air Force that included serving as Computer Software Director for the U.S. Central Command during its leadership of coalition Persian Gulf War forces and Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the U.S. Air Force Academy, she retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. She continued her professional career as Information Systems Director for a substance abuse prevention agency and for a British Aerospace subsidiary producing aircraft simulators.

Jean is a Lifetime Girl Scouts of the USA member, joining as a Brownie and continuing as an adult volunteer with a variety of positions in seven Girl Scout Councils, including Girl Scouts Overseas Europe. She was a GSUSA Master Trainer and Instructor of Trainers, served on three Girl Scout Councils’ Board of Directors, including six years as Board Chair of the Tampa Bay GS Council, and served 11 years as a GSUSA National Operational Volunteer providing technology and governance consulting services to GS councils nationwide. She continues now as a member of the GS West Central Florida Finance Committee and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts Olave Baden-Powell Society.

In addition to her undergraduate education at Capital, Jean has a M.S. in chemistry with a computer science minor and a M.A. in management information systems. She is also a graduate of several military leadership and management programs including the Armed Forces Staff College and the Air War College.

She and her husband, Rudy, both now enhance their retirement years with various philanthropic activities, travel, and golf.

Lisa McGlynn, Board Development Committee Member at Large, 2022-2025
Lisa McGlynn

Lisa McGlynn is a Partner in the Tampa office of the employment and labor law firm Fisher and Phillips. She represents a variety of employers, including but not limited to healthcare entities, faith based groups, automobile dealerships, and retail and hospitality establishments, and in all areas of labor and employment law. She defends employers in state and federal court litigation and arbitration on a wide variety of employment-related claims, including claims arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Florida Civil Rights Act, and the Florida Private Whistleblower Act.

She has represented employers of all sizes before state and federal courts, in arbitration proceedings, and before administrative agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHRA), the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH), and various local agencies. 

Lisa also regularly counsels employers and their managers on employee relations including preventing issues before they arise. This includes advice on employee background screening and selection, medical marijuana in the workplace concerns, drug and alcohol testing, wage and hour compliance, harassment investigations, and disciplinary strategies.  Lisa routinely drafts and revises employee handbooks, arbitration agreements, confidentiality agreements, and non-compete, non-solicitation, and severance agreements.  She also frequently conducts informative and entertaining management and employee training for clients to ensure they are both aware of their ever-changing legal requirements, and are as implementing best practices to avoid legal entanglements. Lisa has spoken at conventions and meetings nationwide on employment law issues, and developed a series of webinars on current popular topics. 

Lisa has two children (Jessica and Miles) and enjoys spending time with her family, reading, the Florida Gators, and being active in her community. Lisa is currently the proud troop leader for her daughter’s Brownie troop. She has been a longtime supporter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and has served in various volunteer leadership rolls. She is also a current member of the Board of Directors for the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay whose mission is to ensure that no one faces a crisis alone. 

Dr. Georgina Rivera-Singletary, Board Development Committee Member at Large, 2023-2026

Dr. Georgina Rivera-Singletary is an Associate Professor with Saint Leo University with a focus on graduate education. She has an extensive background in Florida public school systems as a teacher, school and district-based administrator, and technical assistance consultant for the department of education in Puerto Rico. Combined, these experiences help her to develop and train classroom teachers including those who aspire to be school and district leaders in Florida and across the nation through online learning.

Dr. Rivera-Singletary earned her doctorate from the University of South Florida in 2014 and her study explored collaborative leadership practices for serving migrant students with disabilities. In addition to her Ph.D., Dr. Rivera-Singletary holds an education specialist degree (USF) and two master’s degrees (M.Ed. & MBA; Saint Leo) all with a focus on leadership.

Dr. Rivera-Singletary was a Girl Scout professional for 7 years in the 1990’s providing programs to unserved and underserved girls in rural and underprivileged areas of Pasco County. She then served neighborhoods as a Field Executive supervising, training, and supporting directors overseeing programming in their communities.

Dr. Rivera-Singletary is a native Floridian and has lived in Pasco County her entire life. She is married and has 3 children, 3 grandchildren, and is raising her 7-year-old niece who is a Daisy Girl Scout in Troop 321 in Zephyrhills. 

Georgina is an advocate for social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) especially for people with disabilities and migrant farmworker English learners and their families. She completed two DEI certificates from eCornell University and University of South Florida as a precursor for her work with special populations.

Dr. Rivera-Singletary serves on several boards, school advisory councils, task forces, and holds governance office with the Saint Leo University Senate and has extensive governance experience. Dr. Rivera-Singletary is a member of the Zephyrhills Rotary Club and is a member of The Rotary International Cadre for Basic Education and Literacy in which she evaluates and monitors global grants internationally.

For fun, she loves to travel, teach health and fitness classes, and amusement parks. She has a strong passion for serving the community and believes we all should have a commitment to the success of human capita as without it our world progress fails. 

LaKendria Robinson, Board Development Committee Member at Large, 2022-2025
LaKendria Robinson

LaKendria Robinson is the Founder + CEO of The Orenda Collective, a social impact strategy firm that works with corporations to create groundbreaking diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in the communities they live, work, and play. The Orenda Collective’s mission is to shift the focus of antiquated ideals to more deliberate and progressive actions. By challenging their clients to view their community through a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive lens, The Orenda Collective delivers innovative solutions that live on in perpetuity. Although launched in March 2021, The Orenda Collective is creating dynamic social impact programs for The Tampa Bay Sports Commission, Visit Tampa Bay, and the Tampa Bay Partnership.

For more than a decade, LaKendria has worked and volunteered for organizations that support underserved communities who help its residents build sustainable lives. Prior to starting The Orenda Collective, LaKendria served as the Director, Business Connect & Community Outreach for the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Super Bowl Host Committee. In her role, she was responsible for identifying and connecting Tampa Bay diverse businesses to contracting opportunities related to Super Bowl LV, as well as co-managing the various social legacy initiatives of the Host Committee’s Forever 55 social impact programs.

LaKendria also served as the first Director of Minority Business Accelerator & Economic Inclusion for the Tampa Bay Chamber, where she spearheaded the Minority Business Accelerator to help minority-owned businesses grow and thrive in Tampa Bay.

She was named a 2020 Forty Under Forty recipient for the Business Observer. LaKendria was also named a 2019 Forty Under 40 recipient by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives for her meaningful involvement in the advancement of the Tampa Bay community.

Ms. Robinson earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Communications from The Florida State University (Go Noles!) and a master’s degree in Organizational Management & Leadership from Ashford University. She currently volunteers with several community groups that focus on providing access and opportunities to diverse owned businesses in Tampa Bay and entrepreneurial ecosystem building.

Ms. Robinson currently resides in Hillsborough County with her husband William, daughter, Skylar and son, Eli.

Laura Sokalski, Board Development Committee Member at Large, 2022-2025
Laura Sokalski

Laura Sokalski has lived in many parts of Tampa Bay and now resides in Eastern Hillsborough County.  She graduated from The University of Tampa’s John H. Sykes College of Business with a degree in Marketing and a passion for women’s leadership development.  While a student at UT, Laura was a leader in multiple student organizations including Alpha Gamma Delta, serving as President, Vice President Finance, and Vice President Campus Relations, and Scouting’s National Service Fraternity Alpha Phi Omega.

Laura began a management career at GEICO but pivoted when it was clear that she would become a full-time advocate for her special needs daughter.  She pursued many opportunities to provide first- hand examples to decision makers in many arenas, and even co-presented at the Family Café (one of the largest disability advocacy conferences in the country).  Eventually, the Commissioner of Education appointed her to the State Advisory Committee for the Education of Exceptional Students.  As a member of the committee, Laura represented Hillsborough County in protecting the rights of students with IEPs and Accommodations.  Recently, she partnered with local voters and legislators to support and pass a bill to update Florida’s NICA law for birth-related brain injured infants.  She considers this one of her greatest achievements.

Laura presently serves as the International Chair for the Member Retention Committee of Alpha Gamma Delta.  As an alumna member of her women’s fraternity, she continues to promote the vision of “Inspire the Woman, Impact the World”.  She volunteers locally as Vice President of the Tampa Bay Alumnae Chapter of Alpha Gamma Delta.  Serving both locally and internationally, is something she is honored to do.  She credits the Girl Scouts with instilling the values of volunteerism from the time she was a Brownie.  She humbly serves as a Troop Leader for her daughter’s Daisy troop.  The loves of her life are her husband Matt, daughters Sabrina and Olivia, and Golden doodle, Coco.