Dr. Julie Serovich:jserovich@usf.edu

Julie Serovich, PhD assumed leadership as dean of the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences (CBCS) at USF in July 2012. CBCS was created in 2008 to prepare students, scholars, human service providers, policymakers, and others involved in quality of life issues for work that affects many diverse populations. The college incorporates one of the largest behavioral health research and training institutes in the country, focused on multidisciplinary collaborations and a strong research continuum with depth and breadth in areas from basic behavioral sciences to clinical and services interventions, community-partnered participatory approaches and policy analysis, and the implementation of evidence-based and best practices within human service systems.

Prior to coming to USF, Serovich was chair of the Department of Human Development and Family Science at The Ohio State University. Her work began more than two decades ago at Texas Tech University, where, after receiving her doctorate from the University of Georgia, she was named an assistant professor of marriage and family therapy in 1991. Also a graduate of Loyola College, Baltimore, she joined the OSU faculty in 1995 and was named the inaugural director of the Couples and Family Therapy program. Since 1997, she has received grant funding for over 15 straight years in excess of $9 million, mostly from the National Institutes of Mental Health.

Clara Reynolds

Clara Reynolds, LCSW, MBA has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Tampa, a Master of Social Work from Florida State University, and a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Florida State University. She became a licensed clinical social worker in November 1997. Reynolds is currently the president and chief executive officer of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay. This 50-year-old nonprofit provides help, hope and healing to community members facing crisis, with a mission that "no one in our community should have to face a crisis alone." The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay has four district programs including: Gateway Services, Sexual Assault Services, Corbett Trauma Center and TransCare medical and behavioral health transportation.

Reynolds is also the co-founder and former executive director for Success 4 Kids & Families, a nonprofit corporation that embraces system of care values and principles to provide children and their families with a comprehensive array of services. Additionally, she was the project manager for the Multiagency Network for Severely Emotionally Disturbed Children/Youth for Hillsborough County Public Schools. Reynolds was a school social worker from 1995-97 for the Youth Services Program of the Hillsborough County Public Schools and conducted individual and group counseling for delinquent youths committed to residential and day programs by the juvenile justice system.

Professionally, Reynolds serves on the State of Florida Commission on Mental Health and Substance Abuse as a gubernatorial appointee. She is currently the secretary/treasurer for Tampa Bay Thrives and is a former board chairperson for the Central Florida Behavioral Health Network. In the community, Clara is a member of the Athena Society, a sustaining member of the Junior League of Tampa, a member of Leadership Tampa Alumni, and an advisory board member for First Citrus Bank. She has also served on the board of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay and the Junior League of Tampa. Additionally, Clara served on the executive board of both organizations including the chairperson of the board for the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay. She was honored in 2013 as a finalist for the Tampa Bay Business Journal Businesswoman of the Year. In 2015, she was awarded the Tampa Bay Social Worker of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers. A native of Tampa, Clara is married and has a son. In her spare time, Clara competes in distance swimming events.

Taylor Adams: tadams@mhanational.org

Taylor Adams serves as Mental Health America’s (MHA) director of workplace mental health. She spearheads MHA’s workplace mental health initiatives, including its Bell Seal national employer recognition program and annual Mind the Workplace research. She incorporates her lived experience and professional expertise to support employers seeking to support their workforce’s mental health and well-being.

Peter D. Berardi, Ph.D.: peteb168@gmail.com

A career Naval Special Warfare Officer, Peter Berardi, PhD retired from the United States Navy in 2012 after 23 years in uniform, having deployed overseas seven times, conducting exercises and operations in over 30 countries worldwide. He was also a 9/11 first responder arriving on scene at One WTC at approximately 1600L.

Berardi is the CEO and founder of SOF-ONE, a leadership and team development consultancy company. Berardi also works as a research consultant with RAND Corporation and is a senior fellow and adjunct professor at USF. He is also an adjunct at St. Leo University. Personal decorations and awards include the Bronze Star, two Joint Defense Meritorious Service Medals, five Navy Commendation Medals, four Navy Achievement Medals and numerous unit and deployment recognitions.

Mariana Bugallo-Muros: marianabugallomuros1@gmail.com

Man agile change agent with proven ability to lead organizations through major transformations, Mariana Bugallo-Muros is a results-driven human resources executive with expertise in talent management, succession planning, diversity/equity/inclusion, employee engagement, total rewards, and overall human resources operations. As vice president and chief human resources officer at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, a top U.S. nonprofit cancer treatment and research center, Bugallo-Muros oversaw a diverse workforce of more than 7,800 team members on Moffitt’s four campuses and a $90 million budget. Under her leadership, Moffitt received numerous awards, including Best Place to Work honors from numerous publications and was ranked among DiversityInc’s Top 10 Hospitals and Healthcare Organizations for fostering diversity and inclusion..

Bugallo-Muros earned a Master of Science in Management with a concentration in human resources development at Lesley College Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management and English Literature at Emmanuel College. She received the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate from the USF Corporate Training and Professional Education Program. Bugallo-Muros is a member of several professional organizations, including Human Resource People & Strategy (HRPS), Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), National Comprehensive Cancer Network HR (NCCN-HR), Tampa Bay Works/Tampa Bay Partnership, Florida Healthcare CHRO Roundtable and LockHR Healthcare CHRO Roundtable. Away from work, Bugallo-Muros is a mentor with Advancing Racial Equity on Non-Profit Boards Fellowship. She has been a panelist with the Tampa Bay Women in Leadership Symposium National Diversity Council. She was named a Top 50 HR Professional Awardee, OnCon Icon, and People First Honoree by the Tampa Bay Business Journal.

Marian Cacciatore, VP of Human Resources at Teco: mccacciatore@tecoenergy.com

Marian Cacciatore is vice president of human resources for Tampa Electric (TECO). Cacciatore joined TECO after a lengthy career in human resources. Before joining TECO in 2020, she served as vice president of human resources for a satellite communications company. Her background also includes human resources leadership roles in manufacturing, financial services, and high-tech organizations. Cacciatore has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from USF and a master’s degree in human resource management from Rollins College. Cacciatore serves as a mentor with USF's Corporate Mentoring program.

Jeane Garcia Davis

Jeane Garcia Davis, MSN/MPH, RN is a public health leader committed to equitable, trauma-informed public health policy and programming globally. Previously with the NY Reserve Corps, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States Agency for International Development, and Johns Hopkins University, she currently serves as an associate director for science and policy in the Office of the US Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy. Originally from New York and based in Washington, D.C., she and her partner, Pierce, do their best to keep up with their three brave girls.

Amanda DePippo: adepippo@usf.edu

Amanda DePippo, PHD, LMHC, MCAP, CRC is an associate professor of instruction for the Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling master’s program (CRMHC) in the Department of Child and Family Studies at USF. DePippo teaches graduate level courses related to clinical skill building, counseling theory, addiction, and field placement. In her courses, she utilizes both didactic instruction as well as experiential methods to teach the knowledge and skills needed for counselor development. Beyond the classroom, she is the director of field placement and manages all aspects of that process for students in the CRMHC program. She aims to partner with well-rounded and high-quality training sites to give the students ample and diverse training opportunities. More recently, she has worked on a federally funded behavioral healthcare training grant. Her role on this grant has been to obtain field placements at primary care sites where students can gain experience with both behavioral health and primary care with the goal of bridging the gap between the two.

Daniel Doyle, EVP, Chief People Officer: dand@beallsinc.com

Daniel J. Doyle is the executive vice president and chief people officer for Bealls, Inc., a 650 retail store chain based in Bradenton, Fla., which operates several different retail entities including Bealls, Bealls Fla., and Home Centric. Doyle has over 40 years of retail experience in human resources, loss prevention, and risk management areas, having held prior positions at both the Marshall Field’s and Lord & Taylor department store chains.

Doyle holds a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He is a past two-time chairman of the board of the Florida Retail Federation and past chair of the National Retail Federation Loss Prevention Council. Doyle is a certified forensic interviewer and serves on several industry related councils, including as a director for the Center for Interview Standards and Assessments, LTD. During his career, Doyle has been a frequent conference presenter and has been interviewed by a number of media outlets, including ABC’s 20/20, The Wall Street Journal, The NY Times, and USA Today about various retail-related issues. chains.

Dr. Ronael Eckman: reckman@yrmc.org

Ronael Eckman, MD is the vice president of medical affairs at Dignity Health, Yavapai Regional Medical Center. She received her medical degree from the University of Arizona, College of Medicine and completed her pediatric residency at Phoenix Children’s Hospital/Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix, Ariz. Her hobbies include spending time with her husband and two children, hiking, camping, travel, and gardening.

Jerome Galea: jeromegalea@usf.edu

Jerome Galea, MSW, PhD is an assistant professor of social work, a global mental health researcher, and a clinical social worker. He directs the USF ACCESS Lab, which is devoted to designing, testing, and implementing interventions that increase access to quality, evidence-based mental health interventions globally.

Dr. Ron Z. Goetzel

Ron Z. Goetzel, PhD is a senior scientist and director of the Institute for Health and Productivity Studies (IHPS) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The mission of the IHPS is to bridge the gap between academia, the business community, and the healthcare policy world – bringing academic resources into policy debates and day-to-day business decisions and bringing worker health and productivity management concerns to academia. Before moving to Johns Hopkins University, Goetzel was on the faculty at Emory and Cornell universities. Goetzel is responsible for leading innovative measurement and evaluation projects for healthcare purchaser, provider, government, and foundation clients engaged in cutting-edge research focused on the relationship between health and well-being, medical costs, and work-related productivity. He is an internationally recognized and widely published expert in health and productivity management, return on-investment, program evaluation, and outcomes research. Goetzel has published well over 200 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and frequently presents at international business and scientific forums.

Goetzel earned his doctorate and master's degree in applied social psychology from New York University and his bachelor's degree in psychology from the City College of New York. He is based in Bethesda, Md.

Eric Goplerud: facsericg@gmail.com

Eric Goplerud is a clinical psychologist. Until his retirement in 2018, he was senior vice president and senior fellow at NORC at the University of Chicago. He is the founder and chairman of the board of the Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions. Previously, Goplerud was a research professor in the Department of Health Policy at George Washington Medical Center, associate administrator for policy and planning at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and associate administrator for managed care at SAMHSA. Professionally, he is a nationally recognized behavioral health policy expert and researcher.

Vince Hafeli

Vince Hafeli is the president of Ajax Paving Industries of Florida, a leading asphalt paving and construction services provider. He is pursuing his Doctor of Business Administration degree at USF, focusing on suicide in the construction industry.

Hafeli began his career as an entry-level worker in the paving and construction industry and has since risen to his current role as a president at Ajax. He has demonstrated exceptional leadership and management skills throughout his career, leading teams to complete complex projects.

Hafeli is an international speaker, author, and mental health and suicide prevention advocate dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of mental health and reducing the stigma associated with mental illness. With a personal passion for mental health and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by those struggling with mental health issues, Hafeli has become a leading voice in the advocacy community.

He has dedicated his time and resources to promoting mental health awareness and reducing the stigma associated with mental illness. He works with organizations and advocacy groups to help break down the barriers preventing people from seeking mental health help. As a speaker, Hafeli is known for his thought-provoking and impactful keynote talks on mental health and suicide prevention.

Gill Hasson: gillhasson@btinternet.com

Gill Hasson is a writer, teacher, trainer, and coach. Her teaching and writing are both concerned with personal and professional development, relationships, wellbeing, and mental health. For more than 20 years, Hasson has delivered courses and workshops for community education and training organizations, businesses, and the University of Sussex. Through this work, Hasson aims to support people in their personal and professional lives such that they may develop and maintain their wellbeing and mental health; maintain positive relationships with family, friends, and colleagues; and feel more confident and empowered in ways that allow them to realize their potential. As well as writing books, Hasson is a contributor for Female First, Women’s Health, Stylist, and Reader’s Digest. More information about Hasson can be found at https://www.gillhasson.co.uk/

Mario Hernandez: marioh@usf.edu

Mario Hernandez, PhD is a professor in the Department of Child and Family Studies (CFS) within the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences at USF. He served as chair of CFS from 2008-2022. His research interests include accessibility of mental health services for diverse children and families and identifying and measuring organizational factors associated with reducing mental health disparities. Also, he has developed an approach using logic models and theories of change that supports the design and implementation of local child mental health collaboratives. Hernandez has been instrumental in helping many local communities build and design their child mental health services using logic models.

Hernandez has co-edited two books, Promoting Cultural Competence in Children’s Mental Health Services (1998) and Developing Outcome Strategies in Children’s Mental Health (2001). He has also published articles and book chapters on developing outcome strategies for children’s mental health, cultural competence, and in applying logic models to support community change efforts. Additionally, he edited and contributed to: a special issue of the American Journal of Community Psychology, focused on exemplars of community practice that have used logic models to guide their local efforts; the Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, focusing on child mental health policy; and the Journal of Behavioral Healthcare and Research, focusing on system accountability in children’s mental health.

Amanda Johnson: amandaj@simpli.fi

Amanda Johnson is a marketer, storyteller, and philanthropist. She believes in the beauty of engaging people on a deeper level both personally and professionally. Johnson began her career in radio as a marketing consultant after graduating with her degree in broadcasting from Western Kentucky University. After half a decade serving the local airwaves, she stepped into the world of product marketing to focus on telling the story of a company's unique brand. She now serves as a product marketing manager with Simpli.fi, a programmatic advertising company and demand side platform. When Johnson isn’t creating content, she spends her free time volunteering with local non-profits, playing sports, and reading..

Steve Johnson: w103scj@gmail.com

Steve Johnson has worked in higher education for 14 years. He currently serves as the executive assistant dean of finance and chief operating officer for the College of Nursing at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Prior to his role at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Johnson served as budget director (2015-2018) and executive director of administrative services (2019-2023) for the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences at USF. He has also worked as a business manager at Wright State University from 2009-2015. Johnson has a Master of Business Administration specialized in accounting from Indiana Wesleyan University and a bachelor’s degree in business administration, majoring in finance, from Wright State University. Johnson also maintains a Strategic HR Business Partner certification through the Human Capital Institute.

Vanessa Jones

Vanessa Jones is the senior director of Learner Services, Training, and Operations at Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA). She holds a bachelor’s degree in social work and a master’s in public administration. While she began her career in social work, Jones has been with UMA for over 12 years supporting students as they navigate their programs on their pathway to allied healthcare careers. She currently serves on the Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce Women of Influence Committee and as the community relations ambassador for Emerging Leaders of Tampa Bay. In her free time, she enjoys travelling, volunteering within the community, and spending time with friends and family.

Angela Jubert: JubertMD@TheSatedSoul.com

Angela Jubert, MD is a native of Lake Charles, La. She attended Xavier University of Louisiana, where she graduated with a degree in chemistry pre-medicine. She subsequently received her degree in medicine from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn. and completed specialty training in general psychiatry at Meharry in affiliation with Alvin C. York VA Medical Center and Hubbard Hospital. She later completed an addiction medicine Fellowship with the University of Florida in affiliation with HealthCare Connection of Tampa.

Jubert has served as medical director of two addiction treatment facilities including River Oaks Treatment Center in Tampa, Fla. and Townsend Recovery Center’s Medical Withdrawal Management Unit at New Orleans East Hospital. She was involved in the opening of both of those facilities and played an integral role in implementing and coordinating all medical aspects of those programs. She has served as a psychiatric consultant as well as addiction specialist in multiple settings and brings with her a unique set of skills and expertise in her field. She is currently the addiction specialist at Metropolitan Human Services District in New Orleans, La. where she has provided her leadership and skills to enhance their Addiction Services program and to develop their Medication-Assisted Treatment program. Jubert is also the medical director and owner of her private practice, The Sated Soul, LLC in the New Orleans, La. metropolitan area.

Jubert is a strong advocate for mental health and addiction treatment and is an active member of The American Psychiatric Association and the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). She currently serves as the treasurer for the Louisiana chapter of ASAM. She is board certified in general psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and is also board certified in Addiction Medicine by the American Board of Preventive Medicine.

Patrick J. Kennedy

During his time in Congress, Patrick J. Kennedy co-authored the landmark Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (Federal Parity Law), which requires insurers to cover treatment for mental health and substance use disorders no more restrictively than treatment for illnesses of the body, such as diabetes and cancer. In 2013, he founded The Kennedy Forum, a nonprofit that unites advocates, business leaders, and government agencies to advance evidence-based practices, policies, and programming in mental health and addiction. In 2015, Kennedy co-authored the New York Times Bestseller, “A Common Struggle: A Personal Journey Through the Past and Future of Mental Illness and Addiction,” which details a bold plan for the future of mental health care in America. In 2017, he was appointed to the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis.

Kennedy is also the founder of DontDenyMe.org, an educational campaign that empowers consumers and providers to understand parity rights and connects them to essential appeals guidance and resources; co-founder of One Mind, an organization that pushes for greater global investment in brain research; co-founder of Psych Hub, the most comprehensive online learning platform on mental health, substance use, and suicide prevention topics in the world; co-chair of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention’s Mental Health & Suicide Prevention National Response to COVID-19 (National Response); and co-chair of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Behavioral Health Integration Task Force.

Lindsay Kis: byrnes2@usf.edu

Lindsay Kis worked as the graduate assistant on the Mental Health and Wellness in the Workplace course development while completing her studies at USF. She currently holds a dual bachelor’s degree in psychology and Spanish for international service, a master’s degree in forensic and legal psychology, a master’s degree in public health with a concentration in behavioral healthcare, and a master’s degree in social work. She has over five years of experience working in the substance abuse and mental health fields across several states and countries.

Dr. Kristin Kosyluk: kkosyluk@usf.edu

Kristin Kosyluk, PhD is an assistant professor in the Department of Mental Health Law and Policy at USF, faculty affiliate of the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, and director of the STigma Action Research (STAR) Lab. Kosyluk’s research focuses on understanding and addressing the stigma surrounding behavioral health conditions. More recently, Kosyluk has begun to work in the area of stigma around HIV. Kosyluk is vice president of the board of directors of the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Hillsborough County and editorial board member of the American Psychological Association journal, Stigma and Health.

Joshua Kwasnicki: jkwasnicki@crisiscenter.com

Joshua Kwasnicki, MSW began his journey and dedication to helping people be their best selves at the University of Florida and continued his education by receiving a master's in social work from the University of Southern California. Kwasnicki began his career as a behavioral health therapist with a focus on positive change and strength-based practices. He then expanded these techniques by applying it to leaders and teams in nonprofit organizations.

Currently, Kwasnicki is a board certified executive coach committed to inspiring leaders and teams to be their best selves at work so that they can do their best work. As the director of organizational development for a behavioral health nonprofit agency, Kwasnicki partners with leaders and teams to develop various organizational development elements such as employee engagement strategies, leadership coaching, team dynamic workshops, sustainable change initiatives, and strategic action planning. Kwasnicki is recognized and published in Top 125 Training Magazine for consistently breaking tradition and collaboratively designing progressive, sustainable, measurable, and profitable strategies that give life to any business and its people. Kwasnicki is extremely passionate about empowering organizations and individuals to harness their strengths, imagine the possibilities, and ultimately achieve true potential.

Lisa Lamont: lamontl@usf.edu

Lisa Lamont is currently the human resources manager for benefits and risk management at USF. She is an experienced professional who has worked in both public and private organizations overseeing employee benefits, including various employee assistance programs. In her roles, an area of focus has been to engage employees with mental and physical wellbeing resources. She currently serves as the main contact for the Employee Assistance Program at USF, offering guidance and support to departmental contacts seeking individual and group crisis counseling. She also assists with coordinating presentations on topics that are targeted toward different employee groups on a variety of mental health-related challenges. She also develops and disseminates regular communications about the Employee Assistance Program. Lisa graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration from the University of North Florida, as well as a Master of Science degree in accounting from Madison University.

Tara Sullivan Larsen

Tara Sullivan Larsen is the executive director, Central and Southern Florida, for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). She has worked for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention since 2014. Larsen works with four AFSP Chapters including Central Florida, Southeast Florida, Southwest Florida, and Tampa Bay to bring programs to the community that support AFSP’s mission to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide. Larsen is a safeTALK trainer, ASIST trained, and a member of the Florida Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council, whose mission is to advise the Statewide Office for Suicide Prevention with the development of the Florida Suicide Prevention Plan and assists with making findings and recommendations regarding statewide suicide prevention programs. Larsen works with advocates, lobbyists, state agencies, and various organizations to coordinate the State of Florida Day at the Capitol consisting of a multiple events and meetings focused on passing legislation that will increase funding for mental health and suicide prevention resources.

Ji-Young Lee: jiyounglee@usf.edu

Ji-Young Lee, PhD, MSPH is an assistant professor in the Department of Mental Health Law and Policy at USF. Her current research aims to understand the social and contextual factors relevant to being a dual minority (i.e., racial/ethnic minority and sexual minority) and its relationship with HIV-related outcomes (e.g., substance use, mental health, and sexual risk) among culturally and racially diverse sexual minority men. Through this research, Lee hopes to support culturally congruent substance use prevention and mental health wellbeing among racially diverse sexual minority men.

Catherine LePage: clepage@crisiscenter.com

Catherine LePage is an intervention specialist for the Let's Talk line at the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay. She graduated from USF with a Bachelor of Science in public health, with a particular interest in the mental health sphere. As a mental health advocate in a unique position, she is able to help guide those in need toward finding immediate support to better themselves, whether that be through long-term counseling solutions, mental health assessments, or psychiatric care.

Kathleen Moore: kamoore@usf.edu

Kathleen A. Moore, PhD is a research professor in USF’s Department of Mental Health Law and Policy, as well as the executive director of the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute. She received her PhD in health psychology from Kent State University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Duke University Medical Center. For the past 23 years, she has collaborated with mental health and substance use agencies as well as problem-solving courts. Her focus is on program evaluation, bridging the gap between research and practice. She has developed and taught several core courses within USF’s behavioral healthcare major and is a certified trainer for Mental Health First Aid. She also serves on several committees, both within USF and in the community such as the Hillsborough County Anti-Drug Alliance, Tampa Alcohol Coalition, and drug court steering committees. Moore has been co-principal investigator on numerous National Institutes of Health-related grants and principal investigator on over 14 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration grant projects within drug court and treatment agencies. These grant-related projects have resulted in peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and professional presentations at local, statewide, and national conferences.

Lisa Moser: Lisa.Moser2@baycare.org

Lisa Moser, PsyD is a licensed clinical psychologist with over 25 years of experience in behavioral health treatment and delivery in a variety of settings. Moser is the director of assistance programs and inpatient clinical services at BayCare Behavioral Health. This includes leading the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) team in providing EAP services to BayCare Health System as well as many organizations in the community. Moser also leads the inpatient clinical services team delivering services in five behavioral health centers. Prior to assuming leadership of EAP and clinical services, Moser worked as the psychiatric consultation liaison at St. Joseph’s Hospitals with concentration in the Emergency Departments. In addition to her service at BayCare, she has assumed multiple roles in both leadership and clinical delivery, including inpatient and outpatient facilities and private practice.

Edwin Narain: en9271@att.com

Edwin A. Narain, Esq has been an active leader for more than 25 years in the Tampa Bay community. Narain's footprint of service extends to his position as vice president of external and legislative affairs with AT&T, where he is a three-time Florida Top Performance Manager of the Year (2009, 2010, and 2013) and has earned two AT&T Summit Awards for being among the company’s top achievers.

Narain entered public service with his election to the Florida House of Representatives in 2014. There he passed several important pieces of legislation including the Dozier School for Boys and the Arthur Greene Jr. Act. As a freshman member, Narain’s peers selected him to chair the Florida Legislative Black Caucus. His legislative service earned him the Florida Association of Counties County Champion Award (2015) and Legislative Appreciation Awards from the Florida League of Cities and Florida Boys and Girls Clubs (2016). He also was awarded two prestigious “Distinguished Advocate” awards from the Florida Chamber of Commerce and was named the Florida Society of Health Systems Pharmacists “Legislator of the Year.”

In the Tampa Bay community, Narain is the incoming chair for the Tampa Bay Boys and Girls Club and serves on the Lion's Eye Institute for Research and Transplants board. He has served as the co-chair of the Tampa Bay Chamber’s Policy Council committee and as the chair of the Tampa Bay Economic Development Corporation's Competitiveness Committee. He is also a past chair of the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County

Narainis a member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He has served as the polemarch (president) of the Tampa Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc and was honored in 2008 as the chapter’s “Man of the Year.” In 2010, he received the chapter’s Leadership Award for his work guiding the chapter to its first Southern Province Chapter of the Year Award.

Narain is married to Monica, a public-school teacher, and together they have two young daughters. As founders of the Black Leadership Network at USF, they are the endowers of the Narain Family Scholarship that provides financial assistance to African American students enrolled at the university. In late 2020, Narain was awarded the H.L. Culbreath Jr. Profile in Leadership Award by the Tampa Bay Chamber for his service, becoming the youngest recipient in the award’s history.

Narain is a sought after speaker, panelist and television analyst. He earned his Jurist Doctor degree from Stetson University College of Law. He holds a Master of Business Administration and a bachelors in psychology from Saint Leo University, where he serves as the secretary of the Board of Trustees. history.

Michele Norris, PCC: mnorris@navigenleadership.com

As an International Coaching Federation credentialed executive and leadership coach, it is Michele Norris’ experience that the workplace has significantly changed and evolved leaders hold the key to a connected coaching culture which ensures employee engagement, a fulfilled workforce, and successful organizations. The workforce of 2023 requires human-centered leadership traits and behaviors.

To foster the leader awareness that today’s workforce requires, Norris is certified in a variety of tools which support this growth. They include being a Certified Dare to Lead™ facilitator in Dr. Brené Brown’s organization; Certified Conversational Intelligence® coach; Certified Reinvention Practitioner; Positive Intelligence® Pioneer coach; certified in The 4 Stages™ of Psychological Safety.

Jessica Rice: jkemph@usf.edu

Jessica Rice, PhD is an assistant professor of instruction for the Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health master’s program in the Department of Child and Family Studies. Rice teaches undergraduate and graduate courses related to addiction and substance use, behavioral health business, counseling ethics, and LGBTQ youth. A certified trauma-informed care instructor, Rice also provides community-based trainings to educate healthcare professionals about person-centered practices. In addition to teaching and training, Rice has been involved in several Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grants, and she has extensive experience as a family therapist, working with youth amidst acute behavioral health crises. Her professional work aligns closely with her research, which is focused on psychiatric hospitalization among marginalized youth, child and adolescent trauma, and embedding trauma-informed care treatment practices into behavioral health service delivery.

Mark Rothman: markprobateattorney@gmail.com

Mark Rothman, Esq has been a member of the Florida Bar since 1992. In 1986, he earned a Bachelor of Science from Florida State University, and then his Juris Doctorate from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law in 1990. In 1993, Rothman established his own law practice. By 2010, the firm grew to include four attorneys, three legal assistants, and a marketing director. In 2012, he decided to take a break managing a law practice, becoming in-house counsel for the largest title company in the southeastern United States. He also served as an adjunct professor for graduate and postgraduate students seeking their Master of Business Administration and human resource management degrees. In 2015, Rothman went back into the practice of law, focusing on probate law, which he continues to do today. Additionally, he provides management coaching for owners and managers of small law firms. Rothman previously served on the board of directors for Florida Lawyers Assistance, Inc., an arm of the Florida Bar dedicated to helping lawyers struggling with alcoholism, addiction, and the stresses associated with the practice of law.

Dr. Mark Ruffalo: drruffalo.com

Mark L. Ruffalo, MSW, DPsa is a psychotherapist in private practice in Tampa, Florida. He serves as instructor of psychiatry at the University of Central Florida (UCF) College of Medicine and adjunct instructor of psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine. Ruffalo has broad clinical experience in the psychoanalytic treatment of mood disorders, personality disorders, and psychosomatic illness, and has particular interest in the psychotherapy of schizophrenia.

During his training at the University of Pittsburgh, Ruffalo had the unique opportunity to work with severely ill patients in long-term psychotherapy, an area in which he has developed internationally recognized expertise. He has published previously in the American Journal of Psychotherapy, Psychiatry and Clinical Psychopharmacology, Psychiatric Times, and the Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders. He currently serves as co-director of the Psychotherapy Track at the UCF/HCA Healthcare Orlando Psychiatry Residency Program. His main academic interest is the history of 20th century American psychiatry. He can be found online at drruffalo.com.

Antoine B. Richards: Antoine.Richards@i-diem.org

Antoine B. Richards serves as the chief of staff for the Institute for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Management. Richards’ experience includes over a decade of work in the healthcare and emergency management sectors including public health; community outreach; public affairs; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and research. He is a Doctor of Science candidate in emergency management at Jacksonville State University where his research interested include the intersection of public health and emergency management, social vulnerability/social determinants of health, community resilience, community capacity building and sustainability. Additionally, he serves on the board of directors for the Alliance for National and Community Resilience, advisory board of the Association of Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Professionals, and is a founding advisory board member for the Georgia Trauma Foundation.

A native Atlantan, Richards relocated to Tampa in 2019 and was inducted into the Emerging Leaders of Tampa Bay in 2020 where he served as the 2021 Inclusion Group co-chair and was a 2021 and 2022 finalist for the Deanne Dewey Roberts Emerging Leader of the Year Award. Richards was also a 2021 Top 10 Under 40 recipient by Morehouse School of Medicine in recognition of his outstanding achievements and commitment to the creation and advancement of health equity. Richards received his Master of Public Health degree from Morehouse School of Medicine and his Bachelor of Science degree in communication from Kennesaw State University. He is a former Dr. Bill Jenkins Achievement Award recipient for exceptional academic achievement and volunteer experience in public health and strives to leverage his knowledge, skills, and abilities to improve outcomes of vulnerable populations through servant leadership.

Scott Sandoval: scott.sandoval@vectorsolutions.com

Scott Sandoval, EdD holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Arts in teaching, both from USF, and an EdS from the University of Florida and Saint Leo University. He holds a doctorate in educational administration, and he has participated in professional development programs for educators in the United States and in Europe.

He currently works as a business development representative in the education sector of Vector Solutions. Previously, Scott worked as an educator at two independent schools in the Tampa Bay Area teaching language and literature. Additionally, Scott serves as the chairman for the Ninth Candle’s board, a Chicago-based nonprofit organization aimed at ending antisemitism through education programs for students and teachers.

Darren A. Schumacher, Ph.D.: darrenschumacher@usf.edu

Darren A. Schumacher, MBA, PhD is the president and chief executive officer of USF’s Institute of Applied Engineering, a 501c3 direct support organization dedicated to solving the problems of our nation’s warfighters by leveraging internal and external sources of technology and humanities related knowledge. Schumacher is a serial innovator with a 30-year track record of bringing new to the organization, new to the market, and new to the world innovations to the organizations of which he is a part. Most recently, Schumacher was the director of artificial intelligence/machine learning applications, a University of Michigan spinoff focused on bringing their unique AI acceleration technology to market. Prior to this position, Schumacher was the director of satellite embedded software at Amazon’s Project Kuiper, a low earth orbit constellation of satellites that will bring broadband internet connectivity to underserved markets located around the world. While at Kuiper, Schumacher was responsible for the development, integration, and test of the satellite bus software as well as for satellite level mission outcomes.

Prior to Amazon, Schumacher was responsible for the Stoneridge Semi-Autonomous Class 8 truck technology demonstrator, a safety and autonomy architecture centered around the MirrorEye™ camera mirror system. While president at Gentherm Technologies, he was the initial author of the Gentherm Climate Sense™ system patents and led the development of the Intelligent Positioning System as well the Pace Award-winning thermoelectric Battery Thermal Management system. At Bosch, he was the initial inventor of the Robert Bosch Common Augmented Reality Platform for Service and Diagnostics. While vice president of product development at SPX Service Solutions, he created the SPX Open Innovation Platform while leading the business’ transition into the internet age. While at Eaton, his team developed the Pace Award-winning Twin Vortices Series Supercharger as well as the industry’s first commercially viable front wheel drive locking differential. In addition, his team at Eaton Aerospace developed and launched the division’s first ever safety critical software products, including the company’s first all-electric flap system. While at Motorola, his team developed the Quadra-Drive II system for the Jeep Grand Cherokee, that year’s Peterson’s 4x4 of the Year. He has led organizations as large as 2,000 people and managed annual budgets up to $100M. Schumacher holds bachelors, masters, and PhD degrees from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, as well as a Master of Business Administration from Regis University in Denver, CO. He holds approximately twenty patents.

Yvette Segura: ysegura902@gmail.com

Yvette Segura, MBA is a senior level executive having spent the majority of her career at USAA, a Fortune 100 company. She has 37 years of experience in the property and casualty insurance industry and is a seasoned non-profit board director. Her professional career focused on leading large operational teams all while creating and executing world-class service strategies. She is an active leader in the community, sharing her experience and knowledge on several non-profit boards as well as mentoring young professionals and minority businesses.

Segura has been twice recognized by Florida Trend’s Florida 500 - Florida’s Most Influential Business Leaders in 2020 and 2021. She was recognized in the Tampa Bay Business Journal Power 100 in 2020 and 2021.

Segura graduated from Trinity University and Our Lady of the Lake University with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in business administration. She holds the CPCU and CCLA designations. She has attended the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania’s insurance risk management program. Segura and her husband now call Tampa, Fla. home.

Angela Sklenka: asklenka@usf.edu

Angela Sklenka joined USF in 2020 with more than 20 years of experience managing human resources in higher education, healthcare, hospitality and global manufacturing in North America, Europe, and Asia.

Wendy Stoneman-Shelby: wendys1@usf.edu

Wendy Stoneman-Shelby is an assistant director of human resources for the College of Behavioral & Community Sciences at USF. She has a dual master's degree in human resources and business and a Professional in Human Resources certification. She has spent the last nine years in higher ed human resources; however, her experience is rounded out with 20 years of management and human resources experience in the private sector with companies like The Gap, Inc and Walt Disney. She lives in Plant City, Fla., the "Winter Strawberry Capital," where she raised two children with her husband. Stoneman-Shelby likes to balance her professional life with volunteering for organizations such as Girl Scouts of America, Boys Scouts of America-Crew, the International Baccalaureate Parent Partnership, the Plant City Strawberry Festival, and her church.

Carrie Zeisse: czeisse@tampabaythrives.org

Carrie Zeisse, MBA is president and chief executive officer of Tampa Bay Thrives, a multi-sector mental health coalition launched by leaders in the Tampa Bay region who care deeply about the community’s mental health. Zeisse was hired in 2020 to develop and lead a multi-county approach to mobilize the community to strengthen behavioral health outcomes for depression, anxiety, and substance abuse by focusing on early intervention, access, and awareness.

Zeisse’s previous experience in the non-profit sector has been focused on developing transformational partnerships that engage businesses, individuals, community partners and government entities in important mission-focused work. She served as chief operating and strategy officer at United Way Suncoast, chief operating officer at United Way of Greater Portland in Maine, and as the vice president of economic and business development at the Boston Harbor Island Alliance in Massachusetts. In these roles she led strategic planning, operations, finance, marketing, and volunteer engagement functions to align teams and community vision. Zeisse serves on the board of directors of the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, recently serving as previous board chair. She holds a Masters in Business Administration degree from MIT’s Sloan School of Management and Bachelor of Fine Art from the Maine College of Art.