Mark Bergel
Founder & Executive Director, A Wider Circle


Dr. Bergel earned his Bachelors degree at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and both his masters an doctoral degrees from American University in Washington, DC. Prior to founding the organization, he spent many years managing and developing health and wellness initiatives. He has extensive experience developing and implementing programs for low-income children and adults, and is committed to guiding A Wider Circle toward its goal of ending poverty in our lifetime. He has lived in the Washington, DC area since 1985.

Ann Chickowski, RD, LDN


Ms. Chickowski is the Nutritionist for Broward Meals on Wheels and has held this position for 16 years. She is a Registered, Licensed Dietitian.
At Broward Meals on Wheels she helped create and develop several programs that include:
  • In home nutritional counseling
  • In home nutritional wound Care.
  • Unique nutrition education programs including ‘Eat Right Broward’, ‘Walk across Broward’, ‘Tea with the Queen’, ‘Nutritional Makeovers and Choose to Lose’

Yuri Feito


Yuri Feito is currently a graduate teaching associate in the Department of Exercise, Sport, and Leisure Studies at the University of Tennessee, where he is pursuing a PhD in Exercise Physiology.  Prior to this, Yuri was the coordinator of The Wellness Center at Broward General Medical Center and a member of Broward County's Nutrition and Fitness Task Force.  Currently, he serves in the Exam Development Team and the Committee on Certification and Registry Boards for the American College of Sports Medicine.  He has held faculty appointments at Barry University and Nova Southeastern University, teaching graduate and undergraduate level courses.  He has been an invited speaker at numerous professional and community events at the local, state, regional and national levels.  Yuri holds masters degrees from Barry University and Nova Southeastern University in clinical exercise physiology and public health, respectively.  He is certified by the American College of Sports Medicine as a Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist and Exercise Specialist.  His research interests include objective measurements of physical activity, the effects of exercise in cardiovascular risk factors, and energy balance during exercise.  Upon completion of his PhD, he will pursue a career in academia and scholarly research to promote physical activity and its benefits among healthy and disease populations.

Rob Hink
President for the South Florida Chapter of The US Green Building Council.


 One of the principals The Spinnaker Group, Inc. The primary focus of the company has been and Sustainable Design and Construction Consulting, LEED Certification Consulting and Building Commissioning. Rob has provided both sustainable Design and construction consulting and commissioning services for over 100 projects throughout the country and internationally. He is a LEED-Accredited Professional (U.S. Green Building Council) and a Commissioning Provider with the Building Commissioning Association. Rob serves as President for the South Florida Chapter of The US Green Building Council.

Mason Jackson
WorkForce One – President/CEO


Mason has been the President/CEO of WorkForce One for the past 21 years.  Overall, he has been involved in Workforce Development programs for over 30 years.Mr. Jackson’s community involvement includes:
  • Current member of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
  • Past President of the National Association of Counties (NACo) Training and Employment Professionals Board of Directors, now the National Workforce Association. (NWA)
  • Vice Chair, National USA Works!
  • Charter member of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Enterprise Council, which became the National Workforce Excellence Board. 
  • State, National and International IAPES (International Association of Personnel in Employee Security), Professional of the Year Award Recipient, 2002.
  • Founding President of Broward County’s Juvenile Justice Board
  • School to Career Trainer for World Class Broward

Andrea McDowell JohnBaptiste
CEO of Axum Management Capabilities, Inc.


Andrea is president and chief executive officer of Axum Management Capabilities, Inc. (AMC), a consulting firm that provides organizational management, services to corporations and non-profit entities.  She consults with executives from a variety of fields to move organizations from capability to actuality.  She has over thirteen years experience in allied health and social services; on direct service, mid-management and executive levels.  Some of her experiences include health research and data analysis, systems design and implementation, and organizational development.  She holds a passion and aspiration for developing a system of care that successfully prioritizes and focuses on effectively meeting the health needs of women, infant and children. Her educational accomplishments include a Masters degree in Organizational Management and a Bachelors degree in Sociology; with concentrations in race and ethnicity and gender studies.

Babette Kullka


At a vigorous age of 65, Babette is an award-winning Hawaii Ironman triathlete,marathoner, and swimming coach who wants to ENCOURAGE YOU to follow a healthy lifestyle.  Babette is available to SPEAK with you, your family, your employees, or your organization FREE to promote exercise, sensible eating, and balanced living. Babette also offers an interactive program on goal setting and visualization. Babette’s varied life experiences are interesting, sometimes funny, and she want to share with you what she knows to be true. 

 

Imad A. Madi RS
Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian, Broward County Health Department


Imad A. Madi is a Registered Sanitarian, who has been employed by the Broward County Health Department since 1979.  He has worked in the Rodent Control Program as a Food Coordinator and then as an Environmental Supervisor for 8 years in the General Program.  Mr. Madi is currently employed as the Environmental Specialist II in the Indoor Air Quality Program. This program includes: Indoor Air Quality Consultations and Testing, Food Establishment and Tanning Facility Plan Review, and Devising and implementing a plan to update and maintain the Environmental Health website.

Nina Markil


Soon to be completing a Master’s degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion, and ultimately a PhD, I am passionate about bringing new and fresh ideas about exercise and health to the current framework. My goal is to not only to motivate, but to evoke insight into people’s ideas about their own health and empower them to help bring forth change.  I am currently beginning research projects on physical activity and its implications on cognitive function, as well as the cardiovascular system and the stress response. Much of my passion to create ways that bridge that gap between ideas and lasting change came from my work experience in both corporate worksite health, as well as clinical wellness. These two very different experiences have allowed me to gain a wider spectrum of skills and greater insight into the issues we face in our efforts to achieve greater health and fitness. 

Rosa E. Martin-Correa
Owner and president of Healthier Women, Inc.


Rosa E. Martin-Correa, Registered Dietitian and Nutrition Consultant specializes in providing nutritional counseling for women on all issues of health using a holistic approach and recommending alternative, natural treatments that may help the body restore health.  She also provides nutritional counseling to clients that have had gastric bypass surgery, trying to loose weight, have problems with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and any challenges of health in which nutrition can make the difference.

 

Juan Ramirez- Casado
Cultural Health Initiatives Director for the American Heart Association


Juan Ramirez-Casado J. D. is the Director of Cultural Health Initiatives for the American Heart Association, responsible of implementing AHA education and prevention programs, designed to address health disparities in terms of incidence of heart disease and stroke, particularly within the African American and Hispanic communities.
Juan Ramirez-Casado   was previously with the American Cancer Society where he successfully coordinated the Hispanic Initiative program as well as marketing ACS programs and services.
 Mr. Ramirez received his Juris Doctor degree from the Pedro Henriquez Urena National University in Santo Domingo, graduating Cum Laude. 

 

Mike Singh
Chairman & CEO/Chair of Telkom Caribe/Caribbean Digital Divide Initiative


Mike is zealously committed to ensuring that the issue of inadequate bandwidth supply within CARICOM (Caribbean Community) is not ignored and that both the state and the private sector do jointly address the serious pitfalls that lie ahead for several island states as globalisation makes its presence felt especially in the telecoms arena. In 2001, he started Telkom Caribe which is a major player in the imminent deployment of the $250 million (US) Eastern Caribbean Network which will solve the bandwidth constraints faced by the Eastern Caribbean & Guianas Region. Mike received his B.A. (Hons) in International Relations at Trinity College, University of Toronto. In 1993, he received his Masters (Hons.) in International Economics

Paula M. Thaqi MD, MPH


Dr. Paula Thaqi began her tenure as Director of the Broward County Health Department on April 14, 2008. Previously, Dr. Thaqi served as Director of the Highlands County Health Department and a pediatric emergency room attending physician in New York.  Her experience includes international public health with various non-governmental organizations and the United Nations World Health Organization in Kosovo. 
Dr. Thaqi holds a Doctor of Medicine degree from SUNY Health Science Center at Brooklyn, a Master of Public Health Degree from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, and she completed her pediatric residency training at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York.

Dr. Marie Weston


A board certified physician who has completed 30 marathons, and is passionate about helping  people to empower themselves to maximize their own health. She specializes in making medical information understandable  and user-friendly for all!

Margi Buster Founder,
President and CEO of Board of Directors of Redlands Tropical Gardens


With twenty-five years of experience in the Wholesale Floriculture Industry, Margi Buster leads this not-for-profit organization with a great perception of business. As a volunteer with a passion for plants she has worked in collaboration with many local and international experts in the fields of Forestry, Arboriculture, Horticulture, Botany and Gardening. She serves Redland Tropical Gardens as a tireless proponent for education on both a local and international scale.

Corky Dozier, Greater Miami Host Committee


Cornelia Dozier is a member of Actor’s Equity Association, American Federation of Television and Radio Artist, Screen Actors Guild, American Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, and the American Federation of Musicians, with a MFA in Theatre and Communications. Miss Dozier is a three-time Emmy Award Winning Producer and Director. Founder and Artistic Director of the internationally recognized Coconut Grove Children’s Theater honored by PBS for Best Children’s Programming in the United States, and The Black Achievement Award of Excellence for Writing, Directing, and Producing “Second Chance”, the first arts intervention program for social change in the State of Florida.  Ms. Dozier believes in service, she has been a member of the Board of Trustees for the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Vice-President of the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce, The Greater Miami Host Committee, and Minority Affairs Chair of the Florida Association of Nonprofit Organizations.

Marcia Carty Grayson, CPA, Managing Partner
Cummings 0 Grayson & Company


As Cummings‑Grayson & Co's managing partner, Ms. Grayson has more than twenty (20) years experience in various industries in the field of auditing, accounting, data processing, including credit unions, governmental, nonprofit organizations, health, professional services including retail and wholesale. She has held various positions including Chief Accountant, Controller, Senior Auditor, Accounting and Tax Manager. From 1980 to 1990, most of her work has been in public accounting, conducting such functions as audits, reviews, compilations, management advisory services, and all forms of tax preparation ‑ sales, payroll, income for a wide range of entities, including government and estates.  Other accounts include: Dade County Public School Board and Professor of Accounting at Florida Memorial College   Ms. Grayson is a Certified Public Accountant.  She was graduated with a Master of Science in Taxation from Florida International University  and holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Florida

John Gargotta Executive Director
Senior Volunteer Services in Broward County


John Gargotta is the Executive Director of Senior Volunteer Services in Broward County, Florida.  The premier volunteer organization is for seniors who are active and healthy, and want to be involved in their communities and be in the service of others. For over 17 years John has been solving community problems and critical community needs through the wisdom and service of older volunteers.  His accomplishments include: tutoring and mentoring children; providing support and companionship to frail elderly and adults with disabilities; and placing volunteers at service organizations where their skills and expertise greatly enhance the capacity of services. The service older adult volunteers impact positively all types of public needs in Broward County, ranging from education, to economic development, to the environmental action.  Senior Volunteer Services, Inc.  Prior to his current work he had a respected career in senior management in Fortune 500 corporations with numerous awards for outstanding service as a National spokesperson, sales trainer, and motivator. John has been nationally recognized for senior issues by ABC 20/20, Good Morning America, and CBS Evening News with Dan Rather and CNN. John is a published writer, quoted in Time magazine plus many local radio and television broadcasts and media publications.

Andrea Henning
Director, Collaborative Labs


Andrea has over 15 years experience leading corporate training and organizational development functions in Fortune 500 companies in manufacturing, hospitality and communications industries, including: Chrysler, GE, Universal Studios and Cox Communications. She has also been a corporate consultant for Paradigm Learning, leading projects for key company initiatives (Frito-Lay, Pepsi, Capital One, Kimberly-Clark, HCA, Sabre). Andrea is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach through the Coaches Training Institute and has been coaching executives in her own practice. Andrea leads the Collaborative Labs at St. Petersburg College, providing organizations with leading edge strategic meeting design and facilitation for accelerated results. Her education includes a B.A. from Wheaton College, a M.Ed., and post graduate work in Educational Psychology from the University of Toledo. Contact Andrea at: 727-341-3154, or visit our web site at: http://www.EpiCenterInfo.com/Collaborative/

Lars Hjoerne


Lars founded Wireless Factory in 2005 and serves as the CEO.  He is responsible for strategy, innovation and management. He brings more than 10 years of experience in the mobile and interactive business and has a broad background in the telecommunications and media industry. Prior to founding Wireless Factory, Lars Hjoerne was Managing Director within Telitas, a leading European Content Provider Aggregator. He was also Managing Director at TvDanmark Interactive – now part of ProSiebenSat.1 AG Media - working with interactive services related to TV- and Radio-stations and Web-Portals. Lars Hjoerne has an extensive background in advertising and media planning for global brands like Gillette and Sara Lee. He holds an MSc in Economics and Business Administration from Copenhagen Business School.

Bob Kovacevich
President, Avatar Company


BOB KOVACEVICHis the president and principal of Avatar Company, a Florida-based market research, strategic planning and fundraising firm. His experience includes work with international clients as well as small Florida nonprofit organizations. He specializes in assessing audience satisfaction while measuring fundraising responsiveness.  An exclusive dimension to Avatar Company is instant cell phone communications and contributions without the use of a credit card. To learn more about Avatar's team of professionals send an e-mail to avatarcompany@aol.com and request a consultants' bio and/or information about wireless fundraising.

Joe Laratro
President of Tandem Interactive


Joe Laratro is a recognized and leading expert in the Search Engine marketing Industry. For more than 6 years, Mr. Laratro served as the Chief Technology Officer at MoreVisibility, one of the world's largest and most experienced Search Engine Marketing and Optimization firms, based in Boca Raton, FL. He joined the Company in 2000, bringing over 11 years of Computer and Internet-related experience. Mr. Laratro's work encompasses all facets of search engine marketing including optimization, natural search, pay per click management, paid inclusion, ROI analysis, and Web analytics.   Under his technology leadership, MoreVisibility quickly expanded and was named to the INC 500 list in 2005 and 2006 as one of the fastest growing privately held firms.
Mr. Laratro is a highly regarded expert in the industry and is an active speaker at industry events including Webmaster World and Search Engine Strategies (SES) Conferences. Mr. Laratro is also a graduate of University of Miami and is MCSE, MCT and CCA certified.

Stefan Lätt, Marketing Director
Wireless Factory


Stefan Lätt is Director of Sales and Marketing, Wireless Factory Inc. Based in Miami, Mr. Lätt oversees the North American operation. Mr. Lätt has over 15 years of telecom experience and previously held senior international positions in Europe and in the Americas.  Mr. Lätt previously managed and coordinated Ericsson’s Mobile Internet and VAS initiatives in LATAM.  Other professional experience includes Microsoft Mobile Internet in Stockholm Sweden and the leading Wireless Operator in Sweden, TeliaSonera

Alan Martinez, Business Development Officer,
Collaborative Labs at St. Petersburg College


Alan Martinez was born and raised in Tampa, FL.  For the past 20 years, he has been engaged in sales, marketing, business development and governmental affairs activities in the Tampa Bay Area and the State of Florida.  He has traveled throughout South and Central America and had the privilege of participating in and observing the emergence of privatization and free market economies in the region.  Alan was a founder of Pro-Tech Monitoring, Inc.; developer of the world’s first GPS and cellular based tracking system for offender’s released on community control.  With expertise in the areas of government, real estate, finance, manufacturing and technology, Alan’s background is a great asset in his role as Business Development Officer of The Collaborative Labs.

Lisa Mentkow
Business Development Manager
Florida Association f Nonprofit Organizations (FANO)


President of Strategic Agreements Corp., a consulting firm specializing in implementing and managing Cost Saving Purchasing Programs.  Before starting her own enterprise, Lisa had been the Director of Indirect Strategic Agreements for the Fortune 200 company and national homebuilder, Lennar Corporation for 7 years.  Her background gives her unique insight into cost saving potential and revenue opportunities and experience in contract negotiation, program implementation, monitoring, and compliance.  Previously, Lisa was Senior Marketing Analyst for TriChem, a home party-based craft company in New Jersey for which she designed questionnaires, ran focus groups, and implemented test marketing studies.  Before earning her MBA from Bernard M. Baruch Graduate School in New York in Marketing Research, she was a Research Analyst with Economic Information Systems, a division of Control Data Corp. in New York.

Marina Pavlov
 M.S, President CEO Florida Association of Nonprofit Organizations


Marina Pavlov. has been President/CEO of the Florida Association of Nonprofit Organizations (FANO) for 16 years and administers the statewide resource center for 42,000 nonprofits in Florida. As program administer, fundraiser, grant writer, and developer she has been invited to present locally and at national conferences. Ms. Pavlov's 20 years of service to the community include the advisory board of Aspen Publishing, board member of National Council of Nonprofit Organizations and several local nonprofit organizations.

NURIA PARDO
MBA, Marketing Director of Florida Association of Nonprofit Organizations


Nuria is the marketing director for the Florida Association of Nonprofit Organizations. Prior to her work with FANO she spent over a decade working in sports marketing and was the Marketing Manager of Latin America/US Hispanic NBA (National Basketball Association) She has been a speaker and presenter at international conferences.  Her expertise and experience in with the Latin American Market.  She represented the NBA in 16 countries in South America and Europe. 

Barbra Weinstein, PhD
Family Central, Inc.


Barbara is the founder, president and CEO of the largest nonprofit agency in Florida, Family Central (FCI), a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) agency founded in 1971 as the Central child care agency for Broward County and charged with administering subsidized child care funds. It operates as partners, first with local, state, and federal partners to provide the full complement of child care resource and referral services; eligibility and enrollment services for child care subsidies, subsidized child care slot management; training and technical assistance; and developmental screening for young children.  FCI is a model comprehensive early education program and family support organization.  FCI is nationally accredited by Council on Accreditation (COA), and certified as a quality services provider by the Broward County Department of Human Services.  Also FCI is identified as a community mental health agency by the Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA), and selected as one of the first of ten pilot sites in the country to be accredited by the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NAACRA).  As founder Barbara started the organization with a handful of child care centers.  Today under her leadership the scope and range of FCI's services have increased dramatically to meet the complex and comprehensive needs of today's families, including  administrative, supervisory, technical assistance and training to over 900 child care sites and manages more than sixty million dollars annually in federal, state, and local funds with 450 employees and serving 60,000 children and their families annually. Because Barbara in her capacity as CEO has responded to the needs of the community’s most vunerable populations she has been recognized by Florida’s Auditor General; US Congress; The Developmental Disabilities Council; Council of Accreditation; National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies'  and the Nurturing Parenting Program.

Naomi Wright


Naomi Wright is a Certified Public Communicator and President of The Lady Speaks a consulting firm specializing in . She served as Director of Community Relations for Pro Player Stadium. She worked for 15 years in South Florida radio with LITE, MAJIC and WAXY, some of the top stations in our market. As a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the City of Brotherly Love, she brings those principles along with public speaking, intimate knowledge of the community and nonprofits, and 15 years of media experience to her South Florida efforts. She serves on The North Dade Regional Chamber of Commerce, Vision to Victory Human Services, Youth Crime Watch of Miami, Citizens Crime Watch of Miami-Dade, Adult Basic Education Community Advisory Committee and The Dade Criminal Justice Council.  Ms. Wright serves as Past Chair of the FANO Board of Directors

Jeffrey M. Zirulnick,
 Chief Operating Officer,
SOS Children’s Villages


Jeffrey M. Zirulnick, Chief Operating Officer, joined SOS Children’s Villages-Florida in April 2007. He is responsible for all areas of internal operations and facilities management including human resources, strategic planning, budget development and management, and program planning and implementation.  Jeff came to SOS with 28 years of fiscal and facility management in non profit and for profit organizations ranging from the University of Miami to Lewis B. Freeman and Partners, a management and forensic accounting consulting firm, including the past ten years developing advocacy programs for local, state and federal funding.  He has a B. Ed. and M.S.Ed. in Education Administration from the University of Miami. He has published several articles in Higher Education and synagogue administration to include Special Event Programming for the Alternative Institution and Strategic Planning: A Synagogue Approach. Additional experience includes Indiana University Advanced Management Institute and Fellow in Synagogue Administration from the North American Association of Synagogue Executives.