Chair, Shara Abrams
Shara Abrams joined the Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota Board in 2007 and served the Board as the Treasurer for two years. She is the Sr. Vice President of Eastern Operations for Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, Inc. Shara has worked with Jackson Hewitt since 1995 in various positions including sales, operations, tax education and senior management all of which help her as a versatile member on the Board. Shara also is a volunteer with Junior Achievement of West Central Florida. She and her husband George have a daughter Marina who attends Sarasota Christian School.
Vice Chair, Monica Becket
Monica Becket, a member of the North Port Community Health Action Team (CHAT), graduated from Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA, with a Bachelor Degree in Human Services. She is very involved in Community Outreach, and serves on the Healthy Start Planning & Evaluation Committee; is Chairperson of the North Port Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention Committee; and is a member of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Prescription Drug Diversion Task Force as well as North Port’s representative to the Sarasota Community Alliance. She has work experience in Medical Billing, as a Medical Financial Counselor, Arbitrator for the Better Business Bureau, Public Relations and Marketing, and as a Mediator for the Florida 12th Circuit Court.
Secretary, Carol Selvey
Carol Selvey is Associate Vice President of Business Development with Iatric Systems, Inc. She has over twenty-five years of experience in leadership and operational management, for both consulting and information system vendors in the health information technology (HIT) and systems industry. Carol has a BA degree in French from Vassar College and a Masters in Health Services Administration from the University of Kansas. She is a member of the national Board of Directors of the Health Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS).
Treasurer, Mike McIntosh
Mike McIntosh is Vice President of Operations Improvement for Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI). He has over twenty five years of experience assisting healthcare organizations improve their strategic, operational and financial performance. Mike is a leader in the application of Change Management, Lean and Six Sigma organizational improvement methodologies. He has an MBA from the University of Chicago, a BHS in Health Services Administration from the University of Kentucky, and is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). Mike is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, American Society for Quality and the Financial Planning Association.
At-Large – Public Official, Kelly Kirschner
Kelly Kirschner is currently the Mayor of Sarasota. He has a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service and a Master of Art Degree in Latin American Studies, both from Georgetown University (Washington, DC). Kelly is a life-long Sarasotan. He has served the Sarasota community as President of the Alta Vista Neighborhood Association as well as having been an active member of the Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations. Believing strongly in public service, Kelly has worked for the White House Office of Public Liaison; served as a Peace Corps Volunteer; and led a USAID community conservation project in rural Guatemala. Locally, he has worked as Product Manager for Bio-Pro Research and is currently the Senior Vice President of The Media Maquiladora. Kelly lives with his wife, Tracy, son, Bodhi, and daughter, Selby in District 3.
At-Large – Business, Laura Gilkey
Laura Gilkey is the wife of Michael A. Gilkey, Jr., and the mother of two boys, Banyan and Benjamin, both born at home with the help of licensed midwives. Laura is committed to improving the quality of maternity care in her community, serving on the Informed Consent and Refusal committee for the Coalition for Improving Maternity Care Services, the Planning and Evaluation Committee for the Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County, and as Florida Ambassador for The Birth Survey: The Transparency in Maternity Care Project. Laura is the Vice President of Florida Friends of Midwives and serves on the Board of Directors for Neuro Challenge Foundation. Professionally, she is the marketing director for Michael A. Gilkey, Inc., Landscape Architecture, and owner of the Sarasota creative marketing firm Kangaroo Promotions, Inc.
At-Large, Jeff Cheng
Jeff Cheng is now retired and enjoying living in Sarasota. He has an extensive background in finance, with his most recent position being Chief Financial Officer at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington, D.C. He is currently an investor and is very active in downtown Sarasota activities.
At-Large, Kitty Cranor
Kitty Cranor has been a resident of Sarasota for the past seven years. She moved here from Louisville, KY where she served on several non-profit Boards including The Louisville Zoological Garden, The Kentucky Art and Craft Foundation, Actor’s Theatre, and The Kilgore Samaritan Counseling Center. She graduated from Salem College with a B.A. and The Darden School at University of Virginia with an M.B.A. in 1980. She is an active community volunteer in Sarasota, devoting her time to Tidewell Hospice, Ringling College Library Association and Healthy Start. Kitty has been on the Executive Board since 2008 and is currently serving on the Governance Committee and the Fundraising Committee. She and her husband John have two sons.
At-Large, Darlene Coleman
Darlene Coleman is passionate about improving the health and well-being of pregnant women, infants, and young children. She delivered her son naturally and is an advocate of breastfeeding. Darlene is energetic and has a penchant for planning, marketing and promotion.
At-Large, Mary Gillam
Mary Gillam is a STAR (Students Taking Active Roles) Student in Sarasota’s Community Youth Development Program. A senior in high school, Mary is serving on our Board to learn leadership skills and be involved on a volunteer basis in the community.
Honorary, Dr. Washington Hill
Dr. Washington Hill practices maternal medicine and fetal medicine in Sarasota, Florida. He is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Maternal Fetal Medicine. He attended Medical School at Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia. He interned at Walter Reed General Hospital and did his residency at William Beaumont General Hospital.
Honorary, Former Representative Keith Fitzgerald
Keith Fitzgerald represented State House District 69 from 2006-2010. He was born in Springfield, Ohio and was raised in Louisville, Kentucky. He holds a B.A. from the University of Louisville and a PhD from Indiana University. Keith has lived in Sarasota and has taught political science at New College of Florida since 1994.
Honorary, Commissioner Carolyn Mason
Commissioner Carolyn Mason was born in Sarasota and has 3 children, 14 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. She graduated of the Sarasota Community School. Elected to the Sarasota County Commission in 2008. Previously served on the Sarasota City Commission from 1999-2003, and as Mayor from 2001-2003. Was previously employed by Habitat for Humanity Sarasota and by the Salvation Army, where she was director of family support and intake manager. She continues to serve on various councils and committees furthering her commitment to the people of Sarasota County.
Honorary, Ronald “Ron” Reagan
Ronald “Ron” Reagan served District 67 which is comprised of Sarasota, Manatee, and Hillsborough Counties. Representative Reagan has called the area his home for over 30 years and has raised all three of his children in the district. He is a graduate of USF. Representative Reagan focus is growth management, business regulation, insurance, and election issues.He is a local insurance business owner who has served on Business Regulation, Commerce, Transportation, Ethics & Elections, and the Jobs & Entrepreneurship Council.
Honorary, Ed Chiles
Ed Chiles is the son Governor Lawton Chiles, and shares many of the Governor’s ideals. Ed is a graduate of the University of Florida. He currently owns the Sandbar Restaurant in Anna Maria, as well as the Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant and Pub, located in Longboat Key and the Beach House Restaurant located in Bradenton Beach. Ed knows the value of investing in the community and of giving back to the organizations that help support youth sports, the elementary school and other worthwhile causes. Ed Chiles was named Man of the Year in 2000 by the Anna Maria Island Sun newspaper. He was named the business person of the year in 2002 by the Anna Maria Rotary Club, and he was awarded the business partner of the year by the manatee County School Board in 2000.
Ex-Officio, Shelley Rence
Shelley Rence grew up in Michigan, and lived there for 40 years before relocating to Florida. She has a BA in Education from Michigan State and a MA in Guidance and Counseling from Wayne State University. She worked 6 years as a Therapist/Program Coordinator and 10 years as a Clinical Director for an outpatient Mental Health/Substance Abuse near Detroit, and was a Certified Addictions Counselor for over 12 years. In Florida, she served as a Child Protection Investigator for a year, a HS Care coordinator for 3 years and the Program Administrator for 9 years.
Ex-Officio, Jenna Norwood
Jenna Norwood served on the Board of Directors of the Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota for six years. Her most recent position was as Co-Chair. Jenna is a documentary film-maker, restaurant owner and health motivator. Jenna is a native of Washington, D.C. where she founded her public relations consulting firm in 1993. Jenna holds a B.S. in Journalism from the University of Maryland. She received her health & culinary training through the Optimum Health Institute, the Hippocrates Health Institute & the Living Light Culinary Arts Institute. She has resided in Sarasota since 1998, but her family history goes back to 1936, when her grandparents moved to downtown Sarasota.
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