Executive Management Team

John W. Newcomer, M.D.
John W. Newcomer, M.D.
President and Chief Executive Officer
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John W. Newcomer, M.D. is President and CEO of Thriving Mind South Florida in Miami, Florida. Thriving Mind (contracting as South Florida Behavioral Health Network, Inc.) oversees safety net mental health and substance abuse services for the population of 3 million people in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, serving approximately 220,000 individuals annually with an annual operating budget of $140 million, funded by the Florida Department of Children and Families as well as other Federal, State, County and private sources.

Dr. Newcomer is also Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. During two decades at Washington University, he served in research leadership roles including Medical Officer for the General Clinical Research Center and Medical Director for the Center for Clinical Studies. Dr. Newcomer has served as Principal Investigator on peer-reviewed federal research grants funded through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for over 30 years. He was Executive Vice Dean at Florida Atlantic University Schmidt College of Medicine and Senior Associate Dean for Clinical Research at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. From 2007-2019 he served on the Metabolic Disorders Steering Committee of the Biomarkers Consortium of the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, and in the public sector Chaired the Medicaid Drug Utilization Review Board for the State of Missouri for 13 years. In 2014 he was named to the Thomson Reuters List of Highly Cited Researchers.

Stephen Zuckerman
Stephen Zuckerman
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
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Stephen Zuckerman is the chief financial officer. His role is to develop, initiate, maintain, and revise policies and procedures for the general operation of the Financial Program and its related activities to prevent illegal, unethical, or improper conduct. He develops and periodically reviews and update Standards of Accounting to ensure continuing currency and relevance in providing guidance to management and employees. He collaborates with other departments to direct accounting and finance compliance issues to appropriate existing channels for investigation and resolution. He responds to alleged violations of rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and Standards of Conduct by evaluating or recommending the initiation of investigation procedures. Develop and oversee a system for uniform handling of such violations. He acts as an independent review and evaluation body to ensure that accounting financial issues/concerns within the organization are being appropriately evaluated, investigated, and resolved. He monitors and coordinates the financial and accounting activities of other departments to remain abreast of the status of all financial and accounting activities and to identify trends. He Identifies potential areas of financial vulnerability and risk; develop/implement corrective action plans for resolution of problematic issues and provide general guidance on how to avoid or deal with similar situations in the future. He provides reports on a regular basis, and as directed or requested, to keep the President/Chief Executive Officer, Finance Committee and Board of Directors informed of the operation and progress of accounting efforts. He monitors the performance of the Financial and Accounting Program and related activities on a continuing basis, taking appropriate steps to improve its effectiveness. He ensures the provider network follows the rules and regulations of regulatory agencies as it pertains to the contract with the provider, that agency policies and procedures are being followed, and that behavior in the organization meets the company’s Standards of Conduct.  

Laura Naredo
Laura Naredo
Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
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Laura Naredo. MS, CHC, CHPC is the chief operations officer with over 20 years of experience at both the clinical and management level. She has also worked with both state agencies and non-profits in behavioral health care. She is responsible for managerial work planning and directing programs to ensure coordination and efficiency among administrative, programmatic and operational aspects of service delivery, reporting directly to the President/CEO. She is responsible for the management of all systems of care operations, quality improvement and quality assurance processes within the agency. She develops, leads, facilitates, and advises internal committees regarding system of care operations, quality improvement, quality assurance, utilization management and risk management activities. She maintains a knowledge of federal and state regulatory conditions and integrates into the internal QI/QA systems, system of care operations and ensures continued compliance with such regulations. She has direct responsibility for the development of the system of care teams, quality improvement and quality assurance programs within the network. She identifies opportunities for performance improvement and establishes corrective action plans. She assists the President/Chief Executive Officer and leadership team in the development of appropriate system of care programming, quality assurance programs and monitor quality control for all operational functions.  

Joanna Cardwell
Joanna Cardwell
Vice President of Continuous Quality Improvement, Chief Quality Officer
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Joanna Cardwell directs and coordinates activities of Thriving Mind for which responsibility is delegated to further attainment of goals and objectives. She is responsible for the management of all quality improvement and quality assurance processes within the agency, for the data support and analysis. She develops, leads, facilitates, and advises internal committees in regard to quality improvement, quality assurance, utilization management and risk management activities. She maintains knowledge of federal and state regulatory conditions and integrates into the internal QI/QA systems and ensures continued compliance with such regulations. She identifies opportunities for performance improvement and establishes corrective action plans. She is responsible for the preparation and the maintenance of national accreditation. She monitors services to ensure they meet organizational guidelines and stakeholder needs. She serves as one of the single point of contact for complaints and grievances. She serves as the Corporate Compliance Officer.  

Adilen Cruz
Adilen Cruz
Vice President of Behavioral Health Services
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Adilen Cruz, Vice President of Behavioral Health, oversees the System of Care programming. She is responsible for managerial work planning and directing behavioral health programs to ensure coordination and efficiency among programmatic aspects of service delivery, reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer. This position ensures coordination amongst the Programmatic, QA/QI, and Fiscal/Contract Departments. She develops, implements, and manages operational strategies for Thriving Mind’s System of Care Departments. She assists the Executive Management Team and its Board of Directors in carrying out the strategic plans to ensure a comprehensive, collaborative co-occurring system of care that is recovery oriented and transparent. The system of care should be innovative, fiscally responsible and demonstrate the following values: recovery based; individually focused and consumer/family driven; community- based; and cultural and linguistic responsive.  

Johnny Guimaraes
Johnny Guimaraes
Vice President of IT and Data Analytics, Chief Data Officer
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Johnny Guimaraes is a senior leader and IT leadership team member with over 30 years of executive and management-level work experience spanning financial and information technology with a specialized focus in information security, privacy, and data analytics. Well-versed in current and emerging threats and mitigating technologies, he applies extensive knowledge of technology standards and best practices, governance processes, and relevant metrics to ensure that IT is operating at optimum levels of effectiveness and appropriately managing risk. He is recognized for working with cross-functional teams throughout the company to provide guidance and project management services for implementing security controls. He utilizes a servant leadership style and passion for leading and motivating cross-functional, interdisciplinary teams to achieve tactical and strategic goals.  

Jessica Rodriguez
Jessica Rodriguez
Vice President of Contracts and Procurement, Provider Affairs Ombudsman
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Jessica Rodriguez, Vice President of Contracts and Procurement is a Florida Certified Public Manager with 19 years’ experience in contracting and procuring State of Florida publicly funded behavioral health services. Ms. Rodriguez’s contract and procurement career began at the Florida Department of Children and Families, Southern Region’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Program Office in 2004. At Thriving Mind, she oversees the Contracts and Procurement Department that currently manages approximately $141 million in contracts. Her department manages over 100 contracts and agreements. She is responsible for drafting all procurements, contracts, consulting agreements, memorandum of understanding, business associate agreements, data sharing agreements, and prepares budgets when requested. She participates, and at times, takes the lead in contract negotiations. She reviews and provides feedback on subcontractor’s budgets, develops and approves scope of work and review invoices submitted by vendors and subcontractors. She serves as the Single Point of Contact for person’s and/or companions with disabilities and limited English proficiency that need auxiliary aids to be able to communicate effectively during meetings and events at Thriving Mind. In 2018, she began her work as the Procurement Manager to a competitive procurement process that selected a general contractor for the renovation of a vacant hospital to a state-of-the-art mental health diversion facility for individuals diverted from the criminal justice system in Miami-Dade County.  In her eleven (11) years at Thriving Mind, she has never had a solicitation successfully challenged by an agency.  

Jose Vempala
Jose Vempala
Vice President of Finance
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Jose Vempala is Vice President of Finance at Thriving Mind, where he has worked for 13 years. He previously was a budget manager at the Department of Children and Families.

Executive Committee

Paul Imbrone
Paul Imbrone
Chair
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Paul Imbrone is a 40-year veteran of retail operations having held senior executive positions with one of the industry’s largest retail leaders, Macys, Inc. where he was VP, Government and Public Affairs for an eight-state region encompassing Florida, Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, New Mexico, Nevada, and Puerto Rico. Beginning with Allied Stores, Paul managed and directed a number of key areas including legislative affairs, loss prevention, risk management, public relations, communications, business continuity, licensed business development and tenant lessee relationships. 

During his retail tenure, Imbrone went beyond his career positions to lead a variety of community initiatives, retail associations and charitable pursuits. A master at bringing people to consensus to participate and become involved in collaborative, political and legislative matters, Imbrone’s expertise and board participation led him to become a key community advocate and contributor with groups as diverse as the United Way, the Miami Dade County Homeless Trust, and Thriving Mind |South Florida Behavioral Health Network as well as leading many years of public service on behalf of Macys biggest Initiatives.  

Following a number of years as Chairman of the Board, Florida Retail Federation and holding numerous board positions in a variety of state retail associations, Paul retired in 2017 but his continued desire to contribute, led him to continue to support community initiatives important to him:  

1) The formation of his business consulting firm, PHI & Associates with a specialty focus on retail and small business development. 

2) Accepting a director’s position as lead for the Landlord Recruitment, Retention, and property acquisitions for Miami Dade County’s Homeless Trust. 

Whether Paul is consulting Múcaro Coffees, one of his recent retail clients on their global expansion efforts or leading the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, RentConnect Landlord initiative, his vast contributions and continued involvement in the retail world and his community has made Imbrone an invaluable, tireless asset to all who have the pleasure of working with him. 

William “Ted” Franklin
William “Ted” Franklin
Treasurer
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William “Ted” Franklin, is now retired, having worked twenty-five years in the retail grocery business, including VP of Franklin Food Stores, Inc. He previously held a real estate license and conducted property management for a real estate firm in Sarasota Florida. He has a certificate in Property Management from Miami-Dade College. He also took several courses in Risk and Insurance.  In the public sector he is a member of the NAMI-Miami-Dade Council, and is the Treasurer of Thriving Mind South Florida, Inc. 

Susan Racher
Susan Racher
Secretary
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Ms. Racher is Vice President and CFO of the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation. Previously she was a Senior Vice President and Senior Managing Director of Bank of America. Her mental health advocacy began following her son’s serious mental illness episode in 2011. In 2016, she led the restart of NAMI Miami-Dade. She is Board Chair of NAMI Miami-Dade; Secretary of the Board and Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee of Thriving Mind South Florida, the agency overseeing mental health a substance use treatment in Miami-Dade and Monroe; Chair of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Treasury Advisory Committee; and a member of International Women’s Forum.  

Paul Armstrong
Paul Armstrong
Chair Elect
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Mr. Armstrong recently retired as Chief Probation Officer for Department of Juvenile Justice Probation and Community Intervention bureau for the 16th Judicial Circuit, in and for Monroe County, Florida. 

In that capacity from 1997 to 2021, he was responsible for the operations that Department. He also served as Juvenile Probation Officer Supervisor/Delinquency Case Management Counselor Supervisor; Delinquency Case Management Counselor; Group Facilitator/Instructor; Counselor.  

His experience is broad:  

Supervisor of DJJ Unit 16-102A/B that provides intake, probation supervision, court and detention screening services for the Upper and Middle Florida Keys. Motivate, encourage and direct case managers and auxiliary staff. Review and edit all outgoing documents. Review intake records and probation records. Meet with outside agencies to develop relationships and establish a coordinated community response to at-risk and delinquent youth. Ensure that the functioning of the unit is in within the quality assurance guidelines. Provide training for Juvenile Probation staff. Other duties as assigned by supervisor. 

Provide comprehensive intake and case management services to youth involved with the juvenile court system, as well as truant and ungovernable youth. Duties include but not limited to: Receive complaints from law enforcement, assess youths and families, make timely recommendations to the State Attorney, devise treatment plan for community control cases, provide supervision and case management services to youths on community control, coordinate multidisciplinary staffing for youth in need of residential care, on call detention screening, acting supervisor duties in absence of supervisor. 

Provide outpatient group substance abuse education and counseling for adult clients. Maintain client records, as well as correspondence with probation, the courts and employers. Including but not limited to: Daily administration of a 20-bed inpatient halfway house for adolescent and young adult male substance abuse clients. Telephone intakes, intake and assessment, documentation of services provided, correspondence with referring treatment staff, probation officers, courts, and insurance carriers. Facility marketing by telephone as well as at professional meetings, seminars, and conventions. Provided individual, group, and family counseling, vocational/educational assistance, discharge planning and aftercare counseling, as well as planned and supervised group activities both in-house and afield. Established treatment plans, supervised and scheduled night technician staff, daily shift change report, manage facility maintenance, and other duties assigned by the director. 

Luis Collazo
Luis Collazo
Assistant Treasurer
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For the past 25 years, Mr. Collazo has devoted his career to serving those most in need, and currently serves as the Director of Palm Breeze Assisted Living Facility, a 61 bed Assisted Living Facility specializing in providing assistance to clients with severe and persistent mental illness. Mr. Collazo has served on numerous Boards, and community/civic based organizations. Luis served as a former President of the Board of Directors for the Trauma Resolution Center, a Community Mental Health Center, in the Miami area, he has also served as past Chairman of the Elderly Affairs Committee for the Town of Miami Lakes, and was appointed through the Governor of Florida (Rick Scott) to serve on the Assisted Living Task Force (Agency For Health Care Administration). 

 

Luis currently serves on the Executive Board of Directors for the Florida Assisted Living Association (Immediate Past President, Tallahassee, Florida), the  Board of Directors of Disability Rights Florida (Executive Board Secretary, Tallahassee, Florida), the Board of Directors Thriving Mind South Florida (Director, Miami, FL), and the Florida Assertive Community Treatment Advisory Board for Fellowship House Community Mental Health Center (Chair, Miami, Florida). 

Frank Rabbito
Frank Rabbito
Assistant Secretary
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In 2004, after 30 years of public service, he retired from government and began work for the WestCare Foundation. Mr. Rabbito has held several positions at WestCare. He has served as VP for the Village South and Village Virgin Islands, Senior Vice president for Florida Operations, Deputy COO for the Eastern Region and COO for West Care’s North American Operations. Mr. Rabbito is currently the COO for Florida Operations.  

Board of Directors

Sally Alayon
Sally Alayon
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Ms. Sally J. Alayon began her career in Miami-Dade County Public Schools as a middle and high school teacher and went on to serve as a middle school assistant principal then moving into the principalship at Highland Oaks Middle School and then became the founding principal of Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Senior High 2009.  She then served as an Administrative Director in North Regional Center supporting 103 schools.

Ms. Alayon currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent of the Office of Mental Health and Student Services for Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS). In July 2018, M-DCPS established the Department of Mental Health Services to enhance services for students and families.  Ms. Alayon was instrumental in helping build the foundation for the new department focused on expanding school and community-based mental health care, training educators and other school personnel in detecting and responding to mental health challenges and connecting students and families with appropriate services.

Ms. Alayon currently serves on the Thriving Mind of South Florida Board of Directors and the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Commission’s Threat Assessment Committee.  She has also served on various committees with the Florida Department of Education’s Bureau of Exceptional Student Education and Student Services and Office of Safe Schools.

Ms. Alayon received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications from the University of South Florida and a Master of Science Degree in Educational Leadership from Barry University.  She and her husband, Manny, are proud parents of two young adults also residing in South Florida.

Ms. Alayon is as committed as ever to ensuring all students are provided the opportunity to reach their full potential.

 

Paul Armstrong
Paul Armstrong
Chair Elect
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Mr. Armstrong recently retired as Chief Probation Officer for Department of Juvenile Justice Probation and Community Intervention bureau for the 16th Judicial Circuit, in and for Monroe County, Florida. 

In that capacity from 1997 to 2021, he was responsible for the operations that Department. He also served as Juvenile Probation Officer Supervisor/Delinquency Case Management Counselor Supervisor; Delinquency Case Management Counselor; Group Facilitator/Instructor; Counselor.  

His experience is broad:  

Supervisor of DJJ Unit 16-102A/B that provides intake, probation supervision, court and detention screening services for the Upper and Middle Florida Keys. Motivate, encourage and direct case managers and auxiliary staff. Review and edit all outgoing documents. Review intake records and probation records. Meet with outside agencies to develop relationships and establish a coordinated community response to at-risk and delinquent youth. Ensure that the functioning of the unit is in within the quality assurance guidelines. Provide training for Juvenile Probation staff. Other duties as assigned by supervisor. 

Provide comprehensive intake and case management services to youth involved with the juvenile court system, as well as truant and ungovernable youth. Duties include but not limited to: Receive complaints from law enforcement, assess youths and families, make timely recommendations to the State Attorney, devise treatment plan for community control cases, provide supervision and case management services to youths on community control, coordinate multidisciplinary staffing for youth in need of residential care, on call detention screening, acting supervisor duties in absence of supervisor. 

Provide outpatient group substance abuse education and counseling for adult clients. Maintain client records, as well as correspondence with probation, the courts and employers. Including but not limited to: Daily administration of a 20-bed inpatient halfway house for adolescent and young adult male substance abuse clients. Telephone intakes, intake and assessment, documentation of services provided, correspondence with referring treatment staff, probation officers, courts, and insurance carriers. Facility marketing by telephone as well as at professional meetings, seminars, and conventions. Provided individual, group, and family counseling, vocational/educational assistance, discharge planning and aftercare counseling, as well as planned and supervised group activities both in-house and afield. Established treatment plans, supervised and scheduled night technician staff, daily shift change report, manage facility maintenance, and other duties assigned by the director. 

Major Melissa Barosela
Major Melissa Barosela
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Major Barosela has been with the Miami-Dade Police Department for more than 25 years. She currently works in the Psychological Services Bureau. She’s been working in the Bureau for 15 years. The primary focus of the Bureau is to serve the men and women of the MDPD. It is staffed with sworn civilian licensed mental health clinicians, who provide a full spectrum of clinical services to the MDPD. The Bureau also responds to critical incidents, such as officer-involved shootings, mass casualty incidents or death of a child, to provide mental health services directly at the scene. Major Barosela is a Miami Native, whose father also served in the MDPD. She studied psychology at the University of Florida.

Chief Richard M. Clements
Chief Richard M. Clements
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As Director of the School of Justice at Miami Dade College, Richard Clements will assume responsibility for all facets of the School of Justice with direct oversight of the law enforcement, corrections and fire science training programs. Furthermore, he will spearhead the College’s efforts in partnership development with domestic and international law enforcement agencies and related organizations through his stewardship of the School’s Assessment Center.

Mr. Clements’ impressive career extends to his most recent position as the leader of the City of Miami Beach Police Department (MBPD), where he managed both the administrative and operational aspects of a department comprised of 435 sworn officers and 100 support personnel. Over his 33-year tenure with the MBPD, he held various key roles, including Deputy Police Chief, Commander in the Criminal Investigation Division, and District Captain assigned to the Patrol Division. Notably, Mr. Clements also contributed significantly as a member of the MBPD SWAT team for 16 years and took charge of the Team’s Counter Assault and Surveillance Team.

Mr. Clements’ educational achievements are equally noteworthy, as he is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the Police Executive Research Forum Senior Management Institute for Police, and the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah and is in the process of completing a Master’s degree in public administration.

Luis Collazo
Luis Collazo
Assistant Treasurer
View Bio

For the past 25 years, Mr. Collazo has devoted his career to serving those most in need, and currently serves as the Director of Palm Breeze Assisted Living Facility, a 61 bed Assisted Living Facility specializing in providing assistance to clients with severe and persistent mental illness. Mr. Collazo has served on numerous Boards, and community/civic based organizations. Luis served as a former President of the Board of Directors for the Trauma Resolution Center, a Community Mental Health Center, in the Miami area, he has also served as past Chairman of the Elderly Affairs Committee for the Town of Miami Lakes, and was appointed through the Governor of Florida (Rick Scott) to serve on the Assisted Living Task Force (Agency For Health Care Administration). 

 

Luis currently serves on the Executive Board of Directors for the Florida Assisted Living Association (Immediate Past President, Tallahassee, Florida), the  Board of Directors of Disability Rights Florida (Executive Board Secretary, Tallahassee, Florida), the Board of Directors Thriving Mind South Florida (Director, Miami, FL), and the Florida Assertive Community Treatment Advisory Board for Fellowship House Community Mental Health Center (Chair, Miami, Florida). 

Bishop Joanem Floreal
Bishop Joanem Floreal
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On May 28, 1967, Joanem Frandy Floreal was born in Cap-Haitien, Haiti from a very modest family. Growing up, he was fortunate enough to experience a happy childhood, surrounded by the love and affection of his mother. At an early age, he was taken to the Brothers of Christian Instruction for his elementary education, and later transferred to College Notre Dame for his high school education.

In 1988 he entered the United States and enrolled in Miami-Dade Community College where he earned an Associate of Arts degree in Business Administration. He later received his Bachelor of Science Degree in International Business in 1994 from Barry University.

Two months before graduation from Barry University, he received God’s call for ministry. In preparation for ministry, he attended Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 1997 and later transferred to Asbury Theological Seminary where he earned a Master Degree in World Mission and Evangelism in 2001. In 2019, he was awarded an Honorary Doctoral in Ministry from Trinity Theological Seminary of South Florida.

His dearest dream and his most profound aspiration was to be an itinerant Evangelist, but God had something else in mind. In March of 2002, he started a House Prayer Meeting with a core group of 4 participants. In May of the same year, he began to conduct Bible Study in his house with an average of 30 attendees. Thus, Shalom Community Church, one of the most thriving and fastest-growing congregations in the Haitian Community, was launched on September 8, 2002.
19 years later, Rev. Floreal’s leadership skills, his passion for ministry, and love for God’s people have contributed to make Shalom Community Church a vibrant ministry in the Haitian Community in South Florida.  Under his guidance, Shalom has added one (1) campus in Florida, in Palm Beach which launched in 2017.

Additionally, God also gave Rev. Joanem Floreal a passion for missionary work. In this vein, he has been taking large groups on short-term mission trips to Haiti every year since July 2003. After the earthquake that devastated Haiti in January 2010, he felt compelled to establish an orphanage in Haiti. Shalom Village Orphanage was established in March 2010. The orphanage currently houses 30 precious children who are fully taken care of with compassion and dignity.

In January 2010, Rev. Floreal founded HAPUGI (Haitian-American Pastors United for Greater Impact) with the intent of offering much needed assistance to their country in crisis. Under Rev. Floreal’s guidance and the assistance and collaboration of several pastors and lay persons, HAPUGI has planted 5 churches in Haiti that are still operational. In September 2021 Rev. Floreal was consecrated as a bishop to oversea Shalom International Mission ( SIM).

Rev. Floreal has also been a Radio and Television Host for approximately two decades. One of his latest accomplishments is the 24-hour Christian Television Network on Channel 18.8, called Kingdom Broadcasting International (KBI). This TV station was officially launched in 2018. Rev. Floreal published his first book in January 2021, and is in the process of releasing his second one, entitled “Journey to a Better Life”.

Lastly, preaching engagements, educational tours, training sessions, and mission trips have allowed Rev Floreal to take the Gospel to different parts of the world, including China, Holland, Switzerland, Senegal, Turks and Caicos, and Israel, to name but a few. Actually, he is one of the members of the board of directors of Thriving Mind South Florida

Rev. Floreal has been happily married to Ketty Floreal for almost 30 years, and they are the proud parents of Hadassah Leah Floreal.

William “Ted” Franklin
William “Ted” Franklin
Treasurer
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William “Ted” Franklin, is now retired, having worked twenty-five years in the retail grocery business, including VP of Franklin Food Stores, Inc. He previously held a real estate license and conducted property management for a real estate firm in Sarasota Florida. He has a certificate in Property Management from Miami-Dade College. He also took several courses in Risk and Insurance.  In the public sector he is a member of the NAMI-Miami-Dade Council, and is the Treasurer of Thriving Mind South Florida, Inc. 

Rep. Ashley Gantt
Rep. Ashley Gantt
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Rep. Ashley V. Gantt

Ashley Viola Gantt, a Democrat, represents the 109th District for the Florida House of Representatives. She was elected in 2022.

Ms. Gantt previously worked as a public defender in Broward County and as a public school teacher.

A native of Miami, Ms. Gantt holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Florida and a law degree Shepard Broad College of Law at Nova Southeastern University. She also is a graduate of the Teach for America program.

Ms. Gantt sits on the following House committees:

  • State Affairs Committee
  • Ethics, Elections & Open Government Subcommittee
  • Civil Justice Subcommittee
  • Education Quality Subcommittee
  • Regulatory Reform & Economic Development Subcommittee
Paul Imbrone
Paul Imbrone
Chair
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Paul Imbrone is a 40-year veteran of retail operations having held senior executive positions with one of the industry’s largest retail leaders, Macys, Inc. where he was VP, Government and Public Affairs for an eight-state region encompassing Florida, Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, New Mexico, Nevada, and Puerto Rico. Beginning with Allied Stores, Paul managed and directed a number of key areas including legislative affairs, loss prevention, risk management, public relations, communications, business continuity, licensed business development and tenant lessee relationships. 

During his retail tenure, Imbrone went beyond his career positions to lead a variety of community initiatives, retail associations and charitable pursuits. A master at bringing people to consensus to participate and become involved in collaborative, political and legislative matters, Imbrone’s expertise and board participation led him to become a key community advocate and contributor with groups as diverse as the United Way, the Miami Dade County Homeless Trust, and Thriving Mind |South Florida Behavioral Health Network as well as leading many years of public service on behalf of Macys biggest Initiatives.  

Following a number of years as Chairman of the Board, Florida Retail Federation and holding numerous board positions in a variety of state retail associations, Paul retired in 2017 but his continued desire to contribute, led him to continue to support community initiatives important to him: 

1) The formation of his business consulting firm, PHI & Associates with a specialty focus on retail and small business development. 

2) Accepting a director’s position as lead for the Landlord Recruitment, Retention, and property acquisitions for Miami Dade County’s Homeless Trust. 

Whether Paul is consulting Múcaro Coffees, one of his recent retail clients on their global expansion efforts or leading the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, RentConnect Landlord initiative, his vast contributions and continued involvement in the retail world and his community has made Imbrone an invaluable, tireless asset to all who have the pleasure of working with him. 

Valera Jackson
Valera Jackson
Mario Jardon
Mario Jardon
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Mario Jardon, LCSW is the founding President and CEO of Citrus Health Network, Inc., a non-profit Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) based in Hialeah, Florida.  Citrus Health Network was founded in 1979 as a community mental health center dedicated to serving mentally ill individuals and their families.  In 2004, Citrus Health Network received a Section 330(e) grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and began offering primary care in addition to mental and behavioral health services; taking an integrated approach to care. Today, Citrus Health Network serves more than 30,000 patients annually across behavioral health, primary care, and community-based supportive services. Beginning July 2019, Citrus assumed the role of Community-Based Care Lead Agency for Child Welfare for Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties as a contractor for the Department of Children and Families.  Citrus’ CBC division is known as Citrus Family Care Network.

Mr. Jardon began his career in New York and New Jersey.  After earning his Masters in Social Work from Fordham University, Mr. Jardon moved through direct service positions and in 1977, became Center Director at the Mount Carmel Guild Community Mental Health Center in Newark, New Jersey.

In 1979, Mr. Jardon relocated to South Florida to lead a newly-formed Community Mental Health Center in Hialeah, Florida, now known as Citrus Health Network.  In the past 35 years, Mr. Jardon, with the support of the Citrus Health Network Board of Directors and staff, has been able to achieve continued growth for the Center.

Mr. Jardon has a history of involvement with organizations that help communities and individuals in need.  He has served as Chairman of the Health Council of South Florida, and as Co-Chairman of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Miami-Dade County’s Jail Diversion Task Force.  He serves on the Board of Directors of the Florida Council for Community Mental Health and more recently, on the Board of South Florida Behavioral Health Network (SFBHN).

Mr. Jardon is a member of the Florida State University College of Social Work Center for the Study and Promotion of Communities, Families and Children. He also serves on the Nursing Advisory Council for the Florida International University College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CNHS).  The Advisory Council serves as a link between the CNHS and the community.

He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Health Choice Network (HCN), an administrative services organization located in Miami, Florida that serves FQHCs in 11 states, including more than 24 FQHCs in Florida.  Mr. Jardon is the Chairman of the HCN Managed Care Committee.

In 2009 the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) approved the creation of Prestige Health Choice, a Provider Services Network (PSN) owned by FQHCs and affiliated with HCN. Mr. Jardon was elected by his peers to serve on the Prestige Health Choice Audit Committee, and subsequently on the plan’s Board of Governors.  Mr. Jardon also served on the Board of Managers of Prestige’s Community Care of Florida.

Subhash Kateel
Subhash Kateel
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Subhash is an experienced strategist and community organizer with 15 years of experience advancing criminal justice reform in Florida and New York.

Subhash serves as the Florida State Director for the Alliance for Safety and Justice, where he is responsible for designing and implementing statewide campaigns to advance policies that improve public safety while elevating the voices of crime survivors.

Over the course of his career, he has served as an executive director, organizer and a campaign director – successfully designing and implementing community education efforts and policy campaigns.  Subhash has experience building partnerships across a wide spectrum of stakeholders including faith based organizations, non-profits, elected leaders and organizations that represent working families.

Subhash brings a sophisticated understanding of civic engagement to his work with ASJ, with experience building voter power via volunteer bases in communities with historically low voter turnouts.  Subhash spent three years on Miami’s airwaves hosting his own radio show – where he brought together guests from across the political spectrum  to discuss Florida’s most pressing issues.

He is originally from Saginaw, Michigan but his growing family has called Florida home for almost a decade.

Victoria Mallette
Victoria Mallette
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Victoria Mallette is currently the Executive Director for the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust. She is a forward thinking and driven professional with 25 years of experience in administration, management, intergovernmental coordination, business development, communications and public affairs. She has a Commitment to service excellence and partnership building with government, private-sector and community stakeholders to enhance and improve the quality of life of Miami-Dade residents.

  • Executive Director, Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, Jul 2014 – Present · 9 yrs 6 mos
  • Acting Director, Development, Advocacy and Communications Acting Director, Development, Advocacy and Communications, Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces, Nov 2011 – Jul 2014 ·
  • External Affairs Coordinator, Miami-Dade Emergency Management Miami-Dade Emergency Management, May 2011 – Nov 2011 ·
  • Communications Director, Miami-Dade County, Jan 2005 – May 2011 ·
  • Senior Political Producer / Investigative Producer / Special Projects Producer, WPLG-TVWPLG-TV, Sep 1997 – Jan 2005 ·

 

Education

Boston University Master of Science, Broadcast Journalism

Florida International University Bachelor of Science, Communications

Mecca McCain
Mecca McCain
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Mecca McCain is a recent graduate from the University of Miami. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree as a double major in Psychology and Criminology, and minored in Sociology and Religion & Healthcare. In addition to acting as the Youth Representative on Thriving Mind South Florida’s Board of Directors, she also works with NAMI Miami-Dade as a young adult presenter sharing her mental health journey with others. Mecca will continue her passion for mental health-related work by attending graduate school to earn a degree in Forensic Psychology.

 

Sandra McQueen-Baker
Sandra McQueen-Baker
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Sandra McQueen-Baker is the Executive Director of Fresh Start of Miami-Dade, Inc. She has been an advocate for mental health since 1996, when she became employed as a peer counselor at Lock Towns Community Mental Health Center in Miami, Florida.  Through her advocacy efforts, she was instrumental in determining the need for and helping to develop the independently peer-run organization known as Fresh Start of Miami-Dade, Incorporated, located in the northern part of Miami-Dade County.  There she oversees a Recovery Wellness Center (Drop-In Center) targeting the needs of the Diverse Population of Miami-Gardens. Through her advocacy efforts in making the VOICE of individuals with Behavioral Health Challenges heard, she has been at the forefront of the Peer Recovery movement in Miami-Dade. More recently, with the support from Thriving Mind South Florida dba, South Florida Behavioral Health Network, Fresh Start of Miami Dade provides Peer support services for individuals being released from the State Treatment Facilities through Peers on the Move project.

Through her time, Sandra has been involved in a variety of community organizations and initiatives that empower and educate communities on stigma reduction and Recovery orientation.  For example, she was a consumer representative for the Eleventh Judicial Criminal Mental Health Project Jail Diversion Program. She was also part of the first FACT team in Miami-Dade, and a board member of NAMI Miami.

Currently, she serves as a board member of Thriving Mind and the Consumer Network coordinator.

Fresh Start of Miami-Dade, Inc. is a Provider Educator under the Florida Certification Board and through grant supported opportunities offers trainings at no-cost. As a Certified Recovery peer Specialist and one of the First Advanced WRAP Facilitators in Florida, Sandra McQueen-Baker shares the message of RECOVERY and instills HOPE in the many lives of individuals, families and communities at large.

She has been honored with several awards including the 2006 Voice Award from SAMHSA, the 2007 Heroes in the Fight Award from the Mental Health Association, and was named the 2007 Consumer Advocate of the Year by the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court, Miami-Dade County.  She received the 2014 EPIC award from Broward County MHA and a plaque from Disability Rights Florida in 2015.

But above all, Sandra’s favorite role is being a dedicated grandmother to her eight-year-old granddaughter.

Michael Nozile
Michael Nozile
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Michael J. Nozile Sr. has served as the CEO/Executive Director of Gang Alternative, Inc. since 2005. This nonprofit organization was birthed out of the need to provide positive alternatives to youth plagued by the realities of living in high violence, high crime communities in Miami-Dade County. Michael is responsible for leading Gang Alternative in the provision of services under five pillars of work, namely: Positive Youth Development; Family Strengthening; Health and Wellness; Workforce Development; and Community Upliftment and Partnerships.

Under Michael’s leadership, Gang Alternative Inc. has become a local and national catalyst for organizing, mobilizing and strengthening drug-free coalitions. In 2009, recognizing that substance abuse among youth was getting progressively high in the communities of Liberty City and Little Haiti, Michael led Gang Alternative in starting the area’s first drug-free coalition to facilitate collaborative planning, targeted capacity building and resource leveraging among 12 sectors. Its reputation in successful coalition-building led Gang Alternative to be awarded funding from SAMHSA in 2011 for the Urban Partnership Drug-Free Community Coalition UPDFCC’ 2015 and 2017 to mentor Hogar CREA (Puerto Rico) and Coalicion Esperenza (West Little Havana), respectively. Additionally, Gang Alternative has successfully implemented projects under the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act (STOP) since 2016. Also, GA was awarded to provide coalition mentoring in North Miami and East Little Havana through South Florida Behavioral Health Network.

With an aim of continued performance excellence, Michael led his organization in becoming fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities in Case Management, Services Coordination and Prevention.

Prior to Gang Alternative, Michael served as Executive Director of Weed and Seed, a community-based organization focused on reducing and preventing crime while revitalizing the community. His work experience in community development and human services is extensive and includes serving as a Juvenile Probation Officer, Mental Health Therapist, and Youth and Family Counselor.

Michael is a graduate of the National Coalition Academy and is often called upon to provide guidance on coalition-building. Recently on behalf of SAMHSA, at the CADCA Mid-Year Training Institute, he presented on the “Impacting Trauma In Urban Communities Using a Coalition Framework”.

Michael holds leadership positions on numerous executive boards including serving as Chair of the South Florida Coalition Alliance, a quad-county drug and alcohol prevention association (Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe Counties); and as Chair of Hope for Miami, a youth prevention and family strengthening agency. He also serves on the Miami-Dade County School Board’s Diversity, Equity and Excellence Advisory Committee. Michael is a Certified John Maxwell Leadership, Coach, Trainer and Speaker and was recipient of the National Association of Social Workers (Miami Dade Unit)’s Outstanding Community Service Award.

A native of Haiti, Michael received his undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and his master’s degree in Public Administration from Florida International University. His greatest joy and reward continues to be that of being a father and positive role model to many youth.

Dr. Joseph Parks
Dr. Joseph Parks
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Joe Parks, M.D., currently serves as medical director for the National Council and is a distinguished research professor of science at Missouri Institute of Mental Health with the University of Missouri, St. Louis. He also practices outpatient psychiatry at Family Health Center, a federally funded community health center established to expand services to uninsured and underinsured patients in Columbia, Mo.

Dr. Parks is the national behavioral health representative at large for The Joint Commission. He previously served as the director of Missouri MO HealthNet Division (Missouri Medicaid) in the Missouri Department of Social Services and was medical director for the Missouri Department of Mental Health in Jefferson City and the Division Director for the Division of Comprehensive Psychiatric Services.

Dr. Parks has conducted research and published in the areas of implementation of evidence-based medicine, pharmacy utilization management, integration of behavioral health care with general health care, and health care policy. He has received numerous awards for improving the quality of care and leadership.

Frank Rabbito
Frank Rabbito
Assistant Secretary
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In 2004, after 30 years of public service, he retired from government and began work for the WestCare Foundation. Mr. Rabbito has held several positions at WestCare. He has served as VP for the Village South and Village Virgin Islands, Senior Vice president for Florida Operations, Deputy COO for the Eastern Region and COO for West Care’s North American Operations. Mr. Rabbito is currently the COO for Florida Operations.  

Susan Racher
Susan Racher
Secretary
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Ms. Racher is Vice President and CFO of the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation. Previously she was a Senior Vice President and Senior Managing Director of Bank of America. Her mental health advocacy began following her son’s serious mental illness episode in 2011. In 2016, she led the restart of NAMI Miami-Dade. She is Board Chair of NAMI Miami-Dade; Secretary of the Board and Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee of Thriving Mind South Florida, the agency overseeing mental health a substance use treatment in Miami-Dade and Monroe; Chair of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Treasury Advisory Committee; and a member of International Women’s Forum.  

Mayor Holly Raschein
Mayor Holly Raschein
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Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Holly Merrill Raschein to the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners in September 2021, and she was elected to the seat in August 2022. Raschein, of Tavernier, is the Government Relations Director for AshBritt and a Market Advisor for First State Bank of the Florida Keys. Previously, she served eight years in the Florida House of Representatives and was a Project Coordinator for Baptist Health of South Florida.

Raschein is a member of the Florida Housing Finance Corporation Board of Directors, Mariners Hospital Foundation Board, Leadership Monroe County Board, Florida Keys Healthy Start Coalition Board, and Monroe County Education Foundation Board. She is a past member of the Florida Defense Support Task Force and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from Florida State University and master of public administration from Florida International University.

She is now Mayor of Monroe County.

Jennifer Rodrigue
Jennifer Rodrigue
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Jennifer Rodrigue

Jennifer Rodrigue earned her Juris Doctorate with High Honors from George Washington University in 2010 and joined the Law Office of the Public Defender Carlos J. Martinez in August of that year. She currently serves as the Senior Supervising Attorney of the Behavioral Health Division, dedicated to representing clients who are managing severe mental illness or substance use. The division consists of seven attorneys, a placement specialist and four paralegals. Together the team works to identify, engage, and win release for clients interested in treatment, fight involuntary civil commitment and medication orders, and help clients remain stable throughout diversion court resolutions. Outside the courtroom Jennifer is the Secretary for the South Florida chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, and provides Know Your Rights and Legal Observer trainings, and Legal Observing for events.

Roxana Solano
Roxana Solano
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Roxana Solano is Founder and CEO of Casa Mia, a QNL homeless shelter which serves as a transitional housing and support service facility serving the Miami-Dade County. She previously worked at Villa Serena Group Assisted Living Facilities and Unlimited Senior Solutions, Inc.

Duane Triplett
Duane Triplett
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Duane Triplett is the Chief Deputy Court Administrator for the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit in Key West, Florida.  After earning a law degree from the University of Florida, he worked as an Assistant Public Defender, an Assistant State Attorney and as a private attorney for over 17 years. While at the State Attorney’s Office, he served as the Division Chief responsible for supervising both felony and misdemeanor attorneys, as well as supports staff and investigators.  For interests outside of his professional career, Triplett co-hosted two radio programs over the years – Law Talk and Southpaw.

Honorary Directors

Kevin Andrews
Kevin Andrews
Honorary Director
Michael Festinger
Michael Festinger
Honorary Director
Rev. Jose Hernandez
Rev. Jose Hernandez
Honorary Director
Carlos Martinez
Carlos Martinez
Honorary Director
Rosemary Smith-Hoel
Rosemary Smith-Hoel
Honorary Director
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