Janice Kershaw, President/CEO of Brevard Schools Foundation (BSF), announced the following updates to their Board of Directors and staff:
The newly elected 2019/2020 Board of Directors officers are:
- Chair- Mike LaFortune, Modus Create
- Immediate Past Chair- Yvonne Maguire, Morgan Stanley
- Vice Chair-Richard Miller, Miller & Hurt Wealth Advisors
- Treasurer- Christine Noll-Rhan, Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC
- Secretary- Jonathon Wilkes, Wharton Smith
Additionally, Adrian Laffitte, retired from Lockheed Martin, is a new member of the BSF board.
Pamela Gunthorpe has joined the BSF staff as Community Engagement & Grants Manager. Gunthorpe earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Central Florida and has extensive experience in the non-profit sector including positions with the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast, CareerSource Brevard and Wuesthoff Health System Foundation. In the role of Community Engagement & Grants Manager, Gunthorpe oversees management of the Foundation’s grants and sustainable fundraising efforts.
Tracy Steele has assumed the role of Marketing & Special Events Manager. Steele has more than three decades of experience in public relations, communications and fundraising with non-profit organizations with a special focus in education having held positons at Melbourne Central Catholic High School, Brevard Zoo and Health First. She is also a graduate of the University of Central Florida. Steele manages the Foundation’s marketing and communication efforts and directs its major special events.
The Foundation’s Take Stock in Children (TSIC) program has added Camille Guerrero as its Mentor Coordinator. Guerrero earned an MBA from Stayer University, Douglasville, GA. She served in the US Navy and worked as an adjunct instructor at Sanford Brown College, Orlando, FL. She volunteered with the Take Stock in Children program prior joining its staff. In her role as Mentor Coordinator, Guerrero oversees the recruitment, training and management of the volunteers who are essential to the TSIC program.
Gemma Blomquist has also joined the TSIC team as its Database Specialist. Blomquist has experience in county government, manufacturing and corporate environments. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from St. Norbert College, De Pere, WI. Blomquist is responsible for maintaining accurate records for the TSIC program.
Teren Fitch, a current student at Eastern Florida State College, has been hired as the Assistant Store Manager for the BSF School Supply Zone for Teachers which provides free school supplies for teachers in high poverty schools for use in their classrooms.
“With the vision of our board and talent of our team, we are perfectly poised to strengthen and better support the programs which benefit our 83 schools, 74,000 students and 5,000 teachers,” said Kershaw. “Our goals of supporting innovation, engaging communities and changing lives continue to be at the forefront of all we do.”