DEBBIE BUTLER
PRESIDENT
Debbie is the former Senior Vice President of Human Capital with international global information provider, ComScore. With her extensive experience in business start-ups, operational management and employee development, Ms. Butler effectively built and managed large workforces including remote locations. Debbie has voluntarily served as President of GFNF since it’s restructure in 2008. Under her direction this all volunteer nonprofit organization has: 1) Raised just over $3 million of revenue and in-kind contributions for the benefit of maltreated children and underserved youth; 2) provided more than 7,000 children with holiday gifts; 3) hosted seven (7) child focused educational summits in partnership with IRSC; 4) built and furnished a home to serve as a soft landing for children coming into care due to maltreatment. In 2018, Ms. Butler and four (4) friends came together to create Impact 100 St. Lucie to provide transformational and lasting change in St. Lucie County by annually awarding $100,000 grants to a local nonprofit. Ms. Butler currently serves as President. www.impact100sl.com In addition to participating in a multitude of initiatives impacting children, she is the recipient of the prestigious Jefferson Award for outstanding volunteerism and dedication to public service.
Contact Information
1860 Fountainview Blvd
Suite 200
Port St. Lucie, FL 34986
Office: 772.807.3868
Fax: 772.807.3869
Cell: 772.359.2824
[email protected]
ERIC GARZA
VICE PRESIDENT
Mr. Garza is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, with a Master of Social Work degree from Florida Atlantic University. He is the COO of Tykes and Teens, where he started as a student intern in 2008. As a therapist, he has provided services to more than 800 children and their families. Eric is also involved with different community organizations. He is currently on the Advisory Board for the Psychology Program (PSY) at Keiser University, Port St. Lucie. He was part of the Mental Health Round table Discussion of Indian River School District, and also the St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce Executive Academy. Eric is currently serving as Vice President on the Board of Directors of Guardians For New Futures, Inc. (GFNF). Eric has a Certificate in Healthcare Leadership by Florida Atlantic University. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, and currently enrolled in the Executive Master’s of Health Administration Program at Florida Atlantic University.
Contact Information
Tykes and Teens
3577 SW Corporate
Parkway
Palm City, FL 34990
Office: 772.220.3439
Cell: 863.697.8218
RUTH STROMAK
SECRETARY
Ms. Stromak is the owner of Treasure Coast Moving and Storage. As a longtime resident and business owner in St. Lucie County she has participated in many projects serving the community and underserved populations. She remains an active advocate for maltreated children and underserved youth. Ruth is one of the six (6) women who started Impact 100 St. Lucie in 2018.
Contact Information
Treasure Coast Moving and Storage
4400 Metzger Road
Fort Pierce, FL 34947
Cell: 772.708.9044
[email protected]
LINDA CHASTAIN
DIRECTOR
Linda Sample Chastain is a native of Saint Lucie County, Florida. She earned an A.A. degree from Indian River Community College and completed a B.S. degree in merchandising from the University of Central Oklahoma. Ms. Chastain is a graduate of the Indian River County Civic Leadership Program and a past active member of the Junior League of Indian River. Since 2000 she has been a supporter of CASTLE and worked with the Junior League and CASTLE to establish Valued Visits, a supervised visitation program for families in the Treasure Coast area. In 2009, Ms. Chastain served on a committee to establish Grace Way Village, a community outreach center founded by Indian River Presbyterian Church. From 2010 – 2017 she volunteered as the Director of Hope’s Closet 4 Children, a Grace Way Village community project that distributes clothing to referred families disadvantaged by homelessness and poverty. She has been recognized by several organizations for her dedication to volunteering most recently earning the Women in Human Rights award from Church Women United, Inc. of the United Nations.
A lifelong advocate of voluntarism, Ms. Chastain’s passion for children’s issues is founded in gratitude for her own childhood which was free of the poverty and domestic violence that many children experience today.
Contact Information
[email protected]
Cell:772.563.7804
AMPARO GOMEZ
DIRECTOR
Amparo Gomez is a long-time resident of Saint Lucie County, where she enjoys her work as a volunteer with different child-centered organizations. She has a background in International Business, Finance, and Accounting and has worked for international and multi-global companies in Florida for over 30 years. She joined Guardians for New Futures 2015 and dedicates her time to help fund the needs of neglected and abused children in the Treasure Coast area. She is also a Guardian ad Litem volunteer advocating for abused and neglected children under Florida State supervision. Amparo is an active volunteer for Save the Children network, advocating to Congress for laws and budgets to protect children in the United States and around the world. There is nothing that motivates her more than helping children find their purpose while leading a happy and healthy life.
Contact Information
[email protected]
Cell: 561.445.4508
DORIS PLYM
DIRECTOR
Doris Plym is a strong advocate for abused and neglected children. Doris has worked for more than 20 years as a volunteer Guardian ad Litem representing the best interest of children going through Dependency in the 19th Judicial Circuit. Doris works with community partners and mentors new Guardians (GALs). Doris is on the Board of Directors of Guardians for New Futures (GFNF) and has been instrumental in providing support for Sanctuary 4 Kids, The Treasure Coast Child summit and the Holiday Gift Drive.
Contact Information
[email protected]
Cell: 772.584.1428
DR. BRANDI RIALS
DIRECTOR
Dr. Brandi Rials is a Florida Licensed Psychologist and co-owner at Palm Beach Behavioral Health and Wellness. She serves as the national Clinical Director for PBBHW’s psychology training programs and has been a faculty member teaching graduate level courses in the areas of lifespan development and expressive arts therapies with children. Dr. Rials specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of children and adolescents with ADHD, social interaction problems, disordered eating patterns, and academic concerns. She offers therapeutic services for individuals, groups and families and conducts developmental, diagnostic and psycho-educational evaluations. Additionally, she provides consultation services, trainings, and APA continuing education presentations for providers in the community. Dr. Rials subscribes to a holistic approach to treatment, incorporating social, emotional, academic, nutritional and physical activity components to her recommendations and interventions. Her experiences working with children in competitive school environments, elite athletics and social service settings fostered a fundamental understanding for the need to incorporate all levels of functioning to achieve optimal performance, health and wellness. Dr. Rials’ integrates complementary methodologies and techniques to offer a highly personalized alliance, tailored to each client. With compassion and understanding, she works with each individual to help build strengths and attain personal growth. Dr. Rials graduated from the University of Cincinnati receiving a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Psychology degree. From there she continued her education and training at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology in Chicago where she earned her Master’s degree and Doctor
Contact Information
Palm Beach Behavioral
Health &Wellness,
LLC345 Jupiter Lakes Blvd,
Ste 302Jupiter,
FL 33458
Office: 561.429.2397
[email protected]
ROWAN MCGARRY
DIRECTOR
Rowan is a teacher assistant for The Learning Academy at the Els Center of Excellence, a high school for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She began working in the field prior to completing her undergraduate degree working with children being removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect or abandonment. She worked for Tykes and Teens as a targeted case manager, serving children, birth to five years old, who had experienced at least one traumatic event in their life and as a result were having severe maladaptive behaviors, attachment disorders, and/ or other mental health challenges. Her background also includes working as a Behavior Technician and Behavioral Health Technician. She is a Founding Member of Impact 100 St. Lucie. Rowan is currently working toward her master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology at Florida State University.
Contact Information
[email protected]
Cell: 772.828.0327
LISA FLOYD
DIRECTOR
Lisa has been a resident of St. Lucie County for 43 years after being raised in Ohio and living in Arizona. She has an Associate Degree in Administration of Justice and a Bachelor’s Degree in Professional Studies. While raising a family, she was a retail business owner in St. Lucie County for 25 years. Throughout these retail years, many fundraisers for local schools, The Boys & Girls Club & The Humane Society were held at the store. An opportunity to go on two medical/dental mission trips to Honduras impacted her outlook on poverty and education regarding children. After retiring, Lisa looked at volunteer in SLC and became a founding member of Impact 100 St. Lucie. She joined the board of GFNF in 2018.
Contact Information
Cell: 772.528.2678
[email protected]
DOROTHY MALIK
DIRECTOR
Board Member Dorothy Malik is the former Assistant Chief Probation Officer for The Department of Juvenile Justice (Circuit 19) which encompasses Saint Lucie, Martin, Indian River, and Okeechobee Counties. Her work with youth began over 40 years ago when she began working as a teacher’s aide with the St. Lucie County School System. Dorothy’s work with the Department of Juvenile Justice (Then the Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services) began in 1986 as Community Youth Leader Supervisor and advanced to the position of Assistant Superintendent at Saint Lucie Regional Juvenile Detention Center. While working there she became certified as a facility training officer, certified in instructor techniques. Dorothy earned her AA Degree from Indian River Community College in Business Administration in 1992 and a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice in 2000. In 2002 Dorothy became an Operations Management Consultant (OMC) over training for the Juvenile Corrections complex in Arcadia, Florida and was responsible for the supervision of trainers who trained new hires and the retraining of employees in their respective fields which included juvenile corrections officers, facility superintendents, psychologists, medical doctors, nurses, dentists, and facility maintenance workers. In 2003 Dorothy became Certified Public Manager (CPM) and Supervisory Management certification from Florida State University. Dorothy has over 30 years of management experience; Dorothy is committed and passionate about the wellbeing of children and the community at large and demonstrates this by her good works beyond her job with the Department of Juvenile Justice as demonstrated by her involvement with (VCOYA) Village Coalition of Youth Activities in which she’s the chairperson. VCOYA was formed in 2013 as a program to bring agencies, organizations, the community, and individuals together who are committed to the education and wellbeing of children as a collaborative body. Dorothy’s personality in itself is a moral builder and motivates people to give and work beyond their paid employment which is in line with the “It Takes A Village To Raise A Child” concept. Dorothy started the Back To School Bash for The Department of Juvenile Justice for Saint Lucie, Martin, Indian River, and Okeechobee Counties in 2012 and during the 7 years of the Back To School Bash she and her team have supplied thousands of youth with essential school supplies, hygiene products, clothing etc.
Contact Information
Cell:772.971.2556
[email protected]
KRISTINE ERICE
DIRECTOR
Kristine Erice is the co-owner, Chief Executive, and Director of the Exceptional Academy for Differently-Abled Learners. She is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the school and for providing strategic direction to the organization. In addition to running the school, she devotes much of her time advocating for and assisting other parents and caregivers of children with Autism and prides herself on helping to change the course of legislation for school choice for differently-abled students. Kristine grew up in Warwick, Rhode Island and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations and Marketing from Rhode Island College. Prior to opening the Exceptional Academy, Kristine worked as a residential property manager and coordinated an active household supporting her family and her husband while he served in the United States Army. She is the parent of a child on the Autism Spectrum with 13 years of experience in parenting, managing, coordinating and negotiating benefits and services for her children and family.
Contact Information
Exceptional Academy for Differently- Abled Learners
542 NW University
BlvdSuite 101
Port Saint Lucie, FL 34986
Office: 772.777.4830
[email protected]
