Woolley has spent her career consulting in public relations, social media, email marketing, and community outreach strategies. She is also the author of Building Brand [You], which has been incorporated into the MBA program at Hodges University and is available for purchase on Amazon.com. Additionally, she has led training initiatives in social media and public relations training programs in local markets and on national platforms.
She is known for being “up to something” because of her community involvement, where she organizes the annual Farm City BBQ, a SWFL tradition that attracts nearly 3,000 business and agricultural leaders. She is also the founder of the League of Courageous Women, a team of courageous professionals inspired to create a stronger community. Woolley is a graduate of the 2009 class of Leadership Bonita and the 2012 class of Leadership Collier.
For her leadership and community involvement, Woolley was named among the 2012 40 Under 40 by Gulfshore Business Magazine; 2011 40 Under 40 for Gulf Coast Business Review; as well as 2018 Naples Chamber Chairman’s Award In 2018, she began her service on as a director on the Advisory Board for the Leadership Collier Foundation™.
Woolley has a beautiful young daughter. When she isn’t taking her to dance, they are exploring new cultures through cooking and travel.
Throughout her 30-year career, Stephanie Spell has distinguished herself as a leader and community advocate. As Chief of Community Engagement in the law enforcement industry, she has developed a platform of unique community relationships and interaction that has brought international recognition to the agency for her innovation, agency branding, trust building, and reputation management abilities.
With a passion for improving the community, Spell has provided strategic leadership and communications guidance for many non-profit organizations. She is currently serving as the Chair of the Leadership Collier Foundation, a board member on the League of Courageous Women and Youth Haven.
Perhaps most recognized for her calm, honest and witty messages to a community in crises during and after Hurricane Irma, Spell is an adjunct professor at Barry University and is an avid outdoorswoman who enjoys fly-fishing and sporting clays. Additionally, Spell is the co-author of “The People’s Commissioner Donna Fiala”, published by The Seymour Agency, 2017).
Vice President of Nonprofit Services, C2 Communications
With more than 20 years in the nonprofit industry, Kissinger brings his expertise in nonprofit leadership, governance, event planning and donor development.
Kissinger has fluent knowledge of the nonprofit community and is passionate about connecting nonprofit organizations with key stakeholders that elevate performance and outcomes. His knowledge and consulting services are the perfect complement to C2 Communications’ community outreach and engagement programs.
Previously, Kissinger was the executive director of The Immokalee Foundation, a mentoring and scholarship organization located in the rural town of Immokalee, Florida. Kissinger also served as the vice president and chief financial officer for the Children’s Advocacy Center, an organization providing the diagnosis of child abuse and neglect in the region. Kissinger has over 20 years of experience in governmental and nonprofit accounting, nonprofit leadership, and has a strong background in operations management and program development.
Kissinger is a graduate of the Leadership Bonita Class of 2010, Leadership Collier Class of 2005, and has extensive civic involvement serving as the treasurer of Farm City BBQ Inc. of Collier County and volunteering through Kiwanis. He is an active member of both the Naples Chamber of Commerce and the Bonita Springs Chamber of Commerce, sitting on both Leadership steering committees. A proud member of the Gator Nation, he has called Southwest Florida home since 1984 where he resides with his wife, Stephanie.
Scott Burgess joined David Lawrence Center as the Chief Executive Officer in January 2014. As CEO, he works closely with the David Lawrence Center Board of Directors and is responsible for the overall management of center operations and development. He provides administrative, clinical and financial direction to the Executive Management Team at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
Burgess comes to DLC after an illustrious 21-year career with Alexian Brothers Center for Mental Health – an arm of Alexian Brothers Health System a large multi-hospital healthcare network – in Arlington Heights, Illinois. He began working for the mental health center as an entry level vocational counselor where he progressed to Executive Director – a position he held for five years. During his tenure with the organization he also served as the Manager of Aftercare Services, Director of Program Services and Director of Research. As such, he is a proven clinician with experience working with children, adolescent and adult populations and is a highly recognized supervisor, manager and leader with deep knowledge of community mental health and integrated healthcare.
Burgess earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Illinois State University; his Master of Arts degree in counseling psychology from Concordia University; a certification in Clinical Research Trials from the University of Chicago; and in 2016 attended Harvard Business School’s Executive Education program. He is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC).
Passionate about effective policy for those struggling with mental illness, Burgess co-authored legislation that became law in Illinois to develop its first ever five year statewide mental health strategic plan (2013-2018). Recognized as a leader in mental health treatment, he was appointed as a member of the Governor’s Task Force to develop the state road map for improved care which was completed and ratified in early 2013.
Burgess currently serves as the Chair of Circuit 20 Regional Council for the Central Florida Behavioral Health Network, a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for the Florida Council for Behavioral Health, Co-chair of the Engagement Committee for Healthways Blue Zones Project and Board Member for the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce.
In addition to his professional interests, Burgess enjoys sending time with his wife and three children and volunteering as a youth coach and at church.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PATHWAYS EARLY EDUCATION CENTER OF IMMOKALEE
Nearly 20 years ago, Beth Hatch’s career began as an Exceptional Student Education Teacher for Collier County Public Schools, working in the migrant farming community of Immokalee and in East Naples. She has honed her skills in early childhood development, early learning center program development and expansion, as well as the non-profit leadership skills of strategic planning, budget and finance.
Prior to joining Pathways she was the Strategic Initiatives Coordinator for the Naples Children & Education Foundation, founders of the Naples Winter Wine Festival. From 2002 to 2012 Beth was also the Director of the Early Childhood Program at the Greater Naples YMCA.
She currently serves on several advisory councils & committees; including Florida Southwestern University advisory board, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute’s Community Council, Healthy Start’s Exposed Newborn committee, Southwest Florida Community Foundation’s Future Makers, and is the facilitator of the Developmental Screening Group and on the management team for Future Ready Collier.
Since 2011, Kissinger has been an environmental thought leader in the Southwest Florida region. Working closely with local municipalities, Ms. Kissinger helps foster relationships to advance Waste Management’s “ThinkGreen” message to encourage clean recycling efforts.
As an active leader in the community, Ms. Kissinger is the Immediate Past President of the Charlotte County Economic Development Partnership, serves on the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee and is on the executive board for the Collier County Farm City BBQ and Big Green Egg Fest. She is a proud Rotarian, serving a variety of leadership positions in her club and is a member of its Foundation Board of Trustees. She is a board member of Recycle Florida Today, serves on the Legislative Committee of the Florida Chapter of the National Waste & Recycling Association, and is active in many industry groups. She is a graduate of Leadership Florida, Leadership Charlotte, Leadership Collier, and Leadership Bonita.
In her previous role as Executive Vice President for the Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce, she developed extensive relationships within the community while facilitating the Leadership Bonita program. Kissinger’s resume also includes Lead Trainer for the State of Florida/Children’s Network of Southwest Florida prior to that.
Kissinger holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology from Montana State University but has married into the Gator Nation and spends much of college football season in Gainesville watching the University of Florida games.
Dr. John Meyer was named the fifth president of Hodges University in December 2017. In his more than 20 years of public and private education experience, Dr. Meyer has served as a professor, chair, dean, and an executive vice president of academic affairs. He joined Hodges University in early 2017 as the executive vice president of academic affairs. His business expertise includes managerial consulting, owning and operating private automotive ventures, and conducting corporate trainings.
Since taking the helm as president, he has led the efforts to make transferring to and from Hodges University a seamless process by restructuring course numbering to match the state system. As one of the authors of the Workforce Now series of research papers, his vision for the university will expand to include programs that would be professional workforce credentials that enable career laddering.
Dr. Meyer graduated with his DBA in management from Argosy University, an MBA from Hodges University and a B.S. in accounting from Hodges University.
Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Blue Zones Project Southwest Florida
With more than 15 years of experience in marketing and public relations, Sebastien joined Blue Zones Project Southwest Florida as the director for marketing and public relations. He is a resident of Southwest Florida for over 30 years, combining his experience in health care, digital and nonprofit marketing to follow his true passion of serving to improve the health and well-being of our community.
Sebastien was born and raised in a family environment promoting good nutrition, preventative health and overall wellness based on a Mediterranean lifestyle and diet, and is honored to have the opportunity to take his knowledge and experience to positively impact the health of his community and beyond.
Sebastien helped start and is a current board member of The Purple Jacket Foundation, a local 501(c)(3) that works to help raise awareness on the issue of domestic violence and build resources for The Shelter for Abused Women & Children.
