Achieving Kindergarten Readiness through Collaboration
Meet the People & Partners who Help us Thrive
In order to ensure that all children in Tampa Bay are ready for kindergarten, we rely on a diverse group of partners, committees, and individuals. Together, we can best align efforts and resources to make sure the right help gets in front of the right people — as efficiently as possible.
Leadership Council
Comprising key players in the early childhood landscape, the Thrive by Five leadership council provides strategic guidance, direct access to a breadth of knowledge and resources, and unique opportunities to collaborate and align endeavors.
Rebecca Bacon
Executive Director
The Children’s Board
Croley Todd Baird
Early Childhood Specialist, ESE
Pinellas County Schools
Ric Banciella
Director, Bosses for Babies
The Children’s Movement of Florida
Dustin Becker
Director, Client & Community Relations
PNC Financial Services
Kathleen Beckman
Volunteer
Thrive by Five Tampa Bay
Alyssa Bedard
Community Member
Breathing through Life
JL Bielon
Chief Executive Officer
Champions for Children
Nicole Brown
Vice President, Commmunity Impact
United Way Suncoast
Dr. Sheron Brown
Director of Education & Youth Opportunities
City of St. Petersburg
Tracye Brown
Chief of Student Support and Federal Programs
Hillsborough County Public Schools
Christie Bruner
Vice President of Advocacy
St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce
Lindsay Carson
Chief Executive Officer
Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County
Dr. Jesse Coraggio
Senior Vice President
of Community Impact
Community Foundation Tampa Bay
Anna Corman
President & CEO
Hillsborough Education Foundation
Harry W. Fogle
Director, West Central Early Steps Program
Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital
Joan Freese
director of education
WEDU PBS
Brandy Gottlieb
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING
Champions for Children
Audrey Harrell
Volunteer
Thrive by Five Tampa Bay
Dr. Fred Hicks
Chief Executive Officer
Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County
Dr. Doug Holt
Hillsborough Director
Florida Department of Health – Hillsborough County
Walter Jennings
Director, Student Success Initiatives
Helios Education Foundation
DR. BILAN JOSEPH
STRATEGIC INITIATIVES MANAGER
Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg
Kim Jowell
Chief Executive Officer
Pinellas Education Foundation
Dr. Lisa Lopez
Professor & Program Coordinator
University of South Florida
Dr. James McHale
Director
University of South Florida – Family Study Center
Jennifer Mekler
Director of Early Childhood Education
Pinellas County Schools
Amanda Moore-Krummerich
Senior Public Health Services Manager
Florida Department of Health – Pinellas County
Marisa Mowat
Executive Director
Healthy Start Coalition-Hillsborough
Mary Jo Plews
Executive Director
Healthy Start Coalition of Pinellas, Inc.
Eliseo Santana
Environmental & Clean Energy Gulf Coast Regional Manager
Alianza Center
Tyheshia Scott
Director of Children’s Board Family Resource Centers
Lutheran Services Florida
Dr. Emily Shaffer-Hudkins
Director, Bay Area Early Steps
University of South Florida
JASon SOOS
Vice President, Commercial Banking
Synovus
Marlene Spalten
Chief Executive Officer
Community Foundation Tampa Bay
Jeni Torello
Executive Vice President, Operations
Amplify Clearwater
Work Groups
As part of the formula to achieve collective success in this critical work, Thrive by Five has established work groups dedicated to focusing on areas identified through comprehensive research and strategic planning. Work groups are led by passionate volunteers and staff including a range of community members, organizations and businesses.
Business Engagement
Supporting family-friendly workplaces and private sector champions of early education
Children & Family Success
Ensuring equitable access to quality programs while hearing and responding to the specific needs of families in Tampa Bay
Systems Alignment
Working together to streamline processes for families to access services
Communications
Increasing overall awareness of Thrive by Five resources and initiatives and expanding social media presence and engagement