Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Rafael “Ralph” Martinez and Christopher “C.J.” Maier to the Central Florida Expressway Authority Governing Board
Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Rafael “Ralph” Martinez and Christopher “C.J.” Maier to the Central Florida Expressway Authority Governing Board.
Rafael “Ralph” Martinez
Martinez, of Orlando, is a Managing Partner of McEwan, Martinez, Dukes & Hall, P.A. He has served on a number of boards and commissions including the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, Metropolitan YMCA for Central Florida and Orlando Regional Healthcare Foundation Board of Directors. Martinez earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and his juris doctor from Florida State University.
Christopher “C.J.” Maier
Maier, of Orlando, is Director of Fiber Development at NextEra Energy. He has been involved with the Florida Public Service Commission Nominating Council, Leadership Florida, Rollins College Crummer Graduate School Alumni Board of Directors, MetroPlan Orlando and Project Lead the Way. Maier earned his bachelor’s degree in international affairs from Florida State University and master of business administration from Rollins College. These appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate. ###
Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Ten to the Florida Rehabilitation Council for the Blind
Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Jorge Hernandez, Howard Bell, Nancy Bateh, Jennifer Coburn, Donte Mickens, Robert Kelly, Bruce Miles, Douglas Ingram, Bessie Outman and Patricia Lipovsky to the Florida Rehabilitation Council for the Blind.
Jorge Hernandez
Hernandez, of Miami, is Manager of Technology at the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind. He serves on the National Federation of the Blind’s Florida Board of Directors and as the Miami-Dade Chapter President. Hernandez earned his bachelor’s degree in information technology from Florida International University.
Howard Bell
Bell, of St. Petersburg, is a Senior Advocate Investigator with Disability Rights Florida. Previously, he was a Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor at the Florida Department of Education’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Bell earned his bachelor’s degree from Florida State University.
Nancy Bateh
Bateh, of Jacksonville, is a Senior Rehabilitation Counselor at the Florida Department of Education’s Division of Blind Services. Previously, she was a special education teacher with Duval County Public Schools. Bateh earned her bachelor’s degree in special education and her master’s degree in education from the University of North Florida.
Jennifer Coburn
Coburn, of Crawfordville, is a Program Specialist with the Florida Department of Education. Previously, she was an Exceptional Student Education teacher at Wakulla High School. Coburn earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in special education from Florida State University.
Donte Mickens
Mickens, of Delray Beach, is a financial consultant at the National Council on Compensation Insurance. Previously, he was an insurance analyst supervisor at the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. Mickens is a member of the United States Association of Blind Athletes and is board chair of Lighthouse for the Blind of the Palm Beaches. He holds bachelor’s degrees in finance and risk management and a master’s degree in risk management from Florida State University.
Robert Kelly
Kelly, of Daytona Beach, is the retired Chief Executive Officer of The Conklin Center for the Blind. He has volunteered his time with the Florida Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind, Agencies Serving the Blind, VisionServe Alliance and the Florida Lions Club. Kelly earned his bachelor’s degree in English literature and his master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling from the University of South Carolina.
Bruce Miles
Miles, of Marco Island, is a retired realtor and real estate broker. He has been involved with the National Association of Parents of the Visually Impaired, The Conklin Center for the Blind, Lighthouse for the Blind of Collier County and the Blind Services Foundation of Florida.
Douglas Ingram
Ingram, of Tallahassee, is self-employed in the area of property maintenance. Previously, he was a benefit calculation specialist with the Florida Division of Retirement and a financial examiner at the Florida Department of Banking and Finance. Ingram has been involved with the National Federation of the Blind, National Association of Blind Veterans, Blinded Veterans Association and the Tallahassee Council for the Blind. He earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of South Florida.
Bessie Outman
Outman, of Daytona Beach, is a registered nurse at ResCare. Previously, she was a registered nurse at the Emory L. Bennett State Veterans’ Nursing Home and also served on the LaSalle County, Illinois Board for the Developmentally Disabled. Outman earned her nursing degree from St. Luke’s School of Nursing and her bachelor’s degree from St. Francis University.
Patricia Lipovsky
Lipovsky, of Daytona Beach, is President of the Coalition and Concerns of the Totally Blind. She has been involved with the Florida Independent Living Council, Handicapped Adults of Volusia County and the Friends of Library Access supporting the Braille and Talking Book Library. Lipovsky earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Jacksonville University.
###
Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Tim Weisheyer to the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority
Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Tim Weisheyer to the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.
Tim Weisheyer
Weisheyer, of Orlando, is the Founder and Owner of Dream Builders Realty and dbrCommercial Real Estate. He served eight years on the Osceola County School Board and is the elected Secretary of the Florida Realtors. Weisheyer has served on the National Association of Realtors Board of Directors and as Chairman of the Osceola County YMCA. This appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate. ###
Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Thirteen to the Florida Rehabilitation Council
Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Michael Adamus, Alessia Ames, Lorine Bowen, Denny Clark, Tammy Davis, Andrew Houghton, Allison Klein, Lisa Mason, Jose Morales, Carrie Nice, Delaina Parrish, Sandra Rancano and J.B. Seiner to the Florida Rehabilitation Council.
Michael Adamus
Adamus, of Orlando, works in retail sales at IKEA. Previously, he was the Disability and Deaf Ministry Director at the Diocese of Erie and an Advocate for Voices for Independence. Adamus is a board member of the National Catholic Partnership on Disabilities where he serves as Ethics Chair. He earned his bachelor’s degree in speech communications and master’s degree in counselling from Edinboro University.
Alessia Ames
Ames, of South Daytona, is a Sales Consultant at Maycom Communications. Previously, she was a coordinator at the Embry Riddle Volunteer Network and a Student Assistant at the Embry Riddle Disability Center. Ames earned her bachelor’s degree in human factors psychology from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.
Lorine Bowen
Bowen, of Port Charlotte, is a consultant with the Florida Department of Education’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Previously, she was a counselor at SalusCare and a Behavioral Health Tech at The ARC of St. Johns. Bowen earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Central Florida and her master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling from the University of Kentucky.
Denny Clark
Clark, of Tallahassee, is a Human Resources Management Consultant at the Florida Department of Children and Families. Previously, he was Director of Training at the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice and Chief Executive Officer of the Thought Leadership Institute. Clark is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management and a mentor in YMCA Reads. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Florida State University.
Tammy Davis
Davis, of Dover, is a Managing Director at StevenDouglas. She has volunteered her time with Camelot Community Care, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay and the United Way of the Suncoast. Davis attended Hillsborough College and the University of South Florida.
Andrew Houghton
Houghton, of Hollywood, is the President of Disability Inclusion Solutions. Previously, he served on the Florida Rehabilitation Council and Florida’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on Inclusive Community Living. Houghton has volunteered his time with the National Disability Institute and the Broward Center for Independent Living. He earned his associate’s degree from Broward College.
Allison Klein
Klein, of St. Johns, is a Senior Advocate and Investigator at Disability Rights of Florida. She has served on the Accessibility Advisory Council and the Job Opportunities Consortium. Klein earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of South Florida.
Lisa Mason
Mason, of Jupiter, is Senior Director of Employment Related Services and Adult Day Training at Gulfstream Goodwill Industries. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and her master’s degree in organizational behavior management from Florida State University.
Jose Morales
Morales, of Jacksonville, is the Americans with Disabilities Act Manager at CIL Jacksonville. Previously, he was a Program Specialist with the City of Jacksonville’s Disabled Services. Morales is the National Federation of the Blind’s Jacksonville Chapter Vice President. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of North Florida.
Carrie Nice
Nice, of Tallahassee, is an Alternative Education Liaison with the University of South Florida’s Project 10. Previously, she was a Regional Education Coordinator with the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice and completed a fellowship at the Center for Educational Excellence in Alternative Settings. Nice earned her bachelor’s degree from Francis Marion University.
Delaina Parrish
Parrish, of Titusville, is Co-Founder of Fearless Independence. She was the Vice President of Outreach for Disability Ambassadors and a member of Delta Alpha Pi at the University of Florida. Parrish earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Florida.
Sandra Rancano
Rancano, of Miami, is a Transition Manager at Parent to Parent of Miami. Previously, she was a Special Education Advocate at Advocating for Autism. Rancano serves on the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent’s District Advisory Panel for Exceptional Student Education. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Florida International University.
J.B. Seiner
Seiner, of Saint Augustine, is an account manager at Wheeler’s Medical Supply. He sustained a spinal cord injury in 2006 and has been a vocational rehabilitation volunteer and advocate since. Seiner earned his bachelor’s degree in business from the University of North Florida.
###
