Local community and business leaders work together to advance our mission to ensure public schools are places all students can thrive.
John is Managing Director at Fifth Third Bank. Prior to joining Fifth Third, John worked as Managing Director for the North/Central Florida Region of Wells Fargo’s Wealth Management Group for 20 years, and spent 13 years at Citigroup. He has earned his Business Management Degree from State University of New York at Old Westbury and also obtained his Certified Financial Planner Designation through the Denver College of Financial Planning. John sits on the Board of the Heart of Florida’s United Way and is currently on the 2012 Campaign Cabinet. John lives in Windermere with his wife and two children. Recently, John has earned his First-Degree Black Belt in Tai-Kwon-Do and has completed both the Disney Marathon and Disney Half Marathon.
Donna Mirus Bates has been with Universal Parks & Resorts for more than 20 years in a variety of marketing positions. Donna is responsible for working with the local site CMOs and marketing leaders in Orlando, Hollywood, Japan and Beijing to ensure global connectivity and consistency across key business areas including Corporate Communications, Licensing Partnerships, Global Promotions, Corporate Marketing Partnership Development and Management, Comcast/ NBC Universal Symphony and Brand Assurance. Donna holds a B.S. in Advertising/Public Relations from the University of Central Florida and is also a graduate of the Crummer Management Program from Rollins College and Leadership Orlando. Donna serves on the Board of Visitors advisory board for UCF’s Nicholson School of Communication, and on the Board of Directors for the Orlando Repertory Theatre. Donna was the 2014 inductee into the Nicholson School of Communication Alumni Hall of Fame. Donna lives in Orlando, FL with her husband Matt and their 2 daughters.
Before selling in 2017, Kate was the EVP of Finance & Administration of Power Pro-Tech Services, Inc., (PPT) which she co-founded in 2002 with her husband. PPT was the leading provider of emergency power services in the Southeast, serving customers like Publix, AT&T, Sprint, Lowe’s Home Stores, CenturyLink, FedEx, Wal-Mart, Universal Studios, and many others. In 2007, the company won the Association for Corporate Growth Orlando Chapter’s SMART award for Successful Management of Assets, Revenue and Teams, and was featured as one of INC magazine’s 500 fastest growing companies. A graduate of Harvard College and the Harvard Graduate School of Business, Kate began her career working in investment banking with Lazard Frères in New York. Kate and Bob have two children and make their home in Orlando, FL.
Joel joined the Orlando Magic in October of 1995 and is leads media operations, strategic communications, media releases, publications and statistical material, while also coordinating media interviews with players, coaching staff members and front office personnel. Joel also oversees the team’s digital content team and official website, and the team’s broadcasting and community relations departments. Joel relocated to Orlando from the University of Florida, where he worked in the sports information department for over nine years. While at UF, Joel spearheaded media/public relations for basketball, while also assisting with football and the men’s spring sports program. A graduate of the University of Iowa and a native of Wilmette, Ill and outside of work, Joel has been involved with Teach-In and has served as a youth basketball and baseball coach while also a certified Little League umpire. Joel also serves on the advisory committee for the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation.
Marcia is the City of Orlando’s first Chief Service Officer, appointed by Mayor Buddy Dyer to lead Orlando’s Cities of Service effort by developing and implementing a citywide plan, Orlando Cares, to increase volunteerism and target volunteerism to address Orlando’s greatest challenges. Marcia serves as Orlando’s Director of the Office of Community Affairs and Human Relations. In this role, she is a member of Mayor Buddy Dyer’s senior staff and director of the city’s Human Relations efforts. She assists the Mayor, the Orlando City Council and city staff in developing and implementing the city’s community mission. Marcia joined the city staff as the city’s first Director of Neighborhood Services and served as Mayor Buddy Dyer’s Interim Press Secretary. Marcia is a wife and proud mother to her two daughters, Nia and Imani, who are alumni of Emory University and the University of Florida. Ms. Goodwin’s passions are her faith, her family and her community.
Dr. Grant Hayes is a professor and Dean of the College of Community Innovation and Education at the University of Central Florida. Dr. Hayes has spent the last 30 years as an innovative leader, teacher, professor, and administrator who is noted for empowering faculty and students to seek creative solutions to some of the most pressing educational issues. Dr. Hayes is a professor of counselor education and served in numerous leadership positions in higher education over the span of two decades. Dr. Hayes has published extensively, conducting research in a variety of areas including technological applications in counselor education, counseling children and adolescents, and character education/moral development in schools and youth settings. He is a fellow of the American Counseling Association (ACA) and is a past member of the board of directors of the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (AACTE), the board of examiners for National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the executive advisory board of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED), and the board of directors for the Association of Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling (ASERVIC), where he received the Meritorious Service Award. He is a past president of the Counseling Association for Humanistic Education and Development(C-AHEAD) and the recipient of the association’s Humanistic Processes Award.
Scott Justice is in-house counsel at the Walt Disney World Resort. After graduating magna cum laude from Stetson University College of Law, Scott began his legal career as a law clerk to the Hon. Elizabeth A. Kovachevich, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Following his tenure with the Court, he worked at the law firm of Maguire Voorhis & Wells, PA, a large Orlando-based law firm that merged with the national firm of Holland and Knight, LLP in 1998. Scott joined the Walt Disney World Legal Department in January 2002. He is responsible for managing a variety of litigation and regulatory matters for the company. Scott served as a Founding Committee Member for City Year Orlando, successfully launching the program with Orange County Public Schools in 2012.
Catherine is the Managing Partner and Founder of the law firm Losey PLLC. She represents clients across industry sectors, including health care, hospitality, staffing, technology, retail, banking, and financial services. Catherine has lectured on workplace issues for industry groups, bar associations, and judicial education programs. She has authored numerous pieces on workplace legal issue compliance and workplace litigation-avoidance techniques. Catherine graduated cum laude from the University of Florida College of Law where she served as Executive Symposium Editor of the Florida Law Review. During law school Catherine served as a law clerk to the Honorable Steven D. Merryday in the Middle District of Florida. Catherine graduated summa cum laude from the University of Florida with a B.A. in English. During her undergraduate studies she studied abroad at Cambridge University and received a certificate in Victorian literature. Catherine has a special interest in volunteering her time to assist women and children in need. She has served as a guardian ad litem and advocate for children who were suspected victims of parental abuse, neglect, or abandonment.
BIO COMING SOON
Nina Rawal is a graduate of the University of California, Davis School of Law. Nina later obtained a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Estate Planning from the University of Miami Graduate School of Law. She focuses her practice on estate planning, estate administration, and creditor protection matters. Nina assists clients with their pre-death estate planning and wealth preservation through the creation of wills, revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts, and the use of lifetime gifting. She helps clients further their charitable inclinations by creating charitable trusts and charitable foundations. In addition, Nina helps financial institutions and individuals navigate a wide range of fiduciary disputes, including trust, estate, and probate disputes.
Craig retired from Starbucks after more than two decades with the company, and in role of the Regional Director of Operations. He led the next phase of growth for Starbucks in the southeast region with a focus on operational excellence and the customer and partner experience. Craig has extensive experience in business development, store operations, and new market planning. Craig joined Starbucks in 1998 as a district manager in New Jersey. From 2000 - 2004, he served as regional manager of training and operations for the northeast licensed stores division. From 2004-2008, he was National Account Executive managing corporate relationships with key national companies, and then moved over to Director of Operations NJ/FL. Prior to joining Starbucks, Craig was a Regional Manager for a startup company and held various multi-unit positions with restaurant and retail sporting goods companies. Craig was raised in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and attended Carthage College. He is married and has a daughter.
Ralph Tejada is a Director of Commercial Banking with City National Bank of Florida. Before joining City National Bank of Florida, Ralph was a Business Area Manager with Chase Business Banking, managing a team of relationship managers who support our local branches and business clients in Central Florida. Our business focus is on small to mid-size businesses up to $20 million in overall revenue. Originally from New Jersey, Ralph moved to Jacksonville in 2015 to serve as the business area manager for the region. He later moved to Orlando and serves in the same capacity. Ralph has over 14 years of experience in the financial industry, starting his career in 2003 as a branch manager with WaMu. Outside of work, Ralph serves as a member on the advisory board for ACCION, a nonprofit micro-lender. He holds a Bachelor of Science in International Business Management from Berkeley College and an MBA-Finance from St. Peters University. Ralph is the proud father of two girls, Mia and Camila.
Dr. Maria Vazquez is deputy superintendent for Orange County Public Schools, where she oversees all academic, administrative, and operational functions related to teaching and learning for the A-rated school system. As deputy superintendent, she plays a critical role in developing practices that have boosted the graduation rate to an all-time high; narrows achievement gaps for students of color; increases the percentage of high-performing schools; expands access to Advanced Placement and dual-enrollment courses; and strengthens supports for teachers. Her tenure in Orange County also includes positions as chief academic officer; area superintendent; senior director for exceptional student education and multilingual services; executive area director of the West and Southwest Learning Communities; principal; assistant principal; and teacher. Vazquez has a doctorate and a master’s from UCF and a bachelor’s from USF. She is an alumna of the Future Chiefs leadership development program.
Mr. Sprouls is Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer for Universal Parks & Resorts, the division of NBC Universal responsible for all theme park, resort and development activities. He oversees Human Resources, Legal, Business Affairs, Risk Management, EHS, Corporate Communications and External Affairs for the Group. John is a member of the U.S. Commerce Department’s Tourism and Travel Advisory Board, U.S. Travel Association’s Board of Directors and the U.S. Travel Association CEO Roundtable. He is President of the Universal Orlando Foundation. He also serves on the Board of Trustees for the University of Central Florida, and a board member of the University of Central Florida Foundation. John holds both a BA (History) and a J.D. from Seton Hall University. He resides in Windermere, Florida with his wife and three children.
