Meet Our Staff
More About Monica...
We value her commitment and passion to serve in this capacity as we smoothly transition during this time. Monica will continue to hold the role of CEO of leadership training firm Contagious Companies, Inc while also working closely and daily with the incredible team within United Way of Lake and Sumter, facilitating meeting the many needs within our communities.
More About Cathy...
A goal of Cathy’s is to consistently, and with the highest degree of compliance quality, grow this United Way to heights it’s never reached before, including the achievement of a new UWW Metro ranking and an excess of $4M in revenue, along with, of course, pristine, accurate, and compliant audits and 990 documentation.
More About Michelle...
Michelle’s professional career started at the age of seventeen. She was an early childcare preschool teacher. She worked her way up to assistant Director and then standing Director of an Early Learning Center. She then moved into the school system as the In-House Substitute teacher. In this position, she completed an internship in the placement department. She was hired as a placement specialist working with foster children.
As the Master Teacher of United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties, she works in the early childcare classrooms to provide hands on training for the teachers in their own classrooms. The teachers earn a 45 hours certificate upon completion of the twenty-day program. She feels blessed to work with providers in the Lake and Sumter County areas.
Her personal goal is to complete her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Educational Leadership at the University of North Florida. Her professional goal is to be the Director of the Master Teacher Program. She also wants to provide a quality early childcare training conference to educators free of charge once a year. It is her desire to see this program make a difference in the providers of these two-great counties. She would also love to partner with local early childhood agencies to increase awareness and knowledge of early childhood needs in our area.
Michelle has many interests. At the top of the list, is spending time with her boys and husband. She enjoys watching her middle son play baseball and look forward to the season starting up again. She also enjoys helping her son with his wood working business. Painting, drawing, decorating, reading, and jewelry making is a very soothing experience for Michelle.
More About Stephen...
With a BA in Political Science from the University of Central Florida (Go Knights!), Stephen is adept in advocacy for both our funded partners and community agencies with whom we affiliate. He is also quite skilled in showcasing new opportunities for greater positive impact in the community, including his efforts in leading and growing the Stronger Families Program.
More About Victoria...
More About Nishika...
Nishika is a native of Central Florida and resides here with her two children. She finds joy in helping individual and families within her community who are born with societal disadvantages and fighting an up-hill battle. She enjoys encouraging youth to strive towards goals and making them aware of their potential to achieve all dreams.
More About Danielle...
More About Tracey...
Tracey spent 24 years with the US Army rising to the rank of Lt. Col with successive assignments in various military assignments. He then was employed for the next 24 years in several positions in post-secondary education ranging from Campus Director, Vice President International operations, Vice President Brazilian operations, Regional Financial Director and Faculty member. Has also established and developed campuses in Orlando, Brazil, and India. He and his family currently reside in Howey in the Hills.
More About Daisy...
More About Andrew...
With a degree in Social Work, and aspirations to pursue his Master’s, he also shares a goal orientation and high level of detail orientation with each and everyone of his clients.
More About Lena...
Her professional experience has included fundraising, event planning, interconnect consulting and management consulting. She thrives in making community connections and establishing long lasting relationships that lead to helping those around us that need us the most. The most rewarding to her is connecting businesses to opportunities that inspire them to grow and flourish within the community. Lena has a deep passion for traveling, geocaching, painting/sketching, and most of all, her twin daughters who light up every room they are in!
More About Rebecca...
More About Keia...
She has worked with youth as a mentor, clients in need with funding options, and even helped clients assess the risks and outcomes of many of their decisions, using skills learned from when she was a data analyst. Keia tends to roam both counties in our service area, so you may spot her in Sumterville, Mount Dora, or even the South Lake area, as well as her home base of right here in Leesburg.
More About Evin...
Evin holds a BA in elementary education and a Masters in Communication Sciences and Disorder. She shares a passion for the education of children and how that is achieved and to what degree of quality. Her firm belief is that all kids need access to a quality education and deserve to receive individualized instruction.
More About Justin...
More About Thawanna...
I am a proud mom of two amazing sons and a beautiful granddaughter. I firmly believe that all children can learn. We must create environments they feel safe and accepted in. There is no greater feeling than watching the change in little learners. I believe that when teachers are supported with resources and knowledge they can make a difference. Pouring into our little learners will in turn produce productive well rounded confident citizens. I hold a Child Development Associates, Florida Daycare Directors Credentials and a Bachelors of Religious Arts in Biblical Studies. Also a member of Florida Association of Childcare Management.
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There is Nothing as Powerful as a Changed Mind”Thawanna Newton
We value diversity…
At United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties, diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the core of who we are. Our commitment to these values is unwavering – across all of our work in both of our two counties we have the pleasure of serving. They are central to our mission and vision, as well as our community impact. We know that having varied perspectives is able to help generate better ideas to solve the complex problems of a changing—and increasingly diverse—world.