Tampa Bay |2013

Amy is a young professional with a passion for public service. After graduating with an MA in Rhetoric, Composition, and Professional Communication from the University of South Florida in 2017, she joined the team at Florida College Access Network (FCAN), a statewide nonprofit committed to helping all Floridians achieve the education they need to succeed in Florida’s economy. At FCAN, Amy lead statewide campaigns focused on college and career readiness and assisted and developing the network’s federal and statewide advocacy strategies.

Outside of her professional work, Amy became involved in Hillsborough County politics in the summer of 2016. After interning on the coordinated campaign for Hillary Clinton, she became a captain for her local precinct. She also serves as the current Political Action Chair for the Hillsborough County LGBTA Democratic Caucus. In this role, she handles candidate outreach and oversees the vetting and endorsement process for the caucus.

During the midterm elections, Amy joined Adam Hattersley’s campaign for state house 59 as his lead field organizer, and helped lead a campaign to ultimately flip a long-held Republican seat. Now, Amy works on Hattersley’s staff as his legislative assistant. She is excited for the opportunity to work on advancing progressive policies in the state’s capitol.

Angela Viviana Martinez is a first-generation Colombian, born in Manchester, New Hampshire. She moved to Wesley Chapel, Florida when she was 12 years old and has gladly resided in the warmth ever since. Viviana graduated from the University of Florida with her bachelor’s degree in French and Francophone studies and minored in Botany. While in school she studied abroad in Paris for a month, strengthening her passion for the language and culture. As she studied French, she also volunteered for the Plant Molecular Systematics Laboratory at the Florida Museum of Natural History where she extracted plant DNA and analyzed stomatal lengths and ploidy levels. Through both seemingly separate interests, Viviana realized the importance of both the natural world and the institutions within it that are implemented to help protect the environment and enhance communities. During her last semester in college she decided to apply for a local government internship through the University of Florida’s Bob Graham Center. After being chosen, she found that there were internships available within Pasco County’s Planning and Development Department, near her hometown. Just over two years later she currently holds a position as a Planner I in Pasco County’s Long Range Planning Division. As a planner, Viviana has had the amazing opportunity of seeing development in the area she grew up in through a more policy-driven perspective. In her role, she is learning the essentials of planning a healthy and well-balanced community that allows citizens to live, work, and play without traveling long distances. She hopes to continue gaining knowledge about the importance of local government in its role to create more livable and happier neighborhoods, especially for the groups of people who are most underserved. Aside from this, Viviana enjoys running, reading, grilled cheese sandwiches, and spending time with friends and family.

Brandon Carey is an innovative leader and budding entrepreneur with an affinity for using humor to connect with people. He recently started a position as a Senior Supply Chain Subcontract Manager Program with Raytheon. Brandon has worked in the Defense & Aerospace industry for 13+ years beginning with his time as an Active Duty Enlisted member of the United States Air Force. During his time in the Air Force, Brandon served as an Honor Guard member where he led funeral details for military veterans. Providing the deceased Veteran’s next of kin, the sense of closure and appreciation of a grateful nation is one of his favorite, if most somber, memories from his service.

Brandon served approximately 11 years, before leaving the service and beginning his next chapter. In 2016, he enrolled in the MBA program at Northeastern University while also establishing a LLC for his business ventures. Brandon finished his MBA with a dual concentration in High Tech Management and Innovative Entrepreneurship in 2018 while also establishing/growing his entrepreneurial endeavors. Brandon has created businesses in E-Commerce, Writing, and Business Consulting.

Brandon’s business consulting is one of his newest endeavors but also the one he is most passionate about. He believes that many entrepreneurs are experts in their field but may lack the necessary business skills to help their business grow as well as it can. He loves working with these experts to teach them how to take their business to the next level and improve the local entrepreneur scene. Brandon believes that a healthy entrepreneurial community is imperative to the growth of Tampa Bay’s business economy. He hopes to do his part to help Tampa Bay become the next hotbed for business innovation and revolutionary companies.
Additionally, Brandon has spoken to at risk youth to share his story and show them there is a way to succeed no matter how your story begins. He also empowered children during his 2 years as a Children’s Brazilian Jujitsu Coach at Gracie Tampa South.  He loves public speaking and making everyone laugh while also teaching something that can help show them their own individual power. Brandon has a personal passion for teaching people about personal finance and how mastering your money can change your ability to find your calling in life. He has given interviews with debt.com, writes a personal finance blog, and has contributed to various websites around the web.

Born and raised in Tampa, FL, Brittney is the oldest of three children raised by a single mother. Growing up in East Tampa she has always had a passion for helping others and serving her community from a young age.

Brittney’s dedication to strengthen, and uplift the women in her community lead her to become the founder of a nonprofit organization, Golden Hearts & Souls Inc. She proudly serves as the CEO promoting sisterhood, philanthropy, and providing supportive services to help empower women of all walks of life.
 

Brittney is also a certified housing counselor educating and assisting low income families on financial independence/literacy. She is credited for revitalizing her company’s Homeownership program helping transition countless families on to achieving self-sufficiency and even homeownership. Brittney’s approach to coordinating this program has led to success rates not seen before in the programs history. She received the prestigious Directors Award in 2016 for the amazing work that she does to help families not only at work, but as well as outside of her job.
 

Being the dedicated community servant that she is, Brittney stays active by being involved in different organizations and community programs. She has completed Mayor Bob Buckhorn’s Mayors Neighborhood University and USF FIOG Community Real Estate Development Program. She also serves as the Chair Woman of Habitat for Humanity Hillsborough’s homeowner services committee.
 

Brittney is big a supporter and advocate for equality amongst women and minorities and will continue being a leader in her community and invoke change in her community though her work. During her down time, she enjoys reading, traveling, yoga, music, flowers, sewing, concerts, and of course sunshine.

Charles learned the importance of public service while living in Bayamón, Puerto Rico early in his life through his exposure to his family's extensive military service. After graduating from the American Military Academy in Guaynabo City, Puerto Rico, he attended the University of Tampa where he earned his degree in Government and World Affairs. Shortly after graduation in 2016, Charles interned at the Tampa office of U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, where his desire to serve the public was cemented. In the wake of the devastation in Puerto Rico caused by both Hurricanes Irma and Maria, Charles took immediate action by coordinating donation rallies at the University of Tampa and University of South Florida called Tampa United with Puerto Rico (TU Puerto Rico). He is currently a graduate student at University of South Florida, studying for his Master's Degree in Public Administration. Charles currently serves in U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor's Tampa office as Press & Outreach Assistant where he helps coordinate official events and communication items. He also serves as the staff liaison for her Puerto Rico Recovery and Assistance Task Force, which focuses on helping Puerto Rico recover and assisting families that relocated from the island to the Tampa Bay area after Hurricane Maria.

Gretchell Trochez-Triguero was born and raised in Miami as a first generation Honduran-American. In 2011, she ventured to Gainesville to attend the University of Florida. While in Gainesville, her passion came to light when she interned for a local State House race. She furthered her young professional experience as an intern for Equality Florida’s Public Policy team, where she helped lobby State Legislators to pass the Statewide Domestic Partnership Bill and the Competitive Workforce Act. Other accomplishments include working with Representative Clovis Watson on the Restoration of Rights Bill in 2013.

In 2014, she joined the Charlie Crist for Governor Finance Team as a Finance Assistant. She joined Ruth’s List in October 2015 and currently serves as Finance Director. Ruth’s List has had 118 victories since 2008, including the election of 57 women on November 2018. Over the span of her tenure at Ruth’s List, Gretchell has assisted in launching over 20 races, finance programs, and helped raise over $2 million towards the organization and candidates. When she isn’t helping women run for office, she searches for the perfect grilled cheese sandwich. She lives in St. Petersburg with her partner Ed and their dog Stark.

Kéto Nord Hodges is an educator, community activist, radio personality, and campaign advisor for progressive candidates based in Tampa, Florida. He emigrated to the United States from Northern Haiti for life-saving burn treatment at age 5, and made a new life in Little Rock, Arkansas and later, Florida.

Kéto’s education includes earning a B.S./Management Information Systems (Magna Cum Laude, 2002) and MBA/Entrepreneurship, MIS & Advanced Management (2005) at University of South Florida while achieving designation as a Kauffman Entrepreneurial Fellow with the prestigious Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

Community organizations include Hillsborough County NAACP (Communications Committee); Rotary Club of Ybor City (Photography Chair; Oratorical Contest Committee); and Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honor Society. Kéto also serves on nonprofit boards for a children’s foster care home and a homeless veterans housing non-profit, both of which are causes close to his heart.

Kéto’s professional background includes roles in Information Technology as a technical writer, business analyst, and software trainer for companies like Apple, Inc. and non-profit manager for a Tampa Bay tech nonprofit through which he created IT service learning programs in which underserved youth created technology products for Tampa Bay nonprofits in exchange for technology incentives. Kéto also has conducted operational business planning for non-profits and for-profits in several industries. Kéto transitioned from technology to education and is now a Special Education (VE) Instructor teaching Mathematics at an alternative school and a TABE Test Administrator for Adult Education at a local high school. He is also an Adjunct Professor at Hillsborough Community College-Ybor City where he has taught Algebra in the Mathematics department and Business Communications in the Office Systems Technology department.

Kéto's current entrepreneurial venture is Keto the Photo Guy, LLC, a Tampa, Florida-based small business focusing on event and political photography. Kéto is passionate about sharing his loves of education, photography & technology. He can be heard advocating for local and national social issues of racial equality and inclusion, environmental justice, disaster preparedness, education of youth, immigration, and more on "The Sunday Forum with Walter L. Smith, II" on 88.5 WMNF from 11:00am-1:00pm.

Kéto is a proud father and when he’s not volunteering for community organizations such as Metropolitan Ministries, Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay, etc., serving as Technology Director of his church, or involved in political grassroots campaigning spends time relaxing with his significant other and their family.

Kiana Romeo is a resourceful, innovative business professional with over 12 years strategic planning, project management and quality assurance experience within both the public and private sectors. Flexible and forward thinking, she has demonstrated the ability to motivate diverse teams no matter how complex the task at hand.
 

She joined the City of Tampa as Quality Control Manager where she worked five years leading and consulting on a variety of projects focused on enhancing process assessment, training and responsible fiscal stewardship.  A true turnaround champion, she holds the honor of being the 1st woman in department history to manage operations logistics. Over the course of her career she has led multiple business transformation initiatives and service optimizations utilizing proven skills in management, negotiation, and personnel development. She also represents the City of Tampa as her department change agent ensuring business continuity and creating strategic partnerships.   Ethical, accountable, and accessible in her business endeavors Kiana is a catalyst for positive change and growth.

No stranger to community activism, Kiana has served in multiple leadership roles for local non-profit advisory boards including the YMCA, Miracles Outreach and Serenity Outreach.  Her passion includes mentoring young women and providing exposure to underserved/underrepresented youth to gain access to economic and educational opportunities. She’s fascinated with working diligently for her community to create an alternate narrative for people from all backgrounds.
 

Originally from Fort Lauderdale, FL, Kiana graduated from Stranahan High School.  She later moved to Tampa to attend the University of South Florida where she double majored in Interpersonal & Organizational Communication and Public Relations.  She gallantly displayed fortitude while balancing motherhood and a high-level management role while earning her Master’s of Business Administration from St. Leo University.  She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
 

In her spare time, Kiana enjoys spending time with her husband and children, attending concerts, and planning her next travel adventure.    

Maria Jose Chapa is a first generation Mexican immigrant who is a labor and grassroots community organizer. With six years experience in her role, Maria Jose has spoken on issues pertaining to labor, race, gender, and immigration on varying speaking platforms including NPR radio, WMNF 88.5, panel discussions, press conferences, and as a keynote speaker. She has lead her passion in resistance as a participant of the Women's March D.C. and consulted the local Tampa Bay leadership. She has years of logistics planning for street protests, marches, events, and press conferences. Maria Jose has worked on electoral campaigns as field organizer for the 2012 presidential reelection of Barack Obama as well as this year's 2018 electoral cycle for Florida Felony Voting Rights Restoration, Andrew Gillum for Governor, and Bill Nelson for State Senate through the Win Justice PAC. Maria Jose is affiliated with Community Tampa Bay, Dream Defenders Tampa Bay, Hillsborough Community Protection Coalition, Saint Petersburg Community Protection Coalition, and a member of the Hillsborough Democratic Progressive Caucus as well as Hillsborough Democratic Party.  

She has two amazing teenage daughters, a scrappy dog, and an aloof Manx cat. When she's not fighting the good fight for working families she plans and hikes sections of the Appalachian Trail, cooks meals with different organizations that feed the houseless community, and enjoys the company of friends and family.

Masatoshi (正敏) Mochizuki is passionate about creating inclusive communities and promoting education driven by value for self-actualization and social justice.  He is currently Program and Development Coordinator at Community Tampa Bay, a nonprofit committed to ending discrimination, having been a program participant and volunteer since 2001.  His job: get people excited about and invested in inclusion.

Masa has a variety of interests with the bulk of his experience in facilitating cross-cultural interaction, dialogue, and self-reflection on identity and emotions.  He has worked in elementary, middle, and high school settings facilitating community building among young people and adults. He has also organized with the Student Farmworker Alliance and supported marches led by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers.

He is currently seeking partners and participants for a local oral history project to record and share the diverse experiences of people in the Tampa Bay area, with the goal of expanding our knowledge and empathy through the experiences of others.  His interest in this stems from his own development and growth through meaningful connections and conversations over the years as well as observing the transformative experiences that people have when given the opportunity to reflect on and share their stories and experiences.

Miguel Davila, a native of Trenton, N.J, resided there his entire life, until enlisting in the United States Air Force.  Miguel served 10 years in the United States Air Force, as an aircraft mechanic. During this time, he earned numerous Air Force Achievement Medals, and also the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, for his efforts during Operation Enduring Freedom. While on active duty Miguel was able to obtain his Bachelor's of Science in Accounting. He also volunteered his free time to organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, and the Eastern North Carolina Red Cross. Taking care of the younger Airmen was always a priority for Miguel while serving. So, one weekend a month he led a team of Sergeants, to complete Airmen Against Drunk Driving. This was a program that offered free rides home, to Airmen that had been out drinking, this was designed to cut down on drinking and driving.
 

When his enlistment finished in 2014, Miguel moved to Tampa, to begin a new career. He obtained his General Securities Representative License (GSR), which gave him ability to trade stocks, and his Life and Health Insurance License. He then began working for Edward Jones Investments, as a Financial Advisor. As a Financial Advisor Miguel helped many families plan for important life events such as, saving up for a home, starting a college fund for their children, being properly insured incase of an untimely death and saving for retirement. Miguel has also worked for Merrill Lynch as an Assistant Vice President of Financial Solutions. In this role Miguel was responsible for being the subject matter expert in investment, banking and lending products to bridge banking and brokerage solutions.
 

Looking for new challenges Miguel decided to pursue a career as a licensed realtor.  He enjoys the education part of the home buying process, since this is the biggest purchase that most people will make in their lives. Miguel has taught numerous seminars on the home buying process, with many of them focusing on educating lower income families, on down payment assistance programs.  Financial literacy for the youth, is Miguel’s biggest passion. He is currently working on ways to educate kids on basic financial concepts, such as credit, what are stocks, and how to invest with little money at a young age.

Nicholas Fox is Corporate Counsel for Jabil Inc., one of the largest contract manufacturers in the world and largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. He developed his progressive roots while studying Political Science and Public Policy at Northeastern University in Boston. During his time there he worked for the AFL-CIO, advocating for living wages for working families, European Parliament, representing the interests of Malta, and Americans for Democratic Action, the oldest progressive lobbying group founded by Eleanor Roosevelt. In his spare time he was the Treasurer and Vice President of NUStage Theater Group where he helped manage and grow an entirely student run musical theater group.

After graduating magna cum laude from Northeastern, Nicholas attended University of Michigan Law School where he became the President of the Entertainment Media and Art Law Society, Associate Editor of the Michigan Telecommunications and Technology Law Review, Executive of the Phi Delta Phi Law Society and Chair of the Nannes Challenge Fundraising Committee. Following his graduation from law school, Nicholas practiced corporate transactional law as an associate at Morgan Lewis & Bockius in New York specializing in mergers and acquisitions and later at Jones Day focusing on corporate finance.

After getting married, Nicholas decided to escape the fast paced life of a corporate attorney in New York and enjoys the increased freedom and opportunity that comes with being in-house counsel. Since moving to St. Petersburg, Nicholas has been searching for ways to become more involved in his community and has joined his neighborhood association and was elected Precinct Chairperson for the Pinellas County Democratic Executive Committee. In his free time, Nicholas enjoys running, playing with his pup Chewbacca, using his sous vide to cook everything, pretending he still knows how to golf, and completing tasks on his endless honey-do list from his wife.

Pascale D. Edouard, MPH is a passionate, people oriented public health enthusiast with an interest in advancing public health practice and addressing health inequalities and inequities. Pascale earned her Master of Public of Health degree from Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University’s Institute of Public Health in 2012, where she found her passion for public health. She is a third year doctoral student pursuing a Doctor of Public Health degree at the University of South Florida’s College of Public Health. Pascale is currently employed with the Florida Department of Health (FL-DOH) in Manatee County, where she serves at the Wellness Champion and Health Equity Coordinator. She has been employed with the FL-DOH for approximately five years  and previously served at the Community Health Coordinator at the FL-DOH in Sarasota County. Pascale is currently a Governing Councilor with the American Public Health Association’s Public Health Education and Health Promotion Section, she is a board member of Manatee Bridging the Gap Inc. where she serves as secretary, and also serves on the board of Gulfcoast South Area Health Education Centers (AHEC).

Pascale has extensive  experience in community organizing for the improved health of populations in under-served communities. She has worked with disenfranchised communities in Tallahassee, Florida and Sarasota, Florida to improve their food environments. Pascale has also presented at national conferences such the National Environmental Health Association’s Annual Educational Conference and Exhibition. In her various roles Ms. Edouard has served as the lead facilitator and coordinator for coalitions and task forces addressing improved health outcomes in various communities. Her experiences have cultivated her expertise to collaboratively work with and engage community members, stakeholders, and organizations in initiatives addressing obesity and associated health complications in food deserts and various sectors such as childcare and workplace settings. Pascale also plays an active role in her church serving as the coordinator for their health ministry.

To bring light to underlying issues associated with health inequality and inequities and to encourage collaborative engagement among health care and public health professionals, Pascale launched People of Color (P.O.C.) Health Matters in August of 2017. The mission of POC Health Matters is to promote, support,  and collaborate with individuals and organizations working to eliminate health inequalities and inequities among communities of color.

Rebecca Fiore is an active community advocate; actively involved with local charities such as Meals on Wheels, MHR Food Pantry, her children’s school PTSA, and other issues-based outreach groups. Working with these organizations has given her a strong desire to engage in the issues of poverty, inequity, LGBTA rights, education, environment, and healthcare.

Rebecca’s passion for working with the community lead her to get involved politically.  She is currently a Board Member and Membership Chair for the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Tampa Bay and an elected Precinct Captain for the Hillsborough County Democrats. In her role with the Caucus, she works with the steering committee to help organize events, plan meetings, and engage members to help build and maintain the caucus infrastructure.  As a Precinct Captain, she is committed to her community while focusing on empowering diverse and underrepresented voters, to help build a stronger relationship between every member of her precinct and the local Democrat party. Politics has allowed her to have a direct impact on the community and she loves being a part of such a dynamic team of individuals.  

Professionally, she is the Operations Program Manager for a Cyber Security Firm in Downtown Tampa. She leads business process, software development, and project implementation efforts by applying her analytical and communication skills to deliver continuous improvement and operational excellence across the organization.  She is a facilitator, coach, change agent, and thought leader - using a full degree of creativity (and a lot of posts it notes) to help identify, solve and prevent problems while reducing wastes and increasing efficiency.

In her spare time, Rebecca enjoys listening to audio books and going to musicals.  Using the Libby App to find audio books from the library, she averages over 50 books a year and is always looking for new recommendations.  She also coordinates group events to shows at local venues, tapping into discounted rates and making the arts more affordable for many. Her musicals Facebook group has over 500 members, and together they have purchased over 1,600 tickets to 50 different shows.  She’s known fondly to many as their “ticket-dealer.”

Rebecca was born and raised in Tampa with deep community roots in the Bay area.  She contributes much of her success, professionally and personally, to a fantastic network of supportive friends and family.  Rebecca currently resides in East Tampa with her two teenagers, Heather and Austin, and their spoiled bulldog Diesel.

Whitney Fox is a Florida native born and raised in the Tampa Bay area. After graduating from the University of Central Florida with a BA in Advertising and Public Relations, she followed her passion for travel as a Senior Sales and Marketing Manager onboard cruise ships. After cruising the Caribbean and Alaska, backpacking through Europe and even living in France for a year, she accepted a position with a fine jewelry company in New York City as their Director of Business Development. Her travel and experience of living in NYC have molded her core values and worldview.  She was privileged enough to meet, work and befriend people from different backgrounds, race, education and sexuality that inspired her to take more interest in the news and politics. After getting married, Whitney convinced her husband to move back to the Tampa Bay area to be closer to family and get involved in the community.

Whitney took this opportunity to transition in her career and pursue an old passion of travel and new passion of public service. She landed the position of Marketing Manager for the Pinellas County Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit St. Pete/Clearwater) convincing tourists to visit America’s best beaches. This is where Whitney began to learn about county government and just how economically important it is for tourists to spend money with hotels, restaurants and businesses in the Tampa Bay area.

Eager to make even more of an impact in her community and further her experience, Whitney recently accepted the role of Public Relations Manager with Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority. With populations in the Tampa Bay area on the rise, Whitney has become passionate in promoting public transportation in her community and educating residents on why good public transportation benefits everyone in the community, not just those riding the bus.

Her most recent project is promoting a “Car-Free Living” lifestyle in downtown St. Petersburg to encourage residents to walk, bike, or ride the bus more and use their car less to lower their personal expenses, lessen their carbon footprint and inspire healthier habits. When she’s not trying to convince people to take public transit, Whitney enjoys spending time with her husband and puppy strolling St. Petersburg, supporting local restaurants and businesses, running the Pinellas Trail or relaxing on Tampa Bay’s world-famous beaches.
 

Z'Kera Sims was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Howard University in Washington, DC. At Howard she participated in AmeriCorps’ Jumpstart program. As a Jumpstart volunteer she worked with at risk preschool aged children that attended Head Start. Through Jumpstart volunteers worked to improve the children’s language, literacy, and social skills. However, the students faced many challenges like hunger, neighborhood violence, and other problems in the home that greatly impacted how they learned. Z’Kera credits her time as a Jumpstart volunteer addressing these issues as the catalyst for her career Public Health that to date has largely centered on working to decrease health disparities experienced by people of color. She went on to earn her Master of Public Health degree from Jackson State University (JSU) in 2013. At JSU her studies focused on Behavioral Health Promotion and Education. Since graduating from JSU, Z'Kera completed a competitive internship with the Federal Government at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). At SAMHSA she assisted in the provision of discretionary grant funds to organizations that provide substance abuse treatment for women battling substance abuse and co-occurring mental health disorders.

In 2016, Z’Kera was awarded a Global Health Corps Fellowship. For over a year she lived and worked in rural Zambia on a World Bank funded project that sought to improve the livelihood and nutrition of more than 7,000 girls living in rural Zambia. Currently, Z’Kera serves as a Research Program Administrator at Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa, Florida. At Moffitt, she splits her time managing two National Cancer Institute funded projects related to cancer health disparities.