Meet Our Board
Heather M. Beaven
Heather M. Beaven, CEO, Secretary
Florida Endowment Foundation
While serving in the Navy during the Operation Desert Storm era Heather M. Beaven earned a Navy Achievement Medal for her work as a Cryptologist assigned to America’s War on Drugs. After leaving the Navy, she graduated from the University of Missouri (BA) and the University of North Florida (MPA). In 1997, at the age of twenty eight, she was appointed by Governor Bill Graves, Kansas, to oversee the Workforce Investment Act, Welfare to Work, School to Careers, Migrant Seasonal Farm Workers, Rapid Response, Labor Certification, Older Worker and Youth programs, North American Free Trade Act. Native American, Hispanic and African American programs, Unemployment Services and Veteran Employment and Training Services.
Senator Stephen R. Wise
Senator Stephen R. Wise
State of Florida
Senator Wise was elected to the Florida House of representatives in 1988 and served until the year 2000 when he left the House to run for the Florida Senate.
In the Senate, Senator Wise chairs the Committee on Education, Pre-K-12; and serves on the Budget, Community Affairs, Government Oversight and Accountability, Rules, and Regulated Industries committees among others.
Senator Wise is the Founding President of the Florida Council for Resource Development, served as the Vice President of Development at the Florida Community College at Jacksonville College, and sat on the Board of the National Council for Resource Development.
Senator William J. "Bill" Montford, III
Senator William J. Montford III
State of Florida
Bill began his career as a math teacher at Belle Vue Middle School in Tallahassee in 1969 and went on to serve as a school administrator for 26 years, including 18 years as a high school principal. Bill’s dedication and commitment to ensuring a strong educational foundation for students led to his decision to run for and win the position of Leon County Superintendent of Schools in 1996.
Bill’s exceptional leadership as superintendent is recognized throughout Leon County. Noting that education is fundamental to the economic growth of a community, the Mayor of Tallahassee proclaimed July 5, 2006 as Superintendent Bill Montford Day; and In June 2008, Bill received the highest honor bestowed on an educator when the Leon County School Board named a middle school in his honor.
Representative Will Weatherford
Representative Will Weatherford
State of Florida
Will was elected in 2006 to the Florida House of Representatives. He is slated to become Speaker of the House in 2012. Weatherford is the Chair of the Redistricting Committee, leading the effort to redraw Florida’s legislative and Congressional districts. He also serves on the powerful Rules & Calendar Committee.
Representative Weatherford has spearheaded many important legislative issues during the last five years with a particular focus on advancing school choice and improving education accountability.
In addition to his state service, Representative Weatherford is an active member of his community. He serves on organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Florida, Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, Commission on Open Government, Goodwill Industries, Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, Jobs for America’s Graduates, Pasco County Take Stock in Children Program, The Fund for American Studies, Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce, Workforce Housing Ventures, Inc, and Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce.
Senator Gary Siplin
Senator Gary Siplin
State of Florida
Gary Siplin graduated from Jones High School, Orlando, Florida in 1973 and then received his B.A. degree in Political Science from Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, North Carolina in 1976, M.A. in Public & International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1977, Juris Doctorate from Duquesne (Du-Kane) University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1981 and Honorary Doctorate from City College, Orlando, Florida in 2003.
Gary Siplin, work as a Law Clerk for the Honorable Edward B. Davis, US District Court, Southern District of Florida, Miami, Florida in 1981, Assistant County Attorney, Miami, Florida in 1982, Attorney for a private firm, Miami, Florida in 1989, Managing Partner, Miami and Orlando, Florida since 1992. He has a long resume of accomplishments, experiences, honors, and awards.
Senator Jeremy Ring
Senator Jeremy Ring
State of Florida
After graduating from Syracuse University in 1992, Mr. Ring moved to New York City, and at the young age of 24, joined a small group of forward thinking entrepreneurs who, together, opened the first east coast office for internet pioneer Yahoo.
Mr. Ring was a leader in growing the company’s finances to over $1 billion in just five years. His position allowed him to sit in Fortune 500 boardrooms all over the world, promoting not just a product, but the power of bold ideas and what the future could be and ultimately what it has become. In 2001, following his tenure at Yahoo, Senator Ring and his wife Sharon relocated to Florida where they quickly became involved in their community, as co-founders of SUPERB (Students United with Parents and Educators to Resolve Bullying). This program has been implemented throughout Broward County. Senator Ring also belongs to many social & political organizations throughout Florida.
Cindy M. Oliver, SPHR
Director, Human Resources
Terremark Worldwide, Inc.
As Director of Human Resources for Terremark Worldwide, Cindy Oliver is responsible for enhancing the Company’s affirmative action recruitment efforts, workforce planning, human resource development, total rewards, employee relations and risk management activities. In addition, Ms. Oliver ensures Terremark is compliant with state and federal employment laws and develops comprehensive reports regarding employment trends at Terremark that help identify challenges and opportunities for the Company.
Ms. Oliver’s passion is ensuring that our young people are prepared for the workforce. As such, she serves on the Florida Endowment Foundation Board, Academy of Information Technology Board and a number of other Executive and Advisory Boards primarily focused in the education arena and the employment of the disabled, military veterans and underserved populations.
Emily Santos
Emily Santos
IBM, Inc
Emily Santos is the Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Affairs Manager for Alabama, Florida and Puerto Rico.
In this position, Emily provides corporate citizenship and corporate affairs support to the IBM executive team and employees. She advances IBM’s solutions and thought leadership in the community on social responsibility issues.
Her work has resulted in several awards including two Superintendent’s Business Partner of the Year awards from the Palm Beach County School District and a similar nomination from Broward County Public Schools. Her work has also earned IBM a proclamation for LaFamilia Technology Day from an Orange County Commisioner’s office and a recent one from the Mayor of Boca Raton in recognition of IBM’s Centennial. Most recently, Emily was named a 2011 Hispanic Woman of Distinction, one of the ten in the tri-county (Palm Beach, Broward and Miami Dade) South Florida area. The award recognizes Latinas' contribution to their communities, culture and charity.
Susan M. Lehr
Susan M. Lehr, Vice President of Government Relations for Florida State College at Jacksonville, has served the College since 1993. Prior to the College, she worked for the Florida House of Representatives as Aide to Representative Wise. She is responsible for providing college wide leadership for government relations and has administrative responsibility for all federal, state and local legislative issues.Ms. Lehr provides legislative support for the Florida College System’s Council of Presidents at the direction of Dr. Steven Wallace, College President. She is also responsible for the College’s lobbying efforts for funding and policy, which includes coordination with the District Board of Trustees, the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Association of Florida Colleges.
Biographies Coming Soon...
Janis SchoonmakerEmily Santos
Susam Lehr
Dr Bob Bedford
Shannon Hewett
Mario Rubio
Heather Beaven
Tadar Muhammad
Skip Villerot