Leadership Board Members

The Leadership Board serves as an essential network of engaged alumni and friends who promote the efforts of the College, raise funds, and help fulfill the mission of the College.

Raquel Alderman

Raquel Alderman headshot Raquel Alderman is the Director, Marketing & Communications for Ottumwa Regional Health Center, A Lifepoint Hospital, in Ottumwa, Iowa. Bringing more than 30 years’ experience in Marketing & Communications to her role, Raquel manages internal and external communications and community engagement strategies for Ottumwa Regional Health Center. She is responsible in ensuring all advertisements, communications, collateral materials, and activities accurately reflect and support local and corporate brand expectations. Previously she was the Corporate Sales Account Manager for Baptist Health South Florida. Raquel helped small and large corporations enhance their Wellness programs by utilizing the diverse wellness programs of Baptist Health Resources & Services. Prior to joining Baptist Health, Raquel was the Director of Marketing, PR & Communications for HCA/Plantation General Hospital. Before transitioning into healthcare, Raquel built an impressive marketing career in several top South Florida corporations, including: Director of Marketing & PR for the Miami Children’s Museum; Director of Marketing for Homestead Miami Speedway for NASCAR/INDY; Marketing Manager for The Miami Herald; and Regional Marketing /Adv. Director for Adelphia Communications (now Comcast Communications). When not hard at work, Raquel relentlessly pursues her passion for staying fit by swimming, biking, and running and cross training. She gets a great kick from competing in triathlons/duathlons and Half Marathons. In addition, Raquel is co-author of the popular blog, “Raising Teens,” which she started together with a journalist pal from her Miami Herald days to help them both stay sane as they coped with raising their teens. Raquel is a proud FSU alum where she received her Bachelor of Science. She has served on their College of Communication and Information & Technology Board since 2017. She is a proud mom of Olivia, 27, and Matthew, 23.

Linda Alexionok

Linda Alexionok headshot Communities across the nation are facing complex social, economic and environmental problems -- from health care and income inequality to climate change, housing, social justice and others. Linda believes that the solutions to these problems do not rest in any single program, organization or public/private sector. Rather, it takes a commitment from a broad group of important stakeholders dedicated to solving problems through social innovation and entrepreneurship. Her experience in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors, coupled with her time in the classroom, reaffirms this belief. Currently, Linda serves as Co-Founder, with colleague Bruce Manciagli, of the SIE CoLab. The SIE CoLab's mission is to reset the ordinary economic value proposition to a collective social, economic and environmental value proposition. Over her decades of service and leadership, Linda was recognized by the American Institute of Banking as “Banker of the Year,” was a nominee for the Tallahassee Chamber’s “Small Business Advocate” and “Leadership Pacesetter” awards, and received the “Women Putting Their Stamp on History Award” from Tallahassee Community College.

Arlene Borenstein

Arlene Borenstein headshot Arlene Borenstein joined the NBC 6 news team in May of 2017 as an Investigative Producer before joining the team as a Reporter. Borenstein has worked in the nation’s top news markets including Washington D.C. and New York, but says she is happy to be back home reporting for WTVJ, the station she grew up watching. During her time in Washington D.C., Borenstein helped launched NBC’s digital nonstop channel for WRC. A few years later, her storytelling brought her to New York where she covered breaking news in all five boroughs for NY1 News. Her stories also included special projects covering topics including political races and public safety issues. One of her series stories led to the repair of many broken fire alarm safety boxes throughout New York City required for those who are hard of hearing. Borenstein graduated with honors from Florida State University with a Bachelors of Science in Communication and a Minor in English. As a result of her work promoting diversity on campus, she was named Florida State’s Multicultural Woman of the year for two consecutive years. In her spare time, Arlene and her husband love to spend time at the beach with their little boy. Watching football is also a big deal, but she lives in a divided Seminole-Hurricane household. Borenstein is also the proud daughter of a U.S Army veteran.

Walt Bower

Walt Bower headshot Walt Bower is a Senior Systems Engineer at Bezos Academy, a philanthropy of Jeff Bezos building Montessori-inspired preschools throughout the United States. Walt has over 16 years of experience in Information Technology. Walt is a two-time graduate of Florida State University, having received his B.S. in Information Technology in 2008 and his M.S. in Library and Information Science in 2010. During his time at FSU, Walt served as President of the Association of Information Technology Professionals, Vice President of the Nole Zone, Garnet and Gold Guide, and was a student representative on the College of Information Undergraduate Committee. While obtaining his Master of Science degree, Walt also served as a teaching assistant for undergraduate students at the College of Communication and Information. Walt currently resides in Sarasota, Florida and enjoys spending time pursuing interests in technology, education, traveling, and volunteering in the community.

Peter Burke

Peter Burke headshot Peter Burke joined Fox News Digital as an editor for the lifestyle vertical in June 2024. Before that, Peter spent 20 years in local television news, including 16 years as a digital manager for three different South Florida television stations (WPTV, the Scripps-owned NBC affiliate in West Palm Beach; WPLG, the ABC affiliate for the Miami-Fort Lauderdale market; and WPBF, the ABC affiliate for Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast). From tropical threats to the execution of death row inmate Duane Owen in 2023, Peter covered an array of headline-making events in the Sunshine State. He has helped to keep South Florida informed during some of the most important and, often, tragic events in recent history, including the Fort Lauderdale airport shooting in 2017 and the Parkland school shooting in 2018. Among the fonder moments of his professional career were interviewing celebrities like FSU alumnus Burt Reynolds and William Shatner and covering numerous sporting events, including the College Football Playoff National Championship games in Tampa and South Florida and Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium in 2020. Peter received a bachelor's degree in English with an emphasis in creative writing and a minor in film studies from FSU in 2004. He proudly serves on the board of the Palm Beach County Seminole Club and is a member of the National Selection Committee for the Biletnikoff Award, presented by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club to the top receiver in college football. He's also a member of the Football Writers Association of America and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. Born in Ocala and raised in Jacksonville, Peter is the son of two FSU graduates and is married to a fellow FSU alumnus, Palm Beach County Judge Lauren Burke. They live in Delray Beach with their two sons, Andrew and Ryan. When he isn't working, you might catch Peter cheering on his Seminoles in all sports or singing his signature songs at a karaoke establishment near you.

Anthony Cabrera

Anthony Cabrera headshot Anthony Cabrera is the Vice President and Senior Lawyer, Strategy, Operations, Supply Chain and Technical, for The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta, Georgia where he has worked for more than 25 years. Prior to his current position, Anthony was the Company’s Senior Technical Counsel and was responsible for protecting many of the Company’s most valuable trade secrets. Prior to joining The Coca-Cola Company, Anthony was a trial lawyer for five years with Norton, Gurley, Hammersley and Lopez, P.A. in Sarasota, Florida where he specialized in commercial, surety and construction litigation. He received his Juris Doctor Degree from the Washington College of Law, The America University in Washington, D.C. in 1993. Prior to law school, Anthony had a successful marketing and advertising career with both Kajima Corporation and Edward J. Gerrits, Inc., two large commercial construction and real estate development companies. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1984 from Florida State University’s College of Communications with a focus on Advertising and Public Relations and attributes much of his career success to the education he received from the College. He is a member the Florida Bar, the American Bar Association, the Florida State University College of Criminology and Criminal Justice Criminology Development Council and the Pi Kappa Alpha (FSU Delta Lambda Chapter) National Fraternity. Anthony currently resides in Mableton, Georgia with his wife Sandi and his youngest son Matthew. His two older children, Lillian and Michael Cabrera, attend Florida State University, as a Junior and Freshman, respectively.

Mark Claiborne

Mark Claiborne headshot Mark Claiborne is vice president of customer services for ACR Systems, a Jacksonville, Fla., software company specializing in point-of-sale financial software and services. Mark leads teams that provide sales support to account executives; conducts business, operational and application analyses of the customer’s operation; designs processes and configures applications for use by the customer; provides training and follow up support for these products and services, within the guidelines of time and money determined in consultation with the customer. Managing projects in the growing market of interactive commerce is an area of special interest and opportunity for the company. Mark has been with ACR for over 25 years and previously worked for another software company providing financial and operational software. Mark graduated from the College of Communication at Florida State University in 1984.

Jessica Clark, PMP

Jessica Clark, PMP headshot Jessica Clark, PMP® is the CEO and Chief Creative Strategist of Skye Creative Marketing, a certified woman-owned creative company focused on providing branding and public outreach services to mission-based clients. During her career, Jessica’s work has included branding an opioid safety awareness campaign, developing and marketing a national abuse prevention education in-school curriculum, and creating and marketing multiple outreach products and campaigns for Florida state departments, NGOs, associations, education organizations and start-ups. Jessica is an internationally certified PMP® (Project Management Professional) and nationally-acclaimed producer and creative strategist. Her work has garnered two Emmy® Award nominations, a Gracie Award® from the national Alliance for Women in Media, state and national American Advertising Awards, and various state and national awards for public outreach campaigns, creative design and public relations. Her career also includes being part of the founding team and operates as the Brand Manager of Ology Brewing Co. and Ology Distilling, a craft brewery and distillery in Tallahassee, Florida. She is a WSET Level 2 certified wine professional and uses her niche industry knowledge as a marketing consultant for food and beverage clients around the country. In 2010, Jessica graduated from FSU with a B.S. in Public Relations from the College of Communications when she spent time in the London Study Abroad Program and as a member of the FSU Honors Program. Jessica is involved with her church as a teacher, as well as supports her community through her membership and board positions with the FSU College of Communication & Information Leadership Board and To The Village Square. She is a graduate of Youth Leadership Tallahassee and now speaks at local and state conferences about female leadership and entrepreneurship. Jessica is an avid international traveler, and food photographer and producer.

Elaine M. Crepeau

Elaine M. Crepeau headshot Elaine M. Crepeau, former Archivist for Up with People, received both her B.A. (English Literature and Librarianship, 1972) and her M.S. (Library Science, 1973) from Florida State University. She is currently the Executive Assistant to J. Blanton Belk, who is the founder and Chair Emeritus of Up with People. She is a member of Lambda Iota Tau and Beta Phi Mu. Elaine is a member of the Association of Professional Librarians (Tokyo)--co-founder and first president, American Association of University Women, The Florida State University Alumni Association (Life Member), the Westcott Legacy Society, the Doak Campbell Society and the Society of American Archivists. She is an avid Seminoles football fan, a seasoned traveler, and collects antique rabbit motif items as a hobby. Elaine resides in Tucson, AZ.

Sharon Delaney McCloud

Sharon Delaney McCloud headshot Sharon Delaney McCloud is an Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, Certified Diversity Executive CDE®, TEDx speaker, adjunct professor and executive coach who helps leaders and teams drive business results through strategic communications and professional development programs. Prior to her role as Director of Corporate Communications at UNC Health, Sharon led learning and development initiatives and video production at Walk West, a 2-time Seminole 100 honoree company she co-founded in 2008. The firm went on to be recognized in the INC 5000 three years in a row for delivering award-winning work for clients like Velcro, Samsung, Target and Josh Cellars. Sharon began her career as a television journalist covering everything from Florida State sports to NASA to politics and the Super Bowl at stations across the country. She’s been featured in numerous publications, including Sheryl Sandburg’s Option B digital platform, Thrive Global, Enterprising Women, and is co-author of the book, Keep Going, Memoirs of Strength, Courage & Perseverance. McCloud earned a bachelor’s degree in Communication from Florida State University and toured the world with the Department of Defense’s U.S.O. program before kicking off her career in TV news. In the community, Sharon serves on multiple boards and volunteers for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, St. Baldrick's Foundation and the American Heart Association. Sharon and her husband Mike McCloud have three children and live in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Diane Ervin

Diane Ervin headshot After receiving her Master’s degree at FSU’s College of Information in 1972, Diane Ervin returned to her native state of South Carolina and worked as a media specialist in the schools until her retirement in 1998. Throughout those years she was very active in the South Carolina Association of School Librarians including chairing the Regional Network, chairing the Children’s Book Award Committee, and serving as President in 1985. She received several awards from SCASL. Among those were the President’s Award in 1996 and the Distinguished Service Award in 1998. After her “first” retirement in 1998, Diane worked as an independent sales representative for several library publishing companies. In 2007, she was a member of the Sales Team of the year for Marshall Cavendish publishers. Since 2012, Diane has been employed as Executive Secretary of SCASL. Diane also earned and Ed.D. at the University of South Carolina in 1989. Diane has been very involved with the Florida State Alumni Association in South Carolina as well as at the national level. For many years she was president of the Upper South Carolina Seminole Club and was influential in securing the South Carolina license tag for Florida State University which supports scholarships to FSU for South Carolina students. Her car proudly bears the tag,” FS 1”. She served on the FSU Alumni Association National Board of Directors from 2006-2011 where she chaired the Alumni Center Activities and Programs Committee for most of those years. In 2012, Diane was a recipient of the prestigious Circle of Gold Award. Last spring, she became a member of the initial group of former Board members serving as Alumni Association Ambassadors—or as they named themselves, the “Tribal Elders”.

Jo Ellen Falany

Jo Ellen Falany headshot

Jeanne Ford

Jeanne Ford headshot Jeanne Ford came to FSU in 1979 to earn her major in Communication with a minor in Journalism. In 1981, the tennis lover landed a position on the professional tennis circuit and started a 17-year career handling media relations and managing men’s and women’s professional tournaments traveling the country. Jeanne then moved on to the Olympics making history as the first woman to manage the Boxing venue in an Olympic Games during the Atlanta Centennial Olympic Games. Jeanne was then recruited by Walt Disney World in 1996, to open Disney’s (now ESPN) Wide World of Sports Complex. During her 21 year Disney career, Jeanne lead various teams and businesses including Conventions, Catering, Media, Special Events, Health and Wellness programs, Disney VoluntEARS and Ambassador Program in Corporate Citizenship. Jeanne retired from Disney in 2019 and launched The Detail Jeanne, an events and project management company. Jeanne then combined her passion for community service with her events and volunteer management experience as Director, Operations for the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games responsible for recruiting, training and managing 10,000 volunteers to fill over 26,000 shifts to execute the Games. Jeanne is now the Director, Events for the Orlando Economic Partnership committed to Greater Orlando’s continued economic prosperity, area businesses and regional priorities. Jeanne is an avid volunteer donating her time to rescue and foster homeless and abused dogs and mentors breast cancer patients sharing insights from her own journey as a breast cancer survivor.

Tim Giordano

Tim Giordano headshot Timothy K. Giordano is a lawyer in private practice leveraging 20 years’ experience as a legal advocate, business executive, educator and non-profit director to help individuals, businesses and public/social institutions achieve goals and protect rights. Tim graduated Summa Cum Laude from Florida State University with a BS in Communication, and he received his law degree from Emory University, graduating first in his class. Prior professional affiliations include leading global law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, as well as media, technology and financial data company, Bloomberg L.P., in New York City. Tim also completed a prestigious federal clerkship at the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, working for Honorable Judge Frank M. Hull. Tim has written most extensively in the areas of risk and compliance, fund management, securities regulation, and employment law. Tim is also an Adjunct Professor in the Communication department at Montclair State University.

Clem Harrod

Clem Harrod headshot Professor of Projection and author of Career Projection 101, Video Projection 101, and Brand Projection 101, Clem Harrod has more than twenty years of experience helping to brand and market Fortune 500 companies as well as professional athletes and franchises through his work in the Live Event Production Industry. A 2001 graduate of Florida State University’s Media Production Program in the College of Communication, Clem is the founder and owner of CLEMCO, an organization with the mission to Coach, Lead, Educate, and Mentor independent contractors, freelancers, and small business owners. Before opening his own company, Clem enjoyed a fifteen-year career in the sports broadcasting arena, working on major live events like the College Football National Championship Series, NBA All-Star Weekend, NBA Finals, Stanley Cup Finals, the World Series and the Superbowl. Clem is a frequent speaker at high schools, universities and nonprofit organizations on the topics of entrepreneurship, leadership, perseverance, and the power of using technology to amplify one’s personal and professional brand. Clem also sits on multiple boards as a means to give back and pass on the information he has gained throughout his journey. Clem realized later in his life that some of the hardships that he faced were easier to manage because of the mentors that were present and available for guidance. Therefore, Clem has made it his mission to share his story and help others, see, believe, and achieve the life of their dreams through his Projection 101 mindset. Clem, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and his wife Joslynne, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and a graduate of Florida State University College of Business, reside in Tampa, Florida where they own and operate their individual businesses. They are both true examples of people who took their passion and turned it into a business as a means to support themselves, give back to the community through coaching and education, and provide jobs for other leaders in their respective fields. Clem and Joslynne have two extremely talented children: Clemson Joseph “CJ” and Kinley Grace. You can often catch the “Harrod Party of 4” on social media traveling the country attending track meets or cheerleading events as they explore the beautiful world God created. See it. Believe it. Achieve it. #Projection101

Virginia Hennigar

Virginia Hennigar headshot Virginia Hennigar, founder of The Hennigar Home Team at Century 21, stands as a distinguished real estate professional licensed in both Georgia and Florida, with a strong presence in North Atlanta. With over 18 years of experience, she has amassed an impressive $200 million in sales volume, specializing in luxury residential sales. Virginia attributes her success to her solid foundation from Florida State University’s College of Communication and her extensive 18-year career in corporate marketing communications and public relations. This unique blend of education and experience has equipped her with a deep understanding of market dynamics, enabling her to craft customized marketing strategies that lead to successful real estate transactions and a loyal client base. Her team's excellence has been consistently recognized with the prestigious Century 21 Centurion Team Award, celebrating their year-end record sales volume. For over fifteen consecutive years, they have ranked among the top five teams in a brokerage of over 350 agents. Additionally, the team has earned the Century 21 Quality Service Award multiple times, reflecting their commitment to exceptional customer service as evidenced by client survey reviews. Virginia’s approach to real estate is founded on trust, patience, and the ability to connect with people during significant personal and financial decisions. Her unwavering dedication has resulted in a proven track record of navigating the fluctuations of the real estate market successfully. Her corporate career spans various industries, including telecommunications, medical, hospitality, and real estate, providing her with a diverse skill set that enhances her real estate practice. As an active member of the National Association of Realtors, Georgia Association of Realtors, and 400 North Association of Realtors, Virginia remains deeply engaged with the professional community. Beyond her professional achievements, Virginia is an avid community volunteer, leveraging her extensive network of friends and industry colleagues to make a positive impact locally. A proud alumna, she graduated from Florida State University in 1988 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, minoring in business, journalism, and psychology. Currently residing in Cumming, Georgia, with her husband and business partner Alex Hennigar, also a Florida State University graduate, they manage Water Leak Detection Inc., a business specializing in locating residential structural and slab leaks. They have two adult children: an ER nurse at Northside Hospital in the Atlanta area and an accounting/financial professional at PwC in Manhattan. In their leisure time, Virginia and her family enjoy traveling, tailgating during football season, and boating on Lake Lanier during the summer months.

Mary Jane Little

Mary Jane Little headshot Mary Jane Little graduated from FSU with her bachelor's and master's degrees in library science. Her undergraduate work focused on school librarianship, and her graduate work was in academic, public, and reference librarianship. Little spent 17 years with the Leon County public library system, working in youth services. She came to the St. Johns County public library system in 1991 as the first assistant director in the system. In 1993 she was appointed the library system director. She has also served as an adjunct instructor for FSU for over 20 years, teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in librarianship. She is a member of Beta Phi Mu, the honorary society for librarians with master's degrees. She is also a member of the First Coast Pilot Club, the St. Augustine Rotary Club (and is a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Club), the Enterprising Women's Leadership Institute (where she was recently honored for her leadership to her community through the First Coast Pilot Club), the American Library Association, the Florida Library Association, and the Women's Exchange of St. Augustine. As the 1999 President of the Florida Library Association, she succeeded in bringing the Annual Conference of the Florida Library Association to the World Golf Village. She has participated in the Leadership St. Johns Program of the St. Augustine-St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce. In 2006, the Florida Library Association named Little its first Librarian of the Year. She received the Distinguished Alumni Award from FSU in 2006, and in 2008 she was welcomed to the James D. Westcott Legacy Society/Florida State University President's Club. Mary Jane Little retired on January 31, 2008. She lives in East Palatka in Putnam County, Florida, with her husband, David Covington.

Craig Lynch

Craig Lynch headshot Craig T. Lynch is a partner practicing commercial real estate law with Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP in Charlotte, North Carolina. In addition, he is a five term member of the firm’s board of directors and chaired its Finance Committee from 2012-2020. Lynch has been named to Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers, North Carolina Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America by Woodward/White. He received the 2013 North Carolina Bar Association’s Citizen Lawyer Award for exemplary public service. He chaired the Real Estate Sector of the Mecklenburg County Bar’s 2020 Justice Access Initiative. Lynch currently serves on the National Advisory Council of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. In 2010, he received the “Hope Award,” the highest honor bestowed by the MS Society. In 2017, Lynch completed a 15-year term on the MS Society’s national board of directors, serving as its secretary for five years and as a vice chair for four years. He was inducted into the MS Society’s Volunteer Hall of Fame in 2018. From 2008 – 2017, Lynch served on the Board of the Alumni Association of the University of North Carolina School of Law, from which he earned his juris doctor in 1986. In 2014, he was elected as president of the UNC Law Alumni Association, contemporaneously serving on that university’s General Alumni Association Board. Lynch was commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel by Governor Steve L. Breshear in 2011 for public service to the Commonwealth, and was selected for the Irish Legal 100 in 2020. Prior to attending law school, Lynch received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Florida State University and graduated summa cum laude in 1981. During his senior year, he developed the marketing plan for the men’s basketball team as it transitioned from Tully Gym to the Tucker Center. Lynch is a Lifetime member of the FSU Alumni Association, and a member of both the FSU Foundation’s Presidents Club and the Seminole Boosters. During the period from 2011 – 2019, he served as a Director of the Alumni Association and chaired its Board from 2017-2018. Lynch was inducted into the Florida State Alumni Association’s Circle of Gold in 2017. He is also an active member and three-time past president of the Charlotte Seminole Club. Lynch and his wife, Mitzi, have two sons, Devin, a junior at the University of North Carolina, and Ryan, a high school junior.

Gerard Massey

Gerard Massey headshot Gerard Massey is currently a Senior Manager of Technology Operations at Bezos Academy, a philanthropy of Jeff Bezos building Montessori-inspired preschools throughout the United States, where he is responsible for leading a nation-wide Ops team to keep the technology running at schools. A tinkerer at heart, he’s always at work optimizing and scaling technology processes and resources to help educators focus on what they do best — teaching. Prior to Bezos Academy, he served as a manager and engineer in several sectors: fintech, the federal government, geospatial intelligence, law, public relations, and advertising. In addition, he provides consulting services nationwide specializing in technology leadership and small-to-medium businesses. Massey is passionate about helping college students and young professionals alike to excel in their careers and build the skillsets to become the best they can be. He received his bachelor’s degree in Information Communication Technology from FSU in 2013. When he’s not working, Gerard can be found traveling, hosting trivia game shows in the Washington, D.C. metro area, creating content online, or riding his Boosted Board down Pennsylvania Avenue.

Stephen McDowell

Stephen McDowell headshot Stephen McDowell (Interim Dean) is the John H. Phipps Professor in the School of Communication and joined the FSU faculty in 1996. He served as the school’s director from 2002 to 2013 before becoming associate dean for Academic Affairs in the College of Communication and Information. Along with his duties in the college, McDowell serves as assistant provost for International Initiatives, where he works with units across the university to build campus internationalization efforts. McDowell’s research and teaching interests include news content, new communication technologies and communication policies in South Asia and North America. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from the University of Waterloo (Ontario) in 1982. He received a master’s degree in political science in 1983 from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, and graduated with a Ph.D. in international relations from York University in Toronto.

William Mills III

William Mills III headshot William Mills III is Chief Executive Officer and is a recognized leader in financial and technology marketing. This year he celebrates his 40th year in financial technology marketing. William has personally advised more than 500 chief executives on marketing strategy, business development, mergers and acquisitions, company branding and public relations. Other responsibilities include agency financial management, client consulting and leading business development for the agency. In addition to serving on the board of the William Mills Agency, William serves on the advisory board of Atlanta-based Sionic Mobile which provides mobile loyalty, payments and marketing services. He has been the Chairman of Florida State University College of Communications & Information’s Advisory board and in the past William has served on the advisory board of Los Angeles-based SportsBlast and the board of directors for Beacon Software and Click Tactics. He has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Entrepreneur magazine and his writings have appeared in a variety of publications. He has been a speaker at financial conferences including the Association for Financial Technology, Mortgage Bankers Association of America, Community Bankers Association of Georgia, Community Bankers Association of Alabama, The Lenders One Member Conference, multiple client user conferences and at various colleges and universities. William received his Bachelor of Arts degree in communication from Florida State University. A Georgia native, he resides in Atlanta with his wife and is the father of two daughters and two granddaughters. William is an active musician, a runner, participates in community organizations and is a foster parent for children prior to their adoption.

Kathleen Moeller-Peiffer

Kathleen Moeller-Peiffer headshot Kathleen Moeller-Peiffer is the former Deputy State Librarian for Library Support Services at the New Jersey State Library. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Carolina in 1976 and her Master of Science in Library Science from Florida State University the following year. Her career has largely focused on public libraries, working at the Lake City Public Library, Florida after graduation, followed by two public libraries in North Carolina-the Orange County Public Library where she was the county librarian for ten years, and the Durham County Public Library, where she rose from automation coordinator to Head of the library’s Information Technology Unit, for twelve years. Following her family’s re-location to Pennsylvania, Kathleen joined the staff of the New Jersey State Library in 2003 as part of their Library Development Bureau. During her twelve-year tenure she worked in positions from grant administrator to Director of the Library Development Bureau, Associate State Librarian for Legislative and Special Projects and Deputy State Librarian for Lifelong Learning. In 2015 she was recruited to become the State Librarian of New Mexico where she learned a great deal about library service in a very large and very rural state. Kathleen was recruited to return to the New Jersey State Library in late 2017 to be the Deputy State Librarian for Library Support Services and retired from her role in 2022. Kathleen has served on a number of American Library Association committees and task forces, including the ALA Council. Two of her most important roles have been as President of the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Libraries Agencies and Chair of the E-rate Task Force.

James Mullins

James Mullins headshot James Mullins currently serves as a Brand Content & Market Strategy Advisor at TransUnion. A double alumnus of the FSU School of Communication, James has over fifteen years of experience as a leader and storyteller, creating memorable brand experiences through both agency and corporate communication roles. As a Leadership Board member, James hopes to stay connected to FSU and make meaningful contributions that enrich the college experience for students. His favorite pastimes include golf, reading, FSU football, and spending time with his family.

Dr. Doreen Oyadomari

Dr. Doreen Oyadomari headshot Doreen Oyadomari has over forty years experience in the field of speech language pathology. She received her B.S. and M.S. in Speech Pathology from Florida State University and her Ph.D. from University of South Florida. She served as Chief of the Audiology & Speech Pathology Service at Birmingham VA Medical Center for sixteen years before retiring in 2006. Doreen is an ASHA fellow and a member of the National Council of State Boards. She has been a member of the CCILB since 2016.

Charles E. “Charlie” Parker

Charles E. “Charlie” Parker headshot Charles E. Parker (Charlie) retired as Executive Director of the Tampa Bay Library Consortium in August 2018 having served since 2003. He received the Masters in Library Science from the School of Library and Information Studies in 1977. He served on a School of Library and Information Services Alumni Board that merged with the CCI Leadership Board in 2009 and served as the Leadership Board Chair that year. In 2007 he received the College of Information Distinguished Alumni Award. Early in his career he directed two Florida public libraries, helping them transition from operation by Women’s Clubs to municipalities and counties. Working as a consultant with the State Library and Archives of Florida (1989 - 2003) he and a team helped public libraries implement public access Internet service. At the state and national levels he helped launch the E-Rate program that provides schools and public libraries discounted broadband, working with the Florida Public Service Commission and the F.C.C., and chaired an American Library Association E-Rate Task Force. At TBLC he directed statewide services including Florida Library Webinars, Statewide Delivery Service, and Ask a Librarian. He was very involved in expansion of popular e-books in public libraries, offering a regional platform for libraries at TBLC and nationally by engaging with publishers and aggregators through American Library Association. Throughout his career, he has been a leader and advocate for libraries. During his service at the Florida State Library and Archives he worked with policy issues and advocating for funding and legislation at the state and federal levels. He has provided leadership through the Florida Library Association (FLA), serving as president in 2008, helping public libraries retain state funding during the recession. He continues to play an active role in Florida library advocacy.

Eduardo Pérez

Eduardo Pérez headshot Eduardo Pérez is a founding Partner of PM3. Eduardo, along with business partner Patricio Montalbetti, launched PM Publicidad (now PM3) in 2003. He has led the Hispanic and multicultural marketing and advertising agency’s growth from scratch to over 40 employees. Eduardo’s professional background prior to starting PM3 was primarily on the client side, mostly with Astral Grup, a Barcelona, Spain based multinational. This was followed by several years in the U.S. e-commerce and digital development space. He previously served on the Board of Directors of non-profits Prevent Blindness Georgia and Quality Care for Children, as well as on the Board of Atlanta Advertising Club and the Orange County Ad Federation. Eduardo is a frequent speaker at conferences and events on the subject of the U.S. Hispanic segment and marketing to them, and was a regional and finals judge for the 2013 and 2014 Effie Awards. Eduardo is a U.S.-Spain dual citizen and grew up in Jacksonville, Florida. He was educated at The Florida State University where he earned degrees in International Affairs and Political Science. A former professional road cyclist, Eduardo remains highly active in sports, and splits his time between PM3’s base in Atlanta and Laguna Beach, California where he lives with his wife Shelly

Ebrahim Randeree

Ebrahim Randeree headshot Ebrahim Randeree received his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the Rochester Institute of Technology. He completed his MBA in Health Administration and Management Information Systems from the University at Buffalo, where he is ABD on his PhD degree in Information Systems. His research revolves around three broad areas: Adoption of Technology (outsourcing, innovation, diffusion, knowledge transfer, decision-making), Health Informatics (EMR adoption, personal health records, RHIOs, information assurance, IT security, risk management, trust), and Knowledge Management (security, strategic advantage, tacit knowledge, information seeking, knowledge transfer). His teaching interests focus on emerging technologies, leadership, social media, health informatics, and business strategy. He is the faculty advisor for the Association of IT professionals (AITP) student chapter as well as the Academic Liaison for the STARS (Students & Technology in Academia, Research & Service) Alliance program, with the goal of increasing the participation of women, under-represented minorities, and persons with disabilities in computing/IT. Randeree is an avid photographer and hiker when he is not working (that never happens according to his wife, Meggan). His personal interests include the Buffalo Sabres hockey team, watercolors, air shows, driving in snowstorms, fireworks displays, and lighthouses (he can’t explain this strange attraction to lighthouses). He enjoys spending time with his three young children visiting zoos, aquariums, and beaches.

Joe Snowden

Joe Snowden headshot Joe Snowden is a resident of Atlanta who provides growth and change management consulting services to entrepreneurial companies.  At the age of 22, Joe founded McRae Communications, which grew to be one of the leading independent agencies in the Southeast. He has served in leadership roles in high-growth environments on both the client and agency sides- positions include Chief Operating Officer at Trioscope, an entertainment technology company; and Chief Growth Officer at Luckie, a leading independent marketing services agency. He’s been a member of the CCI Leadership Board for more than two decades. Other board experience includes the Georgia and Metro Atlanta chambers of commerce. He has served as a national speaker/panelist with the Public Relations Society of America and the National Association of Homebuilders, as well as numerous regional organizations, colleges and universities. His work has been honored with ShowSouth, AMY and Silver Anvil awards. Joe graduated Cum Laude from Florida State University in 1989 with a BA in Advertising.

John A. Tetnowski

John A. Tetnowski headshot Dr. John A. Tetnowski completed his Ph.D. in Audiology and Speech Pathology from The Florida State University in 1993. He is currently the Blanco Endowed Professor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he also directs the master's degree program in Communicative Disorders and the Ph.D. program in Applied Language and Speech Sciences. Dr. Tetnowski has published more than 50 articles, book chapters, and an edited textbook dealing with stuttering, research methodologies, and evaluation strategies in speech-language pathology. He has presented his research nationally and internationally. In addition, he is a Board Recognized Fluency Specialist and Mentor and has treated people who stutter for more than 20 years. He was recognized in 2006 as the National Stuttering Association’s Speech-Language Pathologist of the Year. He lives in Lafayette, La., with his wife, Jennifer (M.A., 1991), and their daughter Jessica, who wants to attend FSU in the future and continue the family tradition.

Paul Weaver

Paul Weaver headshot Paul Weaver today serves as the Executive Director of Technology and Generosity at Westlake Christian School in Palm Harbor, FL (Tampa Bay area) after retiring from a successful business career including stints at Whittle Communications, Hallmark Cards, GeoAccess and United Health Group. He left UHG after serving as the CEO of the GeoAccess/Aperture unit, which was a national leader in the application of GIS and data-management technologies to support the managed care industry. He earned his FSU degree in Communication in 1987, his MBA from the University of Tennessee in 1989, and his certificate in fundraising management from Indiana University in 2024. During his time at FSU, Paul led the team that founded WVFS-FM, which is today considered one of the top college radio stations in the country. He has twice served as the President of his local Seminole Club and has proudly supported FSU academics and athletics. He is a member of the FSU Foundation's President's Club and is proud to be part of the CCI Leadership Board.

Marilyn McCall Wiles

Marilyn McCall Wiles headshot Marilyn McCall Wiles continues her involvement with lifelong learning. Her professional history includes classroom teacher, entrepreneur, Senior Policy Analyst in New York Senate, international trade columnist with the Capital District Business Review, evaluation specialist at FAA Center for Management Development, and CEO of her own management company, ALERT, The Alliance for Lobbying, Evaluation, Research and Training. Dr. Wiles served as faculty member at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, Department of Teacher Education and Department of Educational Leadership as well as Visiting Professor at Valdosta State University, Department of Educational Leadership, College of Education, Valdosta, Georgia. While in the private and governmental sectors, Wiles took the teaching/learning process beyond the traditional classrooms. Her experience as a Post Doctoral Associate with the Scripps Foundation Gerontology Center, Miami University, expanded her work in lifelong cognitive learning. Wiles experience as an educational change facilitator with the Kettering Foundation, Dayton, Ohio, refocused her work combining leadership development with factors inherent in the change process. In Albany, New York, she served in a leadership capacity on several boards including the American Heart Association, Junior Achievement, Albany Symphony, Gift of Life Foundation, YWCA of Albany, Camary Statewide Services for Autistic Adults, New Scotland Historical Society, Childs Nursing Home Association, 100 US Women – Leadership America, VP SUNY Women’s Association, and Chair, Senior Services of Albany Foundation, raising money and promoting programs and services for each respective organization. Wiles continues her commitment to leadership development by serving in leadership positions in Florida. She served as Vice Chair of the St. Johns County Library Advisory Board, as well as Founder and Chair, The Enterprising Women’s Leadership Institute, Inc. (EWLI). As a member of the Leadership Board, College of Communication and Information, Florida State University, she works with the College in enhancing FSU’s relationship with its alumni. As such, she has been instrumental in establishing the Old City Seminole Club, St. Augustine, Florida. She believes giving back is important to better understanding and strengthening all aspects of the community. One of her most valued recognitions is receipt of The Rotary Foundation District Service Award for outstanding service in promoting the Rotary Foundation and its goals of world understanding and peace. In 2007, she founded and chartered a new Rotary Club, The Rotary Club of Coastal St. Johns County. To support The Rotary Foundation, she initiated the first-ever annual Paul Harris Celebration Dinner for the St. Augustine Rotary Club. Her efforts in promoting women’s leadership over the past thirty years are reflected in the number of women who have achieved leadership positions while members of EWLI. Today, Dr. Wiles focuses on working with organizations in identifying and supporting leadership development. She combines her professional and business expertise with emerging leadership issues including technology, public and community relations, environmental advocacy and organizational development.

Michelle M. D. Winokur

Michelle M. D. Winokur headshot After more than a decade of public service, Michelle Winokur opened her own consulting firm in 2017. MW Consulting & Evaluation primarily supports health care clients in the areas of public policy, communications, research and program evaluation. Her most recent position before launching the firm was as Deputy Chief Financial Officer to Florida CFO Jeff Atwater. Prior roles include Deputy Communications Director for Governor Rick Scott and as Communications Director for the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration and the Florida Department of Health. Michelle began her career in public service as a Gubernatorial Fellow under Governor Jeb Bush. Between government stints, she also worked for several years in the private sector as a management consultant. Michelle is a proud two-time Seminole grad of what was then the College of Communication, earning her BS in Public Relations and her MS in Integrated Marketing and Management Communications. During her time on campus, Michelle was involved with many leadership and service organizations, and served as Senior Class President. She went on to earn a Doctorate of Public Health in Biostatistics and Epidemiology from Florida A&M University, and has been an adjunct professor at both FAMU and Tallahassee Community College. Outside of the office, Michelle volunteers with the Gamma chapter of Chi Omega at FSU and serves on the College of Communication and Information Dean’s Leadership Board. A fitness enthusiast, she enjoys competing in triathlons and after a several year hiatus Michelle is proud to have completed another Ironman distance event in late 2019 after overcoming a life-threatening medical event. Michelle and her husband Bo reside in Tallahassee with their young son.

Marilyn J. Young

Marilyn J. Young headshot Marilyn Young is the Wayne C. Minnick Professor of Communication Emerita at FSU. An active scholar throughout her 35-year teaching career, Dr. Young focused her research on political argument with an emphasis on the development of political rhetoric and argument in the former Soviet Union, particularly Russia. She has continued her research and publishing efforts in retirement, regularly attending national and international academic conferences, including most recently the Tenth International Conference on Argumentation in Leiden, The Netherlands. A member of Phi Beta Kappa, Marilyn received her B.A. from FSU in 1964 with a double major in English and Speech Communication. Prior to entering graduate school at the University of Pittsburgh, where she earned an M.A. (1968) and a Ph.D. (1974) in Rhetoric and Public Address, she taught English and coached the debate team at Edgewater High School in Orlando, her hometown. Dr. Young was an Assistant Professor, Director of Forensics, and Debate Coach at California State University Los Angeles from 1969 to 1972. Joining the FSU faculty in 1972, she spent 13 years as the debate coach and Director of Forensics. At FSU she served as Chair of the Department of Communication. She also served two terms as President of the Faculty Senate and continues in the role of Parliamentarian to that body. She was President of the Southern States Communication Association (SSCA) in 2003-2004 and served on the Board of Directors for the Eurasian Communication Association of North America (ECANA). During her tenure at FSU, Dr. Young received numerous awards, including the Teaching Incentive Program Award in 1995 and the Professorial Excellence Award in 1998. She was named the Minnick Professor of Communication in 2001, honoring her mentor and long-time colleague. In 2005, Marilyn received the Fred L. Standley Distinguished Service Professor Award from FSU, as well as the Michael Osborne Teacher-Scholar Award from SSCA. In 2006, SSCA presented her with the Johnson-Padgett Distinguished Service Award. Most recently, in 2012, she received the “Vires” Torch Award, one of the highest honors FSU can bestow on a member of the university community who is not an employee of FSU. In 2021, she was inducted into the FSU Circle of Gold. In addition to over 150 scholarly articles and conference presentations, Dr. Young has published several books, including Coaching Debate [1976]; Flights of Fancy, Flight of Doom: KAL 007 and Soviet-American Rhetoric [1988, with Michael Launer]; Nuclear Energy and Security in the Former Soviet Union [1997, with David Marples], and Discourse, Debate, and Democracy [2009, with David Cratis Williams]. Along with frequent co-authors Williams and Launer, she is currently working on Volume 4 of a four volume book series on the rise and fall of democracy in post-Soviet Russia: The Rhetorical Rise and Demise of ‘Democracy’ in Russian Political Discourse: The Demise of Democracy After Putin’s Return to Power. She was the co-editor of Controversia: An International Journal of Debate & Democracy and has served on numerous editorial boards, including The Quarterly Journal of Speech, Critical Studies in Media Communication, Argumentation and Advocacy, Southern Communication Journal, and Women’s Studies in Communication. In 1994, along with her husband, Michael Launer, Dr. Young founded RussTech Language Services, Inc., a full-service language company; she served as President and CEO of the company (full-time after her 2005 retirement from FSU) until 2019, when she retired from that position as well. Dr. Young has served as President of the FSU Association of Retired Faculty (2023-2024) and is a Trustee on the FSU Foundation Board. In 2014, she and her husband established the Marilyn J. Young Endowment for Intercollegiate Debate, a fund created to support the FSU Debate Team (Fund #7748).

Victoria Vangalis Zepp

Victoria Vangalis Zepp headshot For nearly 40 years, Victoria Zepp has been dutifully serving Florida as an advocate and leading subject matter expert on a wide range of issues. She has served as the CFO’s appointee to the Florida Children and Youth Cabinet and the Governor’s appointee to the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council. She has been an appointee of every governor since Lawton Chiles. Victoria is the President and CEO of Team 180 Consulting, a premier government affairs firm advising clients on procurement, legislative policy, and business development. Under her leadership, Team 180 continues to be the top IT procurement firm in the state, boasting the longest engagement in the country (20+ years) with Dell Technologies. In addition to being a trusted IT procurement expert, Victoria is one of the state’s leading Child Welfare advocates. She previously served for a decade as the Chief Policy Officer for the Florida Coalition for Children and currently represents several child welfare agencies. An adoptive and former foster parent herself, she works tirelessly to protect Florida’s most vulnerable children. Her advocacy has brought millions of dollars and myriad positive policy changes to Florida.Beyond her advocacy, Victoria is also a dedicated mentor to countless young professionals. In her various executive positions and as a board member of FSU’s College of Communication and Information, it has been her mission to empower Florida’s next generation of leaders and advocates.