BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President
Joe Schneider
Mosaic Fertilizer, LLC
13830 Circa Crossing Drive
Lithia FL 33547
813-500-6944
joseph.schneider@mosaicco.com
Joe Schneider works with Mosaic as the Manager of Engineering for its chemical and mining facilities. Previously, he has held various operations management positions within the phosphate industry. He has served as the former chairman of Saint Paul Lutheran Board of Parish Education and chairman of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers Central Florida Section. He also held several positions within each organization. Mr. Schneider holds a BChE from the Georgia Institute of Technology and an MBA from the University of South Florida.
Vice President
Penny Borgia
United Way of Central Florida
P.O. Box 1357
Highland City FL 33846
863.648.1500 x275 (o)
penny.borgia@uwcf.org
As the chief operating office with the United Way of Central Florida, Penny works with partners to understand community need, drive change and improve the lives of communities.
________________________________________________________________________
Secretary
Diana Jordan
Publix Super Markets, Inc.
P.O. Box 407
Lakeland FL 33802-0407
863.688.7407 ext 53820 (o)
Diana.jordan@publix.com
Treasurer
Cindy Baker, CPA
Larso Allen CPA's LLP
147 Avenue C SW, Suite #101
P.O. Box 2239
Winter Haven FL 33883-2239
Office (863)294-4131
Fax (863) 294.3927
cbaker@nctgroup.com
Past-President
Susan Copeland
Polk Education Foundation
1530 Shumate Drive
Bartow FL 33830
863.534.0434 (o)
863.519.3791 (fax)
Executive Director
Shirley Whitney
P.O. Box 2595
Bartow FL 33831
863-797-6253 (c) (o)
readpolked@tampabay.rr.com
Melony Bell
Polk County Commissioner, District 2
P.O. Box 9005
Drawer BC01
Bartow FL 33831-9005
(863) 534-5434 (o)
(863)534-7655 (fax)
(863)797-7119 (c)
bigmelbell@aol.com
Melony Bell is Polk County Commissioner, District 2, elected in November 2009.
Linda Chancey
Polk County Library Cooperative Outreach Services
2150 S Broadway Avenue
Bartow FL 33830
863-393.5610(o)
linda.chancey@mypclc.info
Pam Craven, Ph.D
Learning Resource Center of Polk County, Inc.
1628 S Florida Avenue
Lakeland FL 33803
863-688-9477
Pamlac@LRCPolk.com
Pam Craven, PH.D., currently serves as the Executive Director of the Learning Resource Center. She has a longtime commitment to education, serving as an adjunct professor at Florida Southern College in the field of reading following a 22 year career as a K-12 classroom teacher. Her graduate study involved learning styles and brain research and she is certified as a teacher in English, Speech, and Journalism.
Nancy Jessee
Winter Haven Hospital
200 Avenue E NE
Winter Haven FL 33880
863-293-1121 ext. 1225 (o)
Nancy.Jessee@winterhavenhospital.org
Gina Nance
Florida’s Natural Growers
P.O. Box 1111
Lake Wales FL 33859
863.676.1411 ext. 3401 (o)
863.676.0494 (fax)
gnance@citrusworld.com
Gina has been employed at Florida's Natural Growers since 1985 and has experience in many aspects of the business including her current responsibilities in Training/Employee Relations in Human Resources. She has a degree in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences from the University of South Florida with her study areas being in psychology and sociology.
John Small
Senior Director, Workforce Education
Polk County School Board
P.O. Box 391
Bartow FL 33831
863-519-8437
john.small@polk-fl.net
Rep. Kelli Stargel, District 64
Florida House of Representatives
2020 Collins Street
Lakeland FL 33803
863-686-6565
KStargel@msn.com
Jeanette D. Wallace
Business Development Officer
MIDFLORIDA Credit Union
129 S. Kentucky Avenue Ste. 300
Lakeland FL 33801
863.640.3932
863.616.2143 (f)
Jeanette Wallace is the Business Development Officer for MIDFLORIDA Credit Union and has been with MIDFLORIDA for five years. She is responsible for strengthening relationships and partnerships with schools and businesses in the community. Mrs. Wallace has a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Mrs. Wallace enjoys spending time with her husband Paul and their two boys. In addition to being actively involved with READ Polk, Mrs. Wallace is also involved with the ABWA Lakeland Downtown Chapter (Past President), InnerAct Alliance, EMERGE Lakeland, Winter Haven Chamber’s Education Committee, Winter Haven Chamber’s Young Professionals Group, SAC Committees, Lakeland Runners Club, American Cancer Society and numerous competitive athletic and fundraising events.
Margaret Anne Wheeler
P.O. Box 391
Bartow FL 33831
863.534.0636
margaret.wheeler@polk-fl.net
ADVISORY BOARD
Connie Heflin
Fort Meade Literacy Council
121 W. Broadway
Fort Meade FL 33841
863.285.6000 or 863.285.1143
863.285.6090 (fax)
cbevisliteracy@embarqmail.com
Rob Quam
Lake Wales Literacy Council
140 E. Park Avenue
Lake Wales FL 33853
863.676-6678
care@lakewalescarecenter.org
Brooksie Smith
Northeast Literacy Council (Auburndale, Winter Haven, Haines City)
Community Literacy Liaison, East Area Adult School
300 E Bridgers Avenue
Auburndale FL 33823
863-965-5475 (o)
863-965-5477 (fax)
616-340-2108 (c)
brooksie.smith@polk-fl.net
brooksielsmith@juno.com
Kara Trees
READ Lakeland
Community Literacy Liaison, West Area Adult School
604 S. Central Avenue
Lakeland FL 33815
863-499-2835
kara.trees@polk-fl.net
Honorary Board Members
Cindy Price
TECO
1170 6th Street NW
Winter Haven FL 33881
863.298-6016
caprice@tecoenergy.com
Cindy Price works in Community Relations with Tampa Electric to develop community partnerships to make Polk County a better place to live -- through education, economic development and civic service.
Edna Rohland
Retired, Bright House Networks
Served as a board member for the Center for Adult Literacy, 1988 Tutor Training, 1988, first Adult Student, 1988
READ Polk President 1994-95
Basic Literacy Skills Tutor Trainer Certification, 2004
Junior Achievement Board Member since 1998
Early Learning Coalition Board of Directors
Recipient of the Jon Anderson Mentor of the Year Award, 2004 (mentor - 19 yrs.)
Recipient of the Governor’s Excellence in Mentoring Award, 2005
Polk Economic Education Council Member
Youth Council, Polk Works
Conduct Teacher In-Service Training – Incorporating Cable in the Classroom Resources into Curriculum
President, HEART Literacy, Hernando County since 1999
Served on Education Foundation Board of Directors, Citrus County, since 1999 – Currently serving as President
Served as Board Member for Florida Literacy Coalition (1988 – 1996)