About the Board of Directors

The Heartland Workforce Investment Board, Inc. d/b/a Heartland Workforce, Board of Directors provide policy and guidance along with the general direction of Workforce Florida, Inc. the state's chief policy organization for all Heartland Workforce activities affecting DeSoto, Hardee, and Highlands counties.

The Board is mandated legislatively to have representatives from the following categories: private sector, education, labor, community-based organizations, economic development, veterans, and non-public post-secondary educational institutions.

Board Members

Local Elected Officials – The Executive Board

The Honorable Dale Johnson – Chair

Hardee County Board of County Commissioners

The Honorable Ronald P. Neads – Vice Chair

DeSoto County Board of County Commissioners

The Honorable Jack Richie

Highlands County Board of County Commissioners

Board Officers

Chair

David Royal - VP Land Management

Clear Springs Land Co.

Chair-Elect

Lois J. Hilton - Human Resources Director

DeSoto Memorial Hospital

Secretary/Treasurer

Lauretta Stephens - Deputy Director

Florida Non-Profit Housing, Inc.

Board Members

Kristina Anderson - Executive Director

Highlands County Economic Development Commission

Mike Averyt - Assistant Superintendent of Business/Operations

School Board of Highlands County

Candice Brown - Employment & Training Coordinator

Experience Works, Inc.

Derren Bryan - General Manager

Albritton Insurance Services LLC

Mary Kay Burns

Burns Citrus

Mary Dow - President

Dow Realty, Inc.

Alicia "Lee" Dyce - Assistant Vice President & Branch Manager

Seacoast National Bank

Dr. Jamie Finley-Kirschner

Arcadia Chiropractic, Inc.

Julia Hermelbracht - Community Development Administrator

Department of Children & Families - Circuit 10

Vanessa Hernandez - Senior Vice President/Regional Manager

MidFlorida South/MidFlorida Credit Union

Mandy Hines - County Coordinator/EDC Representative

DeSoto County Administration

Doug Jensen - Plant Manager

Vandolah Power Co., LLC

Bill Jernigan - Business Manager

Lavon Cobb Construction, Inc.

Pamela T. Karlson

Pamela T. Karlson, P.A.

Bill Lambert - Executive Director

Hardee County Economic Development Office

Michael London - Business Manager Local 626

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

Velma Lumpkin - Executive Director

Community Child Development Center

Williams J. Nielander

Wm. J. Nielander, P.A.

Wayne Olson - Area Director

Florida DOE/Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Raul Rodriguez - Investigator

Florida Dept. of Business & Professional Regulation

Raymond D. Royce - Executive Director

Highland County Citrus Growers Assn.

Donald Samuels - American Legion Post 2

Representing Military Veterans

Eric Sevigny

7E Optics

Larry Shoeman - Executive Director

Avon Park Housing Authority

Selden Spencer - President

Hardee Education Association/United

Anthony Stahl - Vice President & Compliance Officer/Privacy Officer

Florida Hospital Heartland Div.

Dr. Norman L. Stephens, Jr., EdD - President

South Florida Community College

Linda Waters - Associate Director of Student Services

DeSoto County School District

Mike Wilkinson - Director, Career & Technical Education

Hardee County School District

Tracy Young - Office Manager

Sebring Septic Tank Co.