COA Advisory Board Members
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1 | P a g e Scott McCallum, Chairman
Media Representative
Scott McCallum brings to the Commission on Aging more than 10 years experience as a caregiver to an aging parent with
dementia, as well as experience with grandparents who fatally suffered with Alzheimer's disease. Mr. McCallum has served as both board member and employee of the Orlando-based
Alzheimer Resource Center where he worked to advance local awareness of caregiving issues. Currently, Mr. McCallum is manager of corporate communications for The Institute of Internal Auditors, a nonprofit international association with global headquarters in Central Florida. With more than 15 years experience in communications and marketing, he holds a
Bachelor's degree in public relations from the University of
Central Florida, is Accredited in Public Relations (APR), and is an active member and previous board member of the Orlando chapter of Public Relations Society of America. Mr. McCallum is a dedicated volunteer for Junior Achievement of Central Florida, which earned him the "Above and Beyond Award" in 2007.
Vienna Avelares
Citizen-at-Large Representative
Vienna Avelares was born in New York City and grew up in beautiful Puerto Rico. She attended the University of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras, and in 1979 she graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Education and a minor in Business. After teaching high school for several years, Ms. Avelares moved to the Washington
COA Advisory Board Members
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2 | P a g e D.C. area and worked for Congressman Bob Garcia, for District 18, New York. In 1990, she obtained an associate degree in Litigation and was certified as a Paralegal from the Institute of Legal Studies. She became an active member of various
educational and community programs in local D.C. such as Aspira and Latin American Center for the Youth. In 1990 Ms. Avelares moved to Orlando and in 1998 she began working at the University of Central Florida. Ms. Avelares is currently an accountant for the new School of Visual Arts and Design for UCF. Ms. Avelares is very active in the community, having served on multiple City of Orlando and Orange County advisory boards, and has been the Vice President of Hispanics in Orlando and Colombia in Orlando.
Dorie Croissant
Faith Community Representative
Prior to working in community development and government relations at Florida Hospital for 11 years, Dorie Croissant
channeled her professional energy into the advertising industry in Dallas for over 20 years. Ms. Croissant attended Louisiana State University, is a current student at the Rollins College Hamilton Holt School and is a 2001 graduate of Leadership Osceola. She is a consummate organizer who is willing to help anyone at any time. Ms. Croissant is currently the president-elect of the Osceola Council on Aging Board of Directors, having served as the secretary of the board in 2008. She also
volunteers for Hospice of the Comforter. Ms. Croissant has been active in several church ministries as Coordinator of the Ministry
COA Advisory Board Members
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3 | P a g e to the Sick at her church she attends, facilitating, training, and scheduling volunteers.
Randall D. Hunt
Chief Executive Officer - Senior Resource Alliance
Mr. Hunt is President and CEO of Senior Resource Alliance. Previously, he was the CEO of Seniors First, Inc. Prior to
transferring to Florida, Mr. Hunt was the CEO of a mental health residential treatment center in Peoria, Illinois for 32 years. Mr. Hunt earned an MBA from the University of Illinois at
Champaign-Urbana and his Bachelor of Arts degree from Bradley University. He has been actively involved with the Heart of
Florida United Way and the Council of Agency Executives, and is a member of the Florida Association of Service Providers Board of Directors.
Alison Issen
Community Partnerships Committee, Chairman
Alison Issen, M.S., R.N., CHPN, L.M.H.C., has a Master’s in
Clinical Psychology from the University of Central Florida, and is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and a Registered Nurse. She is the Community Education Coordinator for Hospice of the Comforter in Altamonte Springs. For several years, Alison
coordinated the Sage-ing Center, a program which encouraged and supported adults, particularly seniors, to inventory, evaluate and intentionally plan a life of purpose, learning, fulfillment and service. Alison taught psychology at the college level, and
COA Advisory Board Members
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4 | P a g e worked in the field of health and wellness for over 28 years, including 14+ years of hospice work.
Sandra L. Johnson
Citizen-at-Large Representative
A resident of Orlando for eight years, Ms. Johnson, has, for the past five years, been involved with senior issues related to
Medicare through the SHINE Program (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders). Ms. Johnson received the Shine Golden Choice Volunteer Award in 2006, served as the SHINE Tri County Area Coordinator, and SHINE Trainer for three years. In 2006,
representing SHINE, she appeared with President Bush during his visit to Orlando in support of the national initiative to help seniors understand the Part D Prescription Drug Plan. Ms.
Johnson is also a volunteer with the Amachi Program and works with children whose parents are incarcerated.
Lewis E. Mattox
Transportation Representative
Lewis E. Mattox is a retired deputy sheriff having served with the Seminole County (FL) Sheriffs Office for 12 years. He is the
creator of "The Crash Project" and "The Marker Project" highway safety programs and is the producer of the award-winning highway safety video "Marker Memories Part 1: A
Journey to Understanding" that is used by safety councils across the country. He is a member of the American Writers and Artists Institute, the American Society of Composers, Authors, and
COA Advisory Board Members
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5 | P a g e Association. He has a bachelor's degree in psychology from
Western Illinois University and completed MBA coursework at Lake Forest Graduate School of Management. He is currently a writer, editor and project manager and lectures to schools and organizations on highway safety.
Suzie W. Millsap
Education Representative
Suzie W. Millsap is a retired teacher with Orange County Schools after 35 years of service. She holds a Bachelor and Master
degrees from Florida A&M University. Her volunteer service includes but is not limited to: 8 years with United Way of Central Florida; Orange County COMPACT Program as a mentor for 3 years; Children Must Count for 2 years. Awards include: 1993 NAACP Joe Stephens Award; 1996 Orange County COMPACT Mentor of the Year; 1999 Children Must Count Award. She
currently volunteers at Wheatley Elementary School in Apopka. Rhonda Pearlman
Foundation Representative
Rhonda Pearlman has had both personal and professional experience with seniors. As a caregiver for members of her extended family, she gained first-hand knowledge of the critical issues and challenges of both seniors and their caregivers. It has been an overriding commitment to translate this knowledge into strategies to ease the access to critical services available to the senior community, with the goal of a better quality of life for all
COA Advisory Board Members
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6 | P a g e seniors, whether healthy or frail, financially solid or needing assistance.
Ms. Pearlman has been a member of the Board of Directors for Kinneret Apartments, an independent senior complex in
downtown Orlando available to low-income seniors. During her twenty-year tenure on the Kinneret Board, she has been
responsible for strategic planning, donor development, community liaison, and operations.
Ms. Pearlman is affiliated with the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA), as well as serving on the national board of the Association of Jewish Aging Services (AJAS).
Ms. Pearlman earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of South Florida in Tampa, and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Miami.
Suyrea Reynolds
Health Care Representative
Suyrea Reynolds is a licensed nursing home administrator
currently serving as the assistant administrator at Health Central Park, a five star, 228 bed skilled nursing facility in Winter
Garden. Suyrea has served our community as a private geriatric care manager and as the Corporate Manager of Eldercare
Services for Orlando Regional Healthcare, bringing nursing home knowledge of caring for frail elders to the acute care setting. She has served as the administrator for a hospital based skilled
COA Advisory Board Members
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7 | P a g e nursing unit, for profit and not for profit facilities, and as a
corporate director of governmental and regulatory affairs. Suyrea served eight years on the State of Florida Board of Nursing Home Administrators. Suyrea is most proud to have been honored as the 1996 recipient of the Florida Health Care Association’s Art Harris Government Services Award. She was the first recipient of the Hope and Help Center Chuck Hummer III Vision Award for Outstanding Contributions to the HIV/AIDS Community and the first chair of the HIV Health Services
Planning Council in Central Florida. Suyrea graduated from the University of South Florida with a BS in Gerontology and the University of St. Francis with a MS in Health Services
Administration. Robert "Bob" Riley Business Representative
Robert “Bob” W. Riley, a veteran of the 101st Airborne Division, United States Army, is an active senior member and advocate of the West Orange community. Bob has an extensive career in life and health insurance as well as automotive sales. At present, he serves as an independent business owner with Power Home Technologies Home Security. His is also active in the
community, serving on the Board of Directors for Windward Cay Homeowners Association and as an Elder of the Washington Shores Presbyterian Church. Bob Riley is a devoted husband, father and grandfather. His pastimes include Doo-Wop and Hymn singing, as well as “master-of-the grill”. He believes in making good things happen for all people.
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8 | P a g e
Awilda (Wendy) Roman
Citizen-at-Large Representative
Wendy Roman has more than 16 years experience in the health insurance industry with Humana, Inc. For the last twelve years, she has worked for Humana’s Senior Products Division as an event coordinator where she has been responsible for
coordinating the grand opening ceremonies and weekly events for the Humana Guidance Centers in Orange and Osceola
County. Wendy is also active in the community and has served on the East Central Florida Health Council Advisory Board and the Orange County Children and Family Services Advisory Board. She is also the former Secretary for the Orlando chapter of the Latino Peace Officers Association, where she helped organized the largest Three King’s Day event to date. Wendy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.
Pam Rowe
Citizen-at-Large Representative
Pamela K. Rowe, MA, CCC-SLP is a Speech-Language Pathologist in Orlando, FL. As a 10 year resident of Orange County, Pamela has served on many committees to serve the community. She is a graduate of Leadership Winter Park and a member of the
Winter Park Leadership Alumni Council. Pamela enjoys spending time with her husband, Justyn and their two wonderful boys, Ian and Tobias.
COA Advisory Board Members
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9 | P a g e The Honorable Tiffany Moore Russell, Orange County
Commissioner District 6 Board of County Commissioner Representative
The Honorable Tiffany Moore Russell was elected to the Orange County Board of County Commissioner in 2006 and re-elected to office in 2010. Commissioner Moore Russell served as Vice
Mayor for the Orange County Board of County Commission in 2009. An active member of the community, Commissioner Moore Russell is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Florida Bar Association, Paul C. Perkins Bar Association, Virgil Hawkins Chapter of the National Bar Association and the Orange County Community Action Board. She has also served on the County’s Board of Zoning Adjustments and the Citizens Review Board. Commissioner Moore Russell is a graduate of Florida State University’s College of Law, the University of South Florida and Dr. Phillips High. Commissioner Moore Russell is a member of Life Center Church, Eatonville Florida.
