Committees of Leadership Palm Beach County

Primary Goal
Design and deliver the 3-day community leadership program for executives and professionals new to Palm Beach County.

Responsibilities
Develop the Focus Program agenda, secure and communicate with speakers, gather sponsors, secure venues, and review evaluations for improvement from year to year.

Outcomes
Engaging speakers and learning opportunities. Smoothly run days. Sponsors fully fund each day’s program. The class has an exceptional experience. Class members are better informed leaders for our county. Class members are motivated to apply for the Engage program.

Chairs
Bradley Jackson, Class of 2022

Peter Troup, Class of 2024

Primary Goal
Prepare promising high school juniors for future success and civic engagement in Palm Beach County.

Responsibilities
Serve on a Session Day subcommittee to help develop that session day's agenda, secure and communicate with speakers, gather sponsors, and review evaluations for improvement from year to year. The committee is also responsible for Opening Retreat and Graduation planning, as well as reviewing scholarship applications and selecting the recipients.

Outcomes
Students and parents are fully prepared for the class year. Engaging speakers and learning opportunities. Smoothly run days. Sponsors fully fund each day’s program. The class has an exceptional experience. Students are better prepared for the next step in their education. Scholarships are appropriately awarded. Students and parents are uplifted by the experience.

Chairs
Erica Whitfield, Class of 2014

Susy Diaz, Class of 2021

Primary Goal
Successfully select and guide the class projects for Leadership Forward

Responsibilities
Develop & disseminate the RFP, guide proposing nonprofit organizations as they develop proposals, select finalists, and guide the Engage class through selection and execution of the class projects.

Outcomes
Class members work well within their teams to excel at the project they are working on. Community nonprofits receive a sustainable benefit that could not have been achieved without the assistance of their assigned class members.

Chairs
Audy Johnston, Class of 2023

Cassius Johnson, Class of 2023

Primary Goal
Design and deliver educational leadership programming to the community.

Responsibilities
Plan events, secure and communicate with speakers, gather sponsors, and review evaluations for improvement from year to year. Events planned by the Aspire Committee include Lunch & Learns, Legislative Updates, Beyond Politics breakfasts, COPE, and other educational programs.

Outcomes
Educating members and nonmembers on critical issues in our community. Participants are provided with the tools to be better, informed leaders. Nonmembers witness our leadership on important topics.

Chairs
Jack Lansing, Class of 2004

Mario Guzman, Class of 2020

Primary Goal
Plan and facilitate each year’s opening retreat for the Leadership Engage Program.

Responsibilities
The committee helps refine and develop the agendas, activities, and experiences that bond the class for a more productive program experience.

Outcomes
Class members get to know each other and their shared experiences, gain a solid overview of what they will learn on their session days, become more bonded, select their Engage Forward projects, and meet current and past presidents and current board members.

Chairs

Ofelia Utset, Class of 2013

Barbara Cipriano, Class of 2013

Primary Goal
Encourage alumni commitment and engagement.

Responsibilities
Help coordinate and facilitate events to engage Alumni, including networking events, happy hours, Alumni get-togethers, and Friends & Family events.

Outcomes
Alumni feel they are a part of an incredibly special organization, stay and/or become more engaged in our committees and programs, continue to be active alumni, and help us recruit new members from our nonmember Engage graduates.

Chairs
Lee Williams, Class of 2006

Julie Dowe, Class of 2024

Primary Goal
Attract qualified applicants and build connections from within diverse industries and areas of the county for our Engage and Focus programs.

Responsibilities
Strategically identify individuals and organizations for candidate recruitment and relationship building. Plan information sessions.

Outcomes
Consistently high-quality and diverse applicants for our Engage and Focus programs. Informative and well-run information sessions designed to encourage application.

Chairs
Denise Williams, Class of 2023

Jason Pizzo, Class of 2015

Primary Goal
To grow and enhance the position of Leadership Palm Beach County within the community. 

Responsibilities
To assist leadership staff and other committees with the generation of marketing strategies and tactics to increase the reach of marketing efforts. 

Outcomes
Our membership and the larger community will be informed about Leadership Palm Beach County programs, events, and initiatives.

Chairs
Denise Mariani, Class of 2017
Jennifer Sardone Shiner, Class of 2024

Primary Goal
Reconnect alumni during the holidays, provide a mid-year update on the organization, and facilitate a gift and food drive benefiting local organizations.

Responsibilities
Plan the event, including selecting a venue. Solicitation of sponsorships and ticket sales. Oversee the event logistics, including the toy and food drives, programming, and silent auction.

Outcomes
A profitable, engaging holiday event. Attendees will feel their ticket purchase is well spent, and sponsors will feel appreciated.

Chairs
Brian Elkins, Class of 2022

Bonni Funt, Class of 2022

Stephanie Slater Goldfuss, Class of 2024

Senator Bobby Powell, Class of 2011 (Honorary)

Primary Goal
Reconnect and entertain graduates, alumni, and guests with a unique, high-energy, event with minimal programming and plenty of connection opportunities.

Responsibilities
Coordinate all aspects of producing the event, including ticket sales, design, and execution of a successful event, and solicitation of sponsors.

Outcomes
A profitable, engaging event to support our programs and initiatives. Attendees network and connect for the evening. 

Chairs
Paul Shalhoub, Class of 2019

J.P. O'Connor, Class of 2023

Primary Goal

Organize the last Leadership Palm Beach County event of the season, which celebrates the nominees for, and recipient of, the Leadership Excellence Award, honors the year's graduating Engage class, and welcomes the new Engage class for the upcoming year.

Responsibilities

Oversee and implement the Leadership Excellence Award nomination and selection process, identify sponsors, and coordinate the event details to spotlight nominees, award recipients, graduating Engage class, and incoming Engage class.

Outcomes

A profitable, engaging event. LEA nominees will feel honored. The members of the Engage graduating class will feel acknowledged. The members of the upcoming Engage class will feel welcomed.

Chairs

Carrie Browne, Class of 2019

Penny Payne, Class of 2007

Membership on this committee is by invitation only. 

Primary Goal
To observe and report on the financial health and progress of Leadership Palm Beach Gardens.

Responsibilities
Accurately track expenses and income of our operations and various programs and events of the organization to ensure financial well-being and accurate decision-making by the Board of Governors and the Executive Director.

Outcomes
A financially stable and healthy organization.

Chair
Rhonda Rogers, Class of 2011,
Treasurer, Leadership Palm Beach County Board of Governors

Membership on this committee is by invitation only. 

Primary Goal
To put forth a slate of prospective class members for the Leadership Engage program.

Responsibilities
Present strategies and tips for completing the Engage application at information sessions, review all applications, and select the prospective class.

Outcomes
Curate a well-rounded selection of class members from various industries, locations, and demographics, creating an accurate representation of Palm Beach County.

Membership on this committee is by invitation only. 

Primary Goal
To put forth an annual slate of prospective Board of Governors members for Leadership Palm Beach County.

Responsibilities
Review all applications for membership to the Board of Governors and officers of the board.

Outcomes
A strong slate of Board of Governors,= and officers, representative of the County, for the membership of Leadership Palm Beach County to vote on.