Our Leadership

Community Stakeholders

The members of the Board of Directors, Operating Board, and LEADS teams bring diverse perspectives — small non-profit, public school, city government, public health, higher education, large non-profit, and the business community.

Leadership

Board of Directors

Polk Vision is governed by a Board of Directors which oversees the Operating Board in its leadership of Teams working collaboratively on a range of complex issues within designated Areas of Focus.

“What I value most about Polk Vision is that it brings people together around the issues that truly shape everyday life in Polk County. Whether it’s helping our children become stronger readers, preparing students for meaningful careers, improving access to health and behavioral health resources, creating safer roads and sidewalks, or planning thoughtfully for our continued growth, this work touches all of us. I’ve seen what’s possible when people from across our communities come together, listen to one another and work toward a shared goal. As Chair, I’m proud to be part of that effort and excited to help build a Polk County where our families, businesses and communities have every opportunity to thrive.”

Nick Plott

Chair
Manager of Government Advocacy, AdventHealth

Nick Plott
Chair
Manager of Government Advocacy, Advent Health
Sean Malott
Sean Malott
Immediate Past Chair
President & CEO, Central Florida Development Council
Danielle Drummond
Chair-Elect
President & CEO, Lakeland Regional Health
Alex Nikdel
Alex Nikdel
Treasurer
President, CNP
Nikki Smith
Nikki Smith
Secretary
Principal, Imagine Intent, LLC
Kim Long
Kim Long
Executive Director
Polk Vision, Inc.
Bill Beasley
Bill Beasley
County Manager
Polk County BoCC
Ashley Bell Barnett
Ashley Bell Barnett
Community Volunteer
Stacy Butterfield
Stacy Butterfield
Clerk of Circuit Court & County Comptroller
Polk County
Christina Criser Jackson
Christina Criser Jackson
President & CEO
United Way of Central Florida
Steve Crisman
Steve Crisman
President

Citizens Bank & Trust

Brad Dantzler
Brad Dantzler
Managing Director & Senior VP

Raymond James & Associates

Frederick Heid
Frederick Heid
Superintendent
Polk County Public Schools
Grady Judd
Grady Judd
Sheriff
Polk County Sheriff’s Office
Teresa Martinez
Teresa Martinez
President

Institute of Spanish Communication

Lisa Miller
Lisa Miller
School Board Member, District 7
Polk County Public Schools
Sean Parker
Sean Parker
Attorney
Boswell & Dunlap LLP
Christine Samuel
Christine Samuel
Community Volunteer
Martha Santiago, Ed.D.
Martha Santiago, Ed.D.
Commissioner
Polk County BoCC
Shawn Sherrouse
Shawn Sherrouse
City Manager
City of Lakeland
Lindsay Zimmerman
Lindsay Zimmerman
Operating Board Chair
SVP & COO, Central Florida Development Council

“As Immediate Past Chair of the Polk Vision Board, I’ve seen how powerful it is when a community comes together with a shared purpose. Polk Vision plays a critical role in aligning community leaders across education, health, business, and government to turn big ideas into real progress. I’m proud to support an organization that is helping build a stronger future for Polk County.”

Sean Malott

Immediate Past Chair
President/CEO, Central Florida Development Council

Leadership

Operating Board

“It is an honor to serve as Chair of the Polk Vision Operating Board. Polk Vision continues to demonstrate what is possible when leaders from across our community come together with a shared commitment to making Polk County stronger. As we build on the momentum of recent years, our focus remains on turning vision into action and creating meaningful, lasting impact.”

Lindsay Zimmerman, MPA, CFRE

Operating Board Chair, Senior VP & Chief Operating Officer, Central Florida Development Council

Lindsay Zimmerman
Lindsay Zimmerman
Operating Board Chair
SVP & COO, Central Florida Development Council
Marc Zimmerman
Marc Zimmerman
Immediate Past Chair
Senior Economic Development Manager, Visit Central Florida
Steve Bissonnette
Steve Bissonnette
President
VISTE
Naomi Boyer, Ph.D.
Naomi Boyer, Ph.D.
Founder & President
NOME, LLC.
Amy Bratten, Ed.D.
Amy Bratten, Ed.D.
Provost, Academic Affairs & Workforce Education Academics
Polk State College
Kylia Carswell
Kylia Carswell
Director, Family and Community Engagement
Polk County Public Schools
Ashley Cerjan
Ashley Cerjan
Community Liaison, Central Region
Polk County Public Schools
Betsy Cleveland
Betsy Cleveland
President & CEO
Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce
Reba Coil
Reba Coil
Community Liaison, South Lakeland Region
Polk County Public Schools
Jeanette Crowley
Jeanette Crowley
Director, Strategic Planning & Partnerships
Polk County Public Schools
Rod Crowley, Ed.D.
Rod Crowley, Ed.D.
Chief Operating Officer
United Way of Central Florida
Crystal Davis, DHS
Crystal Davis, DHS
Community Liaison, North Lakeland Region
Polk County Public Schools
Joy Johnson
Joy Johnson
Administrator, Health and Human Services Division
Polk County BoCC
Aaron Kissler
Aaron Kissler
Director
Florida Department of Health in Polk County
Ryan Kordek
Ryan Kordek
Executive Director
Polk TPO
Jenna Levine
Jenna Levine
Director of Public Health Planning, Public Health Planning Division
Florida Department of Health in Polk County
Nelson Marquez, Ed.D.
Nelson Marquez, Ed.D.
President & CEO
Webber University
Lori Martini
Lori Martini
Vice President & Chief Philanthropic Officer
GiveWell Community Foundation
Erica Morse
Community Liaison, South Region
Polk County Public Schools
Jessica Napoleon
Jessica Napoleon
Public Health Planner, Public Health Planning Division
Florida Department of Health in Polk County
Andrea Nikolai
Andrea Nikolai
Family and Consumer Science Agent
UF/IFAS Extension Polk County
Orathai Northern, Ph.D.
Orathai Northern, Ph.D.
Community Partnerships & Grants Coordinator
Lakeland Regional Health
Alice Nuttall
Alice Nuttall
Associate Vice President, Behavioral Health Services
Lakeland Regional Health
David Palmer
David Palmer
Director of Information Technology
Polk County BoCC
Nick Plott
Manager of Government Advocacy

Advent Health

Brittanie Ramsey, Ed.D.
Brittanie Ramsey, Ed.D.
Community Liaison, Northeast Region

Polk County Public Schools

Marybeth Soderstrom
Marybeth Soderstrom
Transportation Director
Central Florida Regional Planning Council
Lauren Springfield
Lauren Springfield
Director, Community Health
Lakeland Regional Health
Kim Stenger
Kim Stenger
Courts Division Director
Office of Polk County Clerk of Circuit Court & Comptroller
Chad Tagtow
Chad Tagtow
Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
Citizens Bank & Trust
Holly Vida
Holly Vida
Behavioral Health Program Manager
Polk County BoCC
Nicole Walker
Nicole Walker
Cooperative Extension Director
UF/IFAS Extension Polk County
Steve Warner, Ed.D.
Steve Warner, Ed.D.
Vice President, Resource Development & Executive Director
Polk State College Foundation
Jordan Weiland
Jordan Weiland
Arts Program & Marketing Coordinator
Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance
Linda Williams, Ph.D.
Linda Williams, Ph.D.
Founder & Principal Consultant

Linda G. Williams Consulting, LLC

Julie Womble
Julie Womble
Community Development Director
City of Auburndale
Sara Beth Wyatt
Sara Beth Wyatt
School Board Member, District 4
Polk County Public Schools
“As I conclude my term as Chair of the Polk Vision Operating Board, I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to serve alongside so many dedicated leaders who are committed to the success of Polk County. The progress we have made is a testament to the commitment, expertise, and passion of our board members, volunteers, partners, and program participants.”
Marc Zimmerman

Operating Board Immediate Past Chair, Senior Economic Development Manager, Visit Central Florida