Quality of Life Alignment Team
The Quality of Life LEAD Team is comprised of representatives from across Polk County including non-profits, social services, government, health care, education, and faith-based organizations. Through this diverse membership, different perspectives are gleaned when probing the wide ranging and complex issues contributing to the Quality of Life in Polk County.
2023-2024 Quality of Life Team Members
Steve Bissonnette, Co-Chair, VISTE
Joy Johnson, Co-Chair, Polk County BoCC
Ben Abbott, Multiply Christian Church
Tonya Akwetey, Healthy Start Coalition of Hardee, Highlands & Polk Counties
Andrea Anderson, Polk for Recovery
Marcia Andresen, Polk County BoCC
Allie Bates, Age-Friendly Lakeland
Katherine Bates, Nutrition Reset
Brad Beatty, Heart for Winter Haven
Samuel Berrien, City of Fort Meade
Caroline Benitez, Polk County BoCC
Donna Bledsoe, Multiply Christian Church
Whittney Borem, Dream Center of Lakeland
Carly Carden, Peace River Center
Dennis Childress, Lake Wales Care Center
Bruce Clark, Association for Inwood Community
Jennifer Codo-Salisbury, Central Florida Regional Planning Council
Hailee Cornett, Tobacco Free Florida
Liz Craven, Pro-Ad Media
Maria Cruz, Talbot House Ministries
Pam Craven, Learning Resource Center
Joseph Davis, Lakeland Regional Health
Leslyn Diaz MD, Polk County BoCC
Barbara Erickson, Harrison School for the Arts Parents’ Association
Autumn Fenton, Polk County BoCC
Taylor Freeman, Florida Dept. of Health in Polk County
Sonia Glisson, Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine
Merissa Green, Polk County Public Schools
Hannah Hardin, Parker Street Ministries
Bettie Harrell-Jones, The Way at Inwood Baptist Church
Edwin Harvey, Polk County Sheriff’s Office
Minnie Hassele, Association for Inwood Community
Claudine Humber, Florida Children’s Museum
Rebecca Klein, A Woman’s Choice
Ileana Kniss, United Way of Central Florida
Keri Kozicki, BayCare Health Systems
Rita Langdale, Hope Restored Counseling of Florida
Jenna Levine, Florida Dept. of Health in Polk County
Monica Livingstone, Tobacco Free Florida
Brenda Luna, Family Healthcare Foundation
June May, United Way of Central Florida
Tim Mitchell, Parker Street Ministries
Rene Montgomery, Golden Light Trauma Recovery
Jessica Napoleon, Florida Dept. of Health in Polk County
Donald Nunnery, Winter Haven Police Department
Alice Nuttall, Lakeland Regional Health
Antionette Pollard, Pieces to Peace Counseling
Andy Palmer, City of Winter Haven
Craig Pickos, Polk for Recovery
Emilie Quam, Lake Wales Care Center
Rob Quam, Lake Wales Care Center
Robert Rihn, Tri-County Human Services
Katie Roders, Turner, Family Healthcare Foundation
Ben Ruch, Polk County Public Schools
Terri Saltzman, Polk County BoCC
Stephen Savarimuthu, Lake Wales Care Center
Kristen Smith, BayCare Health Systems
Kristen Spiker-Brenneman, Lakeland Chamber of Commerce
Darling St. Jean, Self Excel
Hattie Thomas, Association for Inwood Community
Brenda Torres, Central Florida Regional Planning Council
Ismary Vento, Health Council of West Central Florida
Holly Vida, Polk County BoCC
Nicole Walker, UF/IFAS Extension Polk County
Daryl Ward, Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance
Steve Warner, Polk County Public Schools