Executive Leadership & Staff
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Joel L. Smith
President & CEO
Joel Smith serves as our President & CEO, overseeing our initiatives, educational content, and community collaborations. Joel came to Deerfield Beach Cares after serving as the Executive Director of the Florida Initiative for Suicide Prevention and as the Director of Dropout Prevention for Broward County Schools. He is regularly called on to train and lead workshops for many community providers as an expert navigator in Broward County. He has a graduate degree in education and has also served as a teacher and guidance counselor in the northeast. Joel serves on the Children's Services Board and the Board of Directors of Tomorrow's Rainbow. |
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Jarvis R. Brunson
Vice President of Operations
Jarvis Brunson is our Vice President of Operations, overseeing our youth initiatives, community projects, and volunteer engagement. As a young adult who navigated through the local systems of care, Jarvis is a tireless and relentless advocate for the health and well-being of all people. He has his bachelor's in social work and has worked in restaurant management and in the corporate world. Jarvis serves on the Children's Services Board and the Board of Directors for House of Love Ministries in Lauderhill, FL. |
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Dr. Blaise Amendolace
Chief Wellness Officer
Dr. Blaise Amendolace is our Chief Wellness Officer, overseeing all health and wellness initiatives to support our population, our staff, and our volunteers. Blaise is a licensed clinical psychologist, author, professor, consultant, and trainer/organizer. Dr. Amendolace has over 15 years of experience in diverse mental health settings, serving in the roles of Clinical Director, Assessment Coordinator, Training Coordinator, Adjunct Faculty, and member of various Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committees across multiple university settings. His areas of specialty include trauma/abuse survivors, anxiety, OCD, mental health administration, and group counseling. |
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Alyssa Mayer-Saldivar
Executive Assistant
Alyssa serves as the Executive Assistant for DBCC. In addition to many administrative tasks, Alyssa is the person behind emails and phone calls coming from our growing organization. Alyssa came to DBCC in July 2023 after 34 years as a classroom teacher, department chair, and administrator. She has degrees in psychology and special education, as well as a teaching certificate for special education in grades K-12. She also brings experience from her time with Food for the Poor and as a volunteer speaker and mentor in the community. |
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Brittany Brown
Coordinator of the Youth Leadership & Development Academy
Brittany coordinates our Youth Development & Leadership Academy, designed to support our community's young people through mentoring, tutoring, and family supports. Brittany also works as a mental health and substance abuse therapist at the United Recovery Project. She brings experience volunteering at the YMCA, in the foster care system, and with the Department of Juvenile Justice. She has a graduate degree in mental health counseling and is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and Qualified Mental Health Professional. |
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Tiffany Rivera
Mental Health Intern
Bio Coming Soon |
Board of Directors
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Kurt R. Schmidt
Chair
Kurt R. Schmidt is a professional communicator, musician, and nonprofit executive. He has degrees in sacred music and theology. Currently, he serves as the Cantor & Church Administrator at Zion - Ministries Under the Cross in Deerfield Beach. Kurt is also a graduate of the Nonprofit Executive Program at the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship at FSU. He serves as a member of the Faith-Based Advisory Committee at the United Way of Broward County and as the Secretary for the Kiwanis of Deerfield Beach. |
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Raihaana Ali
Vice Chair
Raihaana Ali is an engaged community parent, former teacher, and wellness advocate in Deerfield Beach. She has degrees in biology and zoology from the University of the West Indies. Raihaana currently serves on the PTAs of Deerfield Beach Middle School and Deerfield Beach High School and as the wellness coordinator for the Healthy Students, Healthy Community initiative sponsored by FLIPANY. |
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Laura Howard
Secretary/Treasurer
Laura Howard is an engaged parent and mental health advocate in our local community. With degrees in sociology and anthropology from Florida State University, Laura lived and worked in Belize for five years. She currently works at a local engineering firm as a proposal coordinator, and, in addition to her work with DBCC, she has most recently served as the mental health committee chair for the Broward PTA/PTSA. |
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Valerie Anastasi
Valerie Anastasi is the newest member of our Board of Directors. Originally from Maryland, Valerie relocated to South Florida a few years ago. She has a background in office management but recently began working with Cultivate Behavioral Health & Education, a provider of ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis), and became a newly-certified Registered Behavioral Technician.
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Sheilla Brunelus
Sheilla Brunelus is active in the mental health field as a practitioner, advocate, and volunteer. She has her degree in mental health counseling from Lynn University and is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. She has worked as a therapist for the Community Youth Services division of the Memorial Healthcare System for the last five years. In addition to her work with DBCC, Sheilla has volunteered with Sisters, Inc. in Broward County.
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Pictured with Janie Smith
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Michael Marion
Michael Marion is a man of lived experience and a passionate voice for the local community. His story is intimately connected with Deerfield Beach Community Cares through his daughter, Alexis Jane, who took her own life in February 2020. Michael and his wife Mari (a licensed social worker) are strong local advocates for building relationships between quality mental health providers and the community. Michael works as an electrician in Broward County.
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Shyvonna Rolle
Shyvonna Rolle is a powerful voice in the community, especially for those who have been marginalized and excluded from the collective conversation. She has her BSN, has worked in many areas of healthcare, and currently serves at a local senior living facility. Shyvonna is an ordained minister and also serves as the Vice President of Deerfield Beach Kiwanis - West.
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