Board of Directors
Nonprofits First is governed by a Board of Directors made of business and community leaders representing the communities we serve. They are active in fundraising, increasing partnerships, creating opportunities for service and growth, providing advocacy and developing community relationships. They raise awareness of Nonprofits First by identifying venues for marketing and public relations, recruiting new board members, and participating in special events and projects.
Jennifer Sullivan
Chair
Jennifer Sullivan
Jennifer can be reached on LinkedIn.
Katia Saint-Preux
Vice Chair
Katia Saint-Preux
Ms. Saint-Preux manages all volunteer programs at Florida Power & Light Company. She works closely with the company business units to engage employees in meaningful projects. She also works closely with the External Affairs team and non-profits to make an impact. She has been with the company for four years.
She earned her degree in Marketing with a minor in business management from Northern Kentucky University. She is passionate about volunteering and giving back to the communities where we live and work.
Florida Power & Light Company
Florida Power & Light Company is the third-largest electric utility in the United States, serving nearly 5 million customer accounts or an estimated 10 million people across nearly half of the state of Florida. FPL's typical 1,000-kWh residential customer bill is approximately 25 percent lower than the latest national average and, in 2016, was the lowest in Florida among reporting utilities for the seventh year in a row. FPL's service reliability is better than 99.98 percent, and its highly fuel-efficient power plant fleet is one of the cleanest among all utilities nationwide. The company received the top ranking in the southern U.S. among large electric providers, according to the J.D. Power 2016 Electric Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction StudySM, and was recognized in 2017 as one of the most trusted U.S. electric utilities by Market Strategies International. A leading Florida employer with approximately 8,900 employees, FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Florida-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE), a clean energy company widely recognized for its efforts in sustainability, ethics and diversity, and has been ranked No. 1 in the electric and gas utilities industry in Fortune's 2017 list of "World's Most Admired Companies." NextEra Energy is also the parent company of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which, together with its affiliated entities, is the world's largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun. For more information about NextEra Energy companies, visit these websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com
Katia can be reached on LinkedIn.
Henry Martin
Treasurer
Henry Martin
Henry Martin is a Partner in the audit and assurance practice of CohnReznick, formerly Daszkal Bolton, and has been with the Firm for fifteen years. He oversees audits for privately-held corporations and not-for-profit organizations. Additionally, he oversees Uniform Guidance (OMB Circular A-133), Florida Single Audit Act and employee benefit plan audits for a number of clients. Prior to joining the firm, he served as an in-house accounting manager for a large advertising firm as well as an accountant for a yacht manufacturing and service company.
Henry earned a Master of Science in Accounting from Nova Southeastern University and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Florida Atlantic University. He is active in numerous professional and civic organizations, including the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants and American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Henry is a licensed United States Coast Guard Captain and is fluent in Spanish.
Henry can be reached on LinkedIn.
Teresa Miller
Secretary
Teresa Miller
Ms. Miller is currently the Vice President of Human Resources for Garden of Life, a whole food based nutritional supplement company headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Garden of Life’s mission is to Empower Extraordinary Health by providing the highest-quality, USDA Organic, Certified Non-GMO, RAW, whole food nutritional products on the market. Ms. Miller joined Garden of Life in 2005. She is responsible for leading a team in the design, development, and administration of an effective Human Resources function including compensation, benefits, staffing and recruitment, training and development, employee relations and HR policies. She also manages and leads the companywide Wellness initiative. Prior to joining Garden of Life, Ms. Miller served as the Human Resource Service Center Manager for Union Safe Deposit Bank in California. There she led teams in the areas of benefits & compensation, recruitment & selection, employment, employee relations and HR technology.
Ms. Miller earned her Bachelor Degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and is certified by the Society for Human Resource Management and the HR Certification Institute as a Professional in Human Resources. She is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management and the Human Resource Association of Palm Beach County.
Ms. Miller has served on numerous boards and committees including the American Cancer Society, Cattle Baron’s Ball San Joaquin, CA and Team Recruitment Member, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer; Hispanic Human Resources Council, Fundraising Committee Member; Consumer Credit Counseling Service – Palm Beach County Board Member; Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce, Chairperson, Business Support Sub-Committee; and, the San Joaquin Human Resources Association Board Member, VP, Professional Development
Teresa can be reached on LinkedIn.
Gina Ardillo, CPA
Board Member
Gina Ardillo, CPA
Ms. Ardillo has seven years of tax experience concentrating in services to the not-for-profit sector. She serves healthcare organizations, colleges and universities, private foundations, and various other not-for-profit organizations.
Ms. Ardillo manages a significant portion of Crowe’s not-for-profit client base in Florida, as well as other not-for-profit organizations across the country. In addition to being well-versed in the IRS Forms 990, 990-T, 990-PF, and related state forms, Ms. Ardillo corresponds with the IRS and state taxing authorities on behalf of her clients. Ms. Ardillo also provides consulting services related to issues affecting not-for-profit organizations, which includes the performance of research and the writing of memorandums, and is currently assisting her clients in navigating the issues of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that are relevant to not-for-profit organizations. Ms. Ardillo has presented educational seminars on topics specific to not-for-profit organizations, both internally for her colleagues and externally for local organizations.
Ms. Ardillo is a member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants (OSCPA), and Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FICPA). A graduate of Ohio State University, Ms. Ardillo is a Certified Public Accountant in Ohio and Florida.
Janice Brunson
Board Member
Janice Brunson
Janice Brunson is a Commercial Lender with Valley Bank, a financial institution with over 91 years of experience. Valley Bank has 41 branches in Florida with the Regional headquarters located in West Palm Beach. Janice is a Florida native and has been in commercial banking in Palm Beach County for more than 20 years. She is an Alumni of Leadership Palm Beach County, a member of CREW/Treasure Coast, and volunteers her time to the ARC of Palm Beach County. Janice currently serves as a Trustee of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches.
Peter Cruise
Board Member
Peter Cruise
PETER L. CRUISE, Ph.D. is an Affiliate Associate Professor and Founding Executive Director of the LeRoy Collins Public Ethics Academy at Florida Atlantic University. Both his academic and professional careers have been focused on improving the ethical climate in public sector programs and organizations. Since graduating with his Ph.D. in Public Administration from FAU in 1995, he taught ethics and organizational behavior in both undergraduate and graduate students in universities such as California State University-Chico, Golden Gate University, Louisiana State University and Mary Baldwin University. Before beginning his academic life, his professional career started in West Palm Beach in the early 1980s, working at St. Mary’s Hospital, and the Palm Beach Blood Bank, and later at Martin Memorial Hospital in Stuart. In addition to many published articles, he is the co-editor of the Handbook of Organization Theory and Management: The Philosophical Approach (2nd Edition, 2006). In April 2015, he was selected by the faculty the College of Design and Social Inquiry at Florida Atlantic University as a Distinguished Alumnus. In March 2018, he was appointed Palm Beach County Ethics Commissioner. In April 2024, he was appointed by the Mayor and City Commission to the City of West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority. He currently serves on Boards of Directors for the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches, the Palm Beach County Medical Society’s Council of Ethical & Judicial Affairs, and Leadership Palm Beach County.
Troy Harrington
Board Member
Troy Harrington
Troy Harrington is the Director of Consumer Lending at iThink Financial Credit Union, one of the nation's largest credit unions with 22 branches in Florida and Georgia. With more than 15 years in senior positions in the banking industry, Troy is a leader in strategic business management, trend and data analysis, and project management.
A member of Phi Theta Kappa, Troy earned a BSBA from Touro University and an MBA in Finance from TUI University. Troy has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Springs at Boynton Beach Community Association. During his previous board service at Nonprofits First, Troy served as Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee and was instrumental in the organization's relocation from Boynton Beach.
Troy may be reached on LinkedIn.
Mark Montgomery
Board Member
Mark Montgomery
Mark Montgomery advises successful families about their complex personal risk and designs and manages risk management programs to mitigate and protect against loss. Mark has 25 years of insurance expertise, 14 of which have been specifically focused on the property and liability risk management needs of affluent families in Palm Beach. Mark has been very involved in Palm Beach non-profits having served on boards or committees of Foundcare, Community Chest, and Rehabilitation Center for Children and Adults, Food for the Poor, Boy Scouts of America, Place of Hope and the Community Partnership Group.
Additionally, Mark is a past President of the Palm Beach County Estate Planning Council. Montgomery earned his MBA and undergraduate degrees from Stetson University. Formerly, he was a Vice President at Marsh Private Client Services and Director at Frank Crystal & Company.
Mark may be reached on LinkedIn.
John Muller
Board Member
John Muller
John Muller leads all Sales/Market Development, Talent Acquisition/Management/Strategy and People Operation for Gehring Group and Bentek. John is also a certified True Colors facilitator and provides learning sessions to Gehring Group clients.
John has a strong background both in Talent Acquisition and Retention as well as in performing the development work needed to improve HR programs and personnel policies. Since joining Gehring Group and Bentek, John led many new initiatives that helped transform the Companies' talent, reduce turnover, increase diversity, and improve morale, wellness, and engagement. He plays a key role in Gehring Group and Bentek's award-winning culture, recently recognized by Florida Trend's Best Companies to Work For, placing 5th among mid-size companies.
John served as an executive recruiter as well as leading recruiting and HR teams for Federal and local government agencies. in 2009, John was hired into an office established by the President within the U.S. Department of State charged with hiring professionals in diplomatic services, IT, Education, Finance and other key civilian advisory roles to work in Afghanistan and Iraq. He was highly successful in accomplishing the goals set for this difficult task and then identified as a strong HR leader to support the US Embassy Baghdad's mission in Iraq. John volunteered to serve in Iraq for the period of one year introducing important and valued improvements to the office of the Human Resources at US Embassy Baghdad.
John earned a Bachelor's in Business Administration majoring in Business Management and Organizational Development from the University of Miami and a MBA from Florida Atlantic University. He holds his SPHR and SHRM-SCP as well as becoming a certified Predictive Index Analyst. John is also an active member of SHRM, and its local Chapter (PBC SHRM) as Program/Certifications Director, as well as serving as Chair of the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers (CIAB) HR working group.
Alpesh Patel
Board Member
Alpesh Patel
Alpesh’s approach to Diversity and Inclusion aligns with his creed “Serve Others to Their Delight,” By serving others, we have a mutual opportunity to spark a relationship, examine biases and build harmony. Alpesh also believes that Diversity and Inclusion must grow beyond policy to Culture & Attitude. When we are welcomed and embraced, we are inspired to raise our game. When we are not welcome, we are hurt and our spirit takes a hit.
Alpesh is now leveraging his experiences and intersecting his passions for DEI+B (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging), serving clients, causes and community with creative problem-solving to develop practical solutions for enriching lives. Pivoting his resources and company, eSANGHE’s first initiative is SeedingACCESS — a collaborative program that brings businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies together to invest revitalized computers with families in underserved communities. To date, we have delivered more than 575 computers.
Alpesh is a proud member of LeadershipPBC ENGAGE Class of 2016 and an Advisor to the Digital Marketing Certificate Program at University of South Florida Muma College of Business. He currently serves on the Board of Leadership Palm Beach County and the Board of Pace Center for Girls PB. He volunteers his time with many organizations and programs, such as SchooLifeUSA, Philanthropy Tank, Xcel Mentoring Network, Path to College, Big Brothers Big Sisters, KOPMN, Roots & Wings, Pathfinders Awards, and Dwyer Awards.
Alpesh may be reached on LinkedIn
Deana Pizzo
Board Member
Deana Pizzo
Deana may be reached on LinkedIn.
Kenneth Rehns
Board Member
Kenneth Rehns
Ken is a Partner at Ward Damon and the Director of Ward Damon’s Litigation Group. He focuses primarily on business and commercial law, labor and employment litigation, real estate disputes, securities litigation, and complex commercial litigation. He represents several for profit and not for profit companies as outside general counsel. He has built a career representing the interests of individual and corporate clients in a broad range of complex federal and state commercial litigation matters as well as FINRA arbitrations, administrative and government proceedings, labor law matters, and contract and commercial negotiations and disputes.
Before moving to South Florida with his family in 2017, Ken spent nine years as a commercial litigator in New York City, regularly representing clients in high-profile matters around the country. Ken has received recognition as a Rising Star in labor and employment litigation by Super Lawyers Magazine and as a Top Lawyer by Palm Beach Illustrated Magazine.
Ken earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a focus on Economics from the George Washington University in 2005, graduating with honors, and went on to receive his law degree in 2008 from Syracuse University College of Law, again with honors.
In addition to his work with Nonprofits First, Ken also proudly serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network and as a member of the Board of Advisors of the Boys and Girls Club of Boca Raton.
Ken may be reached on LinkedIn.
Philip M. DiComo, Esq.
Board Member Emeritus
Philip M. DiComo, Esq.
Mr. DiComo serves as outside counsel to businesses, entrepreneurs and non-profit institutions. He concentrates his practice in the area of emerging companies and general corporate law, including non-profit organizations. Mr. DiComo’s representation of exempt organizations ranges from serving as outside general counsel providing guidance on a broad range of governance matters as well as business and donor agreements, to reviewing commercial co-venture arrangements, joint ventures and strategic partnerships to guiding non-profit mergers and other complex transactions. Prior to his law practice, Mr. DiComo had more than 15 years of communication, fund development and executive management experience primarily in the not-for-profit sector. Mr. DiComo, a member of the Florida Bar, serves as a director of Nonprofits First, Inc., and as a director of the Palm Beach County Cultural Council. He also serves on the American Bar Association’s Non-Profit Law Committee. Mr. DiComo earned the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy designation from the Richard D. Irwin Graduate School of the American College. Mr. DiComo is the recipient of the 2004 Non-Profit Law Award from the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, and is a member of the Leadership Palm Beach County Class of 2012.
Phil may be reached on LinkedIn.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Allegany Franciscan Ministries
Childrens Services Council
FPL
M&T Bank Wilmington Trust
Mariaca/CEFeX
Palm Beach Post LocalIQ
Quantum Foundation
United Way
Valley Bank
Wells Fargo