Theme: 100 Years and Going

An exciting evening is beginning to unfold. Amazing leaders of Vero will be sharing even more amazing ideas. We will learn how to change the planet through our diets, take a new look at art, feel the empathy in education, see what Piper is up to, change some bad habits and see Vero Beach in the eyes of the past, present and future.

The Emerson Center
1590 27th Ave.
Vero Beach, Florida, 32962
United States

Cecily Strang

academic, service and global work

Drs. Fred Foy and Cecily Strang team up to present a dynamic exploration of the topic: “Your Mission and Appropriate Technology.” Drawing on a foundation of academic grounding, a wealth of global experiences in service work, and personable and powerful presentation skills, this talk will be sure to engage and encourage audiences in making a difference. This unique talk offers insight from cultural anthropology, medical research and care in underserved areas, and decades of experience working with people from all walks of life in order to provide an exploration of best practices within the framework of an appropriate technology model. These perspectives along with audience participant engagement allow exploration of both the positive and negative impacts of technology within our social, educational, and environmental spheres of operation.

Debbi Arseneaux

Education, arts, program manager, consultant

DEBBI ARSENEAUX is a professional development program manager, educational consultant and teaching artist with The Learning Alliance in Vero Beach. She has been a teacher in the Washington DC Public School District and worked as a professional theatre director, stage manager, producer and freelance teaching artist in the DC area for over 15 years. Specializing in arts integration, she believes in the power of the arts to reach and teach students of all ages. She is currently pursuing a Master of Arts focused on early literacy and arts integration at Goddard Graduate Institute.

Fred Foy

Academic, service and global work

Drs. Fred Foy and Cecily Strang team up to present a dynamic exploration of the topic: “Your Mission and Appropriate Technology.” Drawing on a foundation of academic grounding, a wealth of global experiences in service work, and personable and powerful presentation skills, this talk will be sure to engage and encourage audiences in making a difference. This unique talk offers insight from cultural anthropology, medical research and care in underserved areas, and decades of experience working with people from all walks of life in order to provide an exploration of best practices within the framework of an appropriate technology model. These perspectives along with audience participant engagement allow exploration of both the positive and negative impacts of technology within our social, educational, and environmental spheres of operation.

George Blythe

Santa Clause

In 1980 George Blythe with his high school sweetheart Patty Ripley and two of their four daughters came to Vero Beach from their home in the Valley Forge area of Pennsylvania. They found a historic Sexton/McKee house on the island, and in 1990, as empty-nesters, moved to an Oak Hammock in the western part of the county. George as he had since his teens continued in Real Estate and the Construction Industry. An Auctioneer he has raised funds for many of our community organizations. George will give us a glimpse into the happiness of presenting Santa Clause to our community. He has been a busy man, in many a December since 1981, talking with our sons and daughters.

Ingrid Hernandez

Veteran, Professional Mary K Sales Director

Ingrid graduated from Chelsea High School in 1999. She joined the United States Army in 2002 and served for 13 years as a Civil Affairs soldier. Ingrid served one tour in Iraq, driving daily convoys in an austere location and earning a Bronze Star for her bravery in combat. In 2009, she became a licensed Radiation Therapist and earned an Associate Degree in Science. Ingrid left military service and pursued a new career with Mary Kay. Ingrid is also featured as a storyteller for “Hear My Story”. She is currently a Mary Kay Sales Director and loves the profession because it allows her to help women become their best selves and the flexibility to spend quality time with her husband and three children.

Jackie Carlon

director of marketing

Jackie Carlon is Senior Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications for Piper Aircraft, Inc. in Vero Beach, Florida. Ms. Carlon is responsible for the company’s worldwide marketing and advertising programs. Additionally she coordinates the company’s external communications and serves as the company’s chief corporate spokesperson with the news media and at aviation events and venues throughout the world. Prior to joining Piper in 2007, she served as Senior Product Marketing Manager for FlightSafety International (a Berkshire Hathaway Company) in Vero Beach, where she was responsible for promoting and selling the company’s flight training programs throughout the world. Earlier in her career she was Customer Service Coordinator for World Airways in Herndon, Virginia, as well as for Air France in Washington, D.C. She is a member of the Wings Club and International Aviation Women’s Association.

Jerusha Stewart

Success Strategist, professional speaker, best selling author

Jerusha Stewart is “Your Superstar Success Strategist”, a highly sought-after professional speaker, best-selling author and leads the internationally recognized, award-winning Vero Beach Wine + Film Festival. Recently she was thrilled to win the Indian River County Junior League Civic Woman of the Year Award and Treasure Coast Trailblazer Award. The 4th annual Film Festival benefits Suncoast Mental Health Center and is recognized as a TOP 100 film festival by filmmakers worldwide. Jerusha has been a featured expert on national television and in international print and digital media interviews. Charmed by the likeness to her Hawaii home, Jerusha moved to Vero Beach 5 years ago. She was immediately embraced by the nonprofit community where she offered her brand marketing and event planning skills. Jerusha enjoys being of service and is grateful to have found a perfect beachside home for her marketing talents and motivational speaking.

John Moore

Attorney, phylanthropist

John E. Moore, III graduated from Vero Beach High School and earned his undergraduate degree in accounting, with highest honors, from the University of Notre Dame in 1982. Following work as a staff accountant with Arthur Andersen & Co. in Dallas, Mr. Moore graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law. During law school he served as President of the Student Bar Association and received the James C. Slaughter Award recognizing an outstanding graduate in the Class of 1986. Mr. Moore has served a variety of community organizations in Vero Beach. He has also served as Indian River County’s Affordable Housing Advocate and a member of the Affordable Housing Advisory Commission to the Indian River County Board of County Commissioners. His work in the community has been recognized with various community-wide service awards, including the Florida Bar President’s Award and the Florida Rural Legal Services Award for Pro Bono Service in the 19th Circuit.

Kerryane Monahan

National Geographic Education Fellow, Biologist, teacher

Dr. Kerryane Monahan is a National Geographic Education Fellow focused on citizen science. As a teacher leader she focuses on weaving environmental themes across science disciplines and leveraging technologies to support student learning and engagement to develop a foundation of science literacy. She is the creator of Read, Retrieve, Connect, and Use, an intervention strategy for building literacy skills through science education. As a Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms, Kerryane collaborated with science teachers in Senegal to improve instruction and student outcomes. She has studied wolves in Yellowstone and Portugal, marine plastic pollution in Newfoundland and the impact of oil pipelines in Alaska. Her current research, funded by the Science Exploration Education Initiative, is investigating near shore, under dock, and sea grass beds in the Indian River Lagoon using an underwater drone for monitoring and assessment with reduced environmental impact.

Kim Artlip

business owner/promoter professional wrestling

Kim Artlip is the owner/promoter of IGNITE Wrestling. One of only a handful of women owners in professional wrestling in the world, she is dedicated to empowering women in male-oriented industries. In addition, she is a weekly columnist at the Gorilla Position, magazine publisher, author, former talk radio host and a 2018 Jr Women’s League Woman of the Year Nominee.

kristy Molledo

Dependency Case Manager, Guardian Ad Litem, Child Advocate

Kristy is an Indian River native. She attended Indian River Community College, where she was on the State Championship softball team. Shortly after she went to Florida State University completing her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a minor in Economics. After college, Kristy enlisted in the Army for 3 years, where she worked as a Corrections Officer in a military prison in Germany. Kristy’s military contract ended in 2012. She returned to Indian River County where she started her journey in social work. Kristy became a Dependency Case Manager, working with parents who have either had their children removed or have services in the home. As a case manager Kristy worked countless hours assisting families within the community. In 2018 Kristy expanded her journey and joined the Guardian Ad Litem Program as a Child Advocate Manager. The Guardian Ad Litem Program represents the child’s best interest in court, and encourages services for children that have been removed from their home.

Louise Kennedy

Learning, community activist, teacher, comedian

Catherine Louise Kennedy was born in Scotland but has called Vero Beach home in some shape or form since 1980. Education is at the root of everything she does, and Louise is always engaged in the process of learning. Whether through a month-long fellowship at Shakespeare’s Globe Theater in London or extra course-work through the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Louise challenges herself to learn more. She loves to share what she has learned through public speaking in a variety of different settings.

Richard Demsick

Minister, Break Dancer

I fell head over heels in love with my main man JC and living the ministry life after hearing stories of God using imperfect individuals to change lives. I am passionate about being there for those who are struggling and sharing God’s love in a language that every man, woman, and child can understand. My ministry includes going out into the community and sharing love and hope to many who have none. I am privileged to have all my brothers, and parents in Vero Beach and engaged in the mission of sharing God’s love, by any means necessary. I am excited by what God is doing in our ministry to unchurched, young families, those struggling with addictions, and those in the bars and coffee shops of our community. The 9.23 in 9.23 Community comes from Mark 9.23, When Jesus said, “All things are possible to him who believes.” The man responds, “I do believe, help me in my unbelief.” My ministry focus is being there for those who earnestly struggle in their doubt to find a God who understands.