Survivor-Led Team of Professionals

Board of Directors

Dan R. Stengle

Board Chair

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Dan Stengle

Dan is a trial attorney with nearly 40 years of experience representing clients on land use, regulatory permitting, utility regulation and all aspects of litigation and appeals. In addition to private practice law, he served as Senior Attorney – and later General Counsel – to the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, as Staff Director to the Senate Governmental Operations Committee, General Counsel to the Florida Department of Community Affairs, and as Special Counsel to the Florida Governor and Cabinet on matters relating to Areas of Critical State Concern, including the Florida Keys.

Florida Governor Lawton Chiles then tapped Dan to be Deputy Chief of Staff and General Counsel, where Dan directed all legal and administrative aspects of the Governor’s Office. Dan also served as General Counsel to the Governor’s Transition Team between the Chiles/MacKay Administration and incoming Governor Jeb Bush.

Dan is a frequent lecturer on appellate practice, legislative drafting and research, public meetings and records, and ethics for public officials and employees, as well as the author of several publications. In addition, he has a long history of giving back to his community, including serving as the former Chair of Voices for Florida’s Board of Directors and guiding the organization’s formal affiliation with The Children’s Campaign, forming the foundation of serving children through applied research and best practice networking in addition to policy advocacy.

Dan received his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree with high honors from Florida State University.

Connie Rose, M.S. Ad. Ed

Co-President | South Region

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Connie Rose, M.S. Ad. Ed

Connie Rose is a distinguished child sexual abuse, anti-trafficking thought leader, nonprofit executive leadership consultant, trainer and veteran of the TEDx stage. Her leadership in child sexual abuse, trafficking prevention and treatment spans over 30 years.

She helped co-create the Open Doors Outreach Network, including assisting in procuring $3.2 million in funding for its initial pilot test. She has also testified before local, state and national governments and raises visibility for the needs of survivors of child sexual abuse and trafficking.

Connie is a highly regarded sought after international speaker, trainer, and consultant, bringing her years of experience to tens of thousands of individuals. She has worked extensively with a variety of organizations, government and non-government agencies, law enforcement, corporations, healthcare providers, colleges/universities, and non-profits.

She received her Master of Science from Barry University in Adult Education, Training and Development, and has also received a Master Level Certification in Special Education from USF, and a Master Level Certification from USF Muma College of Business: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Currently, she is an Executive Leadership doctoral student at Destiny Christian College.

In addition to serving as Co-President | South Region for Voices for Florida, she is the founder of Victims2Survivors-US, a survivor-led non-profit organization focused on eradicating human trafficking and “Filling the Gap” by providing supportive survivor services to women engaged in sex industry and trafficking.

James J. (Jim) Bracher

Co-President | North Region

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James J. (Jim) Bracher

Jim is an experienced executive specializing in optimizing operational performance and client outcomes. One of the top accomplishments in his career was the reorganization of a multi-million nonprofit financial management process, including the parent/subsidiary billing and payment system, budgeting process, financial statement presentation and compliance with state contracting requirements. Using his expertise in regulatory compliance, he has previously contracted under the Florida Office of Insurance regulation to monitor troubled health insurance companies. In this role, he ensured compliance with state licensing requirements and statutory accounting principles to develop a pathway for return to compliance.

Jim’s nonprofit leadership experience spans serving in executive roles at the Florida Association of Nurse Practitioners, Florida Association of Healthy Start Coalitions/Healthy Start Momcare Network, and Florida Association of Health Plans. He is also the principal at J. Bracher & Associates Insurance Consultants.

Jim achieved both his BS in Accounting and MBA in Finance at Indiana University.

Robert Brooks

Board Member

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Robert Brooks

Robert has an extensive background providing financial advisement, focusing on doing what’s right for clients, associates and communities. He currently serves as the Branch Manager and Vice President of Investments at The Brooks Asset Advisory Group of Raymond James, where he provides a personalized approach to managing wealth. Prior experience includes career-building work at Merill Lynch and Xerox.

Robert was born in Columbus, Ohio and attended Florida State University as a student athlete in Track & Field. He graduated with a BS in Marketing.

Over the years Robert has provided countless hours of volunteer work including supporting Springtime Tallahassee, FAMU Foundation, United Way of Big Bend and Red Hills Horse Trials. He currently is a member of the LeMoyne Arts gallery in Tallahassee and a logistics volunteer for Chain of Parks Art Festival. In addition, Robert is a current member of “Hundred Caring Men of Tallahassee”, which collectively raises funds for local nonprofits.

Linda Sutherland

Vice Chair

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Linda Sutherland

Linda Sutherland has served as the Executive Director of the Healthy Start Coalition of Orange County since February 2001. As the chief executive officer of the Coalition, she oversees a $4 million budget and related staff and programs which support both the Coalition of over 160 members (serving over 4000 women and 3000 infants each year), as well as a variety of direct maternal and child health and social services offered to the community, including launching a Fatherhood program which has since spun off to an independent nonprofit (All Star Dads), ACA enrollment, Children’s Health Insurance and Medicaid enrollment.

Prior to her work with the Coalition, she served as the President of the Orange County Council of PTAs and then was elected to the Orange County School Board for three terms, from 1990-2002.

During her tenure she served as both chairman and vice chairman of the local school board and as President of the State School Board Association. She also represented Florida on the Council of Great City Schools and the National School Boards Association as well as other national early childhood development advisory committees.

Ms. Sutherland was invited to the White House by then First Lady Laura Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush to a discussion on early literacy and school readiness in 2001. She developed other national contacts because of attending that event.

She considers herself first and foremost, a child advocate. She has served on The Children’s Campaign board of directors, as well as the Florida Association of Healthy Start Coalitions, Second Harvest Food Bank Health and Hunger task force, Help Me Grow and the Children’s Cabinet of Orange County.

Staff

Connie Rose, M.S. Ad. Ed

Co-President | South Region

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Connie Rose

Connie Rose is an idea generating, game changing, goal-oriented, human dynamo whose rare blend of style and substance has made her a powerful, transformational speaker.

Like you, Connie Rose worked long hours and ignored the stressors that affect our professional and personal lives. She didn’t get how important having a work/life balance was. For years hiding behind her past of childhood sexual abuse, sex trafficking all at the hands of a serial sex offender father who was also her pimp. Connie’s self-esteem, confidence and ability to adapt was at an all – time low affecting her work/life balance.

Is balance only within the reach of a select few, or are we all eligible to receive this gift?
Connie is hired by organizations who want their leaders and teams to have impact, influence and the ability to inspire others. She delivers game-changing programs – keynotes, breakouts, trainings, consulting and coaching that offer messages of leadership, change, resilience along with creating awareness of sex trafficking and domestic violence.

She is the author of “Take The World By Storm” ™ and ARC ™ Methodology to being the Unstoppable You! Using her ARC Methodology Adaptability – Resiliency – Confidence™ creating a Life Balance approach. When an organization or individual is Adaptable, Resilient and Confident, it makes for one happy, productive company and employees.

“Not On My Watch” ™ is a snapshot of the kinds of things First responders should look for in regards to Red Flags, Identifying Victims and Resources working with victims of Sex Trafficking. In today’s society sex trafficking has become a major public health and social injustice problem, both domestically and internationally. First responders are often the only professional to interact with trafficking victims who are still in captivity.

Connie Rose M.S. Ed PhD candidate, is a specialist in resiliency, transformation and leadership with over 25 years’ experience as a motivational speaker, trainer, coach, media contributor and expert witness. Adding to her expertise as a Ted Talk speaker. “What Can You Learn From A Rubber Band?” Connie has been featured in the PBS documentary “To Close Too Home.” Whether it’s in an organization, an entrepreneurial business, or in your personal life, Connie knows how to move through challenging adversity to get things done and motivate others to do the same. Drawing from her personal journey of resiliency and transformation from over 16 years of childhood sexual abuse, pornography and sex trafficking all at the hands of a serial sex offender father who was also her pimp.

James J. (Jim) Bracher

Co-President | North Region

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James J. (Jim) Bracher

Jim is an experienced executive specializing in optimizing operational performance and client outcomes.

One of the top accomplishments in his career was the reorganization of a multi-million nonprofit financial management process, including the parent/subsidiary billing and payment system, budgeting process, financial statement presentation and compliance with state contracting requirements.

Using his expertise in regulatory compliance, he has previously contracted under the Florida Office of Insurance regulation to monitor troubled health insurance companies. In this role, he ensured compliance with state licensing requirements and statutory accounting principles to develop a pathway for return to compliance.

Jim achieved both his BS in Accounting and MBA in Finance at Indiana University.

Sandy Skelaney

Open Doors Statewide Director

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Sandy Skelaney

Sandy Skelaney is a distinguished anti-trafficking thought leader, nonprofit executive, and educator who spearheaded Florida’s first multi-disciplinary system of care for child victims of sex trafficking in 2007.

Her leadership in child trafficking prevention and treatment spans over 20 years, including working with renowned organizations such as ECPAT International in Bangkok, Thailand, and GEMS in New York City where she organized the First National Summit of Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth and Congressional Briefing in 2002. In 2007, Sandy founded Project GOLD at Kristi House in Miami, creating one of the first specialized programs for child trafficking survivors within a child advocacy center. As a member of the DCF Child Trafficking Working Group in 2008, she helped Florida become the second state in the US to create child welfare response protocols for human trafficking and was the first to advocate for the creation of the Safe Harbor Act in 2009.

A sought-after speaker and educator, she has presented keynotes or advanced training for over 20,000 people in schools, prisons, community based organizations and conferences across the world as well as on the TEDx Miami stage. Child-serving organizations that she has provided training and technical assistance to include National Criminal Justice Training Center, Shared Hope International, National Children’s Advocacy Center, Florida Department of Children and Families, Traffick Free, youthSpark, Redefining Refuge and many more.

Since 2015 Sandy has been an adjunct lecturer at Florida International University (FIU) Center for Women and Gender Students, teaching graduate and undergraduate coursework in sex trafficking solutions, as well as serving as faculty advisor for FIU’s Student Alliance Fighting Exploitation.

Sandy received a Master of Arts degree in International Relations from Yale University and is a doctoral student in Public Affairs at FIU.

Karen Bonsignori

Communications

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Karen Bonsignori

Karen has assisted Voices for Florida and the Open Doors Outreach Network with integrated communications activities since 2016. She is an award-winning public relations and marketing professional who has spent the majority of her nearly 30-year career in leading nonprofit communications for local, state and national organizations.

Her work has been recognized with numerous awards from the Tampa Advertising Federation, Florida Motion Picture & Television Association, Graphic Design USA, and Florida Public Relations Association, including the top public relations award in the state of Florida ― the prestigious Dick Pope All Florida Golden Image Award. In 2012, Karen was honored with the top national media award called The Golden Thinker Award from the North American Precis Syndicate for a consumer feature article that received an extraordinary number of media placements in American newspapers.

She is a graduate of Vanderbilt University with a bachelor’s degree in Communications and completed post baccalaureate studies in Public Relations Management at University of Florida.

Kisha Gipson

Director of Training and Staff Development

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Kisha Gipson

Kishara “Kisha” Gipson has more than 15 years of experience in training and social services, most recently serving as Director of Education/Training and Staff Development – SES for Florida Department of Children and Families. In that position, she developed, evaluated and maintained data relating to training of staff, as well as developed instructional methods for the implementation of new procedures and standards. She has also obtained certifications in Mental Health First Aid, W.R.A.P Facilitation, a MBTI Practitioner, and a DCF Facilitator. She is also attending classes for her CPM Certification at Florida State University.

She also has served as a Rehabilitation Therapy Supervisor – SES and Rehabilitation Therapist – SES with Department of Children and Families, a Standardized Patient with Florida State College of Medicine, and as a Grant Writer with Communities in Schools, Tallahassee.

She received her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Keiser University, and two master’s degrees from Saint Leo University – one in Behavioral Studies, and another in Criminal Investigations. She has volunteered for Guardian ad Litem and the Innocence Project of Florida.

Marisa Glover

Open Doors Compliance and Audit Director

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Marisa Glover

As the Open Doors Compliance and Audit Director, Marisa Glover develops and leads the implementation of processes and procedures related to audits, cashflow management, internal and external budgeting, and financial reporting for the Open Doors Outreach Network. Her work ensures compliance with established policies and standards, state and federal guidelines and laws, and contractual obligations.

She has nearly 20 years of experience in accounting, program auditing, and regulatory compliance management for public and private organizations, most recently serving as a Regulatory Analyst Supervisor with the Florida Public Service Commission. She also has served with the Department of Health, Department of Transportation and Department of Agriculture, as well as Tallahassee Police Department, DISC Village and American Title Insurance Company.

Marisa received a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Management from Saint Leo University, as well as a bachelor’s degree in Criminology from Florida State University.

Cathi Marchant

Open Doors Program Coordinator

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Cathi Marchant

Cathi Marchant has more than 20 years of administrative services experience with Florida public and private organizations. Prior to joining Voices for Florida, she was the Assistant to the Director of Auditing and Performance Analysis with Florida Public Service Commission. In addition, she has served as a paralegal with Smith Brooks and Masterson law firm and as Deputy Clerk with the Division of Administrative Hearings.

As the Open Doors Program Coordinator, Cathi is responsible for maintaining Open Doors Outreach Network operations and administrative functions, including monthly reporting, preparing and organizing files for audits, and ensuring data collection is in accordance with all state and federal reporting requirements.

A member of Alpha Phi Sigma, the National Criminal Justice Honor Society, Cathi received her Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees in Criminal Justice from Keiser University in Tallahassee, Florida.

Roy Miller

Senior Advisor

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Roy Miller

Roy Miller has a long history of creating transformational change for sex trafficked children. He worked alongside Dr. Lawanda Ravoira to pass landmark legislation, Florida’s Safe Harbor Act, recognizing trafficked children as victims rather than as perpetrators of criminalization – an advancement that took over five years to accomplish. He then helped conceptualize the Open Doors Outreach Network service model, led advocacy to implement it, and has served as Senior Advisor to the effort.

Roy’s other innovations have resulted in new non-partisan approaches to public policy, new service structures for at-risk children, and powerful new advocacy voices. His models and strategic communications techniques have been replicated in other states. In the 1980’s he built one of the state’s first full-service centers for runaway and in-crisis youth. Sex trafficked children were among the client population served.

Roy is described by colleagues as the state’s top watchdog for children, an insightful strategist, determined lobbyist, plain spoken media spokesperson and commentator, and, more important, an unapologetic yet neutral critic of ineffective services to children.

In 2005, he received the statewide Champions for Children award from the Early Childhood Association of Florida and his work was featured for the launch of the national website for PreK Now, a project of Pew Charitable Trusts. In 2006, Miller received the statewide Presidents Award from the Florida Network of Youth & Family Services, an award that has been bestowed only four times in the previous 30 years. In 2008, the statewide Youth Advocacy Award was presented to Miller by the Florida Juvenile Justice Association.

In his spare time, Roy likes the beach, tennis and landscaping. He supports several organizations that care for dogs and endangered animals, especially manatees.

Nilda Otero

Open Doors Housing Liaison

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Nilda Otero

As the Open Doors Housing Liaison, Nilda administers transitional housing assistance for survivors of sex trafficking age 10-24. She is responsible for strategizing with Open Doors team members and other partners across the state to finding access to transitional housing, as well as maintaining data and compliance to support the Voices housing assistance services

Nilda began her career in child welfare in 2013 as a volunteer with the Guardian Ad Litem program, where she gave a voice to children unable to advocate for themselves. While raising her son as a single mom, she obtained her Associates Degree from Pasco Hernando State College in 2015 and her Bachelor’s in Behavioral Health Community Science with a Concentration in Children’s Mental Health and Criminology at the University of South Florida in 2017.

Nilda previously interned at a safe house for victims of human trafficking, where she met her now daughter, during her undergraduate studies. Upon graduation, Nilda obtained employment with a case management agency in Hillsborough County, FL. As a Certified Welfare Child Case Manager, she staffed almost 40 children on her caseload, and continued to advocate for children and families in need.

Nilda previously utilized her passion to directly serve survivors of human trafficking and sexual abuse at the More Too Life Foundation, the Open Doors Outreach Network Provider in the Suncoast region. Nilda continues to volunteer in the community and be a mentor.

Nilda holds certifications in Mental Health First Aid and Crisis Prevention, able to deescalate a crisis when needed. She also sits on several Advisory Boards for various organizations to ensure the best interest of youth are being met.

Survivor-Led Team of Professionals

Board of Directors

Dan R. Stengle

Board Chair

Connie Rose, M.S. Ad. Ed

Co-President | South Region

James J. (Jim) Bracher

Co-President | North Region

Robert Brooks

Board Member

Linda Sutherland

Vice Chair

Staff

Connie Rose, M.S. Ad. Ed

Co-President | South Region

James J. (Jim) Bracher

Co-President | North Region

Sandy Skelaney

Open Doors Statewide Director

Karen Bonsignori

Communications

Kisha Gipson

Director of Training and Staff Development

Marisa Glover

Open Doors Compliance and Audit Director

Cathi Marchant

Open Doors Program Coordinator

Roy Miller

Senior Advisor

Nilda Otero

Open Doors Housing Liaison

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