Ken Bado
Chairman of the Board: Ken Bado has been transforming IT companies for the last 30 years. In addition to being CEO of GMB Consulting LLC, he sits on boards of high growth software companies and various non-profits. Ken is based in Dallas, Texas, USA.
Stephen Miller
Vice-Chair: Stephen Miller has had a very successful career in accounting and finance, having been named to Accounting Today’s list of “Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting”, and operating his own accounting practice for nearly 20 years. Throughout his 32 year career in the Tampa Bay area, Stephen has assisted numerous charitable and religious organizations in his capacity as CPA as well as a board member.
MC Daughtry
Treasurer: MC Daughtry is Producing Branch Manager of Waterstone Mortgage and member of the President’s Club. In addition to serving with Voices of Hope for Aphasia, she has also volunteered for Meals on Wheels, Big Brother Big Sisters, & Beach Stewardship for Treasure Island City.
Des Welch
Secretary: Des Welch is a retired Air Force pilot, NASA trainer and IT specialist. He was married to Danniella Muheim, who had aphasia and attended Voices of Hope for Aphasia sessions many times.
John Valavanis
John Valavanis has over 25 years of services, operations and consulting expertise developed in high tech companies. Today, John is Vice President of Operations for AffluenceConnect, a social networking site for the accomplished.
Steve Blum
Steve Blum has over 25 years of Engineering, Sales, Channel, and Consulting experience in worldwide markets for high tech companies. He is currently Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Services at Autodesk, Inc where he has worked for the last 13 years. Steve is based in Plano, Texas.
Gary Panaro
Gary Panaro has over 30 years of Sales, Financial and Business Operations experience with several established and start–up high tech companies. He is currently Director of AEC Named Accounts Sales at Autodesk where he has worked for the past 12 years. Gary is located in Boston, MA.
David Baras, M.D.
Dr. David Baras is a recently retired Physiatrist who had a private practice for many years in St. Petersburg. He served as Medical Director of Bayfront Medical Rehab Center and as an Outpatient Medical Director for HealthSouth in Largo. He was an assistant professor at the USF Morsani College of Medicine and lectured at St. George’s University School of Medicine, among others. He served on the board of trustees of the Florida Holocaust Museum and is a docent and speaker. He was a member of the Exchange Club which focuses on the prevention of child abuse. In 1988, Dr. Baras was appointed by the Mayor of St. Petersburg to the Committee to Assist the Physically Injured.
Ex-Officio
Mike Caputo
Ex-Officio: Mike Caputo founded Voices of Hope for Aphasia in 2011 with his wife, Kathy. Mike is a person with aphasia and his voice on the Board of Directors is invaluable as we strive to serve people with aphasia. To read more about Mike, visit the Founders page or click here.
Emeritus Members
Dr. Harold “Bill” Heller
Emeritus Board: Dr. Bill Heller was the Dean of the College of Education at the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg. He is also a professor of Special Education. He has written and published grants related to providing education and other services to children and adults with disabilities.
Dr. Arthur Guilford
Emeritus Board: Dr. Arthur Guilford was the Regional Chancellor Emeritus from the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee after retiring after 40 years of service to USF. Dr. Guilford is a Speech-Language Pathologist with an extensive publication history concerning individuals with neurological communication disorders.
Mike Profita
Emeritus Board: Michael J. Profita has over 30 years of financial, operating and international expertise developed in a broad range of experience as a senior executive with several high tech companies, as a small business owner and as an angel investor. Currently, Mr. Profita is a Managing Director at Momentum Capital, LLC a boutique private equity firm and is CEO, Affluence Connect, PLC (AFCT on London GXG).
Jackie Hinckley, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Emeritus Executive Director: Dr. Jackie Hinckley has over 25 years of experience directing clinical and research programs that specialize in the treatment of aphasia and related neurologic communication disorders. She is an associate professor at Nova Southeastern University and Associate Professor Emeritus at the University of South Florida.
