Dr. Robert Conners

Dr. Robert Conners

Director of Research
Florida Commission on Human Relations
Tallahassee, FL 32301

Dr. Conners directs agency research and assists in formulating policy for the Florida Commission on Human Relations. He holds a doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology and Human Systems from Florida State University and has more than two decades' experience working for and consulting with numerous public and private sector institutions and agencies in matters ranging from institutional research to race relations. Shortly after earning his doctorate in the late eighties, Dr. Conners joined FSU's African American Studies faculty, conducting research in race conflict theory, race relations and multicultural education and curriculum development. During his tenure at FSU, he was principal investigator for a three-year, U. S. Department of Justice-sponsored project investigating racial disparities in Florida's juvenile justice system. From 2002 through 2007, Dr. Conners served as senior consultant for MGT of America, a Tallahassee-based government consulting firm, where he directed or participated in 19 disparity studies for state and local government entities, examining their utilization of minority and women-owned businesses. He is a published author and has delivered presentations on group conflict and race relations topics in dozens of professional and educational forums around the country. He remains an active member of several professional associations, including the Association for Conflict Resolution and the American Educational Research Association and also serves with the North Florida Regional Domestic Security Task Force as a consultant in bioterrorism response preparedness.

Gena Gunn

Gena Gunn

Project Director & Director of Asset Building in States and Coalitions
Center for Social Development
George Warren Brown School of Social Work
Washington University in St. Louis

Gena Gunn serves as Project Director and Director of Asset Building in States and Coalitions at the Center for Social Development (CSD) at Washington University's Brown School.
Ms. Gunn has extensive project management, program development, and policy advocacy experience in the areas of asset-building, asset policy coalition development, and workforce development assistance for low-to-moderate-income-households and marginalized populations. She leads efforts to identify systemic barriers experienced by vulnerable populations and to advance effective solutions through coalition building, advocacy, and legislative change. Her work with CSD primarily involves policy research analysis and consultation with community-based asset-building programs, state and federal policymakers, and advocate groups. Ms. Gunn's program development and policy advocacy work focus on asset building, coalition development, and community economic development assistance for low- and moderate-income households and marginalized populations. Her research focuses on identifying and advancing asset-building policy strategies for state and regional coalitions.
Prior to joining CSD, Ms. Gunn developed, managed, and directed the first state Individual Development Account (IDA) Program in Missouri while working for East-West Gateway Coordinating Council and Council of Mayors organization in St. Louis, Missouri. She continues to counsel individual states regarding IDA policy and programs, and consults about other asset-building policies to non-profit organizations and the federal government. Ms. Gunn earned a bachelor's degree from the Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL and business management master's degree at Fontbonne University in St. Louis.

Eric M. Kelly

Eric M. Kelly

Regional Vice President, Palm Beach
Allegany Franciscan Ministries, Inc.

Eric M. Kelly is a graduate of Florida State University. At Allegany Franciscan Ministries he directs the foundation's grant-making and community engagement efforts in Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie Counties, with a focus on promoting culturally competent access to healthcare to improve the health status of persons in poor and marginalized communities.  Prior to joining Allegany Franciscan Ministries in 2003, Eric was Director of Community Investments at United Way of Palm Beach County.
Eric has directed and facilitated strategic planning and board development sessions for a number of local health and human services organizations. He is active in community and volunteer activities: he currently serves on a variety of community steering and advisory committees, is a member of the board of directors of the Area Agency on Aging Palm Beach/Treasure Coast and is a community volunteer at Jesus and You (J.A.Y.) Ministries, a residential program for men recovering from substance abuse. Eric lives in Palm Beach County with his wife and four children.

Dr. Carlton Robinson

Dr. Carlton Robinson

President, First Coast African American Chamber of Commerce
Independent Researcher/Consultant

Dr. Carlton Lamar Robinson is a native Floridian (St. Petersburg), veteran of the United States Army, and resident of Northeast Florida (Clay County) since 2000. During his nine-year tenure with a Fortune 50 financial services firm he worked in multiple communities in the areas of employment, business development, and underwriting. At the end of that tenure (2005) he focused on the final year of his doctoral studies in the area of management and workplace diversity. He balanced his studies with volunteer opportunities at the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, The First Coast African American Chamber of Commerce, and The Jacksonville Urban League. Upon graduation (2007) he assumed a leadership positions at the First Coast African American Chamber of Commerce and the Clay County Chamber of Commerce.
Those experiences have led him to gain a better understanding of the business community throughout Northeast Florida and the potential impact of legislation on business activity. He is an advocate for business and education. He currently serves on boards that stimulate the local economy through access to capital and business development. He has also contributed to the region through the development of two local economic summits that produced supplier diversity and employment opportunities for participants.
In addition, Dr. Robinson has written extensively about entrepreneurial opportunities that may have a positive impact on the region relative to per capita income and small business development. His Diverse Business Enterprise Impact Model has been adopted by The Florida Black Chamber of Commerce in an effort to capture the capacity and utilization of small businesses; the model can be adapted for any subgroup. Some of his work has been presented at the White House on behalf of multiple Asset Building Agencies (March 2009). He recently (August 2009) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Benin (Nigeria) Chamber of Commerce to help promote international trade. His goal is to promote positive change and outcomes in business policy. He has served the community on educational boards and business development boards. He is a member of the International Academy of Management.

Fred Seamon

Fred Seamon

Senior Partner, MGT of American, Inc.

MGT of America, Inc., is a national, public sector, management consulting and research firm headquartered in Tallahassee, Florida, that specializes in helping to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of organizations in the public sector. Prior to joining MGT as a partner he was on the faculty of the School of Social Work, the Askew School of Public Administration and Policy and the Pepper Institute on Aging at Florida State University where he taught graduate courses and conducted research in several areas related to human services and organizational development. Over the past 25 years he has conducted consulting projects in over 40 states and 14 countries, many of which have involved capacity building, strategic planning, and organizational development.
Dr. Seamon started his professional career as a juvenile probation counselor and has a bachelor's in Sociology, a Master of Social Work, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration. He is also certified as a mediator by the Florida Supreme Court. Dr. Seamon has been affiliated with MGT for over 20 years and directs most of MGT's organizational development projects with government and the nonprofit sector. He provides a diverse range of expert consulting services to the nonprofit sector that include strategic planning, board development, organizational development, and building capacity and sustainability aimed at improving organizational structure, processes and operations.
Dr. Seamon serves on several nonprofit boards. He is past chairperson of the Florida Association for Volunteer Action in the Caribbean and the Americas (FAVACA) and serves on the boards of Florida Tax Watch, WorkForce Plus and the United Way of Florida.

Mark Scovera

Mark Scovera

President, Access Florida Finance Corporation.

Mark is currently the President of Access Florida Finance Corporation. Previously, Mark was the Sr. VP/Chief Financial Officer for the Florida Black Business Investment Board, Inc., a public private partner with the state. He has nineteen years experience in accounting and finance starting at Arthur Andersen LLP in the audit division, continuing on serving as the controller and Chief Financial Officer for various companies in the Detroit area.
Mark is a CPA in the State of Michigan and a member of the AICPA. He graduated in 1990 from the University of Detroit with a B.S. in Accounting. Mark is married with four children and lives in Tallahassee.

Toni Shamplain

Toni Shamplain

Manager, Downtown North CRA Panama City

Toni Shamplain, born and raised in Panama City Florida is a former student of Our Lady of Grace Catholic School and a product of Bay County Schools. Ms. Shamplain holds a Bachelor's degree from Bethune Cookman University and has earned various certifications in Management, Outcome Evaluations, Human Resources as well as a Certificate of Appreciation from the Executive Office of the President, Washington D.C.
Toni has several areas of expertise, to include but is not limited to, design and implementation of Substance Abuse treatment programs; Designing group homes for children as well as the elderly; Primary Health Care; Criminal Justice and Corrections; Information Officer for a Computer Design Corporation, working in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and Community Revitalization. Shamplain has worked effectively within various levels of government to include city, state and federal government. Toni is also a former Instructor with the Georgia Schools of Substance Abuse Studies, a Visiting Professor for Historical Black Colleges, adjunct professor Daytona Beach Community College, speaker at Georgetown University and national motivational speaker. Toni has been featured on national TV for her advocacy and program success in Miami Florida while also being a contributing author with the Child Welfare League of America.
Currently, Toni is the Downtown North CRA Manager with the Panama City CRA. Toni's interest in Watson Bayou's life cycle and sustainability lead her to Bay Environmental Study Team (BEST). You can find Toni working in her district starting Neighborhood Watch programs, conducting community clean- ups while working with City commissioners and civic leaders to improve our city. Yes, Ms. Shamplain is truly a Transformational Leader.

Feliciano Zayas

Feliciano Zayas

Feliciano Zayas brings to Florida Asset Building Coalition his experience of accounting and fiscal management.
Feliciano was born in San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico and grew up in the rural areas of the island. In the early years of childhood his parents were self supported thru the farming business. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration; Major in Accounting; University of Puerto Rico; and completed one year of post graduate studies in Financial Planning at City University; Bellevue, WA.
Feliciano has over 25 years of experience in Government accounting and financial management and more than 20 years as independent consultant, providing consulting services to small businesses and individuals. Feliciano has lived an extensive experience working with the less fortunate, he understands the struggles that most of families go thru since he has been there also, and is committed to work for the social justice causes for every human being. Currently, he is serving as Community Advocate for Voices for Justice in Brevard County, Florida.
He has well knowledge of computer's Accounting and Financial applications such as; Excel, Lotus, SAP, QuickBooks and Acuity Financials. Also he is fluent in English and Spanish Language.