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Board of Directors

ROOF is governed by and accountable to a qualified Board of Directors. ROOF’s board members include self-advocates with developmental disabilities, family members, affordable housing advocates, an attorney, real estate professionals, a social worker, a financial advisor, a banker, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and experts from other industries.

Dennis Slabaugh, Vice Chair

Mr. Slabaugh, an insurance and risk management professional in Naples for the past 38 years, is a former risk manager for the NCH Healthcare System, independent business risk consultant and currently is the senior risk advisor and co-owner of Concierge Insurance Partners, LLC, a private commercial insurance agency in Naples Florida.

Outside of the numerous business professional and civic organizations he is involved with, he was a founding member of the East Naples Kiwanis Club and serves as a 20th Judicial Circuit Court small claims mediation volunteer the past 11 years. After being invited to join the board, he was drawn to the opportunity to serve based upon his personal experience with Muscular Dystrophy and is looking forward to contributing to the direction and success of their mission.

Jesse Larsen, Chair

Jesse Larsen has more than 10 years of experience in banking. He has held multiple roles, including leadership positions in commercial credit underwriting and small business credit underwriting. Today, Jesse serves as Supervisor of a Credit Risk Management team with Synovus Bank. Jesse was raised in Naples, FL and attended Florida Gulf Coast University where he earned his MBA with a concentration in Finance. Jesse still resides in Naples, where he and his wife raise their two children. Jesse enjoys spending time with his family, boating, and golfing. Jesse became involved with ROOF after learning about the limited inclusive housing options for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He is committed to growing ROOF so the organization can have a positive impact on as many lives as possible.

Victoria Gauze, Secretary

Victoria Gauze is a passionate, servant leader and has extensive experience as a healthcare management executive assistant. For years, she has been a volunteer and advocate for the undeserved residents in Immokalee and surrounding areas. Mrs. Gauze concentrates her energies on giving back to her community by fulfilling her purpose to make a difference in someone’s life through listening, empowering or motivating. 

Gauze and her husband Verol reside in Immokalee, FL. She have two daughters and relishes her role as ‘Nana’ among her five grandchildren. Gauze sums up her life philosophy and purpose by reciting Maya Angelou, “Giving back to the world is the only way to thank the world for having what you have.”

Gauze serves as an active member of Rotary International District 6960, Board Member of Gift of Life Florida Rotary District 6960, and One By One Leadership. She is a Florida Certified Community Health Worker, a Florida Notary Public, member of the National Notary Association, and member of the International Association of Administrative Professionals. She is currently attending Florida Southwestern State College. 

Nicole Coratti

Nicole is a professional in the field of social work and a self-advocate with extensive experience empowering individuals with disabilities to advocate for themselves. She has a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from the University of Central Florida. Her skills include public speaking, facilitating groups and workshops, and connecting individuals to resources. She uses a person-centered, culturally competent approach to assisting clients.

In addition to serving on ROOF’s Collier Board of Directors, Nicole currently volunteers for several organizations, including Kiwanis, Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, StarAbility Foundation, and Naples Community Hospital. These organizations are close to her heart, and she enjoys using her knowledge and skills to help her community. Nicole previously worked with Youth Haven as an in-house case manager, where she assisted the organization with implementing a therapy dog program and created individualized resource referrals for clients. Nicole is also an artist, writer.

Dr. Louis Traina

Max Hatch

Arizona Jenkins

Arizona Jenkins is a very positive and caring individual. He was born with cerebral palsy and is “partially paralyzed” on his left side. He leads an independent life, using a motorized wheelchair. Arizona stays connected on-the-go with a cell phone and Bluetooth receiver in his right ear.

He is a tireless advocate for people with disabilities at the local, state, and national levels. He is the President and Treasurer of New Horizon Support Group, Inc., which he founded in 2007.

Arizona serves on the HARTLINE ADA Committee, the Hillsborough County Children’s Committee, the Florida Self-Advocacy Alliance, Florida Self-Advocates Network’D (SANDS), and the USF Community Inclusion Center. He volunteers as a mentor for children with disabilities at LaVoy Exceptional School and Booker T. Washington Elementary School. Serving as a model patient, Arizona teaches third-year medical students at USF how to treat and communicate with people with disabilities as patients.

Deborah Kays

Debby Kays has a son with autism and is a realtor with Keller Williams Realty in Naples. In addition to the real estate business, Debby and her husband Terry started Tigertoes Herbs and Teas LLC in 2015. Selling herbal teas grown on their 5 acre farm in Buckingham (Ft. Myers). Debby is the former Chair of Creating a Future for Adults with Autism and Adonis Autism. She and her husband spearheaded Osprey Village in Naples which was a co-housing project designed to create community living opportunities for people with disabilities. She remains passionate about inclusive housing for people with disabilities. Debby’s son, Walter, lives in a group home in Tampa because she couldn’t find a home in Southwest Florida that could serve his behavioral needs.

 

Michael Thakker

Michael Thakkar is a Certified Public Accountant for HBK CPAs, along with his role as a manager for the multidisciplinary financial services firm. They offer the collective intelligence of hundreds of professionals committed to delivering exceptional client service across a wide range of tax, accounting, wealth management, and other support services from offices throughout the country. Michael is committed to giving back to the community and his volunteer service with Special Olympics as a youth paved the way for his involvement with ROOF.

Colette Kellerhouse

Colette Kellerhouse Wright is a long-time resident of Naples, Florida with deep roots in the community. She holds a BA in International Studies from University of Miami and a Juris Doctor degree from Ave Maria School of Law. Prior to graduating from law school, Colette enjoyed a successful career as a general practice and civil litigation paralegal, which uniquely positions her to understand the legal services that her clients require. Assisting individuals and businesses with a variety of legal needs is central to her practice.

Colette is involved in the community and has a network of other professionals and businesses to assist her clients with conducting their personal and business affairs. In addition to serving on the ROOF Collier Board of Trustees, she is an active volunteer at Legal Aid Society of Collier County and is involved with the Collier County Bar Association.

Paul Saad

Paul Saad is an investment advisor whose office is in Fort Myers, Florida. Currently a registered financial advisor at Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc, Saad has 15 years of work experience. Saad holds a Series 66 license, which certifies the advisor as both a securities agent and an investment advisor representative. Saad can serve investors in Florida and Texas. Throughout their career, Saad has worked at Morgan Stanley, Bb&T, Best Buy, Chase, Radio Shack, Lehigh University, None, Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc and Bank of America, N.A.  Paul has served ROOF by advocating for individuals with disabilities since the agency was founded.

Ann Marinelli

Bonnie Bergquist

Bonnie is a lifelong, second generation Floridian who was born and raised in South Florida.  After graduating from Miami-Dade Community College, she worked as an Administrative Assistant at the University of Miami School of Law in both the Foreign Graduate Program and Trial Skills Program. Upon moving to Lee County in 1989, she served as the Administrative Assistant for Lee County’s Marine Sciences Division up until the birth of her first child in 1993. Having been a stay-at-home Mom ever since, Bonnie has a continued passion for serving others.  She and her husband are blessed to have six grown children and one daughter-in-law.  Their oldest son has Angelman Syndrome, so helping those with special needs is particularly near and dear to her heart. Bonnie and her family are actively involved in their local church and have hearts that are eager to meet the needs of others.  She therefore joins the Lee County ROOF Board with joy, hope and excitement.