Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) has announced the members of its 2025 Florida Leaders class. This year-long program is designed for emerging leaders in long-term care, focusing on leadership development and quality improvement to enhance care in Florida's skilled nursing and assisted living facilities.
The selected individuals for the 2025 class are:
- Amelia Fiore, Aspire Health Group, Jacksonville
- Ashley Malys, Regents Park of Jacksonville
- Claude Simmons, Jr., Lakeside Center for Rehabilitation and Healing, Jacksonville
- Dakotah Nalley, Millennial Healthcare Services, Leesburg
- David Prater, Oak View Health and Rehabilitation Center, Orange Park
- Ena Findlay, Longwood Health and Rehabilitation Center, Longwood
- Gabriella Diaz, Aspire at Spring Hill, Brooksville
- George Andrew Seigel, Solaris Healthcare Forest Lakes, Naples
- Gladys Christopher, Seabranch Health and Rehabilitation Center, Stuart
- Grant Buckner, Aspire at Brentwood, Lecanto
- James Clemons, The Lakes of Clermont Health and Rehabilitation Center, Clermont
- James Poindexter, Havens at Pensacola
- Jared Self, Timber Ridge Health and Rehabilitation Center, Ocala
- Jeannette Baltzly, Ridgecrest Health and Rehabilitation Center in DeLand
- Jennifer Reyes Clifford Chester Sims State Veterans’ Nursing Home in Panama City
- Jessica Pierre South Orange Health and Rehabilitation Center in Apopka
- Kristin Taylor Westwood Nursing and Rehabilitation in Fort Walton Beach
- Lauren Lukes Howard Riverchase Health and Rehabilitation Center in Quincy
- Mariela Martinez Aston Health Consulting Services in Brandon
- Meagan Kopstad Blue Heron Health and Rehabilitation in Wesley Chapel
- Miranda Fraunfelter AbleHearts Consulting Services in Tampa
- Nicole Carroll Tampa Lakes Health and Rehab in Lutz
- Pamela Paxton Pines of Sarasota
- Staci Goldstein RB Health Partners Inc. Crystal Beach
- Steve Ortiz Aston Health Consulting Services Tampa
- Sydney Meade Oxley Elite Medical Staffing Lake Mary
- Trinity Blocker Vivo Healthcare Orange Park
- Tyler Ward Apollo Health & Rehabilitation Center St Petersburg
- Zachary Gray Bridgewater Park Assisted Living Ocala
"Each of these Florida Leaders has demonstrated a passion for caregiving while at the same time recognizes the importance of growing the next generation of leaders within the profession," said Emmett Reed FHCA Chief Executive Officer. "These impressive individuals are the future of long term care we're proud to have such a strong group representing the 2025 Class."
Representative Allison Tant praised the participants: "I applaud these compassionate individuals for strengthening their commitment to improving the lives of those entrusted to their care. By taking steps to expand their knowledge and advance their leadership they are helping to ensure Florida maintains its high standards when it comes to delivering high-quality long term care."
Since its inception in 2009 FHCA's Florida Leaders program has developed nearly 230 leaders within both the Association itself as well as across Florida's long-term care sector including current president senior vice president treasurer secretary among others. Each year an exclusive group is chosen based on demonstrated leadership skills support towards association interests along with aspirations towards personal professional growth pathways ultimately kicking off with a two-day event held annually Tallahassee FL featuring presentations from state leaders industry experts alike.