TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Derek Arnold, Margaret “Peggy” Aune, Bonnie Barlow, Diane Cholcher, Farides Garcia, Richard Ippolito, Chris Leto, Paul Micklow, Nicole Reed, Kelly Rogers, Meredith Stanfield, and Alisa Stock to the Florida Rehabilitation Council.
Derek Arnold
Arnold is the Director of Workforce Programs for Goodwill Industries-Suncoast, Inc. He was the recipient of the 2019 ServiceSource Partner of the Year for Employment Programs and was nominated in 2018 for the Association of People for Supported Employment Professional of the Year. Arnold earned his bachelor's degree in human services from Springfield College.
Margaret “Peggy” Aune, EdD
Aune is the Vice Chancellor for Strategic Improvement for the Florida Department of Education. Previously, she served as the Chief Innovation Officer for Champions For Learning and was the Associate Superintendent for Teaching and Learning for the Collier County School District. Aune earned her bachelor's degree in special education and teaching and her master’s degree in educational leadership and administration from Florida Gulf Coast University and her doctorate in educational leadership and administration from the University of Florida.
Bonnie Barlow
Barlow is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bridgeway Center, Inc. Active in her community, she is the Chair-Elect of the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Okaloosa County Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, the Crestview Opioid Task Force, and the Industry and Education Consortium of CareerSource Florida. Barlow was inducted into the Okaloosa County Commission on the Status of Women Hall of Fame in 2023. She attended Northwest Florida State College.
Diane Cholcher
Cholcher is a Consultant for the Florida Department of Education’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Previously, she was a Vocational Family Advocate for Children First, Inc. and a Certified Employment Support Professional for Compass Family. Cholcher earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Florida.
Farides Garcia
Garcia is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Parent To Parent of Miami. Active in her community, she is a member of the Miami Dade College School of Education Advisory Committee and was the recipient of the 2023 Unsung Hero Award from the University of Miami/Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. Garcia earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Miami.
Richard Ippolito
Ippolito is the Founder and President of Ippolito Foods. Active in his community, he is a voluntary advisor for the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity at Florida State University and a volunteer youth religious education teacher at Good Shepard Catholic Church. Ippolito earned his bachelor’s degree in business and managerial economics from Florida State University.
Chris Leto
Leto is the Vice President of Sales and Business Development for Tampa Brass & Aluminum Corporation. He led the team to winning the Department of Defense Mentor Protégé Nunn Perry Award with Raytheon and the United States Navy, and has secured over $20 million in supplier development funds from the United States Navy Maritime Industrial base. Leto earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of South Florida. Leto earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of South Florida.
Paul Micklow
Micklow is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Amerikey Locksmith. Active in his community, he is the Chair of the Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the CareerSource Pasco Hernando Board of Directors. Micklow earned his associate degree in physical therapy from St. Petersburg College.
Nicole Reed
Reed is the Executive Director of the Disability Achievement Center. Previously, she served as the Director of Program Services for the Disability Achievement Center and the Director of Operations for the Disability Relations Group. Reed earned her associate degree in electronic and computer engineering technology from Tama Technical Institute.
Kelly Rogers
Rogers is the Director of Vocational Rehabilitation for the Florida Department of Education. Previously, she served as the Executive Director of the Florida Department of Health’s Division of Medical Quality Assurance and the Administrator of Maternal and Child Health Programs in the Florida Department of Health’s Division of Community Health Promotion. Active in her community, she is a member of the CareerSource Florida Board of Directors and the Florida Endowment Foundation for Vocational Rehabilitation (The Able Trust). Rogers attended Tallahassee State College.
Meredith Stanfield
Stanfield is the Legislative Program Director for Florida Professional Firefighters and Paramedics. She is currently appointed to the CareerSource Florida Board of Directors and previously served as the Director of Legislative and Cabinet Affairs for the Florida Department of Financial Services. Stanfield earned her bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Georgia.
Alisa Stock
Stock is an Exceptional Student Education Teacher at Sunlake High School. She has over 25 years of experience in education and is the parent of a 19-year-old who is currently in the Vocational Rehabilitation Program. Stock earned her bachelor's degree in Spanish and political science and master’s degree in multilingual education from Florida State University.