Executive Leadership
Joel L. Smith, President & CEO
Jarvis R. Brunson, Director of Operations
Jarvis R. Brunson, Director of Operations
Joel Smith serves as our President & CEO, overseeing all of our initiatives, educational content, and community collaborations.
Joel came to Deerfield Beach Cares after serving as the Executive Director of the Florida Initiative for Suicide Prevention and as the Director of Dropout Prevention for Broward County Schools. He is regularly cal
Joel Smith serves as our President & CEO, overseeing all of our initiatives, educational content, and community collaborations.
Joel came to Deerfield Beach Cares after serving as the Executive Director of the Florida Initiative for Suicide Prevention and as the Director of Dropout Prevention for Broward County Schools. He is regularly called on to train and lead workshops for many community providers as an expert navigator in Broward County. He has a graduate degree in education and has also served as a teacher and guidance counselor in the northeast. Joel serves on the Children's Services Board and on the Board of Directors of Tomorrow's Rainbow.
Jarvis R. Brunson, Director of Operations
Jarvis R. Brunson, Director of Operations
Jarvis R. Brunson, Director of Operations
Jarvis Brunson serves as our Director of Operations, overseeing our youth initiatives, community projects, and volunteer engagement.
As a young adult who navigated through the local systems of care, Jarvis is a tireless and relentless advocate for the health and well-being of all people. He has his bachelor's in social work and has worked
Jarvis Brunson serves as our Director of Operations, overseeing our youth initiatives, community projects, and volunteer engagement.
As a young adult who navigated through the local systems of care, Jarvis is a tireless and relentless advocate for the health and well-being of all people. He has his bachelor's in social work and has worked in restaurant management and in the corporate world. Jarvis serves on the Children's Services Board and the Board of Directors for House of Love Ministries in Lauderhill, FL.
Jeanell Neat, Director of Marketing
Jarvis R. Brunson, Director of Operations
Jeanell Neat, Director of Marketing
Jeanell Neat serves as our Director of Marketing, coordinating our website, internal and external communications, and social media presence.
Jeanell is the CEO of her own content and brand management company, CXLI, LLC. She has a degree in business administration from the University of Central Florida. Jeanell enjoys elevating the culture
Jeanell Neat serves as our Director of Marketing, coordinating our website, internal and external communications, and social media presence.
Jeanell is the CEO of her own content and brand management company, CXLI, LLC. She has a degree in business administration from the University of Central Florida. Jeanell enjoys elevating the culture and digital presence of for-profit and for-impact organizations and working also with event planning.
Board of Directors
Kurt R. Schmidt, Chair
Laura Howard, Secretary/Treasurer
Michael Marion, Vice Chair
Kurt R. Schmidt is a professional communicator, musician, and non-profit executive. He has degrees in sacred music and theology and currently serves as the Cantor & Church Administrator at Zion - Ministries Under the Cross in Deerfield Beach. Kurt is also a graduate of the Nonprofit Executive Program at the Jim Moran Institute for Global
Kurt R. Schmidt is a professional communicator, musician, and non-profit executive. He has degrees in sacred music and theology and currently serves as the Cantor & Church Administrator at Zion - Ministries Under the Cross in Deerfield Beach. Kurt is also a graduate of the Nonprofit Executive Program at the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship at FSU. He serves as a member of the Faith-Based Advisory Committee at the United Way of Broward County and as the Secretary for the Kiwanis of Deerfield Beach
Michael Marion, Vice Chair
Laura Howard, Secretary/Treasurer
Michael Marion, Vice Chair
Michael Marion is a man of lived experience and a passionate voice for the local community. His story is intimately connected with Deerfield Beach Community Cares through his daughter, Alexis Jane, who took her own life in February 2020. Michael and his wife Mari (a licensed social worker) are strong local advocates for building relations
Michael Marion is a man of lived experience and a passionate voice for the local community. His story is intimately connected with Deerfield Beach Community Cares through his daughter, Alexis Jane, who took her own life in February 2020. Michael and his wife Mari (a licensed social worker) are strong local advocates for building relationships between quality mental health providers and the community. Michael works as an electrician in Broward County.
Laura Howard, Secretary/Treasurer
Laura Howard, Secretary/Treasurer
Laura Howard, Secretary/Treasurer
Laura Howard is an engaged parent and mental health advocate in our local community. With degrees in sociology and anthropology from Florida State University, Laura lived and worked in Belize for five years. She currently works at a local engineering firm as a proposal coordinator; and, in addition to her work with DBCC, she has most rece
Laura Howard is an engaged parent and mental health advocate in our local community. With degrees in sociology and anthropology from Florida State University, Laura lived and worked in Belize for five years. She currently works at a local engineering firm as a proposal coordinator; and, in addition to her work with DBCC, she has most recently served as the mental health committee chair for the Broward PTA/PTSA.
Raihaana Ali
Valerie Anastasi
Laura Howard, Secretary/Treasurer
Raihaana Ali is an engaged community parent, former teacher, and wellness advocate in Deerfield Beach. She has degrees in biology and zoology from the University of the West Indies. Raihaana currently serves on the PTAs of Deerfield Beach Middle School and Deerfield Beach High School and as the wellness coordinator for the Healthy Students, Healthy Community initiative sponsored by FLIPANY.
Valerie Anastasi
Valerie Anastasi
Valerie Anastasi
Valerie Anastasi is the newest member of our Board of Directors. Originally from Maryland, Valerie relocated to South Florida a few years ago. She has a background in office management, but recently began working with Cultivate Behavioral Health & Education, a provider of ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis). She is preparing to become a certified Registered Behavioral Technician.
Sheilla Brunelus
Valerie Anastasi
Valerie Anastasi
Sheilla Brunelus is active in the mental health field as a practitioner, advocate, and volunteer. She has her degree in mental health counseling from Lynn University, and has worked as a therapist for the Community Youth Services division of the Memorial Healthcare System for the last five years. In addition to her work with DBCC, Sheilla has volunteered with Sisters, Inc. in Broward County.
Cassidy Ferguson
Cassidy Ferguson
Cassidy Ferguson
Cassidy Ferguson is one of the newest members of our Board of Directors. Cassidy grew up in Deerfield Beach and currently works as a therapist at Wayside House, in addition to her own independent practice, Messin' with My Mental. She has a master's degree in Community Psychology and is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Provisional Mental Health Counselor.
Shyvonna Rolle
Cassidy Ferguson
Cassidy Ferguson
Shyvonna Rolle is a powerful voice in the community, especially for those who have been marginalized and excluded from the collective conversation. She has her BSN, has worked in many areas of healthcare, and currently serves at a local senior living facility. Shyvonna is an ordained minister, and also serves as the Vice President of Deerfield Beach Kiwanis - West.