Florida Keys Healthy Start Coalition
Meet the Team
The Coalition staff is made up of a group of intelligent hard-working women who do their very best to serve the pregnant women, families, and babies within Monroe County. We have staff members from Key Largo to Key West working from home, in office, transporting clients, running our playgroups, delivering diapers, doing community outreach, and so much more. They put their hearts into everything they do. Scroll down to read more about each individual.
Arianna Nesbitt, MPSA,
CE, LC, LD, and Life/Parent Coach
Chief Executive Officer
Since 2005, Arianna has served Monroe County's pregnant women and families through empathic servant leadership, strong transparent business practices, and Keys-driven programmatic implementation. The Coalition's Board of Directors and staff put pregnant women and families at the heart of every decision and action. She considers it her extreme pleasure to lead such a compassionate, dedicated, highly educated, women and family-centered professional team.
She earned her Masters of Public Service Administration in Non-Profit Administration from the Bush School of Public Administration at Texas A&M University and has a cumulative 19 years of executive-level leadership in the Keys. During her time at the Coalition, she has become a CAPPA Certified Labor Doula, a PCI Certified Parent Coach, and PSI certified in PMAD assessment and treatment, and is currently completing her Birth Behind Bars Certification as well as her Bereavement Doula Certification. Recognized most recently by the Health Foundation of South Florida as a 2021 Inspiring Woman of Health, she has served as a director for numerous boards for community agencies and organizations to ensure Keys families benefit from comprehensive and quality care and services from local providers. Ensuring access to that support for all of our community members, regardless of their ethnicity, socio-economic or financial status has been a priority in her efforts for more than 15 years. In order to best lead our staff and serve our families, she is committed to her continuing education alongside other subject matter experts in the maternal and child health field.
Away from the office you will find Arianna spending most of her time with her six amazing teens/young adults. When not parenting or working on behalf of the families in the Keys, Arianna enjoys photography, reading, gardening, and genuinely filling her life with travel, good food, great friends, laughter and gratitude.
Alanna Dixon, MA, IBCLC, CPST-I
Upper Keys Program Director
Alanna joined the Coalition in January of 2017, a Florida native with 3 children, and has helped expand our programs such as Tot Time and Wiggles and Giggles to all of Monroe County. She shares our passion in maternal child health, with a Bachelors in Healthcare Administration & a Masters in Maternal Child & Health and is an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Alanna is also a certified child passenger safety technician instructor, bike helmet technician, and helps lead the child safety program for The Coalition.
Ina Pamporova, CPST
Lower Keys Program Director
Ina is our Lower Keys Program Director. She manages diaper and formula distribution, checks and install car seats, and manages and distributes donations. In addition, she serves clients by transporting them to much-needed medical appointments while acting as a liaison to the rest of our services. She also manages our data collection program and is our office manager.
"It is the children that are the future of the Keys and it is important that they are able to have the same, equal opportunities that all children in American Society enjoy."
-Ina Pamporova
Samantha Cockerham, CPST, CLC
Director of Education and Outreach
Samantha started with the Coalition in August 2019. She runs the Upper Keys playgroups, helps with diaper and baby item distribution, and she also works on several other ongoing projects like the Community and Parent Newsletters, and website design. Samantha was born and raised in Islamorada, left to attain a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice at Florida Gulf Coast University, and made her way back to the Upper Keys to start her own family. She is very passionate about family and her two little girls.
"I feel extremely fortunate to have found a company to work for that is so aligned with putting children and families first. I will be forever grateful to work for such a wonderful company."
-Samantha Cockerham
Renee Scarpelli, CPST
Middle Keys Program Director
Renee is a wife & mom of 3 who started with the Coalition in November of 2020. She also owns a dance studio in Big Pine Key, "Island Groove Dance Studio." Renee was born and raised in New Jersey where she studied child development & modern dance. She made her way to the Florida Keys in 2004 and has been on a mission to provide creative learning in movement. She is very passionate about providing the young local community with a healthy, active lifestyle.
"I am so excited to have joined the Florida Keys Healthy Start Coalition team a few months ago. It's a pleasure & privilege to work alongside such dedicated co-workers. I couldn't be more proud to represent such a wonderful organization."
Terri Kanter, MPH, RN, CLC
FIMR Abstractor
Terri, originally from Ohio, moved to the Keys after living in South Florida for over 20 years. Her early education involved a degree in Urban Affairs with a minor in Women’s Studies from the University of Cincinnati. Terri then wen on to receive her Masters in Public Health. Terri’s nursing work began as a labor and delivery nurse in an inner-city hospital in Indianapolis taking care of low-income at-risk families. After moving to South Florida she became a nurse home visitor in Palm Beach County with the Healthy Start program. Soon she became a supervisor and was privileged to supervise the first Nurse Family Partnership™ team in the state of Florida. After making the move to the Keys, she was thrilled to find a group of like-minded individuals in the Florida Keys Healthy Start Coalition.
Terri has three grown children of whom she is intensely proud. Her current household includes her loving husband, a golden retriever and two cats.
Gabriela Todorova, MA, CPST
Director of Human Resource and Finance
Gabriela is our Finance Manager and PMAD Program lead. With an expansive background in accounting, Gabi helps us with grant reimbursements, bookkeeping, payroll, and all things finance. She also manages our PMAD program, which provides no-cost therapy to women experiencing post-partum mental health issues. Gabi was born in Bulgaria and moved to Key West in 2013. She gave birth to her daughter in 2015. She speaks Bulgarian and English.
Michelle Leonard-Mularz
Director of Prenatal and Postnatal Services
Michelle comes to the Coalition with over 10 years of programming and volunteer management experience. She has lived in the Florida Keys since 2017 with her husband and son and has served in different community outreach roles since then.
"I feel extremely fortunate to be able to serve my community, help families in the Keys, and work with such a dedicated staff committed to improving the lives of children and families on this small island chain."
Elizabeth Scott, CPST
Executive Administrator
Elizabeth is our Executive Administrator. She has been living in Key West for five years now with her husband and two wonderful children she adores. Not only will she provide administrative support to all those in the organization, but she will also assist with our Tot Time and Wiggles and Giggles programs. Aside from her passion to help others, she is also a gifted singer/songwriter and plays the violin. She is very excited to be a part of the team and working with our community.
Shoobie Leonard, BA
Director of Marketing and Communication
Shoobie is our Director of Marketing and Communication. She is a creative soul and has studied marketing and has a great passion for both the analytical and innovative side of it! She loves the Florida Keys Healthy Start Coalition and the way we are able to help women and their families with anything they need to live comfortably.
Lauren Solon, MA, CPST
Lower Keys Child Development Director
Lauren joined the Coalition in September of 2022 as the Lower Keys Child Development Director. She runs the Wiggles and Giggles and Tot Time playgroups for the Lower Keys. Originally from New Jersey, she moved around a bit before settling in the Keys in 2015. She received her Bachelor's degree from Colorado College, and her Master's degree for Art Therapy from Pratt Institute in NYC. After arriving in the Keys, she worked with families through Wesley House Family Services, became a mother, and continues to be passionate about working with children and families in the community. These programs that the Coalition provide are a great opportunity to create a safe space for learning and expression, while connecting families to each other and with support and resources.
Amanda Berlanga, CLC
Keys to Hope Program Director
From client, to volunteer, to active team member, Amanda has the advantage of experiencing the impact of our programs from every angle. She is a wife, mother, and home educator to seven beautiful children. After experiencing the heartbreaking loss of her daughter, Abigail, she was moved to find a way to support others going through loss of a pregnancy, infant or child. Abigail inspired her mother to become a founding member of the Keys to Hope program, a new outreach of FKHSC, to support families through their grief and healing.
Lara VanDercreek, M.Psych
Lower Keys Community Liaison
Lara is a Military Spouse and 3rd Generation Navy Veteran. She has a son that was born in Key West. Her experience is in life skills and education with military and their families. She has taught and coached transitioning service members along with their families and got her Accredited Financial Counselor Credentials to help the Military and their families with personal financial management. She is excited to transition from government work to working with a non-profit that is integrated in the community and supporting mothers, children and families in our local community.
Melanie Rodriguez, MA
Director of Resource Development
Melanie has lived in KW since 2009 with her husband and two daughters. She's originally from Evanston, Illinois. She earned her undergraduate degree in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and she also has a Master’s Degree in Applied Psychology from New York University. She loves living in Key West and is very passionate about playing an active role in her community.
Megan Spencer
Director of Program Operations
Megan was born and raised in Key West, graduated from Key West High School in 2007, and a mother of two boys! Her children are the 6th generation of her family line here. They help keep her active and busy in the community creating cultivating foundations and relationships.
Her household comes from a line of commercial fisherman and enjoys anything related to fishing and the ocean.
"I am beyond happy to finally have a career where I can learn and grow with purpose to my community. I am honored to work side by side with this team of individuals who want to make an impact and difference in the lives of woman, children and families."