Committee - Issues and Governmental Affairs 2020-2021

Chris is an experienced government and external affairs professional. Originally from Central Florida, Chris has a varied background with experience on Capitol Hill, working for a medical trade association, an aerospace economy development agency and now a regulated utility. These experiences, and the eagerness to learn new information, has been at the heart of his career.  He has a wife of more than 15 years and two children.  He also serves as a deacon of University Presbyterian Church in Orlando, FL.

Tina Calderone has been a lifelong public school advocate and was first elected to the School Board in 2010. She and her husband have been residents of Seminole County since 1989 and both of their children have graduated from SCPS. Tina is a proven community leader and volunteer as is evidenced by her membership in all of Seminole County’s Chambers of Commerce and has served on the boards of the Greater Seminole County Chamber of Commerce, School Readiness Coalition, and Seminole County Library Advisory Board just to name a few.
 

Enlist Americans in a national organization, combining their voices and vote to compel elected representatives to repeal “socialist” legislation and agencies and operate governments according to the principals of our American Republic Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Alan Ricafort is a Senior Manager with MSL CPA’s &  Advisors.  Alan has over 14 years of public accounting experience and has extensive experience in auditing governmental financial operations of municipalities, counties, special districts, and municipalities.  Alan graduated with his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the University of North Florida and is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Florida as well as a Certified Fraud Examiner.

Brandy began her career at an early age of 12 working side by side with her successful entrepreneurial father for a couple of decades, which she progressed to managing the operations & the financials of up to 36 franchised and independently-owned fast food and full service restaurants.  She then owned/operated numerous businesses in varied industries; all of which she was fully responsible for all aspects of accounting and financial management and reporting.  Brandy used her experience to become the President of STRATEGIC Accounting & Consulting, which is a unique, hybrid, forward-thinking, practice offering bookkeeping, payroll, tax, business consulting, tax planning, QuickBooks training & virtual CFO Services. Brandy’s specialty is to consolidate information to prepare financials statements, analyze financials and ratios, and review/educate clients on their historical and future financial trends.

Bill Blend, CPA, CFE is a Shareholder at MSL and a member of MSL’s Governmental Practice Group. He is the Shareholder in charge of Quality Control and has over 25 years of public accounting, governmental, and not-for-profit experience.Bill has performed audits of various governmental entities and has participated in all phases of an audit. He is qualified to perform audits in accordance with Government Auditing Standards, Federal Single Audit Uniform Guidance, and Florida Single Audit requirements. He has audited and performed consulting work for Not-for-Profit, Construction, Trucking, Health Care, and Middle Market entities.Bill performs training for organizations like the FICPA, FGFOA, and MSL's continuing education courses. He has been recognized by the FICPA as Outstanding Discussion Leader 4 times and authored the AICPA's yellow book update CPE session in 2015 & 2016. He is a certified fraud examiner and has investigated cases involving business fraud.

A Trinity Counseling Center, LLC., is located in the City of Oviedo. Dorothy Pehowic is a trauma therapist and advocates for veterans as a public speaker, Coalition Member in the, Military Women’s Coalition, current chairman in the City of Winter Springs Veteran & Veteran Family Advisory Committee and is on the board of ethics with the Specialty Hospitals in Orlando. Dorothy's specialties are: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Domestic Violence (DV), Sexual Trauma, Anxiety, Depression, relationship issues, abuse and communication issues. Dorothy can be reached at (407) 402-5088, website or by email.

Elisha González is an influential strategic and trusted executive, collaborative problem solver, connector and relationship builder, with the proven ability to develop lucrative partnerships and form valuable alliances. She has been recognized for her leadership, business acumen and her commitment to community. Elisha is an Educator and Public Affairs Executive and represents FAIRWINDS Credit Union nationally as the vice president of Government Affairs and Community Relations and executive director of the FAIRWINDS Foundation. González has been instrumental in the new, unified vision for the FAIRWINDS Foundation, where she leads the philanthropic effort to bolster organizations that advocate financial literacy, education and volunteerism by working with FAIRWINDS crew members in the community.