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The outstanding Florida Board of Directors of the Challenged Athletes Foundation is a large part of the success of CAF. Each Board member devotes numerous hours and takes on different responsibilities within the organization to ensure that the organization has comprehensive plan and vision for success.
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PETE ADAMS
Pete is a seven-time Ironman finisher and the owner of Benefactor Realty, Benefactor Investments, and the Co-Owner of Benefactor Mortgage Company in St. Petersburg, Florida. Originally from Boston, Mass., Pete served in the US Army for 13 years and moved south to Florida in 1998 after finishing up his MSF coursework at Bentley College Graduate School of Business. He and his wife Robin are both active members of the Mad Dogs Triathlon Club in St. Petersburg, and enjoy training for and traveling to events around the state and country. They currently make their home in St. Petersburg along Florida's gulf coast. In addition to triathlon training and competitions, Pete likes to spend his free time playing golf and traveling. |
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ROBIN ADAMS
Originally from Boston, Mass., Robin moved to Florida in 1998 with her husband Pete. After working in the Workforce Development field for a number of years, Robin joined her husband as a Realtor and Mortgage Broker with Benefactor Realty and Benefactor Mortgage Company. Robin is an active member of the St Pete Mad Dog Triathlon Club. She enjoys volunteering her time for charities like Habit for Humanity and CAF-Florida. When she is not training for triathlons, Robin enjoys traveling, the beach, horseback riding, skiing and golf. Robin and her husband Pete live in St Petersburg, FL. |
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GEOFF COTTER
A resident of Tarpon Springs, Florida, Geoff currently works as an area manager for Nalco Chemical, a Chicago-based company. Geoff manages a sales and service team that sells and applies chemical water treatment and equipment to the industrial and commercial markets. He is a graduate of Florida State University with an Industrial Engineering degree. Geoff and his wife Gabi enjoy participating in triathlons and road races. They have two sons, Robert and Will, who are also involved with many other sports and activities. As a family, they were introduced to CAF through the Operation Rebound program. The Cotters have embraced the challenge of raising funds and awareness for our injured veterans as well as challenged athletes everywhere. |
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LEWIS FRIEDLAND
From 1998 to 2004, Lew served as President of World Triathlon Corporation, overseeing all aspects of the Ironman Triathlon World Championship. His work with WTC brought him into contact with the Challenged Athletes Foundation, and he has attended and competed in CAF’s top fundraiser, the San Diego Triathlon Challenge (SDTC), on several occasions. Before, during and after his stint with WTC, Lew has been the business manager for Dr. James P. Gills, renowned cataract surgeon, land developer and purchaser of the Ironman brand in 1990. Lew has been involved with capital campaigns to finance construction of six YMCA facilities on the Florida Gulf Coast, and consistently participates in civic fund-raising projects. Originally from Miami, Lew is a University of Florida graduate and bleeds Gator blue and orange along with both his daughters and sons-in-law. He lives in Palm Harbor, Florida, with his wife Linda. |
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Robert HEARN
A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Bob is currently a partner at the law firm of Phelps Dunbar in Tampa, Florida, where he focuses on civil litigation, much of which is centered around health care issues. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and Tulane University School of Law. He first became interested in the Challenged Athletes Foundation after seeing the 2005 award-winning documentary film Emmanuel’s Gift, the story of how one disabled young man almost single-handedly changed the laws in his home country of Ghana to improve the lives of the disabled community. Bob is an avid runner, triathlete and youth baseball coach, and a father of four. |
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TIM HUDSON
In addition to his “real” job as a CFO/CPA in St. Petersburg, Tim is the President of the St. Pete Mad Dogs Triathlon Club and is an active volunteer at many triathlon events when not competing. A graduate of the University of Kentucky with degrees in Accounting and Finance, Tim worked and lived in Atlanta for several years before relocating to west-central Florida. An accomplished runner and triathlete, he has completed several Ironman races and the Boston Marathons twice plus countless shorter races and events. Although he likes to ski and play golf, he spends most of his time running and cycling in preparation for these events. |
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Bill Gair
A native Floridian and four-time Ironman finisher who enjoys most outdoor sports, Bill became interested in Challenged Athletes Foundation after Lew Friedland persuaded him to go watch the 2003 SDTC in San Diego while there on business. He is a triathlete enthusiast whether he participates or enjoys the moments watching his youngest daughter, Lauren, participate. After attending the University of Florida and working in the blood banking industry for the past 26 years, Bill recently started a new career with the Gator Nation at the University of Florida where he currently administrates federal grants. Prior to this time, Bill was the Chief Operating Officer of LifeSouth Community Blood Centers, Inc. Bill lives in Gainesville with his wife, Susan, and daughters, Lauren and Lyndsey. |
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ED LEVINS
After more than three decades in sales and interior design in southwest Florida, Ed started Village Bikes in Sarasota back in 2004. Born in New Jersey but raised in Bradenton, Florida, Ed is a graduate of the University of Florida’s College of Architecture and Fine Arts. He’s an avid endurance athlete, with 10 half- and one full Ironman race finishes to his credit, along with many Sprint and Olympic distance triathlons. When not competing or helping local cyclists and triathletes in one of his bike shops, Ed can be found spending quality time with his kids and grandchildren. |
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John (KELLY) MIONE
Kelly spent nearly six years as the Managing Editor for Ironmanlive.com, in addition to his responsibilities as the Marketing Vice-President for the management company owned by Dr. James Gills and presided over by Lew Friedland. Kelly is a University of Maryland graduate with a background in journalism, marketing and public relations. He spent 20 years volunteering as a coach, referee and administrator for youth soccer organizations, and with wife Pam raised two children. Hobbies include golf, tennis, photography and writing. |
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ROBERT Angus WILLIAMS
Born in Lakeland, Florida, Robert is a true outdoor enthusiast and enjoys fishing, hunting, camping and coaching his son’s sports teams. He is an avid triathlete and a finisher of the 2006 Ironman Florida. He lives in Palm Harbor with his wife, Amber, also a triathlete and Ironman finisher, and their two sons, Cole and Keen. Both Robert and Amber are die-hard Gator fans and spend a great deal of time with their families. Robert is currently with the firm of
Pepple Johnson Cantu & Schmidt, PLLC iin Clearwater, Florida. He was previously employed with the Pinellas County State Attorneys office from 1995-1999. He is a graduate of The University of Florida in Gainesville and Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg. |
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Lauren Rosen
Lauren Rosen grew up in Nashville, TN and has lived in Tampa for 11 years. She is a Physical Therapist and an Assistive Technology Provider at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Tampa, Florida. She is the Program Coordinator for the Motion Analysis Center, a three-dimensional motion analysis lab. Additionally, she runs a pediatric and adult seating and positioning clinic. She is the Vice-Chair of the Wheeled Mobility and Seating Special Interest Group of the Rehabilitation Engineering & Assistive Technology of North America, and she is on a committee with the American Physical Therapy Association to establish guidelines for the provision of Wheeled Mobility and Seating for physical therapists. She has worked with athletes who use wheelchair for the last 14 years. |
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Jill Heilman
Florida native, Jill Heilman, lives in Valrico, FL with her husband John and their three children. Jill is a graduate of the University of Florida and is now back up at UF working on her PhD in Rehabilitation Counseling. She is currently involved in the Kids Step Study working with children with spinal cord injuries in locomotor training rehabilitation. Jill is also an avid runner who recently completed her first half marathon at Disney. Her oldest daughter, who has some “challenges” of her own, recently has taken up running as well. Jill’s personal and professional interests have brought her to CAF. |
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lisa saari
Lisa Saari grew up in the Northwoods of Wisconsin as a cheese-head and bleeds green and gold. She is an avid outdoors person and sports enthusiast. After graduating from college in Wisconsin, Lisa worked as a laboratory technologist in rual hospitals. Lisa relocated to Florida in 1995 and is currently employed as a Technical Specialist at LabCorp in Tampa, FL. She became involved with the Challenged Athlete Foundation when they partnered with LabCorp to co-sponsor the Gasparilla wheelchair race in 2008 and was impressed with the determination and sacrifices the athletes made to overcome their challenges. Lisa supports CAF because of the personal rewards she receives from helping others realize their dreams. Lisa lives in Oldsmar with her husband Steve and enjoys reading, golfing, fishing and spending time outdoors. |
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waldo esparza
Waldo O. Esparza is a Florida licensed Prosthetist and is certified in prosthetics by the American Academy of Prosthetics and Orthotics. He is a left transfemoral amputee. Waldo has been in practice for over 30 years, with the last 26 in the Tampa Bay area. A graduate of the University of Washington's Prosthetic and Orthotic program, Waldo is a former member of the Sabolich Prosthetic Clinic and held the position of Upper Extremity Specialist for Florida Nova Care. He has also been the director of Prosthetic departments for other facilities in the bay area. Waldo's subspecialty is Upper Extremity Prosthetics, as demonstrated by his extensive lecturing and publishing on the subject-- nationally and abroad. In addition, he serves as a consultant to various facilities and clinicians within Florida and abroad. Waldo earned a Bronze Medal in sailing at the 1996 Paralympic Games held in Atlanta, Georgia. |
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Tim pemberton
Tim Pemberton grew up in Wetumpka, AL, went to the University of Montevallo, and received his B.S. in Kinesiology. Tim moved to Florida in 2005 to become the Program Director at the James. P. Gills Family YMCA in Trinity. As the Program Director, Tim works with the various programs offered. He has a passion for triathlons and has competed in many triathlons including Ironman Florida, Ironman Kentucky, and is training for the Ironman in Arizona. Tim also helps run the triathlon program at the YMCA where he holds training classes for beginners to advanced athletes as well as one-on-one training. One of Tim's passions is helping others realize and reach their goals and dreams. Hewas introduced to CAF througha co-worker, as it seemed to be a "perfect marriage." |
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| For more information on the Challenged Athletes Foundation please call us at (858) 866-0959 or email us at info@challengedathletes.org. |
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