Lessons Learned from the Pandemic & Moving Forward - Panel Discussion - INPERSON & VIRTUAL

Lessons Learned from the Pandemic & Moving Forward

Panel Discussion

IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL

JL Bielon, Executive Director Foundation - Lions Eye Institute	Julie Perrelli, Vice President of Adancement - Pinellas Education Foundation
Sherry Silk, Chief Executive Officer - Humane Society of Tampa Bay	Kathy Rabon, Chief Philanthropy & Marketing Officer - Suncoast Hospice Foundation MODERATOR

Tuesday - June 15, 2021

Menu Options

SALAD: Seasonal Greens, Cherry Tomatoes, Spiral Carrots, Cucumber, Grated White Cheddar and Crispy Onions served with White Balsamic Vinaigrette, Ranch or Bleu Cheese

REGULAR: Three Cheese Chicken Stuffed with a  Blend of Cheeses and Hatch Chile - Chef's Selection of Starch & Vegetable

VEGETARIAN/GLUTEN FREE: Sesame Peanut Sweet Potato Noodles (Vegan), Cabbage, Brussels Sprouts, Carrot & Scallionos

Guidelines

We are excited to return to in-person meetings and our top priority is your health. Several protocols have been put in place for your safety. Please take a moment to read the guidelines below and confirm on your registration that you agree to comply.

Guidelines:

• Guests are required to wear face coverings when entering the building and in all common areas. Face masks can be removed once inside the meeting room. The CDC  recommends if you are not yet fully vaccinated to keep your face mask on except for when eating or drinking.
• Meeting room capacity will be limited to 60 members, which is 50% of normal capacity.
• Meeting room will have no more than 12 tables with half of the tables accommodating 6 guests and the other half of the tables accommodating 4 guests. Guests will seat themselves where they feel most comfortable.
• Tables will be set 6ft apart.
• Social distance of 6ft is strongly encouraged at all times.
• Hand sanitizer will be provided, and restrooms are located nearby for hand washing.
• Pre-registration is required. Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate walk-ins.
• Both doors into meeting room will be open to avoid crowding.
• Nametags will be on table for guests and will be collected after event and properly sanitized before storage.
• We trust one another to exercise appropriate behavior when networking. Please be respectful of others comfort level that may differ from yours.

Please choose the virtual option IF: 

• You have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days.
• You have been recently exposed to someone with COVID-19.  
• You are waiting on COVID-19 test results. 
• You feel you may be becoming sick, running a fever, or experiencing any symptoms associated with COVID-19 such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath. See a full list of symptoms here.

Applied for 1 Hour CFRE Credit

Speaker Bios

JL Bielon, CFRE is the Executive Director of the Foundation at Lions Eye Institute for Transplant & Research (LEITR). LEITR is one of the largest combined eye banks and ocular research centers in the world with a special focus in pediatric vision programs, and a commitment to restoring sight to over 10,000 individuals a year. JL is a fundraising veteran who has been working in the industry since 1998; she was the Director of Development at Tampa Theatre for 15 years and previously worked as the Associate Director of University Relations at the University of South Florida. She has served in many roles during her tenure on the board of AFP Tampa Bay and is currently the Immediate Past-President. JL is a member of Leadership Tampa Alumni (Class of 2016), a sustainer of the Junior League of Tampa, and resides in Westchase with her husband, children, and geriatric dog.

Julie Perrelli is the Vice President of Advancement at the Pinellas Education Foundation and has more than 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector.

Julie began her career at Girl Scouts of West Central Florida working in marketing, membership, programmatic and grant writing roles, and eventually was promoted to Director of Development. 

After more than a decade at Girl Scouts, Julie accepted a position as a Major Gift Officer at USF St. Petersburg where she led the fundraising efforts for the College of Arts & Sciences, the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library and the Military & Veterans Success Center. 

In September 2018, she accepted her current role as the Vice President of Advancement at the Pinellas Education Foundation.  She is passionate about education and philanthropy and enjoys connecting the community to the work of the Foundation and supporting Pinellas County students and teachers. 

Julie is a sustaining member of the Junior League of Clearwater-Dunedin – an organization in which she was active for more than 10 years and primarily served in community-focused roles including Community Vice President and chair of the league’s Public Affairs Committee.  She also served as an At-Large Board member and received the league’s Community Impact Award for her leadership of community projects benefitting teens aging out of the foster care system.

Julie served on the board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals from 2016-2018 while  serving as the organization’s Program Chair.  Julie has also served on the boards of the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce and Leadership Pinellas and currently serves on the AchieveHERs committee for AMPLIFY Clearwater.

Julie is a Pinellas County native and a graduate of the University of Florida. She has been married to her husband, Pete, for 10 years, and they live in Clearwater with their rescue pup, Annie.

Kathy Rabon, CFRE, CFRM has served the Tampa Bay community as a not for profit fundraising professional for over 23 years.  She is currently Chief Philanthropy and Marketing Officer where she serves as a member of the Senior Leadership Team and oversees a staff of 26.  She has served in a variety of other community positions including Executive Director of the Performing Arts Center Foundation at Ruth Eckerd Hall; Deputy Director of Development for the Salvador Dali Museum; Vice President of Development and Communications for the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA; Chief Development Officer for the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida and President/CEO of the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce.  Kathy is a Certified Fundraising Executive from the Association of Fundraising Professionals and has been re-certified three times.  She also holds her Certification in Fundraising Management from the Lily Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University and Certification in Organizational Development from the University of Georgia.

Kathy is a past board member of the Association of Fundraising International Board of Directors and is one of 5 professional women selected by AFP to serve as mentors as part of the Women’s Impact Initiative, is currently chair of the WII Mentor Program, and serves as President-Elect of AFP Tampa Bay.  She served on the Association of Junior Leagues, International (AJLI) Board of Directors for nine years and held the positions of Secretary (two terms); Nominating Chair; Nominating Vice-Chair; Board Member At-Large; and member of the Executive Committee.  In addition she has served in many local volunteer positions including past president, Junior League of Clearwater-Dunedin; past president Leadership Pinellas; board member, Leadership Tampa Bay; United Nations Association Board of Directors; St. Petersburg College Board of Advisors; Clearwater Jazz Holiday Foundation; Clearwater Marine Aquarium Board of Directors; Suncoast Family YMCA Governance Board and many others.

Community honors include:  National Association of Community Leadership’s Distinguished Leader Award; Soroptimist International Women Honoring Women; JLCD Volunteer of the Year, Community Volunteer of the Year and Sustainer of the Year; Leadership Pinellas Outstanding Alumni Award; Who’s Who in American Business; International Who’s Who of Public Service; YWCA Tribute to Women in Tampa Bay; and was honored to carry the Olympic Torch in recognition of her community service on its journey to the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996.

Kathy has been married to Bruce for 43 years and is the proud mother of Chad and Casey and grandmother of Corbyn, Cooper and Kennedy. 

Sherry Silk has worked in animal welfare for over 35 years. Prior to becoming the CEO of the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, she was the Operations Manager for the Michigan Humane Society in Detroit for most of her career.  She has also worked for the ASPCA as a Manager providing assistance, guidance and grants to animal welfare organizations.

She served on the board of the Florida Association of Animal Welfare Organizations (FAAWO), a state wide coalition of animal welfare and protection agencies.   She also served on the HSUS Companion Animal Advisory Council representing the State of Florida.

She shares her home with two terrier mixes and two cats which were all adopted from a shelter.