Officers and Executive Committee
Past Chair
Pam Tahan currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer at Wellington Regional Medical Center and has fifteen years as a seasoned, senior health care executive. Before joining Wellington Regional Medical Center, Pam served as the Chief Operating Officer at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital in Pennsylvania and Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center. Additionally, Pam served as the Chief Executive Officer at Summit Medical Center in Arizona.
Pam holds a Master in Healthcare Administration from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, a Bachelor of Science in Policy Analysis and Management from Cornell University. Pam has a professional association with the American College of Healthcare Executives and sits on the Board of Cornell University – Sloan Program in Health Administration, King’s College School of Business – MHA Program and Healthy Northeast Pennsylvania Initiative.
Vice Chair
Michael Stone is an integral part of the Equestrian Sport Productions (ESP) and International Equestrian Group (IEG) team. He currently serves as the President of ESP, overseeing all aspects of management at Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC), as well as holds responsibility for community outreach efforts, alongside marketing and promotional campaigns for ESP. He is the representative and liaison to the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), and other related organizations.
Chair of the Board
Ilan Kaufer is an External Affairs Manager for Florida Power & Light Co. In that role, he manages external relations for portions of Palm Beach County and all of Okeechobee County. Ilan has worked for FPL since 2009, and has served the company in various roles after first joining the company as an attorney. He received a Juris Doctor and a Master of Forest Resources and Conservation from the University of Florida, and his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia. Ilan served as an elected Council Member of the Town of Jupiter from 2013-2022, and in that role was appointed to the Palm Beach County League of Cities Board of Directors, and several Florida League of Cities’ committees. Ilan is a graduate of Leadership Palm Beach County (2017) and Leadership Florida’s Connect Program (Class IV). Ilan and his wife Stephanie have two amazing children, Asher and Arden.
At Large
Central Palm Beach Community Foundation Board Member
Francisco J. Gonzalez is an attorney and partner at the Wellington-based law firm of Gonzalez, Shenkman & Buckstein, P.L., where he heads the firm’s commercial and residential real estate and business transactions practice. Gonzalez, formerly of Steel, Hector & Davis, LLP, earned his B.S. with honors in Journalism and Communications from the University of Florida in 1991, after which he attended the Catholic University of America, graduating in 1994 with his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. Active in the community, Gonzalez sits on Board member and is legal counsel for our association; concurrently, serves as vice-chair of the Central Palm Beach County Chamber Economic Development Task Force. He has served on the board of Junior Achievement of the Palm Beaches and is a Class of 2002 graduate of Leadership West Palm Beach. Frank and his wife, Christina, reside in Wellington with their three sons, Nicholas, Nathan and Daniel.
At Large
Bio Coming Soon…
Board of Directors – Executive Committee Member
Mary Lou Bedford became the CEO of the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce on July 1, 2015. Since accepting the position, Mary Lou has provided direction to maintain the organization’s philosophy, vision, mission, while focusing on the goals and objections. She has implemented new procedures as well as improved programs to better serve the membership. Under her leadership, there has been a greater emphasis on advocacy and economic development resulting in higher levels of partnering, collaboration, and finding solutions to better serve the needs of the business community.
Mary Lou received her B.S. in Communications with concentrations in Public Relations and Media from California State University, Sacramento.
A resident of Wellington for the past 23 years, Mary Lou and her husband, Scott, are involved in many organizations throughout Palm Beach County. They have two wonderful daughters, Hilary and Amy.
Board of Directors – Executive Committee Member
General Board
Board Member
Board Member
Ms. Nucci has spent the past 21 years in higher education working in both onsite and remote environments. Ms. Nucci’s leadership experience in higher education administration includes leadership roles as a Campus President, Vice President, Campus Director, Director of Operations, Director of Admissions and Director of Human Resources. Ms. Nucci has also served as a faculty member teaching bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in business, leadership, human resources and change management.
As a higher education operations expert, Ms. Nucci is responsible for overseeing campus operations to include academics, admissions, financial aid, registrar and bursar services, student services, COVID Safety protocols, clinical coordination, career services, library and bookstore services, information technology, campus safety/security and building facilities management.
Ms. Nucci holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from the State University of New York College at Buffalo and an MBA in Human Resource Management from the University of Phoenix. In addition, Ms. Nucci served her country as a Captain in the United States Marine Corps, is a Gulf War Veteran and currently serves on US Congressman Charlie Crist’s Veteran’s Advisory Board, Subcommittee on Healthcare, to address healthcare matters impacting our US Veterans.
Board Member
Board Member
Ramsay J. Bulkeley, Esq. is the Executive Director of the Palm Beach County Planning, Zoning & Building Department where he is responsible for a budget of $81 million dollars and approximately 350 employees.
Ramsay began his career with Palm Beach County in 2013 as the Director of the Code Enforcement Division. In 2016, he had the pleasure of serving as the Deputy Director of Planning, Zoning & Building until he was promoted to Executive Director in 2018. Prior to working with the County, Ramsay was in private legal practice and has extensive knowledge of land use and zoning functions. In October 2019, Ramsay was nominated as a member of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Steering Committee to the National Association of Counties (NACo). He has also established a great rapport with his colleagues, commissioners and constituents throughout Palm Beach County. In September 2023 Ramsay returned to the private sector as Market Leader-South Florida for WGI in the West Palm Beach, FL office.
Ramsay’s academic achievements include a law degree from Nova Southeastern University, a Bachelor of Science in Community and Regional Planning from Appalachian State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Outside of public service to those who live and visit Palm Beach County, Ramsay likes to go boating and fishing in the Bahamas.
Board Member
Seth Behn’s practice focuses on land use, environmental law and governmental affairs. With a background in Urban Planning, his work often focuses on zoning entitlements, riparian rights, and real estate. His practice also includes acting as general or special counsel to several Special District governments. Seth is Board Certified by the Florida Bar in City, County and Local Government Law, a designation that is earned by less than half of one percent of all lawyers admitted to the Florida Bar. He also serves as Vice Chair of the firm’s Governmental Law Practice Group.
Seth was a member of Leadership Palm Beach County’s 2016 class. He is a Board Member of the Palm Beach County Planning Congress, a local professional planning education and advocacy group. He also serves on the Advisory Board to the LeRoy Collins Public Ethics Academy at Florida Atlantic University. Seth earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from Florida Atlantic University, and his Juris Doctor from Nova Southeastern University.
Board Member
Board Member
Rikki Lober Bagatell is a Partner in Shutts & Bowen’s Corporate and Real Estate Practice Groups in the West Palm Beach Office. In her corporate practice, she represents domestic and foreign clients in connection with the purchase and sale of businesses through asset transfer, stock transfer, merger, and other structures; the formation of business entities and joint ventures; strategic planning and compliance matters; private offerings of securities and venture capital transactions; contracts, including commercial agreements, sales agreements, license agreements, confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements, employment agreements and non-competition agreements; split-ups; and general corporate matters. Her healthcare practice includes structuring of new healthcare-related ventures, purchase and sale of provider and healthcare businesses, shareholder agreements, employment agreements, governance issues, and general corporate advice. She has extensive experience in the area of sophisticated commercial real estate transactions, including all phases of real estate acquisitions, development, financing, including tax credit financing, leasing and dispositions.
Board Member
Ann-Marie Batten is the Owner and Agency Principal of Batten Insurance Services – a Premier Exclusive Allstate Agency. Ann-Marie has over 25 years experience in the Insurance industry and has been an agency owner for over 5 years serving the western communities with two locations in Wellington and Palm Beach Gardens/West Palm Beach (Ibis).
Her team is currently one of the largest Allstate agency in Palm Beach County and among other levels of recognition has earned the title of Top Commercial Producer several years in a row.
Ann-Marie has a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Florida Atlantic University and a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Palm Beach Atlantic University. Ann-Marie enjoys volunteering and has been involved with many organizations in Palm Beach County over the years.
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Chadi Irani serves as the Senior Director of Sales Strategy at The Palm Beach Post. He has developed a team of experts who execute high-level campaigns and strategic accounts, handling all aspects of media strategy, planning, media placement, digital optimization, and reporting. Chadi plays a pivotal role as liaison between vendors and partners, leveraging relationships with digital leaders through The Post’s parent company Gannett as a part of USA Today Network to bring best practices and the latest technologies to Palm Beach County businesses. Chadi has led client seminars with representatives from top digital media agencies, such as Google and Facebook.
Irani is a graduate of Leadership Palm Beach, class of 2009, and currently resides with his family in West Palm Beach.
Board Member
Ana Machado-Rosacker joined Bethesda Hospital in 2012 as the Director of Nursing for Bethesda Hospital West, with the responsibility of assisting with the opening of Bethesda Hospital West and, in 2016, she advanced her career within Bethesda to the position of Assistant Vice President, Patient Care Services. In May of 2020, Ana was promoted to Vice President of Administration for Bethesda Hospital West. Prior to her employment with Bethesda, Ana worked for 18 years at the Palm Beach County, Health Care District. During her 18 years with the Health Care District, she held many different clinical positions and was an integral part of opening the replacement hospital, Lakeside Medical Center, where she was the Director, Critical Care, Telemetry and Medical Surgical. Ana consecutively held clinical positions at Palm West Hospital, for 7 years.
Ms. Rosacker received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Florida Atlantic University, and later her Master of Science in Nursing with a dual in Nursing Administrative Leadership and Healthcare Management. She has continued her education through the University of Berkley, Executive Education, for Leading Innovate Change. Ana is a member of the American Organization of Nurse Executives, belongs to the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society and holds certifications for Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) and FEMA Emergency Management Institute.
Ana was born in Miami, Florida and raised in Clewiston, Florida. She has one son, Brenton, that graduated from Florida State University and is currently attending The University of Denver Law school.
Board Member
Adam McCarthy is a Principal at PROforma Turnkey Marketing and is responsible for the overall oversight of the company’s sales growth and business development initiatives. PROforma is a full-service marketing company that specializes in cutting-edge services and products to meet clients’ needs and challenges across all industries. PROforma’s key offerings are Promotional Products, Commercial Print, Direct Mail, Digital Media, Smart Communications, Online Company Stores and Corporate Apparel.
When approaching a new opportunity, McCarthy concentrates on designing and implementing programs to help clients achieve their marketing goals. His breadth of product knowledge and decades of experience have styled him into something of an expert at connecting clients with different products and practices to help round out their strategy. This very approach has lent itself to countless sales achievement and excellence awards within his own industry year after year.
While not a native of Florida, McCarthy moved to the Sunshine State in 1985 to Wellington, and has spent the better part of his life here. He attended Florida State University and has been an active member of the Palm Beach County business community for the last 20 years. He is a former Trustee Member of the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce.
Adam and his wife, Denise, live in Lake Worth and are the proud parents of son, Parker, and daughter, Ella.
Board Member
Michael Morgan currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer at the Center for Bone and Joint Surgery of the Palm Beaches, PA. Michael has been in the healthcare industry for six years, demonstrating a commitment to providing the citizens of Palm Beach County accessible, quality orthopedic care in the midst of a vastly changing industry. Michael graduated with honors, earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance at the University of Kentucky and is currently finishing his MBA at Florida Atlantic University.
Board Member
With 20-plus years in the financial services industry, Carol O’Neil founded CEO Financial Services about five years ago to help people get their “financial house in order” – and keep it that way for the rest of their lives. Her idea was simple: create a comprehensive financial plan for each client and then manage this plan toward each goal. This allows clients more time to concentrate on things they cannot delegate. The business has expanded and now offers far more comprehensive financial services. “After many years in this business, the financial issues have become the easy part; what motivates me now is empowering our clients to make the most intelligent choices with their money, fulfill their aspirations and seeing them experience genuine happiness and security in their lives,” O’Neil said. “This gives us a sense that we are making a difference helping coach people.” She holds degrees in economics and communications from Allegheny College in Pennsylvania and is a certified financial divorce analyst. She is pursuing her certified financial planner designation and a master’s in taxation. O’Neil and her husband, Jim, live in Lake Worth. Most of their free time is spent with their immediate family or involved with the community.
Board Member
Palm Beach State College President Ava L. Parker leads the County’s largest higher education institution with a strategic approach emphasizing innovation, student success, and business and community collaboration. Parker is the first female president in the history of the institution, which opened in 1933 as Florida’s first public community college. Under Parker’s leadership, the College is taking proactive, transformative measures to meet the evolving needs of our community and has recently added two new bachelor’s degree programs and established a cross-cultural equity institute with a vision to lead institutions worldwide in research, development, and implementation of culturally relevant practices to support successful outcomes for all students.
Parker is engaged in higher education policy issues as a member of the governing board for the American Association of Community Colleges and the advisory board for the Community College Research Center which is a part of the Teacher’s College of Columbia University. Her leadership extends beyond higher education. She serves on the board of directors of Orchid Island Capital as well as the Board of Professional Holding Corp., the financial holding company for Professional Bank. She is a member of the Florida Council of 100, the Women’s International Leadership Forum, Leadership Florida Board, South Florida’s Orange Bowl Committee and on the board of our own Central Palm Beach Chamber.
Before joining Palm Beach State, Parker was executive vice president and chief operating officer at Florida Polytechnic University and served for more than a decade on the Florida Board of Governors of the State University System, the University of Central Florida Board of Trustees and general counsel at Edward Waters College.
Most recently, Parker was recognized as one of Florida’s Most Influential Business Leaders in Florida Trend’s 2020 Florida 500 issue.
Board Member
Tad Rowe was born in Florida, graduated from Forest Hill High School in 1985 and received his Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Florida in 1994. He currently resides in Palm Beach Gardens with his wife and 2 children. Tad is a professional engineer and has been with Simmons & White since 1996. His areas of expertise include commercial, residential and equestrian land development including design and permitting of paving, drainage, and water and wastewater systems. Mr. Rowe has managed and supervised many projects from inception through completion, working with all involved parties – clients, elected officials, regulatory agencies, attorneys, funding agencies, sub-consultants, construction contractors, and the public.
Board Member
Judy Clayton Sanchez is the Senior Director of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs for the United States Sugar Corp. She joined U.S. Sugar in 1994, transferring from its South Bay Growers vegetable operations. She is responsible for U. S. Sugar’s media and public relations activities and its public education/information programs, and coordinates all external and internal communications functions, acts as corporate spokeswoman and assists with the company’s public affairs efforts. Sanchez has a bachelor’s degree in communications and attended the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communication and Florida Atlantic University. She serves on the board of directors for the Agriculture Institute of Florida, Western Palm Beach County Farm Bureau, Sustainable Florida and the Lake Okeechobee Regional Economic Alliance of Palm Beach County. Sanchez serves on the Public Education Advisory Committee for The Sugar Association and the steering committee of the Lake Okeechobee Regional Initiative, Collins Center. She is member of the Belle Glade and Clewiston chambers of commerce. She also served on the South Florida Water Management District’s Water Resources and Advisory Council and its Lake Okeechobee subcommittee. Sanchez and her husband, Julio, live in Belle Glade and have two grown sons. She is a member of the First United Methodist Church.
Board Member
Central Palm Beach Community Foundation Board Member
Mickey Smith received his undergraduate degree, in engineering, from Virginia Tech and his law degree, with high honors, from Duke University School of Law. Smith has practiced trial law in Florida for more than 30 years. He is board-certified and recertified as a specialist in civil trial law by both The Florida Bar and the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Smith’s practice is limited to representing individuals and families who have suffered serious personal injury, wrongful death or have been victimized by the bad-faith practices of an insurance company. For many years, Smith represented the interests of insurance companies, but since 2002, he has exclusively represented ordinary people with valid claims. His efforts have been repeatedly recognized by his peers. Smith has been elected to The Best Lawyers in America (personal injury and insurance law); The Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff’s Lawyers in America; Florida Super Lawyers; Florida Legal Elite; Florida’s Top Lawyers; and the American Board of Trial Advocates (past president of Palm Beach chapter and current executive committee member). Smith is also a member of MENSA. He has lived in the western communities for more than 25 years with his wife, Elizabeth, a public school teacher. He realizes that being a good lawyer involves not only knowledge of the law, but also being compassionate and responsive to clients’ needs.