Community Foundation Board

Francisco J. Gonzalez is an attorney and partner at the Wellington-based law firm of Gonzalez, Shenkman & Buckstein, PL, 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.

Susan Park is originally from Long Island, New York and has lived in Palm Beach County since 1980.  She has been employed with Florida Power& Light since 1995, and is currently a Business Account Manager catering to the small and  medium sized business customer in Palm Beach County.  Susan has a Bachelor’s degree from  Northwood University in Business, as well as a degree in Electric Power Technology from Bismarck State College.  Susan is also involved with the North Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce and serves as the membership Co-Chair for the Small Business Advisory Council.Susan enjoys riding motorcycles, running marathons, and spending time with family and friends.  She  has also served as a Guardian Ad Litem for Palm Beach County. Susan and her husband Steve reside in Royal Palm Beach.

Rachelle Crain is a marketing professional with more than 28 years experience in the real estate, golf and shopping center industries. She joined the Wellington business community as the Marketing Director for The Mall at Wellington Green in 2007. Having earned her marketing degree from Branell Women’s College in Atlanta, GA, she is responsible for developing and implementing a strategic community focused marketing and sponsorship plan designed to assist leasing efforts and increase center sales and shopper visits.

Rachelle currently serves as Treasurer of the Central Palm Beach County Community Foundation, and served on the Chamber’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors from 2008 until 2014. As a member of the Chamber’s transition team for the 2012 merger of the Palms West Chamber and Lake Worth Chamber, she coordinated a rebranding of the two organizations that is now The Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce. A recipient of the 2013 Women of Worth Award, Rachelle serves as the chairperson of the Foundation’s Women of Worth Awards Committee, is a 2008 graduate of Leadership Central Palm Beach County and continues to lend support for numerous Chamber and Foundation programs.

Jessica Cecere, has been involved in nonprofit leadership and financial literacy for more than 28 years.  Ms. Cecere is also a small business owner, consultant, and active community volunteer.  She earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Florida State University in 1986.  She is a professional Board/Governance training expert, a former Certified Consumer Credit Counselor, as well as a Certified Counselor for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).Ms. Cecere is an expert in nonprofit management and personal finance and has appeared in numerous local and national publications. Cecere has been a long time local television media source in the area of credit and personal finance, as well as, a frequent guest host on Clear Channel Radio’s WJNO morning news.Jessica Cecere has a long history of community involvement with our many community service organizations.  Jessica is a board member of the Executive Women of the Palm Beaches, Leadership Palm Beach County, and the Better Business Bureau.

Dr. Deja Gilbert joined the Retreat Team in early 2013 as Executive Director and VP of Program Development. Dr. Gilbert obtained her PhD from Capella University and is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). She began her journey in the addictions industry as a primary substance abuse counselor working with adolescents and their families. She then moved on to become the Executive Director of a multisite outpatient and intensive outpatient behavioral healthcare program. She later became Vice President overseeing facilities in both Florida and Alabama. Dr. Gilbert currently lives in Palm Beach County with her family.

Mickey Smith received his law degree from Duke University School of Law and has practiced law in Florida for more than 25 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 for more than a decade now, 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). He has lived in the western communities for more than 20 years with his wife, Elizabeth, a public school teacher. He realizes that being a good lawyer involves not only knowledge but also being responsive to clients’ needs.

Mary Lou Bedford is the Chief Executive Officer for the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce. She began her career with the Chamber in October of 2010 as the Marketing and Public Relations Director. In 2012, she was named Vice President and began oversight of The Palms West Community Foundation, executing the nonprofit initiatives of the Chamber. In 2013, she was promoted to Executive Vice President, collaborating with the CEO in identifying businesses in key industry sectors for Chamber participation and efforts. She helped guide the development of the Chamber’s overall “Program of Work”, adopted by the Board of Directors.In July 2015, Mary Lou was promoted to Chief Executive Officer.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 22 years, Mary Lou and her husband, Scott, are involved in many organizations throughout Palm Beach County. They have two wonderful daughters, Hilary and Amy.