2011-2012 Board Members
Suzette Wexner
Board Chair
Suzette was in the healthcare industry for 40 years until her recent retirement Palm Healthcare Foundation, Inc., an independent, West Palm Beach based, 501(c)(3) community healthcare foundation, where she served as the founding president/CEO for ten years. Her first healthcare post was at Samaritan Hospital in Troy, New York followed by the University of Florida College of Medicine where she led the College's major gift development and alumni affairs efforts.
She then became the President of the Good Samaritan Foundation, Inc. in West Palm Beach, Florida. where she successfully oversaw the development and implementation of a comprehensive fundraising program. Following the merger of Good Samaritan Hospital with St. Mary's Hospital, Suzette assumed the newly created position of President of the hospitals' newly created supporting foundation, Intracoastal Health Foundation, Inc. When both hospitals were subsequently sold to for-profit Tenet Corporation in 2001, she became the founding CEO of Palm Healthcare Foundation.
Suzette's most recent endeavor is Ivory Crane,a collection of Japanese-inspired women's clothing and accessories that will be available at high-end national and international retail outlets and specialty boutiques in time for the Fall/Winter 2012 season.
Jamie Blosser, MS
Secretary
Jamie S. Blosser has been actively involved with The Alliance since 2006. She brought a strong passion for and dedication to the education, prevention, advocacy and treatment of eating disorders.
From 2007-2008, she was the Events Committee Chair and worked to make both the fashion show and annual cocktail party successful. While completing her master’s degree at the University of Miami, Jamie helped to establish a partnership between The Alliance, UM’s Counseling Center and the Miami-Dade NEDAW Committee to bring the amazing documentary America The Beautiful and it’s director, Darryl Roberts, to the University of Miami campus. She worked during the summer of 2009 as the Advocacy Intern and helped to plan Florida Eating Disorders Lobby Day. Jamie has and continues to participate in eating disorder advocacy at the state and federal levels with The Alliance.
Jamie is a graduate of Boston College and received her Master’s in Education with a specialization in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Miami (UM). She completed her outplacement practicum in mental health counseling with a specialization in eating disorders at Oliver-Pyatt Centers in South Miami, Florida.
Jamie is currently working as a primary therapist at Oliver-Pyatt Centers and provides individual, family and group therapy in the intensive outpatient program. Her areas of clinical experience include: eating disorders, body image, self-esteem, trauma, depression, anxiety and relationship issues.
Lee Ann Park
Treasurer
Lee Ann Park has been involved with The Alliance since the re(Define) (Real)ity fashion show in February 2008. Lee Ann is the owner of Little in the Middle, a women's clothing line. The message of Little in the Middle is that if you feel comfortable and confident in what you are wearing, you are empowered to conquer the world. No matter what your size or shape, the time is now to feel great about yourself.
Since 2008, Little in the Middle and The Alliance have partnered for positive body image fashion shows at Miami Fashion Show, Los Angeles Fashion Week, Boston Fashion Week, Colorado State University, and several other local events. Lee Ann keeps very busy with her consulting business and clothing business. She is always networking and eager to meet new people and thrilled to be part of The Alliance Board.
Kimberly Bancsi
Kim Bancsi resides in West Palm Beach, FL and is the Project Manager for Nancy Schwartz & Company, a nonprofit marketing and communications company. Previously, she worked at American College Marketing as the Operations and University Marketing Manager and at Spirit of Women as a Hospital Network Coordinator.
She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management at Florida Atlantic University and received her Bachelor’s degree in Leisure/Sport Management from Elon University. She has volunteered her time with The Alliance since 2003 and has played an integral role in marketing and events.
She is an avid sports fan and enjoys spending time watching her favorite sports teams, the Cleveland Browns, Indians, Cavs and The Ohio State University Buckeyes.
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Joann Hendelman, PhD, RN, FAED, CEDS
Chair, Program and Outreach Committee
Dr. Joann Hendelman is a Clinical Psychologist in private practice in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. She is the Clincal Director for The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness, and serves as Chief, Department of Psychology for St. Mary’s and Good Samaritan Medical Centers. Dr. Hendelman is also a Registered Nurse, a Fellow of the Academy of Eating Disorders, and a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist.
Dr. Hendelman arrived in Florida in 1988 when she was hired to develop an Outpatient Eating Disorders Program at Lake Hospital in Lake Worth. She started her private practice in 1989 specializing in eating disorders and adolescence as well as other therapeutic issues. Dr. Hendelman has worked in the treatment of eating disorders for more than 35 years and is recognized as a leader in the treatment of the disease in South Florida. She has spoken internationally on eating disorders and other topics.
Dr. Hendelman attended The University of Michigan where she obtained a Bachelors Degree in Nursing. She received her Masters Degree in Clinical and School Psychology from Wayne State University in Detroit, and her doctorate from Cornell University.
Dr. Hendelman is married to William Pearl and has two stepchildren, Joshua Pearl and Jennifer Pearl. Dr Hendelman is also a jewelry artist whose work is sold at The Museum Store at the Norton Gallery of Art, The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts Gift Shop in West Palm Beach, and several other museum stores around the country.
Lorraine Mari, Ph.D.
Chair, Development Committee
Dr. Lorraine Mari is a licensed Psychologist in New York State, and is awaiting her Florida license. She is a full time Florida resident residing on Singer Island.
Dr. Mari focused her professional career of over 30 years in schools on Long Island. She was the chief psychologist in the Kings Park School District, where she was responsible for psychological services at the preschool, elementary and secondary levels. In-service training of professional staff, parent education groups, and chairing committees for providing special educational services to school age and pre-school age children were among her responsibilities. She also maintained a private clinical practice working with children, adults and families.
Dr. Mari received her doctoral degree from Hofstra University. She has two sons, Andrew Schles and Jeffrey Schles.
Dr. Mari has been volunteering with The Alliance since December of 2010, co-leading weekly support groups, assisting with educational presentations, grant writing and fund raising.
Dr. Mari has been volunteering with The Alliance since December of 2010, co-leading weekly support groups, assisting with educational presentations, grant writing and fund raising.
Cherie Monarch
Cherie Monarch was born and raised in Florida. She graduated Suma Cum Laude from the University of Florida. She has been married for 25 years and has two amazing daughters. Her oldest is graduating from the University of Florida and her youngest just finished her first semester at Vanderbilt University. She has owned her own real estate business since 1987 and at one point had 20 employees. She has been listed Who’s Who in Tampa Bay for many years. Due to recent health issues, she has been forced to significantly scale back her business. She was backstage manager for a local dance company for over10 years, many years with a cast of over 250. She has chaired and hosted many silent auctions and fundraising events throughout the Tampa Bay area.
Her most recent event was helping her daughter coordinate the inaugural Tampa Bay NEDA walk, which ended up be the largest volunteer run walk for eating disorders in the country. The walk raised $33,601 and had over 350 walkers. Cherie has also lobbied with the Alliance in Washington D.C. and Tallahassee, Florida. Her spare time is devoted to raising awareness of eating disorders in the Tampa Bay area.
Rachel Needle, PsyD
Dr. Rachel Needle received her M.S. and Psy.D. in clinical psychology from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She received her B.A. in psychology from Barnard College, Columbia University. Dr. Needle completed an internship in clinical psychology at University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey: Robert Wood Medical School in Piscataway, New Jersey. She is a Florida Certified Sex Therapist. Dr. Needle is currently a Licensed Psychologist in private practice at the Center for Marital and Sexual Health of South Florida.
Dr. Needle is an Adjunct Professor of Psychology in the Department of Behavioral Sciences at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She is also an Assistant Professor and the Coordinator of Clinical Experiences in the Masters in Professional Counseling Program at South University in West Palm Beach, Florida. Dr. Needle is the Director of Health Information Services for Positive Friends.
Dr. Needle’s clinical and research interests include sexual function and dysfunction, relationship concerns, sexual compulsivity, battered women, and trauma. She has a particular interest in working with individuals both during and following cancer treatment. Dr. Needle has presented her research and clinical work at national and international conferences.
Rebecca Seelig
Co-Chair, Marketing Committee
Native Floridian Rebecca Seelig is owner of Palm Beach Public Relations (PBPR), a public relations firm located in West Palm Beach, Fla. PBPR works with local and national companies in promoting their businesses and/or products to media members across the world.
Ms. Seelig spent over nine years at The PGA of America in their communications department managing the promotion of PGA Professionals and communication of their major Championships which included the PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup. Ms. Seelig is a fifteen year sports industry veteran, who in addition to working with The PGA of America, worked with the Florida Marlins Baseball Club, Orange Bowl Committee and University of Florida Athletic Association.
After graduating The Benjamin School in North Palm Beach, Ms. Seelig achieved her Bachelors of Science in Advertising at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Fla., and then proceeded to gain her Masters of Sports Administration from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. In addition, Ms. Seelig is only one of a few public relations practitioners in the nation to achieve accreditation in public relations (APR) through the Public Relations Society of America.
Not only is Ms. Seelig a member of the Public Relations Society of America, she belongs to the Golf Writers Association of America and the Junior League of the Palm Beaches.
Susan Strasser
Susan was born in Ankara, Turkey, growing up in Istanbul, arriving in the United States at the age of seven. There she was, streaming down the Hudson River on the S.S. Constitution, not knowing a word of English and gazing up in awe at the Statue of Liberty. Her father, a physician, came to America seeking the promises of the “promised land”, and she describes her younger life as that of a gypsy, moving from city to city, as her father sought a better life for the family.
She attended Florida State University and graduated from FSU with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Sociology. Susan has been in sales and management in the radio business since 1980 with Gowdy Broadcasting and with CBS Radio for the past 29 years. She has received numerous awards for outstanding achievements and character during her tenure. Her true passion and dedication, though, is to her family, her two children, Erika (Vanderbilt University) and Jared (University of Central Florida), her husband Lee, her parents, and sister.
Susan has served on the Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters as well as Friends of Abused Children. She has also previously served on numerous committees. Susan has been recognized nationally in the radio industry, including Lexington’s Who’s Who of Executives and Professionals and as one of CBS Radio’s top Account Representatives nationwide with the Presidential Award. She is honored to be a new Board member of the Alliance and looks forward to helping to increase their developmental growth and contributor base with continued education and outreach into the community. Her passion, dedication, enthusiasm and level of contacts will be a large asset to the future of the Alliance.
Leah Wypych
Co-Chair, Marketing Committee
Leah Wypych was born and raised in Palm Beach County, Florida – a rare Florida native! Upon receiving her undergraduate degree from Florida State University, she returned back to her hometown of Palm Beach Gardens and earned her Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Florida Atlantic University.
Leah’s goal has always been to help the community, particularly children and their families. That’s the reason she chose to begin her career working in the Child Welfare system in 2001 helping children removed from their homes and placed in adoptive homes, foster homes, shelters, group homes and residential programs. Leah has worked for multiple non-profit agencies throughout her career, including Children’s Home Society of Florida, the Area Agency on Aging, and Child and Family Connections.
Leah is currently working as a marketing coordinator at the top Residential Treatment Center in the state of Florida. SandyPines is located in Tequesta, Florida, and provides quality care for Children ages 5 to 17 with severe psychiatric disorders. The facility boasts a 19 acre campus and is surrounded by Jonathan Dickenson State Park. Her current position has been one of the most successful and rewarding professional opportunities.
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