Celebrating the Leadership Sanibel-Captiva Alumni

Explore the inspiring journeys of Sanibel Captiva Leadership alumni, who have gained invaluable insights and forged lifelong connections. Through immersive experiences, they’ve developed a profound understanding of community leadership, fostering positive change across Sanibel and Captiva.

Alumni of Leadership Class 2025

BRAD ANDRES, PRIVATE WEALTH ADVISOR 

Brad Andres is a Private Wealth Advisor and Director of Financial Planning at Northwestern Mutual. Brad is licensed as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in multiple states and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Brad graduated from Franklin & Marshall College with a B.A. in Public Policy.  He earned a Master of Accountancy (MAcc) from Mercer University.  

Originally from New Jersey, Brad lived in Dallas, Texas and Atlanta, Georgia before moving to Sanibel in May 2022. Brad served on the Board of Directors (President) at the Children’s Education Center of the Islands (CECI) until his son graduated from the preschool in May 2024. Brad lives on island with his wife, son, and three dogs.   

JANICE BLOCK CHADDOCK, BOARD MEMBER, FORMER CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER 

Janice's legal career began in Chicago at Kirkland & Ellis, where she was a trial lawyer specializing in intellectual property law. After advancing to partner roles at several law firms, Janice transitioned in-house to Microsoft, serving as lead counsel for the U.S. Central Region. Subsequently, Janice became General Counsel for Career Education Corporation. 

 In 2006, she joined Kaplan Inc., a global education leader which educates more than one million students and professionals annually. At Kaplan, Janice held multiple roles simultaneously, including Chief Legal Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, and Chief Human Resources Officer. Before retiring from Kaplan, Janice led the sale of online Kaplan University to Purdue University. 

Janice has devoted her time since then to serving as a board director of numerous public, non-profit, and charitable organizations. She is the incoming Chair of the technology business Aspiritech Corporation. Locally, Janice serves as president of Bat Yam Temple of the Islands, vice president of the League of Women Voters of Sanibel, secretary of the Beachview Neighborhood Association, and is a member of the FORUM committee of BIG ARTS. She holds a bachelor's degree from Princeton, a master's from Northwestern, and a juris doctorate from Columbia University. Janice is married to Ron Chaddock and has three children. Hear Janice’s excitement about joining the program.

JASON CHIKLAKIS, WEALTH MANAGEMENT 

Jason Chiklakis is responsible for managing individual and family client relationships, coordinating efforts with internal team members and external advisors to provide the most effective trust and investment services aligned with client goals.   

Prior to joining The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company, Jason served as Associate Vice President, Trust Officer for several years at FineMark National Bank & Trust in Fort Myers, FL.  He was responsible for demonstrating prudent fiduciary management, ensuring trust accounts are administered in accordance with estate documents and applicable laws, and developing and implementing comprehensive financial plans consistent with client objectives.  Jason is a graduate of The Florida Trust and Wealth Management School and obtained his Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL. After completing the Leadership Class, Jason joined the Sanibel Captiva Rotary Club.

ARIELLE COHEN, SALES & MANUFACTURING 

Arielle Cohen is a new member of the island community, having just recently moved to Sanibel from Dallas, Texas. Although she is a new resident of the island, Arielle has been visiting Sanibel and Captiva since 2006 and even met her husband at Jensen’s on Captiva. They subsequently got engaged and married on Captiva in 2010 and finally achieved their goal of living on the island in 2024. Arielle received her undergraduate degree from the University of Miami and then went on to receive her J.D. from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law (now Texas A&M School of Law).  

Arielle practiced employment law in Dallas before joining her husband, Jason, to work together managing Cohen Sales, LLC, a manufacturer’s representative firm primarily focused on children’s toy sales. While in Dallas, Arielle was involved in her community by volunteering at the North Texas Food Bank, and she is looking forward to serving her new community in Sanibel.   Arielle was recently named to the board for the Committee of the Islands (COTI).

EVAN DUPONT, REAL ESTATE 

Evan was born and raised in SW Florida on Sanibel Island and in Fort Myers. After receiving his undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech, he spent several years working for a publicly traded REIT in our nation's capital and the Metro-DC market. Returning to Sanibel in 2013 to continue his real estate career on the Islands, Evan found his stride with John Naumann & Associates where he became a consistent top producer on the islands and partner in the brokerage. Today he continues to excel in our market under the Berkshire Hathaway umbrella and is recognized as part of the "top 1/2 of the top 1%" in the Berkshire Hathaway network. 

LAURA GALES, MARRIAGE & FAMILY THERAPIST 

Laura Gales grew up in Southwest Florida and has always had a deep love for Sanibel Island. After graduating high school locally, she attended Flagler College receiving her bachelor's degree with a double major in Psychology and Sociology. Laura then continued her education at Nova Southeastern University where she received a doctoral degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. After completing her education Laura married her high school sweetheart, Tyler Gales. She then continued her professional career as a readjustment counselor for the Department of Veterans Affairs working with combat veterans and their families. After the birth of her oldest son, she put her career on hold to focus on her family. 

Laura and Tyler always wanted to move to Sanibel Island to raise their family and send their kids to The Sanibel School. In 2021 they were able to make that dream a reality. Since moving back to Southwest Florida Laura has become involved in many aspects of the island community. From September 2022 to May 2024, she served on the Board of Directors at The Children’s Education Center of the Islands (CECI) assisting to ensure the school reopened following Hurricane Ian to celebrate 50 years of educating the next generation of island conservationists. Since completing her term on the CECI board Laura has served on the Fundraising Committee for Community Housing & Resources (CHR) and is a regular volunteer at The Sanibel School. Laura was recently named to the SCCF Board. Read Laura’s story of leadership after Hurricane Ian.

DAVID HAAS, FINANCIAL PLANNING 

David officially launched his formal career at the age of just 19 under the guidance of his father, Chuck Haas, who started the family firm in 1978. In addition to being the owner and CEO of Haas Financial, David also helped start and continues to volunteer at a non-profit which provides a safe environment for people recovering from addiction.    

David married his high school sweetheart, April, and feels blessed to be raising his three kids -- Genevieve, Maggie, and Robbie -- with her on Sanibel.  April operates a boat charter business on Sanibel and David assists her in the operation of the business as well.  

DANE JOHNSON, CONSTRUCTION 

Dane is a fourth-generation owner operator of Baileys General Store with his parents as well as two sisters, though currently employed as a Construction Superintendent for Benchmark General Contractors. A graduate of Florida Gulf Coast University with a degree in Business Dane also holds a USCG Captain’s license, FAA private pilot’s license, as well as an FAA commercial drone license.   

KELLY NIESEL, HEALTHCARE & HOSPITALITY 

Kelly is a proud third-generation native of Fort Myers, Florida, where her love for the coast began at an early age. Growing up, she spent countless days soaking up the sun and enjoying the beautiful shores of Sanibel Island and Fort Myers Beach, which shaped her deep connection to the vibrant coastal community. In pursuit of her passion for helping others, Kelly became a licensed practical nurse in 2017 and furthered her education to become a registered nurse in 2019. Her dedication to healthcare reflects her commitment to making a positive impact in the community.  

Currently, Kelly and her husband Sean are working diligently to rebuild their beloved Shalimar Beach Resort on Sanibel Island, which was devastated by Hurricane Ian in 2022.  

PAM NORTON, RETIRED BUSINESS OWNER 

A dedicated Florida resident, Pam spends over six months each year enjoying the beautiful surroundings of Sanibel and Captiva Islands. Pam also maintains a second residence in Hunting Valley, Ohio. After a fulfilling career, she retired in 2014 after successfully selling her business, Century Harley-Davidson, located in Medina, Ohio.   

MATTHEW PIERCE, SOFTWARE ENGINEER 

Matthew Pierce is a retired litigation consultant and software engineer with over 30 years of experience developing innovative software solutions to address the unique challenges faced by legal teams in complex cases.  He began his career in litigation support, founding a nationwide consulting firm and gaining extensive courtroom experience.  Matthew has been a trusted advisor to multinational corporations and top law firms, handling high-profile cases involving intellectual property, antitrust issues, and international border disputes.  

Now retired from his role as a litigation consultant, Matthew focuses on managing several businesses he and his wife operate on Sanibel Island, Florida.  He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and resides in Sanibel with his wife Rachel, four children, and two dogs.  Matthew currently is a member of the Sanibel Captiva Rotary Club, serving on the Scholarships Committee.

ILIE RUBY, ARTIST & AUTHOR 

Ilie Ruby is an artist and the author of two novels. She holds master's degrees in teaching and writing and worked for several years as a writer and editor in educational publishing, most notably at Houghton Mifflin Company. She teaches expressive writing workshops and runs the island jewelry and art company, Odessa Blue, which she shares with her daughter. Learn more Ilie assisted the Captiva Island Historical Society restore their exhibits in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

MILES SWEISS, ENTREPRENEUR 

Miles Sweiss is a full-time Sanibel resident and successful entrepreneur running multiple Sanibel based businesses. Miles and his wife Chelsea Sweiss (a native Floridian) and two children moved to Sanibel in 2021 from California. He owns a transportation rental company called The Moke & Cabana Club providing vintage, eco-friendly, lithium powered Mokes to island visitors and residents. He also owns and operates a concrete floor coating business called Sanibel Epoxy, helping residents and businesses flood proof their concrete floors with commercial grade coatings.  

Miles attended UCLA with a major in Evolution, Ecology, And Behavior. He is a conservationist by training. He has a Pilot's License and loves fishing, camping, boating, and outdoor cooking.   

SUE VAN OSS, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 

Sue served in churches in the Midwest for almost 40 years in Christian Formation and Communications, moving to Florida in 2020 when her husband Bill was called to be the Rector of St. Michael and all Angels Church on Sanibel. Community engagement has been one of her top priorities, connecting with many of the Islands’ outstanding nonprofits, city leaders and especially this past summer with local business owners through the Love Sanibel Back initiative. Sanibel is the most unique place she has ever lived, with a caring community that comes together in good times and especially in the tough times.  Sue and Bill have one child, Luca, who is a community health worker in Chicago.   Sue’s leadership with the Love Sanibel Back initiative was deeply appreciated by the business community; she was awarded Volunteer of the Year by the Sanibel Captiva Chamber of Commerce in 2025.

Alumni of Leadership Class 2024

MARVELL BRADLEY, Real Estate Agent

Marvell Bradley is an island native who attended the Sanibel School. He works in real estate after years in pharmaceuticals. He is a member of the J.N Ding Darling Outreach Committee and a former youth minister at Saint Michael’s and All Angels’ Episcopal Church.

Watch Marvell’s video on his experiences.

KYLE DeCICCO, President/CEO, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank

Kyle DeCicco is the President and CEO of Sanibel Captiva Community Bank.  In 2021, at the age of thirty-six, he was named Bank President and a member of the Board of Directors. In 2023, he became President and Chief Executive Officer making him only the second CEO since the institution was created in 2003. Kyle is a graduate of the Florida Bankers Association Florida School of Banking and the American Bankers Association Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He is on the board of directors for The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools and serves as treasurer and on the Grant Selection Committee.

NANCY ELTING, Educator

A lifelong educator, Nancy Elting was a teacher and administrator at The Spence School, an independent K-12 girls’ school in New York City. She served as interim head of the school and of a South Bronx charter school before retiring. She and her husband split their time between Millerton, New York and Sanibel. She has been a Northeast Community Center board member for 8 years. Listen to Nancy’s reflection on her experience.

PAULA FRIEDMAN, Molecular Biologist/Art Gallery Owner 

Molecular biologist Paula Friedman worked as a research scientist for 30 years in the fields of molecular oncology and pharmacogenomics. She completed her undergraduate work at Dartmouth College and earned her doctoral degree at Columbia University. She worked at Abbott Laboratories on molecular oncology products, as Associate Director of the Center for Personalized Therapeutics at the University of Chicago, and as a senior research scientist for Northwestern University’s Center for Pharmacogenomics. She owns Bernay Fine Art, a public art gallery in the Berkshires. She has been a Sanibel resident since 2016, belongs to Zonta and volunteers for F.I.S.H. and Community Housing & Resources. Paula now serves on the board for the Committee of the Islands (COTI).

MELISSA HALLIBURTON, Founder & CEO, BringFido

Melissa Halliburton is the founder and CEO of BringFido, the world’s largest pet-friendly travel website. Originally from California, Melissa spent 9 years in Massachusetts and 12 years in South Carolina. She and her family moved to Sanibel in 2021 after a monthlong “workcation” turned into a permanent vacation. Watch Melissa’s endorsement of the Leadership Program

BAILIE FRANCIS JOHNSON, Owner/Operator, Bailey’s General Store 

A Florida native, Bailie is a fourth-generation owner-operator along with her family, of Bailey's General Store and the historic Island Store on Captiva. Bailie is responsible for the financial and administrative operations of the family businesses. She is a graduate of Florida Gulf Coast University’s Lutgert College of Business. She has volunteered for various island organizations, including Community Housing & Resources, and plays an active role in Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation’s Coastal Watch advisory committee.  

DUDLEY MALONE, Investment Advisor

Dudley Malone has spent time on Sanibel and Captiva every year since the early ’70s when his parents became part-time residents. It’s also where he honeymooned. Dudley worked in commercial real estate for 12 years, then 25-plus as an investment advisor with R. W. Baird in Chicago. He recently retired. In 2019, he and his wife purchased a house on Sanibel and have spent much of their time on the Islands since. Over the years, he has supported island organizations such as BIG ARTS, CROW, J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, and F.I.S.H.

SARAH McCLURE, City Commissioner/Mayor/Financial Consultant/Economics Instructor

Sarah McClure served 14 years as a City Commissioner and three as Mayor of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, where she has lived for over 40 years. She previously was a financial consultant with Merrill Lynch and an adjunct Economics instructor. She and her family have owned on Captiva for over 24 years and currently have a private home within South Seas Resort. She earned her bachelor's degree in Economics and History from Cornell University and her MBA from the University of Michigan. She serves on the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum and Aquarium Board and the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy Board. 

BRIAN RIST, Entrepreneur

Brian Rist is the former executive chairman of The Smart Companies, of which Storm Smart is the largest subsidiary. After 26 years of growing Storm Smart into the largest U.S. manufacturer of storm protection products, he now focuses on philanthropy with his wife and is the chairman of the Rist Family Foundation. Brian shares his reflections on moving to Sanibel as well as his experience with the Leadership Program.

JON ROSEN, Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP - Retired

Jon was born and raised in Los Angeles. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accountancy from California State University, Northridge. He was a partner in the professional services firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for 25 years, retiring in 2007. His area of practice focused on public real estate companies. His not-for-profit experience includes involvement with the 1984 Los Angeles Citizens Olympic Organizing Committee, the Cleveland Opera, United Way of Chicago and Executive Service Corp. He has been a Captiva resident since 2020 and has visited the island since 2011. Jon was recently elected to the Island Water Association (IWA) Board and will serve a three-year term.

AUDREY STEWART, Owner, Adventures in Paradise Outfitters

Fort Myers native Audrey Stewart is a proud alumna of Florida Gulf Coast University, earning a communication degree with a focus on interdisciplinary studies. She has helped grow her family’s business, Adventures in Paradise Cruises, by bringing its marketing into the digital age. She and her husband operate Adventures in Paradise Outfitters, a local island boutique. Audrey volunteers for the Sanibel School PTA and The Sanibel School Fund and serves on the Children’s Education Center of the Islands Advisory Committee. She is a member of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, and has volunteered for Sanibel Community Housing & Resources, the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum and as a Guardian Ad Litem for the 20th Judicial Circuit. 

RACHEL TRITAIK, Physical Therapist/Massage Therapist, Island Therapy Center

Rachel Tritaik and her family moved to Sanibel in 2008 from Florida’s east coast. She is a licensed physical therapist and massage therapist with over 25 years of experience. In 2009, she opened Island Therapy Center, a rehabilitation and wellness clinic on Periwinkle Way. Due to destruction in Hurricane Ian, her clinic moved to Fort Myers but she will be returning her clinic to a new location on Tarpon Bay Road this spring. She is President-Elect of the Sanibel Captiva Rotary Club, and has volunteered with FISH and other organizations in the community. Rachel is also a member of the Sanibel Captiva Business Women’s Association and the American Physical Therapy Association. See Rachel in action after Hurricane Helene and Milton.

KEN WASHUTA, Technology Executive (2025 Chair)

Ken Washuta is a seasoned technology executive who has developed and executed strategic programs for organizations of all sizes. He held progressive technology leadership roles throughout his 40-plus-year career, with a focus on healthcare over the last 25 years. He retired from UnitedHealth Group in 2022, where he was the UnitedHealthcare Community & State (Medicaid) CIO for 10+ years. He lives in Sanibel with his wife and dogs. Ken graciously chaired the 2025 class, serving on the CFI Board during his term. Ken now serves on the SCCF Endowment Committee.