President & CEO
Robert L. Hamon
Bob Hamon has served as the Chief Executive Officer of CCE since 2011 when he transitioned from being a consultant for the organization to its full-time leader. Hamon uses his extensive background in management and strategy to work effectively with the community, Board of Directors and CCE staff, on finance, development and programming issues. In addition to overseeing the daily operations of CCE, Hamon works to devise long-range strategies to carry out its mission. Hamon has over 30 years of experience in executive positions in healthcare. He served as Senior VP of Group Purchasing Services for the largest health care purchasing group in the US until 2005 and remained as a consultant until 2007. He then opened his own consulting practice, RH Consulting, with a focus on strategic and operation performance.
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Chief Operating Officer
Jerry Crank
Jerry Crank is responsible for overseeing CCE programming involving approximately 13,000 children and 40 Teaching Artists. He coordinates programming, evaluates performance and suggests strategies for improvement. Jerry joined CCE in 2012 and has grown the program, as well as improved its quality. Crank has a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Masters of Arts from Marshall University. He taught Pre-K through 8th grade for 7 years and is certified at the Maestro level by Kindermusik International. He joined the faculty of Marshall University, conducting classes in whole-child development.
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Chief Advancement Officer
Jonathon Ortiz-Smykla
Jonathon Ortiz-Smykla oversees the development and fundraising efforts at CCE through community outreach, donor engagement, and grant initiatives. Joining CCE in 2015, he has held various roles, including Gallery and Theater Manager, Marketing Manager, Director of In-House Operations, and Director of Development. With nearly 20 years of experience in design, art, and education, Jonathon brings a wealth of knowledge and dedication to his role. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design and a Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from Auburn University. Jonathon’s strategic vision and commitment to CCE’s mission continue to drive the organization’s growth and impact in the field of creative education.
Chief Financial Officer
Jeffery Nichols
Jeffery Nichols is our Chief Financial Officer. Jeff has a diverse financial background which includes working for a credit union, a labor union, and a fine wine distributor/importer. He grew up in the Pacific Northwest and has also lived in the Chicago suburbs. Four years ago, he said good-bye to the snow shovel and made the move to South Florida. Jeff is a licensed Certified Public Accountant.
Arts Integration Specialist
Marsha Bhagwansingh
Marsha is an Arts Integration Specialist and a teaching artist at The Foundations School as well as in CCE’s Afterschool Outreach Program. She has been involved in visual art education for over twenty years and holds a Master of Science degree in psychology. She believes that students learn best when they can acquire new knowledge through the blending of personal experiences, sensory exploration, and interaction with the world around them.
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Director of Arts Integration and Creativity
Dr. Susan Gay Wemette
Dr. Susan Gay Wemette oversees and coaches the teachers and teaching artists at CCE in the areas of arts integration and creativity. She holds a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on arts education, an MFA in Acting, and a BFA in Theatre. In 2008, Dr. Wemette co-founded Blue Planet Global Education, a non-profit dedicated to teaching global competence by integrating the arts and core curriculum. As a theatre educator for a regional professional company, Susan created and directed dramatic writing and performance programs for at-promise students in teen mother and runaway shelters, students with severe disabilities, and students in conflict-ridden areas in the world, including South Africa, Kosovo, and Rwanda.
In addition to her work at CCE, she teaches writing to incarcerated students through Exchange for Change and she serves on the Education Committee for the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. As a program evaluator, she has consulted with the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County, Arts For Learning/Miami, The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, Theatre Lab at Florida Atlantic University, and the School District of Palm Beach County.
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Human Resource Operations Manager
Nelson Pino
Nelson Pino serves as the coordinator of internal operations, while performing a wide range of administrative activities, and front desk security. As the CADRE program assistant he collects reports for Primetime and inputs data. He also coordinates necessary maintenance for the Center and organizes the volunteer program. Nelson is from Cali, Colombia in South America. He holds a degree as an Industrial Engineer from Universidad Autonoma of Occidente in Cali and a master of Total Quality Control and Management from Valley University.
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Director of Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Chana-Kay Pommels
Dr. Chana-Kay Pommels has been in the field of education for over thirty years; twenty of which have been in the classroom teaching various grade levels including kindergarten, first grade, middle and high school, and college students. She has an MS degree in Early Childhood/Elementary Education from Long Island University-Brooklyn and a MATL degree in Reading from Nova Southeastern University. She completed her Ed.S. degree in Educational Leadership at Barry University in July 2012 and her Doctorate from Nova Southeastern University in 2018. She has served in various administrative and curriculum coaching roles and she looks forward to growing with the Center for Creative Education and The Foundations School.
Social Worker
Tabitha Raymond
Tabitha is a licensed clinical social worker who is responsible for fostering stronger partnerships between the school, students’ families, and communities' resources resulting in more targeted and efficient resource use. She has her BSW and MSW from Florida Atlantic University. She has vast experience providing community resources and counseling services to children, adults, and the geriatric population.
*This postion was partially funded by the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties during the 2023-2024 award period.
Director of Operations
Dwayne Taylor
Dwayne manages the facility operations for CCE: security, IT, student recruitment, and catering/food services. Dwayne comes to CCE from the City of West Palm Beach Youth Empowerment Center where he developed and managed the Digital Literacy program that helped to reduce youth crime in the Northwood area by 25%. He teaches classes in Final Cut Pro, and the entire Adobe Creative Suite. Dwayne is also the Owner of Taylor Productions and the CEO of 3Tentertainment which keep him updated on the fast moving technological advances and industry trends. Dwayne holds a BFA in Film and Television from the University of Southern California (USC).
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Admissions Coordinator
Deniece B.M. Williams
With nearly 20 years of experience in early childhood education, Deniece Williams is a community member, the Admissions Coordinator, and mother of two current students at The Foundations School. Deniece is invaluable as a representative in the community, recruiting new students and educating people on CCE’s important work. In her role as Admissions Coordinator, she conducts tours, assists with enrollment and family communication, and sets the tone for a positive atmosphere at Center for Creative Education.