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.
BobH@cceflorida.org
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.
JerryC@cceflorida.org
Chief Advancement Officer
Jonathon Ortiz-Smykla
Jonathon oversees the development/fundraising services of the organization through community outreach, donor engagement, and grant initiatives. Jonathon committed to the mission of CCE in 2015 and has served as the Gallery and Theater Manager, Marketing Manager, Director of In-House Operations (events, facility usage, and afterschool programming), Director of Development, and now as the Chief Advancement Officer. With a resume that spans nearly 20 years in the design, art, and education fields, Jonathon brings those experiences and dedication to CCE. Jonathon holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design and a Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from Auburn University.
JonathonO@cceflorida.org
Chief Financial Officer
Jeff Nichols
Jeff 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.
ESE Coordinator
Courtney Barry
Courtney uses her special education background to help support the behavioral and academic needs of students while promoting responsive classroom approaches. She has a BA degree in psychology from Salisbury University and has many years of experience working with children with special needs. Her qualifications include an Exceptional Student Education (ESE) teaching certification, and she has provided classroom support as both a teacher’s assistant and a Registered Behavior Technician. Courtney has been an ESE teacher for grade kindergarten, 1st and 4th grade. She is dedicated to nurturing a supportive and inclusive learning environment for students with diverse needs.
Arts Integration Specialist
Marsha Bhagwansingh
Marsha serves as an Educational Services Administrative Assistant and is 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.
MarshaB@cceflorida.org
Advancement Manager, Communications
Allison Cary
Allison uses her creative writing skills to effectively promote CCE’s programming. She holds a Master’s in Human Rights from the London School of Economics and Political Science, as well as a B.A. in English and a B.S. in International and Global Studies from University of Central Florida. Allison is passionate about using her writing skills to make a difference in the world. In addition to writing for nonprofits and other community-focused businesses, Allison has also written for sports organizations and is working towards her goal of becoming a published author.
AllisonC@cceflorida.org
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.
SusanW@cceflorida.org
Annual Giving Manager
Vivianne Hall
Vivianne Hall began working at CCE in 2015 and continues supporting the organization, primarily through helping identify and engage current and potential donors and sponsors. In addition to fundraising, she helps coordinate special events and donor relations to ensure continued and future growth for CCE. She has a B.A. in communications from Washington State University which enabled her to work for more than two decades in electronic and print media, while at the same time, devoting time and energies to local nonprofits. She has a passion for helping at-risk populations, especially young children and their families.
VivianneH@cceflorida.org
Facilities 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.
NelsonP@cceflorida.org
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.
Community Resource Liaison
Tabitha Raymond
Tabitha 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.
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).
DwayneT@cceflorida.org
Major Gifts Officer
Michele Vogel
Michele Vogel is responsible for all Major Gifts to CCE. Michele joined us following a long and successful career in the Trust and Wealth Management space. Michele has been very active in the Palm Beach community including years spent as a Board member of CCE. She is also a licensed attorney and studied for a Legal Masters degree in Taxation and Estate Planning. Prior to coming to Palm Beach county, Michele was also a two term Gubernatorial appointee to the Hillsborough County Childrens’ Services Council where she served as Treasurer and was incoming Chair when she relocated to Palm Beach.
MicheleV@cceflorida.org