As we embark on a new year together, we want to share a special thank you to our Breakthrough T1D Community Board of Directors. These volunteer leaders represent the important geographies that span our chapter: Greater Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa Bay. They have worked incredibly hard to not only ensure we continue funding critical research, but to help us navigate COVID-19 and all the challenges it has thrown our way. We are grateful for your service and commitment to the T1D community. We would like to spotlight a member of each Community Board so that our entire Northern Florida Chapter can learn more about who is leading us through these challenging times.

Central Florida Community Board

Board President: Diane Meiller-Cook

President Elect: Rob Rosen

Board Member Spotlight:

Katie Erickson

Katie is an Executive with Walt Disney World and has been employed there for 22 years.  She has also lived with T1D since she was 8 years old.  She learned about Breakthrough T1D in 2016 and was thrilled to find out there was an organization that focuses solely on type 1 diabetes research.  She wears a Medtronic Mini-Med insulin pump, a Dexcom CGM, and has a diabetic alert service dog.  As a Disney Executive she has been asked to serve on numerous boards, but she knew she would get particularly passionate and committed to a cause that is so near and dear to her life. Katie serves our Board as this year’s walk champion. She partners with staff, corporate partners and top teams to ensure they have access to the support and resources they need to be successful. Katie has a goal to grown the Central Florida Walk program to $1MM. If you would like to learn more about how you can help Katie achieve that goal please email Erika Lemus, elemus@BreakthroughT1D.org, for more details.

North Florida Community Board

Board President: Tom Anderson

Board Member Spotlight:

Jean Bobin

Jean Bobin has been with Black Knight, Inc in Jacksonville, FL for 20 years and currently serves as an SVP, Business Operations Director. Her involvement with Breakthrough T1D started in 2017 to support a close family friend who lived with T1D most of his life.  Her passion for serving an organization focused on finding a cure for T1D for her close friend grew fast as she engaged in several Breakthrough T1D events and activities.  In 2019, Jean joined the Board of Directors to actively engage in and have direct impact to the mission of Breakthrough T1D utilizing her leadership and organizational skills.  In 2020, Jean assumed the role of Board Nominating and Development Chair. With the infrastructure and organizational changes facing Breakthrough T1D due to COVID-19’s impact, Jean rolled up her sleeves, leaned in, and volunteered to work in partnership with Brooks Biagini, Market Director to build an enhanced program for Board Development and Volunteer Assimilation which maps talents and skills to organizational needs and gaps within the Northern Florida Chapter.  Jean has been instrumental in the change movement to a ‘volunteer-powered’ organization by raising Board Member engagement levels to support JRDF’s evolving structure and continued focus on the mission to find a cure for T1D.   For more information on how you can join Jean in moving Breakthrough T1D’s mission forward, please contact Brooks Biagini, bbiagini@BreakthroughT1D.org.

Tampa Bay Community Board

Board President: Nick Plott

Nominating Chair: Ben Milsom

Board Member Spotlight:

Matt White

Matt has been involved with Breakthrough T1D since 2014. His determination for a cure stems back to when his wife was diagnosed with T1D while they were in college. He has been heavily involved in both our walk and gala programs and he even has his own third party fishing tournament, Hooked on a Cure. This event alone has raised over $100,000 towards T1D research. Matt is an entrepreneur at heart. He is the founder and president of Meter Technology Werks, part owner of Primal Racing Group, and CEO of Ampere EV, among other ventures. In 2020 Matt received the “2020 Small Business of the Year Award”. We were thrilled when Matt agreed to join the Tampa Bay Community Board in 2016 and he has been helping guide our progress ever since. When Matt is not working or volunteering you can find him fishing or riding his motorcycle! For information about how you can support our walk or gala programs alongside Matt, please contact Carole Brennan, cbrennan@BreakthroughT1D.org,  for more information.