Our Board

With their knowledge, experience and passion for our mission, each volunteer member of The Shirley Proctor Puller Foundation Board of Directors makes unique and valuable contributions to the work of the organization. The board meets regularly, is committed to healthy governance practices and provides oversight and accountability in addition to guiding strategic direction.

Laura Askew

Secretary | R&D — Global Innovation Process Manager at Transitions Optical

Expertise: Project Management for Innovation – I manage large, cross-functional teams to bring new product innovation to life.

M.A.S.T.R. Kids Attribute: Lead by example – I do math like a girl, try to keep up.

Favorite Book: Still searching for the one…. I love adventure fiction.

Favorite Quote: “If you always do what you always did, you’ll always get what you always got”.

LaTasha R. Barnes

Director | Principal Consultant at L. Barnes Consulting

Expertise: LaTasha has been in the healthcare finance field for more than 24 years and runs L. Barnes Consulting, a company dedicated to providing services to new and existing businesses, non-profit organizations and offering interim or remote CFO services. Currently she serves on several boards of directors in St. Petersburg, Chattanooga and Washington, D.C.

M.A.S.T.R. Kids Attribute: Arts/Creativity and Reading – LOVE musical arts and exercising the creative side of my brain. Reading can be a form of knowledge and I love to learn. A welcomed respite since daily I’m SO left brained most of the time!

Favorite Book: Waaaay too many to choose just one. I LOVE to read!! Fiction especially.

Favorite Quote: “You can’t be what you can’t see.” – Marian Wright Edelman

Donna Cothron

Director | CFRE, Community Volunteer & Retired Fundraising Professional

Expertise: After earning a master’s degree in behavioral psychology from her beloved Auburn University, Donna’s career in research, engineering and fundraising took her to SE Asia for 15 years. Returning to the US, she put her skills to work as the Senior Development Officer for St. Anthony’s Hospital Foundation. She is active in the St. Petersburg community and currently serves on the boards of the Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts and Great Explorations Children’s Museum.

Master Kids Attribute: The quality programming creates an environment in which children feel safe and cared for, where their self-worth is nurtured and they learn self-care and coping skills to carry them through the rest of their school career and into adulthood.

Favorite Book: Out of Africa by Karen Blixen

Favorite Quote: “Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth.”–Shirley Chisholm

Mario Farias

Chair | CEO and Managing Partner at Farias Consulting Group

Expertise: Marios’s Consulting Group specializes in multinational business development strategies for start ups, relocations and expansions. Working extensively with several municipal economic development divisions and assisting with market placement.

Lisset Hanewicz

Vice-Chair, Chair of Nominating & Governance Committee | St. Petersburg City Council Member, Attorney, President of Crescent Lake Neighborhood Association, Co-founder of Friends of Woodlawn Elementary

Expertise: Law – former State and Federal prosecutor – over 15 years’ experience in civil and criminal law

M.A.S.T.R. Kids Attribute: Practical, analytical and creative thinking – I think it is important to be practical when analyzing issues and use creativity in finding solutions

Favorite Book: “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen

Favorite Quote: “The time is always right to do what is right.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Kaley Johnson

Director | Attorney at Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns, LLP

Expertise: Law practice primarily focusing on commercial real estate.

M.A.S.T.R. Kids Attribute: Desire to learn and improve and taking one thing at time to accomplish goals.

Favorite Book: Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

Favorite Quote: You will face many defeats in life, but never let yourself be defeated. – Maya Angelou

Cosey Proctor Jr.

Director | Teacher and Entrepreneur

Expertise: K-12 Education

M.A.S.T.R. Kids Attribute: Humor is a great tool for deflection

Favorite Book: The Poverty Problem by Horacio Sanchez

Favorite Quote: “Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is like a broken-winged bird that cannot fly” – Langston Hughes

Bill Puller

Chair, Finance Committee | Co-founder of The Shirley Proctor Puller Foundation

Expertise: Fiscal Management/Accounting – I’ve managed large departments with staffing of 20- 30 people responsible for budget development and fiscal management, within Pinellas County Government –utilities and law enforcement. I’ve served in Financial Leadership roles for a number of nonprofit organizations (fraternity, church, Boys & Girls Club, Girls Inc., etc)

M.A.S.T.R. Kids Attribute: Don’t sweat the small stuff –I like to keep progressing, it’s the best way to accomplish something.

Favorite Book: “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz

Favorite Quote: “Don’t Kill a Good Idea with Perfection” Mordecai Walker

Paul Steinhauser

Director | Founder and General Manager at ARCS Wellness, LLC

Expertise: Extensive leadership and management experience in a broad range of professions including finance/investment banking, engineering, and mental health counseling.

M.A.S.T.R. Kids Attribute: Problem-solving, critical thinking, and active listening. Become a lifelong learner! Wisdom is the key to building a successful and fulfilling life.

Favorite Book: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

Favorite Quote: “Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.” – Henry David Thoreau

Virginia Valenote

Director | Business Owner and Consultant

Expertise: Insurance industry – I worked 25 years in the managed care industry. I built networks of physicians for insurance companies.

M.A.S.T.R. Kids Attribute: Self esteem- I will learn that I can do anything through education! I am the best at what I do!

Favorite Book: “Diary of Anne Frank”

Favorite Quote: “The miracle is not that we do this work, but that we are happy to do it.” Mother Teresa