Our Team

SPPF is a community-led organization with 90% of our staff living in or having grown up in South St. Petersburg. Academically, certified teachers and experienced assistants set our team apart from many out-of-school time programs, allowing us to maintain the rigor required to close the achievement gap for the at-risk students we serve.

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Our Executive Team

SPPF’s Executive Team has strong skills in business management and in education with the collective experience to make SPPF a solid operational entity today while enabling it to scale as we deliver our future goals.

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Bridgette Heller

CoFounder & Volunteer CEO

I spent 35+ years running global businesses for Fortune 100 companies. Most recently, as President of Danone’s $7B Specialized Nutrition, I led a phenomenal organization of 20,000+. I previously worked at Merck, J&J and Kraft. I’m now on the Boards of Aramark, Newman’s Own Inc., Dexcom and Novartis.

Pam Williams

Chief Operating Officer

As COO, Pam ensures the organization’s financial, data, fundraising, and HR infrastructure is strong today and ready for scale that multiplies impact in the years ahead. Pam’s 30+ years of nonprofit experience started with the turnaround of an organization in financial crisis, leading to the launch of a consultancy providing training, transition, and turnaround services to nonprofits and associations in the US and East Africa. In 2016, Pam became COO/CFO for the first women’s college in Rwanda, leading an international team across 3 continents and overseeing administration, finance and operations as the business grew from 50 students to over 400. Pam’s work consistently reflects a commitment to equity.

Eliot Heller

Volunteer CIO

I am a physician & engineer that has spent 20 years working as a clinician, teacher and researcher, in inner city hospitals, caring for underserved patients. My last clinical role was chief of cardiology. I then spent 10 years working as the Chief Medical Information Officer at 3 different inner city hospitals, leading system and workflow redesign projects. While in these roles I developed significant expertise in the management of population health data. Now, along with my role as volunteer CIO, I also volunteer as the cardiologist in the St Petersburg Free Clinic.

Darren Hammond

Site Operations Leader

Darren Hammond is currently serving as the Site Operations Leader for the Shirley Proctor Puller Foundation. He is a graduate of Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Education. He also holds a Master of Science in Curriculum & Instruction, National Louis University, and an Education Specialist Degree (Ed. S) in Administration & Supervision, Nova Southeastern University. Darren spent 37 years with Pinellas County Schools transforming students to reach their ultimate learning potential using proven classroom strategies developed during his tenure in education. While working with Pinellas County Schools, he served as Teacher, Guidance counselor, Assistant Principal and as a Principal. Darren is a passionate educator who openly shares his love of learning with teachers, parents, and other educators! He was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Shaquina Reese

Academic Officer

Shaquina Reese is a dedicated leader with a heart for people who serves as the Academic Officer for the Shirley Proctor Puller Foundation. In this role, she leads the academic vision and implementation of SPPF’s programs so that scholars receive high-quality, meaningful learning experiences that prepare them for success in school, in life, and in their communities. She brings more than 25 years of experience in education as a teacher, instructional coach, and curriculum specialist, with extensive knowledge of K–12 curriculum. Her educational journey began locally at Northeast High School in St. Petersburg. She went on to earn an Associate Degree in Education from St. Petersburg Junior College, a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from the University of South Florida, and a Master’s Degree in Education with an emphasis in Mathematics and Science from USF St. Petersburg. She also holds Associate and Bachelor’s Degrees in Theology from Life Christian University and is completing her Master’s in Theology.

Shaquina believes education has the power to transform lives and that every lesson, conversation, and relationship can shape a child’s confidence, character, and future. Her passion is to empower scholars to become confident learners, courageous leaders, and compassionate individuals who positively impact their communities. She is equally committed to developing leadership in others and to giving educators the support, resources, and coaching they need to lead with excellence. As a wife and the proud mother of five phenomenal children, she believes families are a child’s first and most influential leaders, and she builds authentic partnerships that empower them in their child’s educational journey. Her faith, including her service as a Deaconess at her local church, shapes her commitment to building trust, encouraging collaboration, and cultivating a culture where every person understands their value and is empowered to make a lasting difference.