Past Chair

EDITH A. HUNT

Edie spent her 32-year career at Goldman Sachs in New York, where she was a partner in the Human Capital Management division.  She has served as both the Chief Diversity Officer and the Chief Recruiting Officer.  She retired in 2013.  Edie’s nonprofit activities are focused on women’s empowerment and education for underprivileged students.  Her board work includes: Women’s Campaign International, (Chair of the Board), New Jersey Needs You, Forte Foundation, Grace Works Jersey City.  Edie received her undergraduate degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and her MBA from the University of Chicago.

She resides in Bonita Springs, Florida, and also spends time in Jersey City, New Jersey and Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Chair

JIM YOST

Jim and his wife, Miki, have been residents of Bonita Springs since 2012, having owned a home in the community since 2005. They have 3 adult children residing across the U.S. Both have tutored New Horizons of SWFL’s students. Jim retired from Ford Motor Company in 2001 as Vice President of Corporate Strategy. During his 27-year career at Ford, he served in a number of key financial positions including Controller of Autolatina in Brazil and Finance Director of Ford Europe. He also held a number of non-financial positions in product development, business planning, and as VP and CIO. Following his career at Ford, Jim played instrumental roles at Hayes Lemmerz International, Dana Corporation and Fisker Automotive. Jim has worked with senior leadership teams to build effective financial organizations, transform business practices and establish strong capital structures. He presently serves on New Horizons of SWFL’s finance and audit committees, the audit committee of the Pelican Landing Community Association and as board member and treasurer of his neighborhood HOA.

Member

TERRI ALSEPT

Terri Alsept  is a senior trust advisor and team leader in the Bonita Springs office of Northern Trust, responsible for delivering holistic wealth management to high net worth families and charitable entities.  Prior to joining Northern Trust in 2006, Terri was an attorney with Porter, Wright, Morris and Arthur, LLP, in Naples, Florida, where she specialized in transactional work, primarily in the areas of estate planning, business entity formation/governance, and real estate.  

Terri earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence and a Certificate of Specialization in Law and Business from Vanderbilt University Law School, after graduating summa cum laude from Florida Atlantic University with a degree in finance.  

She lives in Estero with her husband, Aaron, and daughter, Emmalyn.  Terri is an active volunteer at her church, and she has served on advisory committees and/or boards of directors for the Shelter for Abused Women and Children and the Centers for the Arts of Bonita Springs.

Member

ELLEN NICHOLS

Ellen graduated from Southeastern University, Lakeland, FL in 1980 with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. In 1995, Ellen completed her Master’s degree in Specific Learning Disabilities and began teaching in an inclusion program for learning disabled students at Pinewoods Elementary School. Ellen’s interest in working with the Hispanic community began as a young child. In the late 1960’s, her father began visiting the migrant camps in Lee and Collier County. He organized weekly meetings and brought in Spanish speaking ministers. Ellen grew up visiting the migrant camps frequently with her family and having a constant stream of Hispanic families in her own home. Seeing the problems in the neighborhoods, and recognizing the tremendous need to help the children from non-English speaking homes with their school work, Bob and Ellen decided to find a place to provide free after school tutoring. In January 2003, they opened the first Super Kids Club in Rosemary Park and also founded New Horizons of Southwest Florida.

Member

BOB NICHOLS

Bob comes from a nautical background and in 2002 he and his wife Ellen founded New Horizons of Southwest Florida as both a children’s church and youth sailing ministry. As New Horizons grew into an after school educational outreach with multiple locations, he left his career to provide his leadership and fundraising skills as the executive director from 2002-2012. “Captain Bob,” as he is called by the kids and teens, continues to serve the ministry today and works closely with the teen programs.

As well as an acoustical analyst background with the U.S. Navy, he holds a 200 ton USCG Masters license in motor and sail.

Member

DR. DENISE CARLIN

Dr Denise Carlin is the Executive Director of Elementary School Development for the School District of Lee County, providing oversight for the Departments of Special Education, Intervention Services, and Student Services. She earned her Bachelors, Masters, and Doctoral Degrees from The University of South Florida. Dr. Carlin has over 25 years of experience as a teacher, principal, and district-based administrator. She has also served as an adjunct professor, teaching Educational Leadership courses at Florida Gulf Coast University; and she is currently a member of the Educational Leadership Advisory Board.

Denise grew up in Lee County and has watched our community expand and flourish. She has dedicated her life to helping children; and, she is incredibly proud to serve on the New Horizons’ Board. Denise and her husband, John, reside in Lee County with their two sons, John and Tyler.

Member

JUDY DOVE

Judy Dove spent 17 years on the board of the Minnesota Pediatrics Research Foundation, where she helped to develop events that raised millions for research. Her passion for helping children also translated into her involvement in the adoption medicine clinic in Minneapolis. She is active in two New York City organizations that support over 435 organizations worldwide. Judy brought her passion for making a difference to New Horizons of SWFL when she began to chair the annual gala fundraiser, raising over $1 million for Super Kids and Teens.

Judy enjoys spending time with her two children and eight grandchildren. She and her husband Tim live in Bonita Springs, FL.

Member

DEBBIE MATHEWS FINCH

After graduating from the University of Michigan with a degree in organizational psychology, Debbie spent the next 38 years working for the Hanover Insurance Group, an international Property and Casualty Company. Debbie held a number of executive level positions with them in both business and human resources. Along with her business career, Debbie has had a long nonprofit career where she served as President of the Board of Directors of the United Way of Livingston County, and a Founding Member of the Women’s Initiative at the United Way of Central Massachusetts. Additionally, Debbie has been involved with Junior Achievement as a Board Member, and a corporator of the Community Foundation of the Greater Worcester area. She has taught in her spare time at Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts, and was a Trustee at Cleary University in Michigan.

Debbie and Her husband David relocated to Naples, Florida 4 years ago. After settling in, she looked for a meaningful way to give back to this community. The New Horizons mission and faith-based model spoke to her heart. Debbie is a tutor at New Horizons, a business mentor at SCORE, an HR Partner at the Collier County United Way, and is highly involved at Hodges University and her church, Trinity by the Cove in Naples.

Member

TERRI PILLA

Terri spent most of her career at Citibank in New York in strategic planning and finance.  She was chief financial officer of the commercial collaterized lending business.  After retiring early to raise her three children, Terri launched a women’s investment organization whose goal was to educate women on financial investing through seminars, research and actual trading.  Simultaneously, Terri started Cosgrave Jefferson Realty, a southwest Florida focused mortgage and real estate investing business. Additional businesses include Pihoco, a tax lien investment business, and a real estate development business.  Terri’s charitable efforts have been focused on children and women.  Involvement has included Whippoorwill Foundation Scholarship Board member, school board member, Women’s Diversity Focus Group and Westchester Women’s Shelter.  

Terri and her husband Rich have lived seasonably in Bonita Springs since 2012 and became full time residents in 2018.

Member

DEBORAH PORTER

Deborah Porter is a Certified Life Coach who coaches and mentors moms in every stage of motherhood. Creating home management systems and supporting moms with creating life goals is at the core of what she does. Deborah and her husband Clifton have served in various ministries during the more than 30 years of their marriage. Some of those roles have included Deacon, Elder, support staff to name a few. Deborah was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of MOPS International and is a founding committee member of the African American Alumni Association’s Mentoring Program at Virginia Commonwealth University. Most recently she has been a contributing author, speaker and blogger for CollegiateParent, Washington Parent, WTVR-Richmond- Virginia This Morning, Good Morning Washington, and others. She is also the founder of Moms Mentoring Circle which provided support, tips and expert speakers for moms during the 2020 quarantine and school shut down.

Deborah and Clifton live full time outside of Washington, DC but have owned a home in Naples, FL for more than 10 years.

Member

Patrick Cauley

Is a Lawyer, CPA and management executive with experience in multinational business operations, mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, commercial transactions, strategic planning, corporate governance, risk management, tax, compliance and human resource and environmental law. Pat has worked with congressional leaders as Chief of Staff and Key Advisor. 

Member

Rev. Brent Whitefield 

Is the Mobilization Pastor at Covenant Church of Naples. He is called to challenge, strengthen and encourage disciples for the work of outreach and missions. He helps give direction to the churches outreach and GO missions commitments through teaching and through seeking out and maintaining healthy kingdom partnerships.