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

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

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.

Dr. Lindsay Schofield

Dr. Lindsay Michelle Schofield is a dedicated Assistant Professor, Program Coordinator, and Director of Early Childhood Programs at Florida Gulf Coast University. She is profoundly committed to enhancing the lives of children, families, and communities, particularly those underserved. Holding a Doctor of Education from Manchester Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom, Dr. Schofield’s academic rigor is matched by her extensive practical experience in education and community engagement.

With over 15 years of service in education, Dr. Schofield has contributed to shaping educational practices and policies at national and international levels in the United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates. Her experience includes curriculum development, program coordination, and teacher training, all aimed at fostering environments where every child can thrive. Dr. Schofield’s background as a registered midwife in the UK
further demonstrates her commitment to family well-being, motherhood, and parenthood.  

Dr. Schofield’s dedication extends to her active participation in advisory boards, consultation roles, and community service initiatives. Her work with organizations such as the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority and the Ministry of Education in the UAE showcases her ability to collaborate on significant projects that impact children’s lives.  

Among her accolades, Dr. Schofield has been honored with the 2023 Redding-Jones Outstanding Dissertation Award and the 2022 College Teaching of Excellence Award, highlighting her significant contributions to the field. Her research and publications further underscore her expertise and commitment to advancing effective practices within childhood.  

Dr. Schofield is committed to making a difference in the SWFL community through established partnerships with organizations such as Our Mother’s Home of Southwest Florida and her involvement with FutureMakers Coalition SWFL, with an authentic dedication towards developing future partnerships to further this impact

Chuck Spears

Board Member, New Horizons of Southwest Florida

Chuck brings more than four decades of leadership and operational expertise to the New Horizons board. He began his career as a CPA at Ernst & Ernst (now Ernst & Young), providing audit and tax services to clients, and later joined Emerson Electric in 1978, where he remained until 2014. During his tenure at Emerson, he served as president of three different divisions based in Hong Kong, Brussels, and Columbus, Ohio.

Following his corporate career, Chuck transitioned into private equity as an Executive Partner at Millpoint Capital, where he acquired and led four manufacturing firms as board chairman, successfully exiting three of them after driving improvements.

Chuck’s philanthropic and nonprofit experience is equally deep. He served as President of the American Heart Association in Columbus, Ohio, led the first Heart Walk to raise $1 million, held a seat on the international AHA board, and launched the “Go Red for Women” program in Beijing. After relocating to Florida, Chuck volunteered as a tutor with New Horizons of SWFL from 2014 to 2025 (2–4 days per week). He also serves on the boards of Lamplighter’s International and Advance the Faith.

Chuck is married to Denise Spears, and together they raised four children. When he’s not working or volunteering, he enjoys golf, tennis, boating, and playing bridge.

Dr. Noreen M. Thomas

Dr. Noreen Thomas brings more than 50 years of leadership experience in higher education, nonprofit organizations, and community initiatives. A longtime advocate for Southwest Florida, she has served in leadership roles with numerous nonprofit organizations, including New Horizons of SWFL, Komen Breast Cancer of SWFL, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and Legal Aid Society of Collier County. She has provided strategic guidance to boards, supported organizational growth, and helped strengthen nonprofit programs throughout the community.

Dr. Thomas retired as President of the Lee Campus and Executive Vice President of Edison State College, where she oversaw more than 20,000 students, a multi-million-dollar budget, and the college’s nonprofit foundation. She also served as Provost and Chief Learning Officer at Macomb Community College in Michigan and later contributed to doctoral education programs as a professor and dissertation chair.

A resident of Bonita Springs, Dr. Thomas is passionate about community engagement, volunteerism, and supporting organizations that create meaningful impact. She enjoys volunteering, gardening, cooking, and spending time with her husband, Dave, their children, and five grandchildren.

Dr. Mark Shacklette

Dr. Mark Shacklette brings extensive experience in computer science, technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation to the New Horizons of SWFL Board of Directors. He is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Chicago, where he has taught courses in computer science and financial mathematics for more than 25 years, with a focus on algorithms, blockchain, smart contracts, and cryptocurrency.

After a successful 35-year career as President and CEO of Lake Shore Group, Dr. Shacklette became internationally recognized for his expertise in software ownership, intellectual property law, and high-speed algorithmic trading. He has also supported innovation and entrepreneurship through mentorship and advisory roles.

A graduate of Furman University, Harvard University, and the University of Chicago, Dr. Shacklette is passionate about the intersection of technology and society. He and his wife, Susan, reside in Naples during the winter months and enjoy spending time with their three adult sons. He is also active in the community through the Harvard Club of Naples and as an Elder at his church in Bonita Springs.