Meet the Speakers
Donna Germain, President/CEO Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral
Cape Coral native, Donna Germain, IOM, FCCP, started her career with the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral in 2004 as its Membership Relations Manager. In 2005, she was promoted to Communications and Marketing Director. In 2015, Germain was named the new President/CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral. In addition to her work with the Chamber, Germain sits on the board of directors for The Guardian Angels For Special Populations. She is a past board member of the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals where she served as the Chairman for the Southwest Region of Florida from 2015 - 2019. In 2018, she served as a member of The News-Press Editorial Board. She also served as a board member and 3rd Vice President for the Cultural Park Theatre and was a past Board Member of C.A.R.E.S. Suicide Prevention. She served on the planning committee for Relay for Life of Cape Coral for more than 10 years and served as the 2010 and 2011 Event Chair. Both years, the event was recognized as a TOP 25 Fundraising event out of hundreds of Relays in the state of Florida. In 2011, Germain was recognized as one of Gulf Shore Business Magazines 40 Under 40. She is a 2005 graduate of the Leadership Cape Coral Program and a 2006 Graduate of the Advanced Leadership Cape Coral Program. In 2017, Germain graduated from the Institute for Organization Management and received the designation IOM. In 2019, she was awarded the designation of Florida Certified Chamber Professional (FCCP) from the Florida Association od Chamber Professionals.
Dr. Kimberly Wilson, Retain Emerging Women Leaders, Reduce Burnout. Corporate Speaker | USMC Veteran
Dr. Kimberly Wilson, Speaker, Author, streaming show host, Trainer, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and Executive Coach aka Dr. Burnout helps busy women create a life they love so that they can stop managing life and begin your journey to feel energized, have healthier relationships, and make more money faster than doing it alone. As a retired US Marine, Dr. Wilson has dedicated her life’s work to supporting the community around her, curing 5500 women of burnout, and creating 100 healthy workplaces. The commitment to address burnout was ignited after her grandmother’s died from burnout and cancer at age 55. Through her Fired-Up Woman ™ retreats, clients gain freedom, save time and increase their impact and significance. Dr. Wilson is most known for her appearance on Bloomberg, Bold TV, her Leadership Beyond Burnout streaming TV show, leadership, and relationship podcasts. In her free time, you will find her wrestling toys from her Irish Doodle.
Sheena Reagan, Florida Realtor, Stand Up Comedian
Sheena Reagan is a Cape Coral native and a lifelong Florida resident who you can find either rescuing people from the snow and selling them a house in Florida, or bringing the healing power of laughter to the community through stand-up comedy. Aside from making people laugh, she is passionate about showing people the love of Jesus through service and volunteering in her community and for a number of charitable organizations. She has been named Florida’s Funniest Female 2018, is a two-time finalist for Women of Distinction, and a recipient of the President's Award for Leadership from the Royal Palm Coast Realtor® Association. Sheena’s versatility and unique brand always brings the energy to the party and will have you leaving with a smile.
Nancy ((Dato)) Ellis, Leadership Coach, Sales Expert & Postpartum Advocate
Nancy Ellis has been a Cape Coral resident for 3 decades. She is a working mother and passionate about helping women live a life of abundance through intentionality of the spirit, mind, body, relationships, career, and finances. She is a law enforcement wife, a mother of Irish twins and overcomer of infertility and postpartum depression. Nancy has had a long career as a top-performing sales executive at a Fortune 500 research and advisory firm where she supported C-Level executives across the U.S. and Canada. Her success led her to become a top-rated sales trainer and public speaker. She onboarded 900 sales professionals annually before, during, and after the global pandemic as the organization continued to experience double-digit growth with 40% of its sales force being new in perpetuity. Most recently, she led Leadership Development for 400 Sales Managers and Vice Presidents annually across the globe as they navigated topics like remote work, emotional intelligence, and driving growth during times of change. Nancy currently runs sales operations for the largest sales channel globally by setting strategies based on data-driven analyses. Nancy has her Bachelor of Science in Corporate Communications from Purdue University where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. And has several certifications in facilitation, adult learning, and sales training. When she is not supporting sales leaders, she coaches and mentors new mothers returning to the workforce after maternity leave. The need for coaching and mentorship grew exponentially during the pandemic, which led to Nancy establishing Bibles, Babies, and Business, an online ministry, and community where she offers postpartum online courses and support groups. Additionally, Nancy is passionate about volunteering at her local church and job fairs to ensure mothers thrive with the many roles they have to play in life. Her mission is to ensure women know they are not made to simply survive each season but thrive in it, as we are uniquely made to live a life of abundance.
Jacki Liszak, President & CEO, Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce
Jacki Liszak is a proud Ft. Myers Beach (FMB) resident. She and her husband own and operate Sea Gypsy Vacation Rentals and up until Hurricane Ian on September 28th, 2022, owned and operated The Sea Gypsy Inn & Gift Shop. Unfortunately, The Sea Gypsy Inn and its historical Gift Shop (along with more than 75% of the other island structures) were lost in the storm. Despite this, Jacki continues to help lead the community through her work as the President and CEO of The Ft. Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce and as an elected FMB Fire Commissioner. She is active in the SW Florida community; serving on the Board of Keep Lee County Beautiful and the Chamber of SW Florida. Jacki is a member of the FMB Women’s Club, the SWFL Gators Club, the Junior League of Ft. Myers, a graduate of the Leadership Lee Program, a Realtor and an Accredited Real Estate Staging Professional. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and recently returned to UF to earn her Master’s Degree in Hospitality & Business Management. Jacki is active in the fight for clean water and Everglades Restoration through her partnership with the South Florida Alliance of Chambers, Captains for Clean Water, the FGCU Water School and her lobbying efforts to elected officials. She also serves on the Technical Advisory Committee of HAB/GCOOS (Harmful Algal Blooms/Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System) at the University of Florida. Jacki and her family are committed to helping rebuild their FMB community and are proud to continue to call Fort Myers Beach their island home!
Molly Scott, Strategic Development Director at Chris-Tel Construction
As the Strategic Development Director for Chris-Tel Construction, Molly has over twenty-four years of experience working in corporate marketing, communications, public relations, branding, business development and corporate strategy. As Strategic Development Director, Molly is responsible for new client development, contract negotiation, preconstruction, developing and managing the implementation of the overall corporate marketing strategy and plan, managing all business development opportunities in Southwest Florida and surrounding counties as well as overseeing the implementation of corporate objectives and future growth strategy. She also serves as the internal Public Information Officer (PIO) for the firm on select private projects. Molly is a graduate of West Virginia University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She serves on the Horizon Council as the Associated Builders and Contractors representative, serves on the Board of Directors for the Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce, serves on the Construction Industry Advisory Board for the Stock Development School of Construction Management at Florida Gulf Coast University, is a member of the Real Estate Investment Society (REIS), a member of the Associated Builders and Contractors Gulf Coast Chapter Advisory Council for Southwest Florida, and a member of the Department of Management Advisory Council at Florida Gulf Coast University, is past Chairman of the Construction Advisory Committee for the Lee County School District and a previous member of the Society of Marketing Professional Services. She is also a long-time member of the Advisory Board for the Pi Mu Chapter of Chi Omega at Florida Gulf Coast University. Molly resides in Fort Myers, Florida with her husband Chris and sons Gavin and Garrett.
Vanessa Chaviano, MBA, Founder | Business Operations & Marketing Leader
Vanessa M. Chaviano, the visionary behind LIV Digital Marketing, emerges as a seasoned entrepreneur with over 18 years of marketing and business operations expertise. As the Founder and CEO of this premier boutique marketing and advertising agency, Vanessa infuses her agency with a wealth of experience and unwavering commitment. Vanessa's passion for her professional endeavors and the local community is palpable. She embarked on her academic journey by completing a double bachelor's degree before pursuing a master's degree in Criminal Forensic Studies at Florida Gulf Coast University. Seeking further knowledge and growth, she later obtained a Master's in Business Administration with a focus on Organizational Leadership from Ashford University. Vanessa's remarkable achievements have not gone unnoticed. In 2020, she was honored as one of Gulfshore Business Magazine's 40 under 40. Her outstanding contributions also earned her distinctions such as the Women of Distinction Non-Profit Leader Finalist for 2021, Rotary of Cape Coral Rookie of the Year for 2020-2021, Florida Gulf Coast University SBDC Distinguished Entrepreneur Finalist for 2022, Angels Among Us Award, 2022 ENPYs Award Finalist for the Connie Ramos-Williams Nonprofit Publicity Award, 2022 Lideres Award, and nominee for the Women in Business 2023 APEX Awards. Driven by her commitment to empowering women and nurturing future leaders within the Hispanic community, Vanessa established Leading Latina, a 501c3 non-profit organization. Its primary objective is to advance and promote personal and professional growth among women. As the founder and President, Vanessa works tirelessly to fulfill the organization's mission. In addition to her entrepreneurial pursuits, Vanessa actively engages in various leadership roles. She currently serves as the Director and Public Image Chair for the Rotary Club of Cape Coral, Cape Competes Stakeholder Member, The Hispanic Vote Board of Directors, Leadership Cape Coral 2023 Chair, and the 2022-2023 Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce Board Member. Previously, she contributed her expertise as a Member of the Lee County MPO Citizens Advisory Committee and Board Member of the Cape Coral Mayors Scholarship. Vanessa cherishes her role as a wife to her husband, Humberto, and as a loving mother to their two daughters, Sadie and Olivia.
John Lai, President & CEO at Sanibel Captiva Chamber of Commerce
John Lai is the President and CEO of the Sanibel and Captiva Chamber of Commerce, the premiere business organization Sanibel and Captiva islands and the Francis P Bailey Visitor Center, the only Visit Florida certified visitor center that is open 365 days a year that sees over 80,000 visitors per year. Professionally, John has been in the hospitality and tourism industry for over 28 years and a resident of Lee county for over 35 years. He has operated hotels and resorts on Sanibel, Captiva, Clearwater, and Vero Beach. John joined the Chamber staff in 2017 and was promoted to President and CEO in 2018. John is past president of the Lee County Chapter of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association and currently serves as their Regional Director for Lee, Collier, and Charlotte Counties. John is on the board of directors of Lee County Sports and is the immediate past Chair of the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals. John has been married to his wife Amy for 24 years and they have two children, Zachary and Emma who both reside in St. Petersburg, FL.
Lee Noriega, COO & Co-Founder Inceptus, U.S. Navy, Retired
Lee Noriega is an acclaimed technologist and regular speaker dedicated to raising public awareness of today’s cyber landscape. Encompassing more than thirty-five years of experience securing and protecting the digital landscape, Mr. Noriega has worked with some of the most at-risk companies and organizations to educate them on how to defend against new and evolving threats. His expertise in penetration and social engineering provides a unique perspective that helps organizations of all sizes be better prepared to detect, defer, defend, respond, and recover from cyber-attacks. Mr. Noriega is the Chief Operating Officer & Co-Founder of Inceptus, a Florida-based Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) that provides unparalleled Management, Monitoring and Cyber capabilities to businesses and organizations worldwide. As the focal point for all operational aspects of Inceptus, Mr. Noriega was instrumental in achieving over 50% growth, year-over-year, since Inceptus was started. Prior to Inceptus, Mr. Noriega was the Co-Founder, Executive Vice President of Operations and Solutions Engineering, and the Cyber Evangelist for Skout Cybersecurity where he was instrumental in the acquisition by two Private Equity companies; RSE Ventures and ClearSky Ventures in 2016 and 2017 that resulted in over $70M and led to the eventual sale of Skout to Barracuda Networks. Prior to Skout Cybersecurity, Mr. Noriega held various executive positions at Flash Networks, Nortel Networks, and served as the Chief Executive Officer of Intrench Technologies, a government contracting company that provided cybersecurity services to the U.S. Government. During his tenure with the U.S. Navy, Mr. Noriega was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal for preparing an extensive and comprehensive intelligence report on the state of the U.S. Navy network security posture for COMNAVSURFLANT that has been used as a baseline for the U.S. Military. Mr. Noriega is a member of the Long Island Speakers Bureau, Southwest Florida Regional Technology Partnership, The Southwest Florida Security Group, and sits on the Advisory Boards for KeyAvi, Coda Intelligence, and the Florida Southwestern State College Computer Engineering Board and the University of South Florida’s Design Thinking Program.
Jay Santos, Private Client Manager, Busey Bank
Jay and his wife, Ceyllena, have enjoyed a joyful 5-year marriage and proudly call Cape Coral home for 7 years. Their family includes two amazing sons, Jacoby (6) and Jace (9). Ceyllena retired from Publix Supermarkets in 2016, while Jay has thrived at Busey Bank/Busey Wealth Management. Since 2017, he has steadily progressed within the financial industry, moving from teller to assistant branch manager and now excelling as a dedicated Private Client Manager. Jay's exceptional efforts have earned him notable accolades, such as the Ed Scharlau Spirit Award in 2021 and the title of 2022 Busey Volunteer of the Year. Jay is deeply committed to community engagement, actively serving on the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral's board and holding an Officer role for the Lee County School District Independent Sales Surtax Oversight Committee. Striving for growth, Jay completed the Leadership Cape Coral program in 2021, followed by the Advanced Leadership Cape Coral program in 2022. He's also a valued member of the Chamber of Commerce's Education Committee. Jay's positive impact extends to local schools. He volunteered for the now sunset United Way Reading Pal Program at Franklin Park Elementary and remains active in the Gulf Elementary Watch D.O.G.S. Program. Through his dedication, community involvement, and unwavering passion for growth, Jay exemplifies outstanding character and a commitment to shaping a better future.
Cathy Schaffer, Physician Assistant Certified
Cathy Schaffer has been a physician assistant for more than 30 years. She currently works for Shipley Cardiothoracic Center, Lee health’s premier cardiac surgery center. She is also the program coordinator for the opioid use disorder project for Lee. She is a published author as well as an artist and enjoys weaving her extensive clinical knowledge into her stories and her art. Recognizing that mental health equals heart health, she enjoys talking to audiences about the interconnectivity of resilience, mental health and healthy hearts. Cathy has a small art business on Etsy and takes great joy in developing commissioned pieces for clients. She lives here in the Fort Myers area.