Operation Open Arms is proud of, and grateful for, the depth of experience reflected in our Senior Advisory Board. Please click each board member’s name for his or her full biography.
Currently: Executive Director for the Friends of Florida State Parks. Affiliated with the University of Florida department of Tourism, Recreation and Sport Management.
Past: Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel Visitor & Convention Bureau. White House Conference on Tourism. Florida Commission on Tourism. Visit Florida Inc. Florida Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus. Read more…
Currently: President of Clean Skies LLC, Consultant to Energy, Engineering, and Construction Industries.
Past: Various leadership positions in Process Engineering and Construction industries including Sales, Marketing and General Management roles. Read More…
Kathy New
Currently: Is the Past President and Board Member of The Rotary Club of Cape Coral North; is a Florida Licensed Real Estate Agent; holds her Kathy New’s Marketing & More Consulting Business; while working as a Supervisor for the CVS/Pharmacy Company located in Cape Coral, Florida.
Past: Board Advisory Member with Vail Associates in Colorado; Women’s Network (Treasurer); Board Member with Southwest Boating Association in Florida. Administrator/ Marketing Director for Personnel Services and Olsten Employment Agencies; Beverly/Alterra Healthcare and Gulfcoast Village. Read more…
Lisa Benton
Currently: Executive Director, Pine Island Chamber of Commerce
Lisa Benton, as Executive Director of the Pine Island Chamber of Commerce, aids Operation Open Arms by being the “distribution center” for gift cards for our military personnel on leave in the Pine Island/Ft. Myers area. Anyone who wishes to contribute gift cards can drop them off at the Pine Island Chamber; when inquiries are received requesting a gift card, Lisa handles the distribution. In addition to her chamber affiliation, she is an active member of the Matlacha Hookers, a volunteer organization on Pine Island whose mission is to “make a positive difference in our community.”
Lisa is a full-time resident of Pine Island, having relocated from Alabama 10 years ago. An active person, she enjoys traveling to north Georgia, fishing, boating, cooking, and considers her time on the water as “liquid Prozac.”
Bob Simpson
Currently: President and CEO, LeeSar, Inc. Noted speaker and author. Champion, Six Sigma.
Past: International President of the Association for Healthcare Resource and Materials Management. Executive, TFX Surgical Group. Vice President Healthcare Services of New England. Vice President Neponset Valley Health System. Director, USDA Human Nutrition Research Canter at Tuft’s University. Read more…
