OFFICERS
Brandon Nobile
Chair
Brandon is an accomplished Project Manager with over 10 years of experience in all phases of commercial new construction, renovation, demolition, and site restoration. His construction experience includes estimating, scheduling, project budgeting, contract development, project management, safety coordination, and subcontractor documentation and insurance compliance for a variety of projects. Read more.
Leslie Olson
Secretary
District Planning Group
Principal
Prior to launching the District Planning Group, Leslie served as St. Lucie County’s Planning and Development Services Director for the over five years. During emergencies, she served as the County’s Planning Section Chief at the Emergency Operations Center. Prior to her service at the County, she served as the Historic Preservation Officer for the City of Fort Pierce for five years.
She’s lived in the vibrant, walkable urban neighborhoods of Fort Pierce since 2001. Leslie loves the ability to ride bikes or scooters downtown with her active family.
Kathlyn Hensley
St. Lucie County School Board
Former Vice-Chair, Champion for Education and the Arts
Kathryn Hensley, a longtime School Board member and community advocate, has served on dozens of boards and committees throughout the region and state, always focusing on the future of children and St. Lucie County. A passionate supporter of the arts and artists, she has also been active in such organizations as Children’s Services Council, New Horizons, Families of the Treasure Coast, CareBag, CCKids, HANDS and many more too numerous to cite.
Tom Kindred
SBDC at Indian River State College
Regional Director
Tom, a University of Florida graduate, began his career as the inaugural Executive Director of Ft. Pierce Main Street, spearheading downtown redevelopment efforts. Notable achievements include founding enduring events like Friday Fest and securing grants for the historic Sunrise Theatre’s restoration. Transitioning to entrepreneurship, he led Sunrise Tractor & Equipment for 20 years, overseeing $148 million in sales, before founding Boomers’ BBQ in 2008.Tom, now an Adjunct Professor at Indian River State College, earned his M.B.A. in 2013, garnering recognition for his teaching and mentorship. He hosts the Small Biz Florida podcast and serves as Regional Director of the Florida Small Business Development Center. Additionally, Tom contributes to the A.E. Backus Museum & Gallery and the Sunrise Theatre Foundation boards.
Rebecca Miller
Miller Permitting and Land Development
President and Founder
Rebecca is the Founder and President of Miller Permitting & Land Development with offices in Fort Pierce and West Palm Beach – a development consulting company in its 14th year serving and working in the Treasure Coast and throughout the state of Florida where she has worked with the region’s leading companies. Her current projects exceed $1.5B in value. She is also the founder of a regional think tank for economic development called PREA which coalesces with business leaders to advance a regional perspective.Rebecca has been asked to serve on many Task Forces including for the City of Ft. Pierce, St. Lucie County and the St. Lucie County School Board. Additionally, she was a founding member and served as both Vice President and Events Chair for Society for Marketing Professional Services Treasure Coast Chapter. In 2010 and 2011, she served as Executive Vice President of the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County. She also serves as Board Chair of Art Mundo—a regional arts organization located in Fort Pierce, FL. Through her work and commitments, she retains strong relationships with our region’s key business leaders in both the public and private sectors.Prior to moving to St. Lucie County in 2004, Rebecca had leadership positions with several divisions of American Express Company, and Bear Stearns and worked in Minneapolis, New York City, Miami and Seattle. Rebecca grew up in South India and attended university in Canada prior to coming to the United States.
Cathleen Sullivan
Treasure Coast Pottery Studio
Owner
Cathleen’s diverse background encompasses pottery, court reporting, and entrepreneurship, reflecting her role as a modern Renaissance individual. Armed with a Bachelor of Visual Art from Empire State University and Associates Degrees in Court Reporting and Administrative Assistance, she has excelled in various professional capacities, including founding Accucat Reporting, Inc.Her recent focus on Florida’s cultural scene has seen her establish pottery studios in Port Saint Lucie and Riverland, underscoring her commitment to fostering creativity and cultural enrichment. Cathleen’s dedication to inclusivity is evident through her specialized training in educating individuals with special needs, alongside her active community engagement, serving as Vice Chair of the Port St. Lucie Public Art Advisory Board and her involvement in organizations like the St. Lucie Chamber of Commerce and The St. Lucie Cultural Alliance.Furthermore, Cathleen’s passion for mentoring and collaboration shines through her support of fellow artists, evidenced by her hosting of ceramic artists in Alaska and participation in artistic residencies and workshops. Her multifaceted experiences, coupled with her commitment to community and artistic growth, paint a portrait of a dynamic individual making significant contributions to both local culture and the broader artistic community.
Maddie Williams
A&M Marketing and Consulting
President
Maddie Williams – is originally from Massachusetts and moved with her family to Port St. Lucie in 1989. She has worked in the construction industry for almost 30 years beginning her career working for a local residential homebuilder in 1991. Duties included sales, permitting and all aspects of financing and accounting. Maddie joined the Treasure Coast Builders Association in 2002 as the Special Projects Director then was appointed as the Executive Director in 2011 where she focuses on advocating on behalf of the construction industry which includes governmental affairs issues and skilled trades training and other workforce development issues.
Maddie is very involved in her local community and serves on the board of directors of Career Source Research Coast and Co-Chairs their Youth Council Committee. She also serves as Chairman of the Port St. Lucie Art Advisory Council. She volunteers her time with Family Meals of St. Lucie County, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity, the Treasure Coast Crusaders and is a member of the Woman’s Club of Ft. Pierce.
Favorite past times include performing with the Dreamers Swing Band and other musical ensembles and entertaining at home.
LIAISONS
Charlotte Lombard Bireley
Tourism Division, St. Lucie County
Director
Charlotte Bireley, Director of Tourism & Marketing for St. Lucie County, is a graduate of the University of Florida where she received a BS in Advertising. Charlotte has nearly 20 years’ experience as a marketing professional working in various industries including travel & tourism, transportation, healthcare, hospitality, retail and non-profit.Since 2009, Charlotte has led St. Lucie County’s tourism marketing programs by developing, planning and implementing all aspects of tourism-related business in coordination with the Board of County Commissioners, the Tourist Development Council, local municipalities and the state and local tourism industry. Since 2009, tourist development tax revenues have increased 50%.Charlotte is a third-generation native of the Treasure Coast and truly lives and enjoys the Florida lifestyle that attracts visitors to the area. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons boating, fishing, going to the beach and taking in the local arts and cultural events that the area has to offer.
Audria Moore
City of Fort Pierce
Special Projects Coordinator
Bio
Audria V. Moore is the Special Projects Coordinator in the City Manager’s Office. Her responsibilities include managing and coordinating a wide variety of complex administrative projects and activities, including those having a City-wide impact. Ms. Moore has served more than 20 years with the City of Fort Pierce, working with local organizations and businesses to assist our citizens in navigating some of the most challenging times of their lives.
Ms. Moore holds a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from the University of Florida. She was the lead author of Treasure Coast Black Heritage: A Pictorial History. Ms. Moore is a member of Leadership St. Lucie Class 39.
Peter Tesch
Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County
President
Pete Tesch, President of the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County (EDC) is responsible for the administration and operations of the organization while providing strategic direction for the growth and economic development of St. Lucie County.
Mr. Tesch is responsible for the attraction of new business and investment and retention of existing industry throughout the county, promoting St. Lucie County to encourage new investment. Mr. Tesch assumed his role in this position in January 2014.
In addition, he serves on the boards of Florida’s Research Coast Economic Development Coalition, St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce, CareerSource Research Coast, Treasure Coast Food Bank, Round Table of St. Lucie, Business Alliance for Prosperity and the Treasure Coast Manufacturers’ Association.
Prior to joining the EDC, Tesch was President of Peterson Hill Partners, LLC an economic development consultation and site selection company that he founded in 2011 to serve businesses, communities and not-for-profits.
Mr. Tesch was President and CEO of Ocala/Marion County Economic Development Corporation from 1997 to 2012. During his tenure, Tesch was responsible for assisting 106 new and expanding businesses create over 9,000 jobs with an economic impact of more than $437 million. He was leading the helm of the Ocala/Marion County EDC in 2006 when the city of Ocala was ranked 8th and 13th for job growth in the nation by Forbes magazine and the Milken Institute respectively Inc Magazine also ranked Ocala 24th in the nation for Small Cities and 37th overall for the nation’s Best Places for Business during the same time frame.
Tesch was selected as the 2012 Eunice Sullivan Economic Development Professional of the Year, at the 2012 Florida Economic Development Conference, for his outstanding commitment, talent and skill sets in economic development, both at the local and state level.
Mr. Tesch and his wife Kim reside in the City of Fort Pierce.
DIRECTORS EMERITUS
Glen Ryals
GL Homes
Retired
Glenn Ryals is a graduate of the University of Texas, Austin, with BA in Accounting, is a Florida licensed Real Estate Broker, prior CPA and Florida licensed General Contractor. He spent 14 years with Bank of America as SVP managing homebuilder lender in South Florida, and 15 years with GL Homes. He is an abstract artist working in oil and acrylic.