Highlights:

• Tampa Bay Resident

• Wife, New Mother, Sister

• Commercial Boeing 767 Pilot

• Tutor, Program Speaker

• Diversity and Inclusion Visionary

Angela Millar (“Angie”) is a Co-Founder of the organization, responsible for the overall strategy and day-to-day operations. Until fully operational, Angie will formally devote at least 20 hours of her personal time per month to OKR. A graduate of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University with a Bachelors in Aeronautical Science and a minor in safety, Angie spends her professional time as a commercial pilot operating a Boeing 767 for a national airline. In addition to tutoring at-risk children in Chicago in need of positive role models, she was a program speaker for the “Taking Flight” program associated with a national airline which provides families who have a child/adult with Autism a chance to walk through the process of flying in its entirety in a relaxed setting. When not in-air and fully focused on the safety of passengers, Angie spends her time with family and is fully immersed in developing OKR. Her interest in OKR and the development of an intergenerational, inclusive community has developed naturally. The middle sister of three, Angie and her sister Nikki have been champions of respect and support for their younger sister Chelsea, a non-verbal autistic adult who communicates through facilitated communication known as RPM (rapid prompt movement); Angie believes that with OKR the need for Chelsea to be a part of a broader community is both recognized and addressed.

Highlights:

• Tampa Bay Resident

• Wife, 26 year Mother of Two

• A 30-year local business operator

• Decades of volunteer experience in Tampa Bay

• Diversity and Inclusion Visionary

Deborah Shorr Johnson (“Debby”) is a Co-Founder of the organization responsible for the overall public relations. Until fully operational, Debby will formally devote at least 10 hours of her personal time per month to OKR. For over 30 years, Debby and her husband have owned and operated local businesses with the understanding that investing in the local community remains the cornerstone of success. Debby’s volunteer resume is as extensive as it is impressive and includes among other things, hosting local charity events, being the regional chairperson for The Williams Syndrome Association for 22 years during which time she was periodically called upon to act as regional chair for 5 states combined) ), Rotarian, Family Advisory Council member for Johns-Hopkins-All Children's Hospital (St. Petersburg, FL), board member of the Perkins Magnet Endowment Fund for Perkins Elementary Magnet School (4years), and as a volunteer for Pinellas County Schools. Debby might tell you she is merely a “mom who worries and cares” but there is nothing “merely” about anything Debby has ever done. Having spent the better part of the last 26 years working at “the most important job ever” being the mom of Mikey and Lily, she has been provided with an education in the diversity and similarities of humanity that no book can teach and an understanding of the importance of community connection that can only be learned from active participation.

Highlights:

• Over 40 years working in the field of developmental disabilities as a clinician and program administrator.

• Former Executive Director of CARD-USF (Center for Autism and Related Disabilities) and the Director of the Learning Academy at the University of South Florida (USF) for 16 years

• Created the Autism Friendly Tampa Initiative with the City of Tampa and former Mayor, Bob Buckhorn.

• Selected by Governor Charlie Crist to be a member of the Governor’s Florida Autism Task Force for a four-year period to develop a statewide plan to best serve those individuals diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.

• Diversity and Inclusion Visionary

Dr. Karen A. Berkman is the President of the Board of Directors. She was on faculty in the Department of Child and Family Studies and the Executive Director of CARD-USF (Center for Autism and Related Disabilities) and the Director of the Learning Academy at the University of South Florida (USF) for 16 years before meritoriously retiring in 2019. She coordinated all project activities and provided administrative supervision at the CARD-USF Tampa site, Highlands regional site and FGCU site.

According to her teams, Dr. Berkman “ is the true definition of a leader. She is determined, forthright, and has the ability to inspire those around her. She has pushed us to great heights and constantly nudges us to think bigger, smarter and beyond by asking “what’s next?”. However, at the same time, she is compassionate, understanding and willing to stop at nothing to make sure we have all we need for the overall success of our work.”

Dr. Berkman was at the forefront of developing The Learning Academy for young adults to learn employment skills. She created the Autism Friendly Business initiative after seeing a need in the community which expanded into the Autism Friendly Tampa Initiative with the City of Tampa and former Mayor, Bob Buckhorn. Dr. Berkman also brought CARD-USF and HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Pre-school Youngsters) together for a collaborative effort to assist children with autism participate in their home based instruction curriculum. This collaborative was recognized internationally and given the prestigious Avima Lombard award.

Dr. Berkman was selected by Governor Charlie Crist to be a member of the Governor’s Florida Autism Task Force for a four year period to develop a statewide plan to best serve those individuals diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Dr. Berkman has spent over 40 years working in the field of developmental disabilities as a clinician and program administrator. She is recognized for her seminal work on challenging behavior and lifestyle planning as well as creative program development for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Since retiring, she is participating on two Boards for Tampa-based organizations and is the President of the Harold and Muriel Berkman Charitable Foundation providing scholarships nationally to combat veterans attending college.