Candlelighters of Brevard, Inc.

	Candlelighters Board of Directors Since our inception in 1989, Candlelighters of Brevard has been instrumental in providing programs and services to children with cancer and their families. As the years progress, we tailor our services to fit the unique needs of childhood cancer families living in Brevard County. Most of our Board Members have been with us for over 10 years, volunteering their time and expertise in leading this organization. They work tirelessly to keep our programs and services alive for childhood cancer families. Board Members
	Paul Phelps, President Paul is a retired Army Officer of 26 years and subsequently retired as President of Florida Air Academy, a private military boy’s boarding school, where he enjoyed a second career for 21 years. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Athens College in Athens, Alabama and a Master of Science degree from Alabama A & M University in Huntsville, Alabama. He is also a graduate of the Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Paul was attracted to and later joined Candlelighters of Brevard in 1993 because of the direct support it renders to local families coping with the dreadful disease of childhood cancer. Jim O'Brien, Attorney “Jim is a founding member of the Board of Directors of Candlelighters and has served on the Board since its founding in 1989. Jim, a corporate attorney, practiced in Daytona Beach for four years prior to coming to Brevard County with his family in 1989 and starting the business law firm of O’Brien, Riemenschneider, Wattwood & Cantwell, P.A. in 1994. Jim has been married to his wife, Terri, for 24 years and they have four children, Kyla, Shea, Connor and Torin.”
	Ross Whitley, Accountant Ross has extensive expertise in financial management, tax, and accounting for commercial enterprises, nonprofit and governmental entities, and employee benefit plans. He serves as a "Peer Review" Team Captain and member in the review of quality controls of other CPA firms. Ross has over 25 years of experience primarily in accounting and management consulting. He joined Berman Hopkins in 1988, was admitted as partner in 1998 and is located in our Melbourne/Viera office. Ross' hometown is Alexandria, Louisiana. He is married with one child and enjoys his family as well as golf and reading.
	Nancy Dyer, Secretary Nancy has been active with Candlelighters for almost 15 years, volunteering for many of our various fundraisers. She has served on the Board of Directors since 2000. Her roots are deep in Brevard County, having grown up in Satellite Beach and attending school there. Graduating from Florida State University in 1977 with a B.S. degree in Fashion Merchandising and Marketing, she now works as an interior decorator in her own business, Nancy Dyer Designs. Having lost her sister, Marie, to breast cancer she understands the heartache and stress that a family endures while a loved one battles an aggressive disease. It will forever be her goal to provide support and assistance to the Candlelighter families in our community.
	Edna Fairbanks-Smith, Member Edna is a native Floridian. She has served as a board member of Candlelighters of Brevard since 1989. She is very proud to be part of an organization that supports childhood cancer families. As a residential mortgage lender in Brevard County for 30+ years, she was active in many organizations relating to mortgage banking and real estate. After her retirement in 1997, she became an active volunteer with the Holmes Regional Medical Center Auxiliary. She and her family have lived in the area since 1964.
	Tracey Latshaw, Member Tracey has lived in the area for 21 years. She is in partnership with her brother, Bruce, and sister, Michelle, at Brevard Hyundai dealers. Her passion for Candlelighters originated with her father, Bruce Nelson Sr., 17 years ago when one of his employee’s children had cancer and Candlelighters generously helped their family. From that point on her father believed in the cause and instilled in their lives the importance of this organization. After his passing they continued his passion to help the children with cancer in Brevard County. She has been married for 12 years to her husband Kris, they have twin boys ages 21 and a daughter who is 18. "Candlelighters has been a ray of hope not only to the families whom they support but to those of us who believe in them"!
	Mike Moss, Member Mike has been a Brevard county resident since 1985. He recently retired from an 18 year career in the mortgage industry ranging from working as a loan officer (for Edna Fairbanks) to owning his own firm right here in Melbourne. He is now embarking on a new career in commercial real estate as Vice President of Industrial Properties for Lightle Commercial Real Estate Services. Mike has been involved with Candlelighter’s of Brevard since the early nineties as a supporter and has been on the Board of Directors for nearly ten years. He receives great peace from helping those in need and being a part of this organization. Mike is married to Nancy and together they are blessed to have four wonderful children, Bailey, Shelby, Karley and Michael (aka Mikey!)
	Linda D. Parker RN, OCN, Member Linda was one of the founding members of Candlelighters of Brevard during its inception in 1989. She served on the Board of Directors off and on through the years and assisted with various fundraisers. Her oncology practice began at St .Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis TN, where she worked for 14 years prior to moving to Melbourne and adult oncology in 1984. Years of working with and witnessing precious children and families cope, survive and/or or succumb to a cancer diagnosis, have made her a strong patient advocate, continuing to work for cancer patients and families as the oncology case manager at Health First Health Plans .
	Mike Spragins, Member Mike came to the Melbourne area in the early 1970’s after growing up in the Washington, DC area. He graduated from Mississippi State University in 1975 and has been in the title insurance business in South Brevard for 35 years. He is a partner in Alliance Title Insurance Agency, Inc in downtown Melbourne. As a cancer survivor, Mike knows and can share with the Candlelighter families the discomforts of treatment as well as the joys and celebrations of being declared cancer free. God bless our Candlelighter families.
	Charlotte Wienckoski, Member Charlotte has lived in Brevard County for 34 years. She attended Florida Institute of Technology and worked in electronics for 18 years. She has been married to her husband Tom for 24 years and they have 3 children, Alexandra, Thomas and Gabrielle. She became involved with Candlelighters through her close friend Carrie Wam and became a board member in 2007. She is both honored and humbled to be involved in such an amazing organization.
	Staff
	Carrie Wam-McCarthy, Executive Director Carrie was appointed Executive Director of Candlelighters of Brevard in 1991 and has successfully managed and maintained the organization through the years to a level that is well respected by her peers and the community. Her commitment and dedication to the organization evolved after the steadfast help she received from Candlelighters, when her daughter Chelsea, at the age of 3, was diagnosed with a Wilms Tumor. Carrie is very proud of her two children Chelsea and Dylan and shares a special bond with all the Candlelighters kids/families her organization has helped over the years.
	Adis Perez, Family Services Coordinator Adis has been a Candlelighter mom for over 16 years since her son was diagnosed with a Wilm’s Tumor at the age of 2. In appreciation and gratitude for all the support she received from Candlelighters of Brevard, she became active in volunteering with fundraiser events and at the Thrift Shoppe. Her strong beliefs and trust in the organization lured her into becoming the Family Services Coordinator in 2004. Using her positive outcome of her son’s experience, she welcomes the new families with compassion and understanding of what they are going through. She has been married to her husband Gil for 26 years. They are the proud parents of two sons, Michael and Nicholas.
	Millie Neil, Thrift Shoppe Coordinator Millie has performed many “behind the scene” duties over the past 14 years. She became our Thrift Shoppe Coordinator in 2005 and is honored to have a wonderful group of volunteer ladies working in the Shoppe with her. She is a widow with 2 children, Jamie and Jennie. Jamie passed away in 1992 from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. After dealing with the cancer experience with her son, she came to know Candlelighters. She has never looked back! It gives her great strength to know that she is able to help the children and their families alleviate some the the suffering caused by the dreadful disease of childhood cancer.