Board of Directors
Bill Kent
Chairman of the Board
Dr. Bill Kent has been a leader in the professional swimming pool industry since the 1970’s. Bill holds a degree in Physics, an M.B.A., and a 2015 Doctorate in Global Business. During the past decades, Bill has served as National President of Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (1996), as well as President of Florida Swimming Pool Association (1975-78), the National Swimming Pool Foundation (2003-6), and is currently Chairman of the Board of the International Swimming Hall of Fame (2017-2023).
Bill’s company, Team Horner Group, evolved from just three to around 600 employees over the past decades; company activities include manufacturing, wholesale distribution, importing, and global exporting. In 2016, the company was converted to an employee-owned business (ESOP). Team Horner was the 2016 winner of the national “Psychologically Healthy Workplace” award given by the American Psychological Association.
Bill’s favorite saying is “The BEST is yet to come”.
Steve Hasty
Vice Chairman
President/Owner of Hasty Awards, a national awards company focusing on Olympic sports including swimming, gymnastics, wrestling and track, for over 30 years. Swimming background includes age group swimmer for 11 years, age group coach for five years, multiple stints on team boards.
In the private world I have enjoyed serving on multiple boards including Ottawa University Board of Trustees since 2012, Parks and Recreation Board, and boards within the Awards and Recognition Association. In addition to owning Hasty Awards I am majority owner of Smarter Paw, a pet industry company specializing in products for cats including toys, treats and catnip.
I am an avid developer within northeast Kansas, specializing in subdivisions. It is an honor to be on the ISHOF board and being a part of taking this organization to the next level.
Mike Dooley
Secretary
Mike Dooley comes to ISHOF as a seasoned veteran of the professional swimming pool industry. Mike serves as the President of Team Horner Group, a vertically integrated manufacturer, wholesale distributor, importer, and exporter of swimming pool supplies. Headquartered in Ft. Lauderdale, Team Horner Group has 20 distribution locations with 2 manufacturing plants in France and conducts business in over 90 different countries around the world. Mike serves on the Board of Directors for the Florida Swimming Pool Association and The Fellowship of Christian Athletes at The University of Miami.
Mike graduated from the University of Miami majoring in Finance in 1986 and served as a Captain on Active Duty with the U.S. Army as a Paratrooper and Blackhawk Helicopter Pilot leaving active duty in July of 1991. Mike played Water Polo at Stranahan High School in Fort Lauderdale and has a passion for the mission of making Every Child A Swimmer.
Matt McKean
Treasurer
Matt is an accomplished Financial Advisor for Ultra High Net Worth clients with a specialization in wealth transfer, trust and estate tax and philanthropic strategies for both donors and nonprofits. Matt has held senior leadership roles for 25 years including his current position as Managing Director at Fiduciary Trust International.
Matt’s expertise is working with uniquely successful, busy individuals and families who wish to preserve, protect and transfer their wealth to future generations and/or charities by assisting in the creation of tax-advantaged philanthropic plans, including charitable trusts and private foundations.
Matt earned a B.S. in Business Administration from Villanova University along with a collegiate swimming scholarship and holds several advanced designations including Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA) from American Bankers Association and Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP) from the Richard D. Irwin Graduate School of the American College.
Matt will support the overall long-term financial strength and fundraising goals of ISHOF by visiting with donors and prospective donors about a variety of gift possibilities, particularly deferred and planned gifts, capital campaigns and endowment growth.
David Arluck
David Arluck founded the Fitter and Faster Tour in 2009. He is currently the company’s CEO. Arluck was also the Founder of Arluck Promotions (2001), a sports marketing and athlete representation business. Arluck began to phase out operations of Arluck Promotions between 2015 and 2016 to exclusively focus on creating products and services for the swimming community through Fitter and Faster.
Arluck was the Creator and Executive Producer of the best-selling Swim Like Champion DVD series and Swim Videos on Demand. He is the Co-founder of Swim For the Future, a not-for-profit endowment created in memory of swim teammates Arluck had who were killed in the World Trade Center in 2001. The scholarship pays for “deserving” swimmers in New York City to be members of the Asphalt Green Swim Team in New York City. Arluck was also the Co-Founder of The Race Club in 2003 with Olympic Legend Gary Hall, Jr.
Arluck is married to his wife Jessica, a facial plastic surgeon in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Together they have two children, Alex and Alivia.
Mario Caprini
Mario Caprini is a seasoned real estate investor, entrepreneur, developer, consultant, and portfolio owner with a deep understanding of financial structures with international experience. His love of swimming comes from being exposed from a very young age to all water and swimming activities at his parent’s lakeside country place. Later as an adult he realized the peaceful and calming effect of being in, on and around water and introduced both his daughters, Rebecca and Rachel, to swimming and the joy of swimming and water related activities. Mario now enjoys sharing his love for swimming and water activities with his wife Eddy Sua.
He was introduced to the International Swimming of Hall of Fame by Brent Rutemiller and was provided a tour of the museum by the ISHOF historian Bruce Wigo, in 2019. It was then that he realized how deep his connection and love of swimming was and the historical role and implications in his life, everyday life, in society and the history of the world – which strengthened his desire to participate in supporting the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
Some of the notable achievements in his career include Entrepreneur of the Year in Montreal, Best Residential Project in Canada, Best Office Development in Northeast Ohio.
Mario has developed numerous successful Public Private Partnerships (P3) projects and in recent years has perfected the process. Having the vision to create solutions in solving problems for his partners and clients, he has developed innovative solutions including 100% Funding Program at bond rates, with guaranteed pricing, timing, and no cost overruns for Government, Nonprofit and Corporate Developments.
Using his own proprietary software, the Realizer, he can evaluate, analyze, and provide direction with all types of residential, commercial, industrial, hospitality, mixed-use, and institutional projects. It’s the ultimate tool using algorithms combined with a cause-and-effect analysis to identify the optimum scenario on any project or property therefore mitigating risk and maximizing results. Using this new exclusive tool contributed to Capital Group P3 of Florida creating a partnership with Hensel Phelps – a national construction industry leader. Through this venture called CGHP Developments, it is taking a leadership position in a new innovative P3 approach. Using this incredible tool has enabled him to identify derivative and complimentary projects and developments that complement P3 projects. With determination, creativity, vision, talent, and perseverance, he will continue to lead with innovations in the industry.
Steven Glassman
Commissioner City of Fort Lauderdale - District 2
Steve was born in New York City in 1953 and grew up on Long Island. After receiving a Bachelor’s and a Master’s Degree, he settled in Buffalo, New York where he was an educator for eighteen years. Steve and his spouse of forty-five years, Rande, moved to the area in 1994 and they have lived in District 2 for the past 20 years;
Steve is rooted in the community through both his professional and personal life. For eleven years, Steve was an administrator for the Broward County Cultural Division where he worked closely with elected officials and business leaders to further the quality of life in all of Broward’s major cities through the arts and culture. This work included serving on Advisory Boards in Hollywood, Miramar, and Pembroke Pines. Steve has served on the City of Fort Lauderdale’s Beach Redevelopment Advisory Board (three years) and the Planning and Zoning Board (six years) where he grew to understand the importance of building consensus and working as a team to get things done.
Over his many years in various civic leadership positions, including President of the Broward Trust for Historic Preservation, Steve has come to understand how vital Neighborhood Associations are in our City’s civic and economic development. This understanding was driven home time and time again in Steve’s seven-year tenure as the President of the Central Beach Alliance where he worked in close partnership with many of the City’s most prominent neighborhood and business leaders. Steve has also served as President of several beach condominium associations including his current six-year tenure at the Sapphire Condominium.
Dara Torres
At the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, Dara Torres became the oldest swimmer to compete in the Olympic Games. She took three silver medals home, including the heartbreaking 50-meter freestyle race where she missed the Gold by 1/100th of a second. America loved her all the more for her astonishing achievement and her good-natured acceptance of the results.
In total, Dara has competed in five Olympic Games and has won 12 medals in her entire Olympic career. Her impressive performance in Beijing and her attempt at the 2012 London Olympic Games has inspired many older athletes to consider re-entering competition.
In November 2019, Dara was inducted into the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame standing alongside other legends Candace Cable (Para alpine skiing, Para Nordic skiing, Para track and field), Lisa Leslie (basketball), Nastia Liukin (gymnastics), Misty May-Treanor (beach volleyball), Apolo Anton Ohno (short track speedskating), Erin Popovich (Para swimming), Chris Waddell (Para alpine skiing, Para track and field), the 1998 U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team, John Carlos (legend: track and field), Tommie Smith (legend: track and field), Ron O’Brien (coach: diving), and Tim Nugent (special contributor).
Aside from her amazing accomplishments in the pool, Dara has talents on dry land as well. She has appeared on such shows as Fox News, ESPN, CNN, Piers Morgan Tonight, Today Show, Good Morning America, Kelly and Regis, and many others. Additionally, Dara was the first female athlete ever to be featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, and in 2009, won the ESPY award for “Best Comeback.”
To add to Dara’s accolades, she was also named one of the “Top Female Athletes of the Decade” by Sports Illustrated Magazine. Now a top-selling author, her memoir, “Age is Just a Number: Achieve Your Dreams at Any Stage in Your Life,” published in April 2009 and was listed as one of the top 25 best-selling business books by June. Her second book, “Gold Medal Fitness: A Revolutionary 5-Week Program” hit stands in May 2010 and is now a New York Times Best-Seller. She is also the Chief Wellness Officer of CaniBrands. Dara continues to inspire everyone to go after their dreams regardless of their age.
Donna De Varona
Chairman, Emeritus
Donna De Varona is a pioneer in the field of female athletics and broadcasting. She made her first Olympic team in 1960 at the age of 13 and won two gold medals at the 1964 summer Olympics. The following year, at the age of 17, she became the first woman on network TV as a sports broadcaster.
In 1974, Donna helped found the Women’s Sports Foundation and pioneered the fight for increasing athletic opportunities for women in high school and college. In 1991 she received an EMMY for her work during the Special Olympics. She was chair for the 1999 Women’s World Cup of soccer in America and served on the board of NY City’s 2012 Olympic Bid Committee.
Donna has been inducted into several Halls of Fame, including the International Swimming Hall of Fame and is the recipient of the NCAA’s Teddy Roosevelt Award, the organization’s highest honor.
Christine Yates
Christine P. Yates, a director with Tripp Scott, leads the firm’s Private Wealth Service group with over 24 years of experience guiding her clients through the full spectrum of estate transfer issues. From small administrations to estates in excess of $1 billion, clients receive counsel on estate, gift and generation-skipping planning, trust and estate administration and fiduciary litigation while maintaining the utmost discretion and confidentiality.
With specialization in matters involving high net worth clients in the automotive industry, as well as those with Alzheimer’s and Traumatic Brain Injury, Yates prepares wills, trusts and complex estate plans to preserve multigenerational wealth and helps clients navigate through elder planning and guardianship issues.
In addition, Yates assists clients with all aspects of estate, trust, and guardianship administration and litigation, both defending and prosecuting undue influence and testamentary capacity claims, contests of wills and trusts, trust administration claims, and guardianship claims. Frequently appointed by the court, Yates has served the judiciary as guardian, guardian ad litem, special master, curator, administrator ad litem, and receiver.
Yates has been recognized for her outstanding achievements, and she was named by the South Florida Business Journal as one of the publications “40 Under 40” and is Martindale-Hubbell AV-rated. Active in the Broward County Bar Association, Yates is a member of the elder law and the real property, probate, and trust law sections. She is also a member of the Estate Planning Council of Broward County and was a founding member of the Professional Association for Women.
Committed to the local community, Yates was a founding member of the Broward Chapter of Tiffany Circle for the American Red Cross. She currently serves on the board of directors for the Stranahan House, The Bougainvillea House, and Positive Coaching Alliance and is a member of the Professional Advisor’s Council for the Community Foundation of Broward.
She has previously served on the board of directors for the Broward County Public Library Foundation, the Bonnet House, and the Junior Welfare Society. She has been involved with PAWS, Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumni Association, and the planned giving council for the University of Miami.
Yates holds a Law degree from the University of Florida. In addition, she holds Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration and Finance, cum laude, from the University of Miami, where she was a member of the President’s Council for Academic Achievement and Omicron Delta Kappa and Mortar Board honor societies.
Eleanor Smart
Board member
With her extensive experience in the world of diving and dedication to the sport, Smart brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the organization. She has not even turned 30 years old yet, and Smart has been described by a former FINA official as a “great entrepreneur” and “the number one ambassador for the sport of high diving.” Elie Smart has already gotten more things done for the sport than probably anyone else.
Smart began diving when she was just five years old and instantly fell in love with the sport. She dove collegiately at University of California, Berkeley before finding “cliff diving”, also known as high diving. Smart made her debut on the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series circuit in 2017 and earned a permanent place in the women’s line-up for the 2019 season with a third-place finish at the FINA World Cup. She finished the 2022 season ranked #1 in the USA and #3 in the world. Ellie currently represents Team USA internationally and is a permanent diver on the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series while also running her businesses High Dive Global (formerly known as The International High Diving Institute).
In 2021, she won the FINA Award in Abu Dhabi, an award presented to athletes who excelled during sporting events in that year. Smart was recognized for her incredible achievements, hard work and dedication to the sport. Also in 2021, Smart created High Dive Global. High Dive Global was founded to develop the sport of high diving by providing training opportunities, hosting events, and creating a community for athletes, coaches, and fans.
For the environmentalists, Smart founded the Clean Cliffs Project in 2017. Clean Cliffs started with a simple idea: to do what we love while also leaving a positive impact on the environment. Their mission is to raise awareness about global pollution and promote sustainability through adventure activities. Ellie’s concept is simple; she travels the world and dives in some of the most beautiful locations around the globe. In each location, Smart strives to cultivate a community that cares for the environment by hosting local beach cleanups and educating on the effects of pollution.
Beyond Clean Cliffs, Ellie Smart is adamant about helping communities and people do better and “push their impossible,” for the earth and for themselves.
Tyler Beard
Board member
Tyler Beard is a Fort Lauderdale native, born and raised in our community and has been involved in aquatics since a young age when he began his career in diving. Tyler continued to compete in high school as a USA diving athlete where he achieved the rank of an All-American diver multiple years and went on to compete in USA Diving Senior Nationals. Tyler was recruited to join the Swimming & Diving team at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and served as the USA Diving Athlete Representative for Florida Gold Coast.
After college he had the opportunity to coach at local high schools and eventually went on to coach full time at Pine Crest School. Soon thereafter, Tyler was offered the role to be the head diving coach at Florida Atlantic University, leading a Division 1 team. Tyler is currently working as a data analyst at Moss & Associates, and expanding into IT.
Burnadette Norris-Weeks
Board member
Burnadette Norris-Weeks is a partner in the law firm of Austin Pamies Norris Weeks Powell, PLLC. She serves as counsel to various governmental entities, including cities in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties. Additionally, her law firm handles serious personal injury, corporate and real property matters.
Burnadette is the Immediate Past Chair of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce. She serves on the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity of Broward and the Community Foundation of Broward. She is a graduate of Leadership Florida and Leadership Broward.
Notably, Burnadette is founder of the Women of Color Empowerment Institute, Inc. (WOCEI), a membership organization with the mission to enhance and expand leadership opportunities by women of color. WOCEI spearheads a yearly conference that brings together hundreds of women in leadership from across the country.
Burnadette was a member of the most recent Federal Judicial Nominating Conference for the Southern District of Florida.
Burnadette’s extensive community and professional involvement has earned her the Above and Beyond Award from the American Bar Association’s Section of Litigation; the Urban League’s Margaret Roach Humanitarian Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the T.J. Reddick Bar Association. She is a past honoree of the National Trumpet Awards Foundation, has been listed as one of Florida Trend Magazine’s Most Influential Business Leaders, was recognized by Legacy Magazine as one of South Florida’s 25 Most Influential and Prominent Black Women in Business. Burnadette has received a “Leader of the Year” award from the Leadership Broward Foundation, among other impressive awards and recognitions.
Burnadette is admitted to practice law before the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States District Courts for the Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida. She is married to Aaron Weeks and lives in Fort Lauderdale.
Stephanie J. Toothaker
Board member
Stephanie is a Martindale Hubbell AV rated attorney, regularly recognized as a SuperLawyer and by Florida Trend’s Legal Elite and known for a sophisticated approach to governmental relations and procurement. Representing private equity firms, innovative companies, and entrepreneurial individuals seeking complex land development entitlements, her specific expertise on these matters is focused on innovative activation of property rights, public/private P3 initiatives, mixed-use projects, land use plan amendments, zoning modifications and site plan approvals in the commercial, residential, hospitality, and sporting sectors.
Stephanie is an effective advocate at the Federal, State, and local level. Based in Fort Lauderdale, she regularly represents clients before governmental entities throughout South Florida. Stephanie is consistently recognized for her unique ability to seamlessly navigate multi-agency processes, efficiently manage the government relations environment, and achieve success with aggressive timelines. She is a recognized leader in Medical Marijuana permitting and approval, and was critical to the passage of Florida’s landmark legislation to change the legal boundaries of both Broward and Palm Beach Counties to enable more effective development patterns.
Stephanie’s practice also includes representation of global sporting and destination lifestyle brands. With clients that have included David Beckham’s InterMiami, Red Bull Global Rallycross, Swatch Volleyball World Championships, Key West Race Week, and Informa – producer of the Monaco, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach International Boat Shows – she has a proven ability to leverage resources to create profitable outcomes.
Her impressive understanding of public policy at the nexus of government and private entities has as its foundation her deep experience in the national political arena. Stephanie served as special counsel to U.S. Senator Bob Graham, where she was the first female and youngest in history to serve in that capacity. She served on the Kerry-Edwards legal team, was co-lead regional counsel for the Obama-Biden legal teams and more recently chaired Gwen Graham’s political committee in her race for governor.
The bottom line is Stephanie delivers on cutting-edge projects with transformational results:
As David Beckham’s and Jorge Mas’ legal striker, Stephanie ensured InterMiami’s DRV PNK 20,000 seat soccer stadium and training facility was approved – and built – in 13 months. Today, Leo Messi plays there.
Stephanie navigated the Tavistock team through approval of the landmark Pier 66 reimagining, and represented Lionheart and Fortune in their approvals of their Ritz Carlton Residences in Pompano Beach.
Stephanie orchestrated One Stop/ArtsPark, a visionary $100 million public/private musical, cultural, culinary and community initiative.
Stephanie secured for Moss Construction the winning RFP and groundbreaking of Fort Lauderdale’s new Police HQ.
Stephanie broke height ceilings with Kolter’s groundbreaking Selene – the tallest buildings on Fort Lauderdale Beach, and Kushner Companies’ evolutionary Broward Crossing developments.
Stephanie quarterbacked Cymbal Development’s Raintree Riverwalk Residences (formerly Marina Lofts) multi-jurisdictional project, and the adjacent Moderno’s Rivr Lofts.
Stephanie co-created and is the President of the Tarpon River Entertainment & Design (“TREDD”) District.
Stephanie led the team to victory on the approvals of Asi Cymbal’s Nautico District and Nautica development.
Stephanie has represented Marriott, Hilton, OTO, Key Development and Summit with beach hospitality initiatives, and secured approval for Brookfield’s Marina Hilton stunning new event complex.
Stephanie drove Roger Penske’s first South Florida Porsche Concept Dealership and the high tech F3 Boat Club – a $35 million state-of-the-art dry stack marina.
Stephanie provided critical direction to secure the preservation and re-imagination of the historic Mai Kai.
Stephanie led the multi-year and multi-faceted development of the Ritz Carlton Residences in Pompano Beach.
Stephanie leads the development team for the groundbreaking development of the 35 acre Miami Gardens City Center slated to include the first of its kind F1 Museum and Simulator.
Stephanie brought Naftali’s Viceroy and Dependable Equities’ Ombelle projects to life in Flagler Village.
She has been a regular contributor to Florida Trend and is involved with a broad range of civic organizations including board membership for the NSU Museum of Art, Jack & Jill, the Transportation Management Association, the Broward Performing Arts Center Foundation Board and is the Vice Chair of the Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority to name just a few. Stephanie serves on the Board of the University of Florida College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Bob Graham Center for Public Service, and is the first and only woman to serve as Commodore and Governor of the Lauderdale Yacht Club founded in 1938. She was previously a Director and Head of the Land Use & Zoning Practice at Tripp Scott, and a partner with Ruden McClosky and Blosser & Sayfie after beginning her career at Greenberg Traurig.
Richard Waltzer
Board member
Mr. Waltzer is originally from Brooklyn New York Graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 1994 in Hotel Restaurant Management and moved to South Florida in 1996.
Mr. Waltzer has been involved with real estate development for the past thirty years and owns a real estate development company and a real estate brokerage company, Waltzer Properties LLC.
In 2002 Mr. Waltzer signed the first humanitarian aid contract for agricultural goods to be exported to Cuba under the TRSA Act passed by Congress in the year 2000. This was the first US sanctioned export of US goods since 1959. Mr. Waltzer obtained licensing from the US Department of Treasury (Office of Foreign Assets Control) and the US Commerce Department (Bureau of Industry and Security) to export Agricultural Products to Cuba under the TRSA Act of 2000.
Mr. Waltzer and the Stonegate Bank team that was based in Fort Lauderdale put together the first US issued bank credit card that was able to be issued in Cuba. Stonegate Bank was taken public and then sold to Home Bancshares aka Centennial Bank, a regional bank out of Arkansas in June of 2017 for 3.13 billion. Mr. Waltzer currently sits on the Board of Directors of Evermore Bank, an FDIC insured bank in Fort Lauderdale. He sits on the bank’s lending committee, compensation committee and the special assets committee of the bank that regularly deal with the FDIC and Office of Financial Regulation.
Mr. Waltzer and his partners Mr. Bill Kent, Mario Caprini and Mike Dooley are involved with the new re-development of the International Swimming Hall of Fame Peninsula in the City of Fort Lauderdale on Fort Lauderdale Beach, which is a $220 million development project. Mr. Waltzer is the CEO of the Fort Lauderdale Aquarium, a state-of-the-art aquarium with an educational theater teaching children about oceanic conservation as well as the Swimming Hall of Fame Museum with a Program a called (Every Child is a Swimmer).
Mr. Waltzer currently sits on the Florida Highway Patrol Advisory Council and appointed by Executive Director David Kerner and FHP Colonel Gary Howze. Mr. Waltzer is currently an FHP Auxiliary Trooper.
Mr. Waltzer currently sits on the Chairman’s Council Advisory Board of Directors for the Broward County Sheriff’s Office.
Mr. Waltzer is on Governor DeSantis National Presidential Finance Committee and is a top fundraiser for the DeSantis campaign. He held Governor DeSantis first Presidential event in Fort Lauderdale in June of 2023.
Mr. Waltzer was appointed by Governor DeSantis in 2024 as a Broward County Commissioner of the IntraCoastal Waterway know as the Florida Inland Navigation District that extends from Miami to Jacksonville Florida.
Mr. Waltzer is the Chairman of the Board of a 501C-3 Non-Profit Charity called the Peanut Butter and Jelly Project that provides Food, Clothing and Shelter for Underprivileged Families and Service-Disabled Veterans in Broward County Florida.
Mr. Waltzer is bringing the Special Olympics to Fort Lauderdale and will be held at the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
Mr. Waltzer is on the Boad of Directors of the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival.
Mr. Waltzer lives on the water in Fort Lauderdale with his wife Brooke and they are avid boaters and travelers.
Merle Liivand
Board member
Merle Liivand an Estonian National swimmer, Mermaid, Open Water Swimmer, Triathlete, Model, Ambassador, Motivational Spokesperson, Coach, Entrepreneur, Designer, Movie Producer and Swimera-Baltics CEO.
She is part of 7 different companies and sits on 2 International company boards with her skills to bring together sport, wellness, environment and blockchain tech. She is a newly named OCEAN AMBASSADOR and runs a green, blue beauty company called VIKING BEAUTY SECRETS . Her skill is to see all angles in ESG while understanding the Blue and Green Economies.
She has swum 5 Guinness world records as a MERMAID while bringing World Attention to MICROPLASTIC problems in Oceans, Seas, Rivers, and Lakes!
She spends her time between Estonia, Europe, and Florida, U.S. while advocating different projects in Dubai, South Korea, and Singapore. Her Estonian background in Tech and Swimming for High-Level competitions is what keeps her going while being an Inspiration on demand.
She has been nominated 2 years in a row as a WOMAN of the Year ATHLETE By Open Water Association. She won 2023 Wonder Woman award for her efforts to change lives daily. The City of Miami Beach Mayor in Florida Proclaimed her Birthday on April 17th as Merle Liivand Day.
She received a proclamation from San Juan del Sur in Nicaragua while bringing awareness to plastic and saving the Oceans. Mayor also named Liivand as a World Protector and Godmother to the International Cruise Ship port.
Her Movie: ” Mermaid on the Mission ” Won a Hollywood short film award as a GLOBAL INFLUENCER and Role Model to the World. ABC Network named Liivand 2023 April as a MOST TREASURED citizen of South Florida for her efforts to clean up the Biscayne Bay. NBC6 TV named Liivand in 2019 as a WOMAN who is Making a Difference due to her passion to fight against Drowning and raising awareness to Swimming Sport.
Lisa Scott-Founds
Board member
A Fort Lauderdale native and Stranahan High graduate, Lisa received a BS in communications from FSU. She then became Director of PR for the Center for Theoretical Physics at UM. Several years later and with a variety of positions under her belt, she accepted a position with the Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, which led her to her role as President and CEO of Winterfest almost 30 years ago.
Lisa’s love for Winterfest developed when she watched every parade from early childhood. She is committed to create a quality, high profile event for the community that brings family and friends together. Winterfest, celebrating 53 years, has grown into an internationally recognized event and The Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade has earned the title “The World’s Most Watched Boat Parade.” With over a million cheering spectators, the Parade has become not only the largest one-day live audience of any event in Florida, but also the seventh largest one-day spectator event in the country! Lisa and her team are very proud that this Fort Lauderdale holiday tradition not only contributes to the aesthetic, cultural, and tourist development of the area, but it makes an economic impact of over $51 million per year on her hometown!
Lisa enjoys her community and charity involvement. She has enjoyed serving in leadership roles on a variety of boards, including, but not limited to: the Fort Lauderdale Marine Advisory Board, Beaux Arts (where she served as President), the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, Symphony of the Americas, PINION (for Special Olympics), Marine Industry Cares Foundation, International Swimming Hall of Fame, Riverwalk and both the Fort Lauderdale and Broward County Centennial Boards. Presently, she sits on the boards of Fifth Third Bank, the Fort Lauderdale Tower Club, and the Broward Film Society (FLIFF). She is a member of Rotary Club of Fort Lauderdale (Paul Harris Fellow), Fort Lauderdale Women’s Club, Junior Achievement Circle of Wise Women, Leadership Broward Foundation, Leadership Florida Foundation, Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale, Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, Broward Women’s Alliance, Women United (United Way), both International and Florida Festival and Events Associations, as well as a variety of event and marine related associations.
Lisa’s notable distinctions include the Fort Lauderdale Chamber Circle of Excellence Award, March of Dimes Woman of Distinction, Symphony of the Americas Woman of Style and Substance, Cystic Fibrosis Fort Lauderdale’s Finest, amongst others from In Focus Magazine and the Hispanic Chamber. She was named City of Fort Lauderdale’s 2011 Centennial Citizen of the Year and the 2011 Broward College Distinguished Alumnae. In 2014 she was named the Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale Tribute Honoree and accepted the Historical Society Founders Award. In 2017, Lisa was honored by the South Florida Business Journal as one of The 25 Most Influential Business Women in South Florida and the Broward Education Foundation Hall of Fame Award. In 2018, she accepted the Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce Marine Business of the Year Award on behalf of Winterfest. In 2021, she was honored with an Apogee Award from South Florida Business & Wealth. Additionally, in 2021 she received a gubernatorial appointment by Governor DeSantis for the Florida Film & Entertainment Advisory Commission where she also served as Chairwoman. In 2022, Lisa was honored by the City of Fort Lauderdale with a plaque in the Walk of Fame on Fort Lauderdale Beach. In 2023, she was honored by Beaux Arts a fundraising arm of the NSU Museum of Art.
Lisa and her husband David have been married for 26 years, live life to its fullest, and love being surrounded by their family, friends and their two puppies.
Mark Schubert
Board member
Schubert brings a legacy of excellence, leadership, and Olympic success back to the Rustler program. His return marks a homecoming, having previously served as Golden West’s head coach from 2011 -2016, where he led the Rustlers to four 3C2A State Team Titles.
Mark Schubert’s resume is tough to beat.
• As an 8-time U.S. Olympic Swim Coach, he has mentored 33 Olympians who have collectively earned 29 Olympic gold medals.
• His tenure as head coach at the University of Texas (1988–1992) produced two NCAA Team Championships,
• While coaching at USC (1992–2006), he brought home one NCAA Team Championship for the Trojans.
• He served as USA Swimming National Team Head Coach from 2006 to 2010, guiding the U.S. through some of its most successful international campaigns.
• Mark Schubert led the Mission Viejo Nadadores (1972–1985) to an astonishing 43 National Team Championships—a record that still stands today.
• A 5-time ASCA Coach of the Year and a proud inductee into the International Swimming Hall of Fame, a testament to the impact he has made on the sport at every level.
- Proactive
- Responsible
- Integrity
- Influence
- Expertise in Our Field
- An Area of Unique “Expertise”
- Financial
- Low Conflict of Interest
- Time Commitment
- Diversity – Geographic/Cultural/Gender
- Do-gooder