Girls on the Run Greater Tampa Bay announces 2017/18 Board of Director appointments

Photo caption: The Girls on the Run Greater Tampa Bay program helps train and provide life skills to more than 450 girls from 40+ elementary schools spanning from Sarasota to Tampa. The girls “graduate” by completing one of the UnitedHealthcare Girls on the Run 5Ks held in May and December in downtown St. Pete, Fla.

Girls on the Run Greater Tampa Bay recently announced its 2017/18 Board of Director appointments, including adding four new positions to bring the total to 12 members.

A non-profit affiliate council of Girls on the Run International, which includes a network of more than 200 locations across the U.S. and Canada, Girls on the Run Greater Tampa Bay offers an after-school 5K and life skills training program to more than 450 third through fifth grade girls from 45 elementary schools spanning four counties from Sarasota to Tampa.

Girls on the Run Tampa Bay program

This transformational, after-school physical activity based and positive youth development program is focused on teaching life skills through dynamic interactive lessons and running games to girls in the third through fifth grades. The program culminates with the girls being physically and emotionally prepared to complete a celebratory 5k running event that is part of the UnitedHealthcare Girls on the Run 5K series, with “graduation” races held in December and May of each year in downtown St. Petersburg, Fla. The goal of the program is to unleash confidence through accomplishment while establishing a lifetime appreciation of health and fitness. For more information visit www.girlsontheruntampabay.org.

Research study findings

Findings from an independent study show that the Girls on the Run program has a significant impact on the lives of girls with 97 percent learning critical life skills, 85 percent showing improved confidence, competence, caring, character or connection and among girls who were the least active at the start of the program, a more than 40 percent increase in physical activity.

Recent Board appointments include leading professional businesswomen from four counties, who have a demonstrated commitment to furthering the goals and growth of Girls on the Run Greater Tampa Bay. Board appointments include:

Jessica Crate, Board Chair, Santa Monica, Calif.

An elite runner and world-class triathlete, Jessica Crate is the new Chair for Girls on the Run Greater Tampa Bay. She is a USATF Coach, Yoga Instructor, businesswoman and entrepreneur and is founder/president of CRATE Consulting LLC, LifeVantage & Atmasphere. She travels nationwide speaking on coaching, training, nutrition and her secret to success, motivating athletes at every level to pursue their passion with the heart of a champion, even in the midst of adversity. She coached at Sandy Lane Elementary.

Sandi Lake, Board Vice Chair, Tampa, Fla.

The new appointed Vice Chair, Sandi Lake is currently involved in the Tampa Galloway Marathon Training Program and the Run Tampa organization. She is a race director and running coach through the Road Runners Club of America and has been producing running events for conventions and charitable organizations since 2011. Lake attended Florida State University and received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing from the University of South Florida.

Angela Shortt, Board Treasurer, Wesley Chapel, Fla.

A benefits accountant at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Angela Shortt graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics. After working professionally in the accounting field, she later earned another Bachelor’s Degree from Furman University in Accounting.

Jill Collins, Board Secretary, Palm Harbor, Fla.

Project manager for Pfizer, Jill Collins earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Eckerd College and her MBA from East Tennessee State University In addition to her role as Board Member she also volunteers as a coach, running buddy, sparkle runner and donor for Girls on the Run Greater Tampa Bay.

Erin Berger, Land O’ Lakes, Fla.

An attorney at Kelley Kronenberg, a national law firm specializing in real property litigation and appeals, Berger earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Brigham Young University and obtained her Juris Doctorate from the University of Cincinnati College of Law. She has also served as a coach for Girls on the Run at Pine View Elementary School.

Jacque Boyer, Tampa, Fla.

A senior hospital sales representative for Daiichi Sankyo Inc., Jacque Boyer holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Nutrition and Fitness from Florida State University. Her experience in healthcare has allowed the opportunity to work in many different medical specialty areas of medicine, including helping patients manage their medical and pharmacological needs.

Christie Bruner, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Christie Bruner brings more than 20 years of experience with sports and fitness for both children and adults, including her current position as the youth wellness director for St. Pete Run Fest. Prior to this Bruner owned and operated a Baby Boot Camp franchise for 10 years. She is a former NCAA All-American swimmer and an avid runner and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from Truman State University in Kirksville, MO and is an AFAA Certified Personal Trainer. She has also been an advocate for a bill in front of the Florida State Legislature mandating recess in elementary schools.

Kelli Burns, Ph.D., Lutz, Fla.

An associate professor in the Zimmerman School of Advertising and Mass Communications at the University of South Florida, Kelli Burns teaches public relations and strategic communication courses and studies social media. She received her Ph.D. in Mass Communication from the University of Florida, her Master’s Degree in Mass Communication from Middle Tennessee State University, and her Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from Vanderbilt University. Burns also serves on the Girls on the Run race committee.

Jean Howey, Spring Hill, Fla.

An elementary physical education teacher in Pasco County with a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science from Florida State, Howey has been the head Girls on the Run coach at Connerton Elementary for the past seven years and is now also a coach for the Special Olympics program.

A travel, tourism, hospitality and consumer marketing specialist, Johnson has more than 30 years of related experience. Before creating a public relations and marketing consulting division of Imagica, she was vice president and director of client services for ClarusPR, an Mphasis Integrated company, headquartered in Denver as well as serving in public and media relations roles for the Colorado Tourism Board and Colorado Ski Country USA. In addition to her public relations work, Johnson is a New Balance inMotion running coach and member of Team New Balance Sarasota, an elite group of adult and masters competitive runners. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mass Communications from the University of Denver.

Katie Lamore, Spring Hill, Fla.

A social worker at Richey Elementary School in New Port Richey, Fla., Katie Lamore received her her Masters Degree in social work and public health from The University of South Florida and holds a Bachelors Degree in psychology from The University of South Florida. She has also served as a coach for Girls on the Run the past two years and was instrumental in getting a Girls on the Run program started at Richey Elementary.

Stephanie Russell Krebs, Ph.D., Odessa, Fla.

The dean of students at the University of Tampa, Stephanie Russell Krebs holds a Bachelors Degree in theater/speech from Butler University in Indiana and a Masters Degree in college student personnel from Western Illinois University. She earned her Ph.D. from Colorado State University in Fort Collins in Higher Education Leadership. Krebs also wrote and delivered the invocation for a town hall meeting at the University of Tampa with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden in 2010.