Tricia Carlisle-Northcutt – Founder/President

Tricia Carlisle-Northcutt relocated from Memphis, TN with her husband, Mark and dog Maggie. After a raising four children, her intentions to relax a little more, focus on her artwork and manage her real estate company changed entirely when she discovered and researched the needs of area children without insurance and with no immediate healthcare services available.

Tricia’s business acumen was put into play. A former hotel and fast-food franchise owner, she applied the same drive to this new endeavor, Children’s Volunteer Health Network, Inc. Being a faith-based organization, the risks were low and the rewards incredible. She has been involved in numerous civic and community events in her life but, by far, finds CVHN to be the most challenging and rewarding.

Tricia was awarded the 2006 Emerald Coast Association of Realtor’s Humanitarian Award, the 2006 South Walton Realtor of the Year award, the 2006 Good Neighbor Certificate of Merit Award, the 2007 Florida Association of Realtor’s Humanitarian Award, the 2007 Good Neighbor Honorable Mention, and 2008 Jefferson Award. In 2008, Tricia opened a business consulting and marketing firm, Right Brain Strategies, LLC. She is currently working on her third book, which is about CVHN.

Susannah Rice – Vice President

Susannah grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana, where she graduated with a B.A. in English from Centenary College. She is a residential contractor in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida. She has been involved with the Millard Fuller Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, and acted as designer and contractor for a Make-A-Wish project in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Susannah became involved with CVHN while serving as Builder Liaison for Cottages for Kids in 2007. Susannah recognized the wonderful and necessary role CVHN plays in providing immediate care for children in Okaloosa and Walton Counties and wanted to play a bigger part in the organization.

Reynolds Henderson – Secretary

Reynolds Henderson was born and raised in Troy, Alabama. After graduating from the University of Alabama with a B.S. in Political Science, Reynolds began his career with Continental Pacific in Hawaii where he managed several land development projects. Reynolds is now a partner of Continental Pacific, LLC, a real estate investment company which focuses primarily on buying and selling large tracts of land. In June 2008, he became manger of SRB Servicing, LLC, a subsidiary of Continental Pacific which purchases and manages distressed real estate loans. Reynolds finds it very rewarding to help those in need and is very excited about the opportunity to serve CVHN. He hopes to accomplish great things for CVHN while serving as a Board Member.

He and wife Stacey live in the Rosemary Beach area where they enjoy their toddler son Fox and their pug dog Foo.

Dennis J Peters – Treasurer

Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Dennis Peters decided he was making Florida his state of residency after completing his Masters Degree in Bio-Environmental Oceanography in 1984 at the Florida Institute of Technology. That very same year, Dennis met and married his wife of 25 years, Lisa Peters (owner of Destin Jewelers). Traveling about the state of Florida, Hawaii, and the Caribbean, Dennis’ pursuit of marine and oceanographic sciences has brought him full circle to the panhandle of Florida in 1992, where he and Lisa now reside.

Earlier in 2009, Dennis recently joined Gulf South Research Corporation, an environmental and coastal sciences firm out of Baton Rouge, LA. As their eastern regional operations manager, Dennis will oversee their business expansion into the southeastern region of the US and Caribbean and will be opening an office in Shalimar, FL.

Dennis is very familiar with community service, as a founding member of the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance, and board member since 1996. Wanting to give more back to the community, particularly its less fortunate children, Dennis saw a real opportunity with CVHN, not realized from his former and current vocations or church affiliation.

Kelli Arnold – Board Member

Kelli Arnold, a native of Simi Valley, California, is a graduate of the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from the College of Commerce and Business Administration in 2000 and was lucky enough to travel and study in Europe.

In 2002, after working in Birmingham, she opted to join the laid-back lifestyle of the Emerald Coast. Kelli has been with Alys Beach for nearly five years and is the property’s Event Coordinator.

Kelli began as a volunteer with CVHN in August of 2007 and continues to be active within the organization.

Jane Bahr – Founding Board Member

Jane Bahr is a Birmingham, AL native. She and her husband Greg moved to the 30-A area in 2003.  Jane and Greg are active members of Point Washington United Methodist Church where CVHN started and it’s first child, Tyler, was served. They are happy to be part of such a giving and spiritual community.

While in Birmingham, Jane was involved with Cystic Fibrosis for twenty years as President, Treasurer, Secretary and Board Member.  She also served on the board of Girl’s Inc. for ten years.  Her primary focuses for Girl’s Inc. were fundraising and community awareness of the need to raise the self-esteem of young women.

Her passion for CVHN is fundraising and telling anyone who will listen, the CVHN story. She believes  CVHN could not help the uninsured and underinsured children in the area without the generous help of this great community.

Jane’s professional career is with Employment Screening Services based in Birmingham, AL (www.es2.com)  ESS does background and drug screening for companies locally, nationally and internationally.

Jon Kazek – Board Member

In 1997, Jon moved to Florida from Minnesota along with his wife Anne.  As a University of Minnesota graduate with a Bachelor of Arts, Jon pursued a career in law enforcement and went to work for the Minneapolis Park Police before opting for a life closer to the beach.   At that time he joined his father, a local developer, and began a new journey in life in construction and development.  A few short years later, Jon met his current business partner Steve Dixon, and the two never looked back.  Dixon-Kazek Construction was formed, and the team is currently one of the leading builders in custom residential homes.

Jon resides in Miramar Beach where he has since the day he landed here with wife Anne Hurrle-Kazek, along with their two beautiful Boxers Chloe & Maisy.  While Jon is an avid golfer, he also enjoys helping out in the community whenever possible.  It’s through his construction company that Jon joins the CVHN team in which he and his partner have participated in Cottages for Kids in 2007 & 2008.  Jon’s personal involvement, attention to detail and compassion for perfection are all qualities that make him a valuable asset to the board.

Cindy McBrayer – Board Member

Cindy McBrayer was born in Houston, Texas and is a graduate of Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia, where she received her undergraduate degree in Business Administration. She spent many years in the employ of Mohawk Carpets, and also owned a paint-your-own-pottery studio specializing in children’s projects.   After she relocated with her family to the Emerald Coast, she began operating an in-home daycare and also now serves as support staff at Van R. Bulter Elementary School. McBrayer has three young children, Blayze, Bryce, and Braden, and is married to Ronnie, pastor of A Simple Faith church in Seagrove Beach.

Melissa Wheeler – Board Member

Melissa Wheeler relocated to the beautiful beaches of Walton County in 2003 after vacationing here all of her life.   She is a Marketing and Communications professional who brings with her over twelve years of public and community relations experience spanning both the public and private sector.  Melissa received her bachelor’s degree in Marketing along with her Master’s in Public Administration from Valdosta State University.   She is a graduate of Leadership Walton and a founding member of the BUILD Council, a group working to create a community-wide mentoring program for young professionals in Northwest Florida.   Melissa became involved with CVHN in 2008 as a volunteer and is now honored to further her service as a Board member.   She is currently chairing the Public Relations task force for this year’s Cottages for Kids event to be held in Rosemary Beach during the month of May.