Executive Director and President – Craig Woodard, Sr.
Craig embodies a wide variety of talents. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Mercyhurst University in 1996. Starting his professional career as a Videographer at WSEE TV-35 until taking his first On-Air position, as a News Reporter, at WICU TV-12 in 1997. Both stations were located in his hometown of Erie, PA. In 1998, he was promoted to Sports Anchor for Fox Sports, which was the sister station of WICU TV-12. After WICU sold Fox, Craig joined the WICU Sports Team as the Weekend Sports Anchor/Reporter until 2003. During this period, Craig also played professional football for the Erie Invaders as the starting fullback for Erie’s Inaugural team in 2000.
Changing careers, Craig entered the finance business and started out as an Account Executive with Beneficial Finance. After ten months, Craig was promoted to Branch Manager in 2004. Deciding to further his education, he received his MBA from American Intercontinental University with a concentration in Management, graduating on the Dean’s List with a 3.87 GPA.
In 2007, Craig moved to North Carolina and joined the American General team as Branch Manager. After two years of training, Craig was promoted to District Manager, responsible for 39 employees and $65,000,000 of receivables. In 2011, Craig got married to his college sweetheart and transferred to Tampa, Florida. He worked in Tampa, Wesley Chapel, and in Zephyrhills, FL as a Branch Manager while winning a number of sales awards and was recognized annually as a Division leader. After almost 17 years, Craig has joined Mariner Finance in Bradenton, FL as a Branch Manager there and has made an immediate impact in the success of the branch.
In 2014, Craig and his wife Christine had their son Craig Woodard, Jr. who was born with Down syndrome. This blessing made him want to get involved in advocating and spreading awareness. In 2015, Craig, Sr. was voted in as the Vice President of a local Down syndrome organization. His main responsibility was to organize a Buddy Walk fundraiser for the Tampa Bay area. In the 1st year of the Buddy Walk, his efforts helped the organization raise approximately $39,000 as he secured Raymond James Stadium as the venue. In its 2nd year, the Buddy Walk raised over $62,000. Craig was able to get media exposure both years appearing on Tampa Bay’s Morning Blend as well as being featured on a 15-minute radio interview on The Current-Q105. This exposure, amongst other things, led to the success of the Buddy Walk.
In January 2018, Craig, Sr. decided to start his own organization, along with six other like-minded individuals called the Down Syndrome Association of Tampa Bay. Our early success has been overwhelming as the families in the Tampa Bay area continue to show us their support.
The birth of Craig, Jr. has been one of the best things to happen to Craig, Sr. and his wife. Advocacy and education have become his life and he will continue to spread awareness not only in the Tampa Bay area but throughout the country.
Vice President – Drew Garabo
Drew Garabo has been on the radio in Tampa Bay since 2011. He currently hosts “Drew Garabo Live” on 102.5 FM, “The Bone.” His nephew, Will, inspired his work with special needs communities as he has Down Syndrome. Drew also volunteers for Apple A Day, bringing iPads to children undergoing chemotherapy in local hospitals.
A single father to a 16-year-old young man, Drew enjoys working out, golfing, and reading when he’s not volunteering. He is passionate about fatherhood, charity work, and making a difference in the Tampa Bay community.
Treasurer – Robert Taylor
Robert brings tireless energy to family and fundraising events. His ability to problem solve and get things done quickly, his wide array of talents, and his hands-on approach bring something unique to the organization. He was born and raised in Florida. After graduating from Seminole High School, he moved to Nashville, TN to pursue higher education in the automotive field. He graduated in 2002 from Nashville Auto-Diesel College with an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Automotive and Diesel Technology.
After graduating, Robert moved back to Florida and began his professional career at RingPower Corporation (a local Caterpillar dealer) as a heavy equipment shop technician where he has been employed ever since. After working in the heavy equipment shop, field service, and PIP dispatch he moved to a supervisory role in 2012 as a service advisor where he was responsible for overseeing the work of 8-10 technicians. In 2015, he accepted the position of major component rebuild center foreman where he currently oversees the department’s monthly/annual budget, employee safety, contamination control, employee engagement, and all day-to-day operations in a shop of around 20 technicians and service advisors.
As is apparent with a mechanical background, he is a natural problem solver and never backs down from a challenge. When his son was born with Down Syndrome in 2014, he began volunteering his time with a local Down Syndrome group where he was an integral component of the Buddy Walk Committee and was the co-captain for Caleb’s Quest. In both years as participants in the Buddy Walk, their team, Caleb’s Quest, was in the top 5 fundraising teams. Moving forward with the new group, Robert is looking to serve the Down Syndrome community in any way possible to bring inclusion and acceptance for all individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Fundraising Director – Vanessa Hill
Vanessa graduated from the University of South Florida in December 2013, receiving a
Bachelor of Science Degree (Elementary Education).
In 2013, she began her career in education. Vanessa has taught Kindergarten, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade. She is currently employed by Hillsborough County Schools as a third-grade teacher at Cimino Elementary.
In 2016, she married her high school sweetheart after patiently waiting 15 years!
Together, they have a daughter, Charlotte, who was born with Down syndrome.
Vanessa spent five years of her childhood living in Mexico. She enjoyed learning about the Mexican culture. She is also bilingual (Spanish).
Vanessa loves volunteering and after learning that her daughter has Down syndrome, she became inspired to be involved with the Down Syndrome Association of Tampa Bay.
Advocacy Director – Christine Woodard
Christine is an educator and advocate who brings a wealth of experience to the field of education and the special needs community.
Christine graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Communications Media and Educational Technology. She furthered her education by obtaining a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Argosy University.
Christine holds several certifications which include: PreK-3, English 5-9, Educational Leadership and ESE K-12 (Exceptional Student Education), which is particularly close to her heart.
Christine is currently employed by Charter Schools USA. She serves as the ESE School Support Specialist for the CSUSA State Team. Her responsibilities extend to supporting schools in Pasco, Hillsborough, Manatee, and Sarasota Counties.
Christine’s commitment to advocacy work positions her as a valuable asset to our community. Her passion for empowering students, parents and championing inclusivity is woven into the very fabric of her being.
Program Coordinator – Kelly Taylor
Kelly has a strong medical background, a compassionate nature, and is calm in a crisis.
After she graduated in 2005 from the Concorde Career Institute with her Certification in Surgical Technology, she then went on to obtain her Surgical First Assistant Certification. For the past thirteen years, she has worked at Tampa General Hospital in the Cardiovascular Transplant Operating Room as a Certified Surgical First Assistant and Endoscopic Vein Harvester.
Kelly is the Lead Surgical Technician for the Cardiac Surgery Department and serves on numerous committees and process improvement teams within the hospital. One of her current projects she is most proud of is the Perioperative Nursing Program, which helps graduating nurses transition into their new careers in the operating room.
Kelly is a mother of two. Her daughter Ansley is eight, and her son Caleb is almost four. Caleb was blessed at birth with Down Syndrome. He inspired her to become active in the DS community, initially by hosting a weekend playgroup for children like her son. Married for 10 years, she and her husband, Robert live in Seminole, Florida.
Secretary – Tara Bridges
Tara Bridges is a loving, devoted mother and special needs advocate. Her family was blessed with Nathan in 2006 when he was born with that little something extra. Followed by brothers Logan and Lucas, and little sister Jenna. And in 2019, her family was blessed again with baby cousin Charlotte who was also born with that little something extra.
Tara grew up in a family with 4 siblings, one of whom is disabled as well. So she was born into “this” disability world and began advocating at a very early age. Then one day she was lucky enough to join this amazing journey of living and loving Down syndrome and it came full circle and began all over again. There was certainly a reason she was given all the tools to live “this” life while growing up.
Tara has been a preschool teacher, a parent liaison through FDLRS/SDHC, and a one-on-one aide to a unique needs student, but most importantly her, she is a mother and an advocate for people with special needs.
Communications Director – Chè Counce-Maida
Chè Counce-Maida received her Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from the University of South Florida, graduating summa cum laude, with highest honors. After graduating, Chè began volunteering at an elementary school, reading to kids and spending time in an Exceptional Student Education classroom. Chè began to fall in love with education and decided to teach English overseas in South Korea to explore this interest further. After teaching and traveling abroad for a year, she decided that she wanted to return to Florida to pursue a masters degree in Exceptional Student Education.
Chè earned her Master of Arts degree in Exceptional Student Education from the University of South Florida, graduating with a 4.0 GPA. While still in the program, Chè worked as an intern in an access points classroom. One of the students she worked with was blessed with Down syndrome. She began to develop an interest in Down syndrome as she fell in love with her students. Chè began volunteering at Gigi’s Playhouse in her spare time. Wanting to provide more resources for her student blessed with Down syndrome and his family, she began to reach out to different organizations in the community. Eventually, she came across the Down Syndrome Association of Tampa Bay.
After she graduated with her masters and received her teaching certificate, with certifications in K-6 education and K-12 Exceptional Student Education, she began teaching at Ippolito Elementary. She chose this school for the advocacy work and awareness events, particularly the “Are You Down Fashion Show” that the school put on. While there, Chè met Craig Woodard Jr., Craig Woodard Sr. and Christine Woodard’s son. Eventually, she became Craig Jr.’s ESE teacher and got to know the Woodards and DSATB more. She currently teaches at Lamb Elementary and is still Craig Jr.’s ESE teacher.
As Chè’s career developed she became a strong advocate for individuals with all abilities, especially in the Down syndrome community. She now continues the tradition of the fashion show, hosting the “Down Right Perfect” fashion show at Lamb Elementary for the past two years. She has written several grants and created several projects to better the educational experience of her students, including a school garden, a sensory room, and an educational cooking program, with still more to come.
Chè has dedicated her career and life to making the world a better place for her students and individuals blessed with different abilities. She truly believes in the saying, “See the able, not the label.” She hopes to go on to earn her doctorate degree to further research and spread awareness for just how awesome that extra chromosome is.