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 currently in Zephyrhills, FL as a Branch Manager while winning a number of sales awards and was recognized annually as a Division leader.
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 2ndyear, 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 brings a widespread educational background. In 2005, Christine graduated on the Dean’s list, with high honors, receiving her B.A. Degree in Communications Media and Educational Technology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
In 2006, she moved to Florida and began a career in education. Christine has taught every grade level from 6th to 12th grade in many capacities. She is currently certified in PreK-3, English 5-9, and ESE K-12, which is near and dear to her heart. Christine earned her Master’s Degree from Argosy University in Educational Leadership in 2010.
Currently employed by Charter Schools USA, Christine has served in the capacity of teacher, ESE Specialist, ESOL resource teacher, and Student Services Coordinator over the past 7 years. She also received a prestigious award as she was named the New American Hero (Teacher of the Year) in 2012. During this time, she has helped facilitate school audits by the state of Florida and with the 5-year charter renewal application process; resulting in satisfactory ratings for Winthrop Charter.
Christine plays a major role in ensuring Winthrop Charter School receives accurate ongoing funding from the state for the ESE and the ESOL departments. Through proper reporting and accountability, she assists the school in obtaining funding for the departments through the Florida Educational Funding Program (FEFP).
Christine’s ultimate goal is to open a school that truly supports inclusion for her son, who was born with Down syndrome in 2014. For the past two years, Christine was the captain of #CraigsCrew at the Buddy Walk in Tampa. She and her husband Craig recruited the most team members and were the top fundraising team in both years. Her positive ongoing advocacy efforts will continue to benefit Down syndrome communities on local, state, and federal levels.
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.