workforce advisory board
Meet the Community Leaders Behind Our College Workforce Advisory Board
Sergeant Mark Caruso works within the Professional Standards Bureau of the Boca Raton Police Services Department, where he supervises Recruitment and Internal Affairs. He is also currently the Commander of the Underwater Search and Recovery Team. Sergeant Caruso began his career with the Boca Raton Police Services Department in 2007 and has served in various roles throughout the agency as a Road Patrol Officer, Tactical Team Officer, Economic Crimes Detective, and Vice Intelligence Narcotics unit Detective. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2020 where he was a Road Patrol Supervisor. He was transferred to the Special Operations Bureau in 2021 where he supervised the DUI, K9, and Marine Units.
Ljubica “Jibby” Ciric, PsyD. has completed bachelors in Public Health, masters in Mental Health Counseling, and doctorates in Psychology. Her passion is bringing healing to others and promoting not only individual health, but improving the welfare of the community.
Her background work reflects her passion. Among other positions, Ljubica worked as a mental health professional at the correctional facility and intervention therapist for victims of natural disaster. In her current role as Senior Director, Strategic Impact for Center for Child Counseling, Ljubica play a role in shaping and executing the strategic direction of the Palm Beach County-based nonprofit, including a focus on organizational and program development, expansion, and funding. In her previous role as a Vice President of Child and Family Mental Health Services, Ljubica oversees Community Partners of South Florida clinical programs. Ljubica also educated and trained mental health professionals entering the field, as well as created and managed innovative programs related to inclusion of the most at risk communities in Palm Beach County.
Ljubica completed project management degree and created multiple programs such as trauma team and intake department. As a master’s graduate, Ljubica spend time in Europe working on after war relief in former Yugoslavia. Ljubica also held seminars in Europe, education on effects of trauma on socio-emotional, neurological, and physical development. She is also a former member of Palm Beach Medical Society Services Board. Ljubica’s commitment and dedication stems from young age, as a member of Serbian National Track and Field Team.
Susan Eby, LCSW serves as Chief Clinical and Quality Officer for ChildNet. She has a passion for utilizing change management to drive transition and quality. Susan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 10 years of experience working with children and families in varying capacities. She has extensive knowledge of non-profit management and ensuring quality initiatives through data driven outcomes.
After spending a decade in medical practices, Susan chose to follow her passion and pursue a career in Social Work. This was spurred by her understanding that social and emotional wellness goes beyond treating the individual and rather, extends to communities as well. Susan has served as an expert on several panels to discuss mental health and child welfare, as well as having participated in national initiatives with Neighborworks America and the Rapid Results Institute to address the social determinants of health.
Susan received her Master’s Degree from Florida Atlantic University with a specialization in child welfare. She has served as an adjunct professor at her alma mater to teach master’s level students the core competencies of working with children and families. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two adult daughters and cheering on the University of Miami football team.
Holly Ellazar is the Director of Workforce Development at OIC of South Florida. She has over fifteen years of experience in Workforce Development, Relationship and Contract Management. Holly has played a key role in building high-performing teams that have one thing in common: passion for the community. As a second generation Canadian, Holly has always been engaged with and connected to opportunities to advocate for underrepresented communities, especially BIPOC and diverse equity seeking groups. Holly graduated from York University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with a focus on labor and equity studies. Her career has been focused on vocational counseling supporting underserved and underrepresented communities. Prior to moving to South Florida, she oversaw and managed a portfolio of Government funded workforce development programs serving youth and adults. She continues to be instrumental in developing high-performing teams that put people first and who are equally passionate about supporting and improving the lives and career trajectories of others. Holly enjoys travelling and spending time with friends and family.
Lanee Jackson-Orange is a Reentry Workforce Professional at OIC of South Florida who assists returning citizens with their successful transition back into the workforce through mentoring, training and employment. Lanee graduated from Florida International University Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Communication. Before earning her degree, Lanee worked with within the Florida Department of Corrections for 15 years. Her last role with the State of Florida was as a Vocational Teacher. In this role, Lanee discovered her passion for reentry and helping returning citizens become better prepared for the outside world.
Lanee has served on various reentry committees in both Miami-Dade and Broward counties and is currently a Senior Program Manager with OIC of South Florida. She and her husband Tony have been married for 19 years and they are the proud parents of two daughters, Aiyanna and Amiyah.
Whitney Larmond serves as the Recruitment and Events Manager at OIC of South Florida. She is a highly committed, success-driven and multi-faceted professional, with a distinguished career in community outreach, helping organizations to benefit from high levels of community engagement. She has a proven track record of raising brand awareness through strategic marketing and community engagement while managing multiple projects in the nonprofit and higher education sectors.
Whitney is skilled at planning, coordinating, and executing community events and fundraisers, resulting in accomplished goals. She is recognized for her unparalleled work ethic and proven expertise in building and maintaining strong organizational relations. She has a passion for serving marginalized communities and individuals, supporting them in achieving their highest potential. Whitney enjoys trying the latest food spots in South Florida with her husband.
Beth Levine is the Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President for Ruth and Norman Rales Jewish Family Services. Beth oversees all the programs at the agency. Beth played an integral role in the establishment of the food pantry in 1996 and carefully helped it grow into a $500K entity. Beth also developed the best practices and standards of the financial assistance department, which are still being used today.
Beth received the Employee of the Year award in 2011 and was recognized the same year at the NJHSA conference for her outstanding years of services as a true asset to the organization. Her career at the agency spans over 30 years as a proven leader and outstanding professional. Beth has worn many hats over the past 30 years. Her tenure lends itself to represent the agency in the community and be a great resource to lay leaders as well.
Beth earned her BBA in Marketing and Finance from the University of Miami.
Sophia Loubeau, LCSW, is the Clinical Grant Facilitator for Broward County Public Schools. She obtained both her graduate and undergraduate degrees in Social Work in the South Florida region. She began her professional career as a social worker in a large, multicultural and diverse school district. In this role, she advocated and supported school-aged children to achieve mental wellness, collaborated with school staff as it related to overall student achievement, and worked with parents/families through providing resources and strategies to develop, improve and maintain family strengths. In her current role she places and supervises social work graduate interns from both local and out of state universities in district schools for the purposes of extending the pipeline of mental health support to students and staff. As a psychotherapist in private practice, she supports clients using their own strengths and promotes stronger relationships with other individuals and the community, through removing maladaptive symptoms, so they can face their future in a healthier/stronger frame of mind. As an adjunct professor, Sophia teaches students to gain a deeper understanding of course materials by challenging perceptions and how they perceptions shape one’s worldview. Sophia is unbiased in sharing that her immigrant upbringing has shaped her worldview of social work's potential for further impact on local, national and global communities.
Sophia’s professional associations include serving as the former chairperson for Haitian Families Support Services under the auspices of Children Services Council of Broward County. She is also a former committee member of the Broward County School Social Work Association and Broward Teachers Union steward and a member of the National Association of Social Workers. Sophia is a member of the School Social Worker Association of America (SSWAA) and was named the SSWAA 2021 NASW Educator of the Year.
Jennifer Loyless works as Program Coordinator for The Palm Beach County Public Defender’s Office. In her 20+ years with the agency she has assisted in the implementation of many programs to assist incarcerated and recently released individuals in hopes of reducing recidivism. Jennifer began her work in reentry by assisting in the implementation of a pilot county-jail program in 2002. Over two decades, that work has grown to assisting in the implementation of programming for jail and prison populations in partnership with the MacArthur Foundation, Florida Department of Corrections, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and numerous community-based service providers. Additionally, Jennifer assists Palm Beach County’s elected Public Defender in community outreach work, advocating for criminal justice policy change locally and statewide.
Dr. Gena Rowlands is a Senior Planner with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, where she has worked since 2004. During this time, she has procured more than $20 million in grant funding to support criminal justice and multi-disciplinary, coordinated initiatives, including community-based crime reduction, justice and mental health collaboration, targeted violence prevention, and trauma-informed interventions. She began her career in the behavioral health field, where she has over twelve years of experience in various capacities serving children and families, justice-involved adults and youth, and individuals with mental health, substance use, and co-occurring disorders. Dr. Rowlands is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), certified addiction professional (CAP), and certified complex trauma professional (CCTP). She earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Psychology from Florida Atlantic University, and she earned her Master of Social Work (MSW) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Social Work from Barry University. She is a staunch advocate for cross-system collaboration, improved access to behavioral health services, and inclusive, trauma-informed practices.