In this episode, we talk to LaVonda Goodson, the new CEO of Estella Bird Whitman Community Health Center. We discuss the center's mission to provide primary care to underserved communities on Ocala's northwest side.

The center, established in 2009, offers services from birth to adulthood, including in-house labs, physicals, and partnerships with community organizations for additional health needs. The importance of community support and her passion for improving healthcare access.


Featured Nonprofit: Estella Byrd Whitman Community Health Center

Levonda Goodson
CEO, Estella Byrd Whitman Community Health Center

Levonda has been in healthcare for over 24 years as a nurse and in administrative positions. This tenure and positions have afforded her a vast knowledge of clinical and operations of different healthcare settings. With this knowledge she was instrumental in the opening 9 clinical locations and the Program Manager of the COVID-19 vaccine and monoclonal antibody program (2020).

Levonda has her Masters in Healthcare Administration, is certified as part of the Council of Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, giving her a thorough understanding of defined measures, analysis, and an improve and control model.

She has served on different community boards and committees, including Estella Byrd Whitman Community Health Center beginning in 2022.

Levonda is a Marion County native and is dedicated to accessible and affordable healthcare for all that live in Marion County. During her free time Levonda loves traveling, writing poetry, entertaining, and spending time with her family, especially her 2 beautiful grandchildren.

The Catalyst is hosted by the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership, sponsored by Douglas Law Firm and recorded live at Wiley Productions podcast studios, located in Ocala, Florida. New episodes, guests, and perspectives of leadership premiere twice a month. Follow us on Apple, Amazon, Spotify, or wherever you enjoy podcasts.

In this episode, we talk to Dawn Westgate, Executive Director of Kimberly's Center and the vital role she plays in garnering community support for Kimberly's Center, a child advocacy organization dedicated to providing specialized services to children facing abuse or neglect.

Tune in to learn more about the intersection of community support and child protection and how you can contribute to this important cause.


Featured Nonprofit: Kimberly's Center

Dawn Westgate
Executive Director, Kimberly's Center

Dawn Westgate is the Executive Director of Kimberly’s Center for Child Protection, a position she has held since 2009 after joining the organization in 2003. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from St. Leo University and a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from the University of Central Florida. In her role, Dawn oversees the daily operations of the Children's Advocacy Center, managing a range of responsibilities including program development, financial oversight, budgeting, human resources, legal compliance, marketing, and policy implementation.

Additionally, she serves as the community liaison for educational presentations and public relations. Dawn has been a member of the Board of Directors for the Florida Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers since 2012 and was part of Leadership Ocala/Marion Class XXXI, where she was honored with the Jane Mansfield Leadership Award.

The Catalyst is hosted by the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership, sponsored by Douglas Law Firm and recorded live at Wiley Productions podcast studios, located in Ocala, Florida. New episodes, guests, and perspectives of leadership premiere twice a month. Follow us on Apple, Amazon, Spotify, or wherever you enjoy podcasts.

Rondo shares his inspiring personal story and valuable insights on overcoming adversity, chasing passions, and building a solid foundation for success in both business and life. Highlighting the critical role of creating a supportive environment, emphasizing perseverance, faith, mentorship, and the importance of giving back. The significant impact of the Rock's organization on local youth, showcasing how its programs and initiatives are making a real difference in their lives.


Featured Nonprofit: The Rock Program

Rondo Fernandez

Ronald “Rondo” Fernandez is the proud owner of Rondo’s Mojo Grill and a seasoned restaurant consultant with over 40 years of experience in the restaurant industry. As a local restaurateur, Rondo has made a significant impact on the community, not only through his culinary ventures but also as the founder of the Rock Program, a local initiative dedicated to supporting children in achieving their full potential.

Rondo’s professional journey is marked by his unwavering commitment to excellence and his passion for helping others. His ultimate goal in life is to ensure that every child has the resources and support they need to become who God has called them to be.

Beyond his professional achievements, Rondo considers his greatest accomplishment to be his role as a father. He is a devoted follower of Jesus and an enthusiastic supporter of Miami Hurricanes football.

The Catalyst is hosted by the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership, sponsored by Douglas Law Firm and recorded live at Wiley Productions podcast studios, located in Ocala, Florida. New episodes, guests, and perspectives of leadership premiere twice a month. Follow us on Apple, Amazon, Spotify, or wherever you enjoy podcasts.

Specializing in injection molding, engineering, prototyping, and in-house tooling, Artemis Plastics is Ocala's one-stop shop for contract manufacturing. It's also been recognized as a company to watch by GrowFL. Join us as CEO, Gary Mishkin highlights his company's innovations and how they ensure a quality product for their customers.

Featured Nonprofit: Marion County Public Schools

Gary Mishkin
CEO, Artemis Plastics

Gary Mishkin has a BA in Economics from Brandeis University, an MS in Medical Engineering from George Washington University, and an MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.

Mr. Mishkin spent seven years performing Clinical Research focused on kidney dialysis in the Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension at George Washington University. Mr. Mishkin conducted clinical trials on medical devices and pharmaceutical drugs and performed original research to improve the understanding and delivery of dialysis care.

Mr. Mishkin also worked for Alcavis International, Inc., an infection control company located in Gaithersburg, Maryland, He started his career in the industry as VP of Research and Development and, over time, moved on to become Chief Operations Officer as the company grew, merged, and was acquired by a large international pharmaceutical company.

Mr. Mishkin is currently CEO of Apollo Renal Therapeutics, LLC DBA Artemis Plastics, an injection molding contract manufacturing company located in Ocala, Florida. Under Mr. Mishkin’s management, Artemis Plastics has quadrupled in revenues and now has two manufacturing facilities offering more than 62,000 sq ft of manufacturing space. Artemis Plastics allows him to focus on his passion for medical device development and his love of manufacturing and business.

Mr. Mishkin has also published his research in peer-reviewed journals and has more than a dozen US and International Patents for products he has developed.

The Catalyst is hosted by the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership, sponsored by Douglas Law Firm and recorded live at Wiley Productions podcast studios, located in Ocala, Florida. New episodes, guests, and perspectives of leadership premiere twice a month. Follow us on Apple, Amazon, Spotify, or wherever you enjoy podcasts.

A new affiliate organization has come to serve the business community in South Marion County. The Ocala Metro CEP (Chamber and Economic Partnership) has launched the Belleview CEP to bring business services, attraction, retention, creation, and advocacy to the City of Belleview and surrounding communities located in the southern part of the county. Join us as we hear from Joe Reichel, Director of the Belleview CEP about this new entity and its future programming.

Featured Nonprofit: Shephard's Lighthouse

Joe Reichel
Director, Belleview Chamber & Economic Partnership

Joe Reichel began his career in general construction in the Pittsburgh, PA metro. After relocating to the Ocala Metro, he transitioned into the restoration and the construction industry. When he took over the marketing and business development side of the business, he found that his true talent was creating connections for himself and others for the betterment of the community. He began working in Partner Relations at the Ocala CEP in 2015 and has since committed his efforts to building relationships within the business and greater local community, now for Belleview with the Belleview CEP.

The Catalyst is hosted by the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership, sponsored by Douglas Law Firm and recorded live at Wiley Productions podcast studios, located in Ocala, Florida. New episodes, guests, and perspectives of leadership premiere twice a month. Follow us on Apple, Amazon, Spotify, or wherever you enjoy podcasts.

Joint replacement surgery has not only become more commonplace, but many patients can return home on the same day with greatly reduced recovery time thanks to new minimally invasive techniques. Join us as we hear from Dr. Justin Deen, Orthopaedic Surgeon with Florida Orthopaedic Institute as he discusses the latest advances in patient-centered orthopaedic care available in Ocala.

Nonprofit Featuring in this Episode: Marion Senior Services

Justin Deen, M.D.
Orthopaedic Surgeon, Florida Orthopaedic Institute

Dr. Justin Travis Deen is board-certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and fellowship trained in lower extremity adult reconstruction. He treats hip and knee conditions with a focus on joint replacement and reconstruction. This includes partial knee, total knee, and total hip replacement, including muscle-sparing direct anterior total hip replacement surgery. He also cares for patients needing complex hip and knee replacement or revision surgery for failed replacements.

Born and raised in Orlando, Florida, he received his undergraduate education from the University of Florida. He then received his medical degree from Florida State University, where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha National Medical Honor Society and Arnold P. Gold Humanism in Medicine Society. He completed his residency in orthopedic surgery and fellowship in adult arthroplasty/reconstructive surgery at the University of Florida.

Dr. Deen is a fellow member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the American Orthopaedic Association, and the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons.

The Catalyst is hosted by the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership, sponsored by Douglas Law Firm and recorded live at Wiley Productions podcast studios, located in Ocala, Florida. New episodes, guests, and perspectives of leadership premiere twice a month. Follow us on Apple, Amazon, Spotify, or wherever you enjoy podcasts.

Military service is in the background of many Ocala/Marion County leaders. Often thrusting them into leadership positions early in their careers and greatly influencing how they approach their roles in the private sector. Join us as we hear from Jeremiah Blocker, a decorated combat veteran, attorney, and partner at Douglas Law Firm as he discusses how serving his clients and his country go hand-in-hand.

Featured Nonprofit: The Marion County Veterans Council

Jeremiah Blocker
Partner, Douglas Law Firm

Jeremiah was born and raised in Ocala, Florida, and is a sixth-generation Floridian. He is a graduate of the University of Florida. While attending college, he participated in the Army ROTC program, commissioning as a Second Lieutenant upon graduation.

Jeremiah served as an Army officer for over 13 years, both on active duty and in the reserves. A veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Jeremiah commanded a Military Police company. In addition to his Army service, Jeremiah served as a Judge Advocate General officer in the Air Force Reserve. He continues his military service in the Florida Army National Guard as a Judge Advocate General officer with the rank of Major. As a decorated combat veteran, Jeremiah has been recognized with several service, commendation, and

Jeremiah graduated from the Florida Coastal School of Law and continued his legal studies at the University of Miami School of Law in Coral Gables, earning a Master of Law in Real Property Development. In addition to a law degree, Jeremiah has a graduate degree in Business Entrepreneurship from the University of Florida and a graduate degree in Military History from Norwich University in Vermont.

Before transitioning into private practice, Jeremiah served as a state prosecutor in Jacksonville, Florida, and later in the Seventh Judicial Circuit. Today, as a partner in Douglas Law Firm, Jeremiah concentrates on assisting small businesses and veterans. He practices in the areas of civil and criminal litigation and real estate and land use.

The Catalyst is hosted by the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership, sponsored by Douglas Law Firm and recorded live at Wiley Productions podcast studios, located in Ocala, Florida. New episodes, guests, and perspectives of leadership premiere twice a month. Follow us on Apple, Amazon, Spotify, or wherever you enjoy podcasts.

Want to feel better about your financial future in the New Year, but you don't know where to start? Join us as Charisse Rivers, CEO of Zinnia Wealth Management shares some simple strategies, free resources, and the message that it's never too early or too late to plan for retirement. We also discuss how a singular focus on building her team helped Zinnia land on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing privately held companies the last three consecutive years.

Nonprofits featured in this Episode: The Grilled Cheese Foundation and the Tim Tebow Foundation

Charisse Rivers
CEO and Financial Planner, Zinnia Wealth Management

Charisse Rivers is a retirement strategist focused on helping people grow, protect, and reduce taxes on their wealth. She has been featured in ABC, FOX, NBC, CBS, InvestmentNews, WealthManagement.com, WSJ, USA Today, and Forbes magazine. She has also authored online articles for CNN Money, Forbes, Fortune, and Annuity 123. She is the founder and CEO of Zinnia Wealth Management and Zinnia Wealth Advisory, a Registered Investment Advisory firm. As a fiduciary in her industry, Charisse provides efficient and secure strategies for anyone nearing or in retirement.

She is also the host of the radio show “Retirement Coffee Talk,” broadcasted every weekend on WSKY 97.3 FM and WXJB 99.9 FM. She was recently chosen as one of the top 40 under 40 advisors in the nation with InvestmentNews and NAIFA-Florida top 4 advisors under 40. As of May 2023, for the 5th year in a row, she was chosen as a Gator100 honoree – recognized as one of the world’s 100 fastest-growing Gator-owned or led businesses. Zinnia Wealth Management has also made the Inc. 5000 list for the last three consecutive years.

Passionate about helping others and spreading financial literacy to teens, Charisse gives back through the 501c3 nonprofit she started called the Grilled Cheese Foundation. The foundation was formed to help middle school and high school students foster their talents and get them to college with scholarships and financial literacy.

The Catalyst is hosted by the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership, sponsored by Douglas Law Firm and recorded live at Wiley Productions podcast studios, located in Ocala, Florida. New episodes, guests, and perspectives of leadership premiere twice a month. Follow us on Apple, Amazon, Spotify, or wherever you enjoy podcasts.