About: Board of Directors

Executive Director, Renewable Entergy Origination, NextEra Energy
South Florida Board Member Since 2017

With over 20 years of leadership experience, Jaime Holland is an Executive Director of Renewable Energy Origination at NextEra Energy Resources, an affiliate entity to Florida Power & Light Company. Jaime is responsible for helping utility and C&I customers advance their clean energy goals through the adoption of wind, solar and battery storage projects. He has held several positions of increasing responsibilities within NextEra from business management and development, strategic sourcing, material management, project management and Six-Sigma/Lean Quality practitioner. In 2015, Mr. Holland received the inaugural Lewis Hay III Award for Outstanding Leadership which honors former NextEra Energy Chairman and CEO Lew Hay. The prestigious award recognizes an employee who demonstrates outstanding leadership qualities and goes above and beyond expectations.

Mr. Holland has a master’s in logistics management from Florida Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and pre-med from Virginia State University. He has a black belt in Six Sigma. Mr. Holland was commissioned into the United States Army where he served honorably for five years, earning the rank of Captain. NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) is a leading clean energy company headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida. NextEra Energy owns two electric companies in Florida: Florida Power & Light Company and Gulf Power Company. NextEra Energy also owns a competitive energy business, NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which, together with its affiliated entities, is the world’s largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun and a world leader in battery storage.

Executive Business Consultant
South Florida Board Member since 2017

William Gerhart is a Senior Executive with in-depth experience in corporate management, senior military operations, acquis​ition, fiscal planning, and execution. Hands-on experience in every phase of managing a large corporation. Thoroughly familiar with federal business policies, strategies, and practices.

William Gerhart managed corporate business accounts containing a $7 billion pipeline and revenues that exceeded $120 million annually. Conversant in all aspects of Business Development in both the Department of Defense and commercial sector. Worked in, operated, and managed US foreign intelligence operations from field units to the national level. William Gerhart applied experience in every phase of the Command, Control, Communications and Computers Intelligence (C4I) equation. Extensive experience in formulation of Cyber, and military policy and strategy; developing/executing operations; and the Defense planning, programming, and budgeting process.

Executive Director, Boys Town South Florida
South Florida Board Member since 2021

Bethany Lacey is a native of Tallahassee, Florida. She holds a bachelor's degree in Christian Counseling from the Baptist College of Florida and a master's degree in Counseling and Psychology through Troy University. Bethany began her career in child welfare 17 years ago as a dependency case manager in Central Florida and she holds a certification in Child Protection through the Florida Certification Board. She began her career at Boys Town Central Florida in 2006 as an In-Home Family Services Consultant. Her leadership ability became quickly apparent which led to her promotions to IHFS Supervisor and then Director where she oversaw all In-Home and Care Coordination services for the site in addition to coordinating the Common-Sense Parenting program. In January 2017, Bethany joined the Boys Town North Florida team as Senior Director of Program Operations. In this role, Bethany oversaw the operations of multiple programs including In-home Family Services, Care Coordination, Common Sense Parenting, Foster Family Services, and the Family Home Program.

While in North Florida, Bethany gained valuable management and leadership experience and was offered the role of Executive director of Boys Town South Florida. Bethany began in that role on May 1, 2021 and she brings experience in fundraising, community relations, marketing, licensing, and quality assurance to the Executive Director position. But most importantly, she brings a deep understanding of the mission and vision of Boys Town.

Vice President, Power System Sales
South Florida Board Member since 2021

Alex Bournique is originally from Vero Beach, Florida. Mr. Bournique currently works for Siemens Energy (OTCMKTS: SMEGF), serving as the Southeast Region Vice President of Sales. His office is based out of Jupiter, Florida, and his region consists of North Carolina though Florida. Throughout his career, Alex has held multiple roles within Siemens Energy including sales, marketing, and quality and business development, interfacing with developers, utilities, municipalities and private equity firms.

Alex obtained a Master of Science in finance from Pennsylvania State College, a Master of Science in economics from the University of Florida, and a Bachelor of Science in economics from the University of Florida. Additionally, Alex is a green belt six sigma practitioner.

Chief Financial Officer, Wellington Regional Medical Center
South Florida Board Member Since 2022

Jermaine Bucknor is the Chief Financial Officer for Wellington Regional Medical Center since summer of 2021. Bucknor has more than 20 years of healthcare experience and a comprehensive knowledge of fiscal management. Prior to joining Wellington Regional, he served for more than two years as the CFO for two hospitals owned by Community Health Systems in Bentonville, NW Arkansas. Prior to that position, he was the CFO for Alliance Health Medical (CHS) in Midwest City, Okla., and CFO at multiple hospitals with Advent Health (formally Advent Health System). Over the years Jermaine has worked collaboratively with other executives to improve operational efficiencies and drive margin growth.

Bucknor has a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Northern Caribbean University in Jamaica and an MBA from La Sierra University in California. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Wellington. He served on the Foundation Board at Florida Hospital Memorial as well as on the Opportunity Center Board - a community skills development organization in Ponca City Oklahoma.

Jermaine is married to Candice Bucknor, RN. Thave two boys, Jermaine Jr, 17 and Johnathon, 15.

He enjoys multiple sporting activities, classic cars, spending time with family, and being of service to others.

English & Student Life Skills Professor, Palm Beach State College
South Florida Board Member since 2022

Prof. Carmencita Mitchell, originally from New York, has made Palm Beach County her home for the past 18 years.  She holds a bachelor's degree in Humanities from New York University, a MA in English from St. John's University and a Master of Education in Higher Education Leadership from Lynn University.  For the past 20 years, she has taught English composition, literature, business writing and public speaking at several universities including the American University of Nigeria where she held rank as full-time faculty and Director of the Writing Center.  She presently teaches courses in English and student life skills at Palm Beach State Colleges.  Her research interests include alternative modalities and composition pedagogy, including metaphysics and metacognition, medical humanities, yoga and somatic studies, the philosophical constructs of the 18^th century French Salon and cultural studies.

Carmencita was appointed by the Palm Beach Board of County commissioners and serves as the chairwoman of the board to the Palm Tran Service Board (PTSB) –and its two standing subcommittees –where she holds public meetings on issues of transportation and advocacy for those with disabilities.  In addition, she serves as a volunteer and member of the board of directors of the Lighthouse for the Blind of the Palm Beaches, and recently gave the keynote address at their Inaugural EnVision 20/20 luncheon.  She was also the keynote speaker at the Keystone Systems-KLAS 2019 User's Conference.  Carmencita serves on the board of directors of the Florida College English Association and is a member of the president's advisory panel for the Hadley Institute for t​he Blind where she offers advice on improvement to their educational programs for the blind and visually impaired.

In addition to her academic pursuits and civic duties, Carmencita is an approved Silver Sneakers Fitness and dance instructor and holds various certifications in yoga and group fitness as well as certifications in CPR, AED and First Aid from the American Heart Association. She also has taught middle Eastern dance at Gold's Gym, Simply Yoga of Delray Beach as well as the University Club in Yola, Nigeria.

Carmencita is devoted to philanthropy and the cause of helping people of all backgrounds and abilities enjoy the “greatest quality of life."​

South Florida Board Member Since 2021

Susan Rogers Yeager was born and grew up in Carlisle, PA. She received a BA in Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Masters Degree in French Linguistics and Literature from Penn State University. She taught middle school French in Poughkeepsie, New York and English as a second language at Pinecrest School in Boca Raton, Florida. In 1990, she left her brief teaching career to join her sister in the founding of a new company – Plastec Industries – makers of Plant Accessories and Outdoor living Décor. After serving as Vice President of the company for 20 years, she retired in 2017. Her volunteer activities have included public school PTA, Upward Bound, Brownie Leadership, the Fresh Air Fund, Adopt-A-Family, and Habitat for Humanity. She is married with 2 adult children and 2 grandchildren.