Doug Libertore, Chairman
Dou
g Libertore is the President of 1 Health Place and The Brain Wave Center. He recently sold his longtime business in Sarasota, Financial Insurance Management Company, and focuses his attention on the foundation and the neuro-feedback center. Doug founded FIMC in partnership with The Old Republic Insurance Group. He introduced the menu concept, allowing financial institutions to offer more products to fit customers’ needs. He founded the American Traveler Motor Club and Home Benefits, Inc. to round out the Auto/Home and personal service and insurance product menu. In 2001, Old Republic redirected its markets and sold its interest in FIMC to Doug and his son, Scott.
Doug is not only a successful businessman and entrepreneur, but also an advocate for at-risk, disadvantaged children and their mothers, as well as the unborn child. Doug and his son, Scott, founded The Libertore Fund for Children so they could make a greater impact and be more connected to the agencies they support.
D. Scott Libertore, President
Chairman of the Board, Financial Insurance Management Corporation (FIMC) in Sarasota, FL since 1999.
Chairman of the Board, Allied Dispatch Solutions (ADS) in Johnson City, TN since 2014.
CEO, Military Cut in Sarasota, FL since 2015.
Scott has been a member of various charity boards since 2010. He believes in the hands-on approach. He coordinated sponsorships for golf tournaments and tennis matches for various children's charities, raising over $1.5 million over a three-year period.
He chaired the All-Star Children’s Foundation, which focuses on helping break the cycle of child abuse, neglect, and abandonment. He has also been involved with; Child Protection Center, Girl’s Inc., Forty Carrots, Guardian Ad Litem, SMART, The Florida Center for Child and Family Development, and Boys and Girls Clubs.
Scott is fully committed to making a difference in the lives of children, especially our at-risk children, and wanted a vehicle to continue this quest, thus forming The Libertore Fund for Children.
“I’m never satisfied in business, really, so I’m never satisfied in raising money for children or children’s causes.”
Timothy J. DeBruyne, Secretary/Treasurer
Tim is a Partner at The Mosaic Financial Group in Chicago, Ill. He is a CPA with over 20 years of tax experience; 5 years with a big four accounting firm and 15 years with The Mosaic Financial Group. Tim has a degree in Accounting from the University of Notre Dame. His practice involves working extensively with closely-held businesses, wealthy family groups, and Fortune 500 executives. Tim works with his clients in the areas of tax compliance and consulting, financial planning, business succession planning, and estate planning.
Tim is married with two children, both boys ages 9 and 7. When not working or spending time with his family, Tim enjoys traveling and attempting to be an amateur chef. Tim is also heavily involved in his local Parish and Parish School where his children attend.
Sheriff Susan Benton, Board Member
Susan Benton, retired Highlands County Sheriff, was born and raised in Miami-Dade County. Following in the footsteps of her great grandfather, who served as Chief of Police in St. Augustine, Florida, Sheriff Benton served, with distinction in law enforcement, for more than 30 years. She began her career as a police officer in Dade County schools and rose through the ranks by gaining the respect and trust of her colleagues, superiors, agency members, and community, to become the first female elected sheriff in Florida.
Sheriff Benton has a BA in Administration of Justice from St. Thomas University, a Master of Public Administration, Troy State University, and a Certified Public Manager, from Florida State University. She also holds numerous advanced and specialized law enforcement training including: National Sheriff’s Institute; F.B.I.'s Law Enforcement Executive Development Training; Center for Task Force Training; Florida Counter-Drug Training Academy Certificate; Florida Sheriff’s Association Diversified Training; Florida Sheriff’s Association Executive Training; ICMA University Community Planning 2005; Early Identification and Intervention Strategies; FEMA National Incident Management System Certificate; Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute Chief Executive; Domestic Security Certificate; USAF Special Operations Dynamics of International Terrorism7; FEMA National Response Plan; Advanced Incident System Certificate; Jimmy Ryce Law Enforcement Training – Missing and Exploited Children Chief Executive Officer Training
Sheriff Benton has two grown children and three grandchildren. She is enjoying retirement and spends her time between Sebring and Ft. Pearce. She is very active in her Catholic church, community, and with her family. She has received several honors for her affiliations and she is most proud of those involving children.
Lana Jean Swartzwelder, Chief Executive Officer
Lana Swartzwelder, a lifetime educator, and businesswoman, has been involved with educating students and working with families and children for over 40 years. She is proud to be a part of her family foundation as CEO and excited to have this opportunity to continue being actively involved in making a change in the lives of children in need.
Lana has participated on many boards, committees, and task forces, advocating for children. She has experience with writing grants, analyzing and evaluating programs for youth, partnering non-profit organizations with for-profit businesses, and has been a part of the review and selection process for grants. Lana’s experience, expertise, and passion for helping children will ensure that donations made through The Libertore Fund for Children will be given to accountable charities.
Experience:
- LJS Learning Solutions, LLC, President 2015 - Present
- St. Joseph Academy, Principal 2008-2015
- YoungBiz Florida, President 2007-2016
- Sylvan Learning Centers, Owner/Executive Director 1985-2007
- University of South Florida, Adjunct Professor 2006
- Teacher 1971-1984
Education:
- University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, BA Elementary Education
- Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, MS Early Childhood Education
- University of South Florida, Lakeland, FL, M. Ed Educational Leadership
- St. John’s University, Center for the Study of Learning and Teaching Styles, New York
Certifications:
- Elementary Education
- Early Childhood Education
- Gifted and Talented Education
- Educational Leadership
Current Boards and Memberships:
- Leadership Lakeland Alumni, Past President
- Leadership Polk, Member
- Kiwanis Club of Lakeland, Board of Directors
Past Boards:
- Roberts Academy, Florida Southern College
- National Association of Women Business Owners Lakeland Metro Chapter, Past President
- PACE Center for Girls
- Vistage (Executive Coaching)
- Sylvan Learning Centers Florida Association, Past President
- Polk Vision Task Force
- Polk WorldClass for Education
- Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, Past Board of Directors
- Early Learning Coalition, Past Board
- Polk County Children’s Services Council, Past Chair
- Central Association of Women Business Owners, Past President
- Polk County Early Childhood Interagency Council, Past Chair
Awards:
- Educator of the Year
- Women of Distinction
Presentations/Workshops:
- Florida PTA State Conferences
- National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA)
- Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP)
- Florida Coalition for Children (FCC)
- Safe Children Coalition
- Florida Chamber of Commerce - WorldClass Academies
- Guidance Counselors and Psychologists - Polk County School Board
- Sylvan Learning Center Florida Owner’s Association
- National Association of Women Business Owners, Lakeland Metro Chapter
Candice Brown, Advisor
Candice Brown M.S. MFT has been a part of the early childhood and teen advocacy community since high school. She volunteered as a volunteer aide with Dreams are Free in Sarasota, FL, The BETA Center for teen mothers in Orlando, FL, and in the elementary school classroom.
In her educational and professional career, Candice received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Central Florida and her Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from Nova Southeastern University.
Her internship experience with SUPERB the anti-bullying program in the Broward County school system opened her eyes to the many children and families that are underserved in Florida. This led to working for The Starting Place, a community-based mental health non-profit in South Florida. The foster care community instantly began to be her focus which led to advocacy for children and families across Florida. Candice lives in Central Florida with her husband and four children, one of which they are currently adopting through foster care.
Annette Miller, Advisor
Annette Miller was born in New York and lived in Puerto Rico for ten years. She has lived in Lakeland for thirty-eight years. Annette graduated from Southeastern University in 1984. She taught elementary and middle school students in Polk County Schools for ten years. During her first years of teaching, she taught part-time at the local Sylvan Learning Center. She fell in love with individualized instruction and knew that she could combine her teaching experience and love for student success if she owned her own Sylvan. She was blessed with opening her first Sylvan in 1994 and currently owns and operates four Sylvan Learning Centers. Annette has been a Sylvan Owner for over twenty-five years and has enjoyed operating centers that have guided students in several counties to reach their maximum academic potential. She plays an active role in the communities in order to help educate parents about the beautiful opportunity Sylvan can bring to a child of any age and how to help students become lifelong learners and is also involved in her church and community organizations. Annette has been married for twenty-three years to Doug and is a proud mother of two beautiful children.
Larry Libertore, Past Advisor (Deceased)
Larry Libertore had a varied career history as an entrepreneur, politician, community leader, motivational speaker, mentor and coach.
He was born in Ohio and moved to Miami, Florida with his family and attended Miami Edison High School. He left Miami to attend the University of Florida on an athletic scholarship. While studying at UF, he was starting quarterback, safety and punt returner for the team from 1960-62. He was one of the smallest players in major college football and one of the fastest. As the quarterback and leader of the team, he led the Gators to one of the best seasons on record, 9-2, including a Gator Bowl victory. He was a talented athlete and won many awards and accolades during and after his football career.
- Most Athletic, Greater Miami Outstanding Player (High School)
- Recognized All-City, All-State, All-Southern, All-American (High School)
- Three-Year Letterman, UF
- Football SEC Sophomore of the Year
- Honorable Mention All American
- SEC All-Scholastic Team
- Most Valuable Player, Gator Bowl
- An inductee of the Gator Bowl Hall of Fame and UF Athletic Hall of Fame
- Recognized as Distinguished Alumni
Larry moved to Lakeland after graduating from college in 1963 and organized Lakeland’s first professional football team, The Florida Brahmans. He then partnered in a real estate venture and was Vice-President of Loftin-Libertore, Inc. In 1974, he opened his own real estate firm, Larry Libertore, Inc. that focused on commercial, residential, development, and investment counseling. He also was a partner in an exclusive residential golf community and oversaw the residential development. Larry was also president of ADLIB, Inc., a builder of residential homes, townhouses, and commercial buildings.
Larry shared his leadership qualities, many of which he attributes to his coaches and being a part of a team, to be a game changer in the citizens of Florida. He was elected to the Florida House of Representatives and served from 1970-1974. Later, in 1984, he continued his political career as a Polk County Commissioner until 1992. Larry and a partner developed two professional office parks in Lakeland. Larry enjoyed spending his time between his two homes in Lakeland and Longboat Key, Florida.
Larry was active in his community and believed in using his experience and leadership skills to make a difference in the lives of others. He was past president of Lakeland South Rotary, Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, board of directors, past director of Polk County Chapter of UF Alumni Association, Division Leader of Lakeland YMCA Membership Campaign, Campaign Director for Polk County Chapter of March of Dimes, member of Lakeland Board of Realtors and Florida Board of Realtors, and Lakeland Gators Football Team of Polk County Boys League.
Larry continued to give back and give to charities during his years in Lakeland; such as VISTE, American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, Good Shepherd Hospice, Peace River Center, Salvation Army, Talbot House Ministries, Speech and Hearing Center, Lighthouse Ministries, and American Cancer Society.
He was an inspiration to his family. His advice and love for the foundation will continue as we grow.
