Meet our Board of Directors​​

Dave Douglas
Executive Director

David has been a resident of Lake County for 39 years. He is a retired Letter Carrier after 35 years of service. David also served as a Firefighter/EMT for Lake County. He is a trained Stephen Minister and loves going on mission trips. This has taken him to places like Haiti, Guatemala and Kenya, Africa. These mission trips have made a big impact in changing his life to a life of service. David is a father to 5 and a grandfather to 4. David has served on the Board of Directors for Lake County volunteer firefighters as their director. He has also served as finance director for Faith Lutheran Church in Eustis. Other board positions have been Executive Director for Central Florida Cross Network and Director for theCross of Central Florida. David is the founder of Hand in Hand Lake County and has a big heart for serving the “least of these.” He is also author of the G.R.I.T. program which is applied at Hand in Hand’s addiction recovery facilities. David has been married to his wife Sherrie for over 30 years and enjoys his church family, the beach and riding his motorcycle.

Amanda "Mandy" Neil, APRN
President

Amanda Neil is a Polk County native who graduated from Lakeland Senior High School. She has called Lake County home for the past three years. As a Nurse Practitioner at LifeStream Behavioral Center, Amanda has become quite acclimated with the citizens of the area. A brief glimpse into Amanda’s history shows that she attended Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University for her undergraduate studies in nursing. She later went on to obtain her MSN from the University of South Florida. As a stude nt and a professional nurse Amanda has set the bar high for her fellow colleagues. From her early days at FAMU to her most recent role with LifeStream Amanda has always showcased her leadership abilities.

As the eldest of five children Amanda understands what it means to be accountable. She holds herself accountable for the outcomes of her patients as well as the staff that she manages. Though she currently focuses on primary care Amanda has prior experience in med surg, palliative care, and behavioral health. In addition to her role at LifeStream, Amanda also works on a PRN basis for The Recovery Village as their on-call NP. Despite her career obligations Amanda also finds time to serve as the President of Delorise Isham-Presley Incorporated. She is always one to give back, so she also volunteers her time mentoring the youth in her hometown of Winter Haven.
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Amanda has one son and seven bonus sons and daughters. As a mother, daughter, sister, and friend she feels blessed beyond measure. It is her desire to continue the legacy that she believes stems from a lineage of profound women and men. She strives daily to be the example of excellence that her ancestors paved the way for her to be.

Chris Day
Vice President

Chris grew up in Germantown, Maryland. After the blizzard of 1996 he decided to go to college in the south and attended the University of Central Florida where he graduated with a BS in marketing. During college he started working with AT&T and soon after moved with the company to Oklahoma City for an employment opportunity. While there, Chris completed his MBA at Oklahoma City University and also met his beautiful wife April, who is a kindergarten teacher in the Lake County school district. Chris subsequently moved back to Florida with AT&T as a corporate sales agent. Chris would make frequent sales trips to The Villages and after a while an opportunity presented itself in joining a real estate team. For the last 12 years Chris has been a top seller in one of the fastest growing real estate markets in the United States. Chris’ passions include watching and participating in sports, spending time with his family, and being a member of the Cross church.

Connie Shamus
Secretary

Connie Shamus was born 4th of 7 children in the little village of Chapel, Penna. Baptized and raised Lutheran. She has lived in Florida since 1980 except for 2 years in Penna. Starting in Arcadia, Fl. Ft. Myers, Mt. Plymouth, Mt. Dora and now living in Eustis, Fl. She is a proud mother of 3 amazing children, 5 wonderful stepchildren, 13 grandchildren, and 16 great grandchildren. 

In Florida she started a crocheting, knitting, and sewing group called Blessed Yarn, now known as Crafting Hands. They make items for the needy in schools, hospice, nursing homes, veterans, and homeless. She volunteers at Hand in Hand and Life Choices. In the near future she will be teaching crocheting at the Women's Recovery Community. She is a very Blessed and Grateful Child of God. 

Captain Shawn Vance
​Treasurer

Captain Shawn Vance grew up in Northwestern Pennsylvania. He relocated to the local area after graduating high school as his parents retired to Central Florida. Shawn later served in the U.S. Marine Corps for seven years on active duty. He deployed overseas several times, which included a tour to Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
 
In 2005, Shawn began his law enforcement career with the Lake County Sheriff's Office after graduating from the Institute of Public Safety in Tavares. He had the opportunity to work with various agency units, including Uniform Patrol, School Resource, Street Crimes, Training, and Narcotics. Shawn was a member of the Sheriff's SWAT team from 2006-2021. He was on the Sniper Team for several years and concluded his tenure with SWAT as an assistant team commander. 
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Shawn holds a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Louisville and a Public Administration Graduate Certificate from the University of Central Florida. Shawn is a current board member and a past president of the Kiwanis Club of Mount Dora, a partner with the Mount Dora Chamber of Commerce, a graduate of Leadership Lake County (Class of 2020), and a life member of both the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
 
Shawn resides in Mount Dora and has two children, Jacob and Kaitlin. Jacob attends Round Lake Elementary, and Kaitlin has contracted to be an officer in the U.S. Army once she graduates nursing school at the University of West Florida.

Payton C. Grinnell
Honorary Member

SHERIFF OF LAKE COUNTY
Sheriff Peyton C. Grinnell is a Lake County Native and a graduate of Leesburg High School. He is a decorated combat Marine Corps veteran with distinguished service in the Republic of Panama during Operation Just Cause and the Middle East during Operations Desert Shield/Storm. After completing his service in the military, he attended the Police Academy at Lake Technical College in 1993, and was hired at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office the following year. After serving more than 22 years in various assignments, he was elected as Sheriff of Lake County and took office in January 2017.

Sheriff Grinnell holds an Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice, a Bachelor’s in Organizational Management, is a graduate of the Administrative Officers Course (111th) at the Southern Police Institute, University of Louisville, 244th session of the FBI National Academy – Quantico, VA and the Chief Executive Seminar (43rd) at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).

His professional affiliations include: Life member Veterans Foreign Wars, American Legion, Leadership of Lake County 2008, Institute of Public Safety Advisory Board, Educational Foundation of Lake County (Board Member) Hand in Hand Lake County (Board Member), Lake Sumter State College Foundation (Board of Directors), Florida Criminal Justice Executive Leadership Institute (Former Board President)

Sheriff Grinnell is married to his wife of 28 years; Jennifer and has two children, Lauren 22 and Blake 16, who reside in Lady Lake.

Cassi Miller
Board Member

Cassi is a native Floridian and has lived in the Lake County area for 6 years. She has a great passion to serve her community. As a graduate of the Ruth House program in 2012 she has an immense willingness to help others who are homeless and/or battling the disease of addiction. She is currently working in The Villages as an Occupational Therapist. 

Wade G. Winker, D.D.S.
​Board Member

Dr. Winker practices general and cosmetic dentistry in Eustis, Florida and has been there for 24 years. His practice provides a wide range of preventive and restorative dental procedures for patients from age 1 through senior adults.

Dr. Winker was appointed by Governor Crist to the Florida Board of Dentistry upon which he served from 2007- 2015, and he served as chairman in 2012. He has also held many leadership positions for the Florida Dental Association which chose him as the Dentist of the Year for 2005. Dr. Winker served in the U.S Navy Dental Corps for four years following dental school. He is a past president of the Central Florida District Dental Association and Lake County Dental Society.

From 2005-2014, Dr. Winker served the American Dental Association on its Dentists Health and Well Being Committee and was the chairman from 2005-2008. He attended the Utah School on Drugs and Alcohol in 2006.
Dr. Winker lives in Leesburg, Florida with his wife of eleven years, Lynne, and they enjoy golf, bicycling, exercise, and spoiling their 2 grandchildren.

Pastor Brent Elliott
​Board Member

Although Brent was born in Tennessee, he has grown up in Lake County, FL. After High School Brent graduated from Florida Christian College and entered the ministry. Brent has served at several churches in the roles of Youth Minister, Sports Minister and Family Ministry. Brent currently serves as the Preaching Pastor at Lake Eustis Christian Church. Brent is married to Michelle Elliott and they have three children. He loves hunting, fishing and anything outdoors. Brent loves the opportunity to serve on the board at Hand and Hand and looks forward to seeing how God will bless this ministry.

Alan Hayes
Board Member

Alan moved from Kentucky to Florida with his family when he was four years old. He graduated from Lakeview High School in Winter Garden, then enrolled in Connors State College in Warner, OK where he played football and earned a degree in Drafting and Design. Upon graduation, Alan entered the US Coast Guard where he served as a Dental Technician for four years. Upon honorable discharge from the service as a Petty Officer First Class, he enrolled in undergraduate studies at the University of Florida. Subsequently he was chosen to be a member of the Charter class of the UF College of Dentistry and graduated in 1976 with his DMD degree. Alan received many awards and recognitions for his leadership and organizational skills.

Alan, his wife Jeanne, and their young daughter moved to Umatilla where Alan enjoyed owning his private dental practice and serving the oral health needs of his family of patients from all over Central Florida. Two more lovely daughters were born into the family during those years.

After selling the dental practice in 2003, Alan successfully ran for election to the Florida House of Representatives in 2004. He served there with distinction and in 2010 was elected to the Florida Senate. For six more years, he was privileged to serve the citizens of Florida in the Senate. Upon leaving the Senate, Alan was honored to be elected as the Supervisor of Elections for Lake County in 2016.

In both Legislative houses, Alan was chosen by the presiding officers to chair an appropriations sub-committee overseeing the budget of eighteen state agencies. The committee staffs recognized and highly respected Alan's leadership and team-building skills. Not only did he manage to reduce expenses in many of the state agencies but he worked with the agency leaders to eliminate many unfilled or unnecessary positions.

Alan has been honored by a host of local and state-wide organizations for his legislative dedication and leadership. His service on the Senate Ethics and Elections committee has involved a multitude of issues relating to elections, helping to prepare him for his role as Lake County's Supervisor of Elections. In 2012, Alan earned certification by the Florida Supreme Court as a Civil Circuit Mediator and is also certified as an Appellate Court Mediator.

Alan has always been active in community and civic organizations and a member of his church. He was privileged to serve on the founding board of directors of Hospice of Lake and Sumter Counties. He has been a Kiwanian for over 35 years, served on the Central Florida Boy Scout council, President of the Lake County Dental Society, and served six years as member of the Lake Sumter State College Board of Trustees. 

Beginning in 1983 and continuing through 2003, Alan and Jeanne led dental teams on mission trips to the jungles of Belize and St. Lucia. Since 2003 they have assisted with the construction of small church buildings in several states here in America. 

Beth Thornton
​Board Member

Beth Thornton is a founding member of the Hand in Hand team, and strongly believes in Christ-centered rehabilitation.  She has her Masters in Nursing with a post-graduate nursing education certificate from UCF and has been a nurse since 1979. Practicing in ICU, ER, and Management, Beth often saw addiction's effects on patients and families.  She has spent the last 17 years at Lake Technical College writing curriculum and teaching Nursing and Medical Assisting. Over the last three years, she has been the Health Science Education Coordinator for 5 healthcare programs. 

"Where there is no vision, the people perish." — Proverbs 29:18