Meet the Team

Administration


Jeff DeMario

Jeff DeMario

Chief Executive Officer

EMAIL
Dorla Leslie

Dorla Leslie

Chief Financial Officer

EMAIL
Ashley Berry

Ashley Berry

Director of Development and Community Relations

EMAIL
Sabrina Ward

Delferine Spooner

Director of Grant Compliance

EMAIL
Shelly Mayes

Sherril Thwaites

Bookkeeper- Admin

EMAIL
Sabrina Ward

Cami Mayes

Development Coordinator

EMAIL

the Spot


Kaitie Bortniak

Robbriannia Johnson

Director of Community Services

EMAIL
Elizabeth Smiley

Elizabeth Smiley

Youth Engagement &

Community Resources Officer

EMAIL
Nicole Frederick

LaShannon Herbert

Diversion Specialist

EMAIL
Vassilila Binensztok

Tron Edwards

Spot Supervisor

EMAIL
Kaitie Bortniak

Mary Lanigan

Therapist

EMAIL
Kaitie Bortniak

Gail Shaw

Employment Coordinator

EMAIL
Vassilila Binensztok

Allie Jacobs

Permanent Supportive Housing Case Manager

EMAIL
Sabrina Ward

Amarel Wilson

Pathways to Employment Case Manager

EMAIL
Sabrina Ward

Sabrina Hernandez

Intake Specialist

EMAIL
Sabrina Ward

Dorlenka Barthelemy

Employment Case Manager

EMAIL
Sabrina Ward

Gloria Wright

Healthcare Coordinator

EMAIL
Sabrina Ward

Rolanda Hammett

Pathways to Employment

Case Manager

EMAIL
Sabrina Ward

Flynn Paterson

the Spot Receptionist

EMAIL
Sabrina Ward

Alex Smiley

Emergency Rental Assistance Coordinator

EMAIL

Vita Nova Independent Living Services


Mike Yackulics

     Mike Yackulics

Director of Independent Living (VNILS)

EMAIL
Mike Yackulics

Kadiesha Campbell

Life Coach (VNILS)

EMAIL
Sabrina Ward

Zach Reichert

           Life Coach (VNILS)

EMAIL
Sabrina Ward

Reinaldo Diaz

Life Coach (VNILS)

EMAIL
Sabrina Ward

Maria Herrera

Life Coach (VNILS)

EMAIL

Vita Nova Village & Housing


Shavon Rahming

Brittney Ashley

Director of Housing

EMAIL
Elizabeth Smiley

Rhonda Horton

Housing Case Manager

EMAIL
Sabrina Ward

Jarrett Kennedy

Housing Case Manager

EMAIL
Sabrina Ward

Melissa Eveillard

Housing Case Manager

EMAIL
Sabrina Ward

Megan McDonough

Housing Case Manager

EMAIL

Our Founder


Father Leo Armbrust

Father Leo

Vita Nova means “new life” in Latin, and was founded by Father Leo Armbrust, a man who believed that foster youth deserved a better quality of care. Through the efforts of the Vita Nova team members, its volunteers and its benefactors, older foster and homeless youth are given the opportunity to lead lives characterized by independence, self-determination and personal responsibility.

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    Leo F. Armbrust was born in the Cincinnati suburb of Hamilton, Ohio but moved to South Florida in 1959. Leo served as a Catholic priest from 1977 until 2008. During his priestly ministry he was stationed at numerous churches in three counties, and taught at both the elementary and high school levels. 


    Leo was the main celebrant of Palm Beach’s WPTV’s Sunday mass for six years. He also served as commentator for Miami’s WTVJ during Pope John Paul II’s visit in 1987 and for Miami’s WFOR during his visit to Cuba in 1998. He served 13 years as a Catholic Chaplain to the University of Miami Football Team and 10 years as Catholic Chaplain for the Miami Dolphins Football Club.


    Among his many civic and community affiliations are: Board of Directors, National Football Foundation/College Football Hall of Fame; Advisory Board, Roger Dean Stadium; Chaplain of Legatus; and Chaplain of The Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller.


    Leo’s dedication to the needs of children was recognized with his appointment in 2000 to the Palm Beach County Community Alliance. The Alliance is a distinguished, competitively chosen 25-member group charged with planning for the conversion (by 2003) of the County’s foster care to a community-based system.


    He huddled with business and civic leaders in the 1980’s to develop the concept of Vita Nova. From 1996 he has worked full time in bringing this dream to reality. He presently serves as Founder and Chairman of the project that maintains an independence from, is not affiliated with, and is not financially dependent upon the support of either church or government.


    Among his many duties, Leo enlists support for Vita Nova among potential donors and corporate partners, agencies and organizations, and civic and governmental leaders.

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