Family Partnership Center Staff

Executive Director

David Potter has been the Executive Director since 2002. He is a CPA and also has an MBA. Prior to joining the Family Partnership Center, David was the President of Junior Achievement in Massachusetts for 7 years. David has an extensive background in corporate finance, including being the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for a Division of a Fortune 30 company. David enjoys all sports, is a Boston sports fan, has been married for 41 years to Patty, has 3 grown children, and is the proud grandfather of 3 beautiful grandchildren.

Program Director

Barbara Brownell helped found the Family Partnership Center in 1994. After volunteering at the Center for 5 year, Barbara was hired as Program Manager in 1999. She has a B.A. from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, an M.A.Ed from Wake Forest University and 32 years experience as a Parenting Educator. She has worked as an elementary school counselor and parenting educator for the Marion and Manatee County public pchools. Barbara writes a bi-weekly column on parenting for The Bradenton Herald and coordinates the Manatee County Parenting Education Coalition. Barbara is married to Judge Scott Brownell, has two grown daughters, and is the proud grandmother of one (so far). She loves gardening, hiking and time at the beach.

Early Childhood Programs Manager

Maria Jackman has been working with Family Partnership Center since 2004 as a Multi-Lingual Parenting Educator. Prior to that, Maria worked for the Health Department and has an extensive background in Public Safety Education. Maria has facilitated various parenting workshops and parenting seminars, some of which have been aired on METV and EDTV in Manatee County. She has been able to translate our current curriculum into Spanish and enabled us to offer our services to the Hispanic population. Maria is currently pursuing her Master's Degree in Education from Southeastern University. She is happily married to Dean, a retired firefighter currently finishing his nursing degree, and they have two beautiful daughters Sarah and Rachel. She enjoys boating, camping and anything that has to do with the great outdoors.

Senior Parenting Educator

Terri Wallis joined the Center in 2005 and is a Senior In HomeParenting Educator. Terri has a Bachelor's degree in Elementary andEarly Childhood Education and 11 years experience working with disabled children and their parents as the Director of Easter Seals Child Development/ Early Intervention Center. Prior to that, Terri worked as an Early Education Instructor in the Manatee County Schools and as Director of both private and faith based preschools. Terri has 22 years experience working with children and their parents. Terri enjoys hiking, biking, kayaking, and camping. She has three grown children and is the proud grandmother of 3 beautiful grandchildren.

Parenting Educator

Jillian Doyle joined the FPC team in May of 2007. She graduated from Central Michigan University Magna cum Laude in 1988 after returning to complete her degree as a single parent with 5 children still at home. She also did post graduate work in the area of Parent-Child Relationships at CMU. Jillian then worked for the Head Start program as a lead teacher and as the Education Coordinator/Area Manager for three Michigan counties. She supervised early childhood and disability services programs and all teaching and support staff for eleven Head Start sites serving approximately 300 children/families. Jillian has five grown children and eight wonderful grandchildren. She enjoys walking and biking daily, shelling and walking on the beach, music and dancing, and she recently tried and enjoyed karaoke (with understanding friends!)

Parenting Educator

Marisol Rodriguez was born and raised in New Jersey and moved to Florida in 2006. She graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a Bachelor's degree where she double-majored in Psychology and Early Elementary Education/Special Education. She continued her studies and earned her Master's degree from Montclair State University in Educational Psychology with a concentration in Bilingual Clinical Psychology. Marisol has worked with individuals and families offering education and counseling services in a variety of settings including hospitals, such as the Mount Sinai Hospital and Research Center in New York City. Most recently, she worked as a contractor for the Department of Defense as the Director of Education and Training. Marisol is happily married to Robert and has a beautiful daughter, Sienna. She enjoys cooking and entertaining, yoga and spending time on the area's incredible beaches with her family.

Executive  Assistant

Katrina Bellemare began working with the Center in August of 2008.  Katrina graduated from Warner Southern College with a bachelor's degree in social work. She has 10 years experience with youth and families. Her prior experience includes after school programs, child care, and international adoption. Her knowledge, experience, and dedication to helping families make her a great addition to the team. Katrina is married with three beautiful step-children, one son and two daughters. She enjoys the outdoors, traveling, arts & crafts, and reading.

Contract Facilitators

In addition to the staff, FPC contracts local professionals with Masters level or equivalent experience for program services.