Mercy Quiroga, President
Dr. Mercy Quiroga believes that serving the community is her life-long passion. Now retired and living in Gainesville, Mercy was also very active with the Mental Health Clubhouse in Miami. She has seen firsthand how clubhouse programs like the GOC’s can make peoples’ lives better. Before retiring and moving to Gainesville, Mercy was a Campus President at Miami Dade College and Broward College along with Provost of New World School of the Arts.
Jacob Rush — Vice President
A Gainesville native and University of Florida graduate, Jacob Rush is an attorney whose career spans law enforcement, private legal practice, and serving as General Counsel for both a private-sector company and a government law enforcement agency of roughly 900 employees. A trial attorney in state and federal civil courts, he has run legal departments — overseeing litigation, contracts, internal investigations, government relations, policy, and labor and employment — and he writes and teaches on technology law, including artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, and cybersecurity. His work today centers on artificial intelligence and large language models for legal research. Active in the community, Jacob is a past President of the Rotary Club of Greater Gainesville, a Take Stock in Children mentor, a school volunteer, and a volunteer judge at the UF Levin College of Law — as well as a beekeeper and gardener.
Jennifer Elder, Secretary
Jennifer has a PhD in Nursing and Developmental Psychology and worked as an RN in psychiatry. Jennifer is a pioneer who started the Arbor House and Mom’s Place with her husband, Steve Elder, to help mothers needing assistance. Jennifer’s interest in the Gainesville Opportunity Center stems from her belief that its mission and values are consistent with her own. Jennifer has been particularly impressed with the success of one member with whom she and her husband helped for many years.
Joanne Edde, Treasurer
Joanne was originally from on Long Island, NY. She has two children, 6 grandchildren, two hens and one mean rooster. Joanne enjoys gardening and canning, blues music festivals, and traveling. Joanne started her career in banking as a teller and today works as a community banker with over 20 years experience. Joanne loves to help people!
Karina Bowman
Health and personal growth remain central to Karina’s life, and she strives to be versatile, approachable, and resilient in challenging environments. She is passionate about learning and contributing within her community. Her background in foreign language studies and individual sports has shaped her appreciation for discipline, connection, and well-being. She is proud to be a Member serving on the Board of Directors of the Gainesville Opportunity Center, supporting its mission to provide meaningful work and social success for its Members.
Ruhiyyih Dyrdahl-Young
Ruhiyyih Dyrdahl-Young is an agricultural professional with experience supporting vegetable seed systems and grower-focused innovation across the United States. In her role as east coast Area Sales Manager, she works with regional teams and cross-functional partners in plant breeding, product development, and distribution to help bring practical, high-quality Vegetable seed solutions to market. Her background combines technical training with commercial experience, including time in product management and technical field roles related to seed treatment and crop protection. Through this work, she has focused on helping growers navigate agronomic challenges and make informed decisions in a changing production environment.
Dr. Dyrdahl-Young earned her Ph.D. in Entomology and Nematology from the University of Florida, where her research explored biological approaches to managing plant-parasitic nematodes. She also holds a Master of Agribusiness and an additional MSc in horticultural science, which support her interest in connecting research with practical application in the field. Ruhiyyih lives in Gainesville, Florida, with her husband, Mitch, and their elementary-aged son.
Bree Guiterman
Bree Guiterman is the owner of Associates Realty Services, Inc., a Gainesville-based real estate and property management company, where she has dedicated her career to helping individuals and families find housing throughout the community. An active Rotarian with the Rotary Club of Greater Gainesville, Bree is passionate about community service, building meaningful connections, and making a positive difference in the lives of others. Her involvement with the Gainesville Opportunity Center began through her Rotary activities and grew as she helped several GOC members secure housing, giving her a firsthand appreciation for the organization’s mission and the people it serves. As a member of the GOC Board of Directors, Bree is excited to combine her professional experience, community relationships, and commitment to service to help further GOC’s mission of empowering its members and creating opportunities for meaningful, fulfilling lives.
Manny Quiroga
Manny is a graduate of the University of Florida and is happy to be back in Gainesville for his retirement. Manny taught autistic high school children in the Miami-Dade public school system. Manny has been very active as a board member of the GOC and he has played a major role in planning several important annual fundraising events to support the GOC.
Bill Stephenson
Bill Stephenson chairs the Department of Humanities and Foreign Languages at Santa Fe College (“SF”), where he has worked for the past 25 years and also served as a Professor of English and English Department Chair. Bill also taught courses in Humanities, composition, and British and World Literature at Santa Fe. Bill earned his PhD in Higher Education Administration at the University of Florida in 2022. Bill’s work in the community includes nearly 20 years mentoring middle school and high school students through Florida’s
Take Stock in Children scholarship program. He and his colleagues at SF are currently developing Free to Learn, a program to support Santa Fe students with a past history of incarceration.
Kayla Barrera
Kayla Barrera has been a Member of the GOC since April 2025 and joined the Board of Directors in August 2026. Since joining the GOC, she has found a welcoming community, support in her employment journey, and meaningful opportunities to contribute to its mission. Kayla has a bachelor’s degree in Visual Art Studies from the University of Florida. She brings her professional background in graphic design and marketing to the GOC’s media unit, drawing on her experience at the Cade Museum and Santa Fe College. She also assists with outreach efforts, speaking to patients and community members about her experience with the GOC. Passionate about mental health advocacy, Kayla is dedicated to helping others find the same sense of community and empowerment that has been central to her own recovery, confidence, and personal growth. In her free time, Kayla enjoys making art, writing, and exploring different creative projects.
Previous Board Members of GOC
Reid Schreiber
Reid joined the board in 2018 as a Member Representative of GOC. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Florida. He loves the sense of community at the GOC. Reid’s life has transformed through his participation in the GOC as an active Member for the past 10 years. Serving on the board provides opportunities for Reid to increase advocacy for individuals living with mental illness.
Dr. Michael Conlon
Dr. Michael Conlon is an emeritus faculty member of the University of Florida and an accomplished administrator, biostatistician, informatician, and IT expert. He joined the Gainesville Opportunity Center Board of Directors in 2018 and went on to serve as Board President beginning in 2021, giving nearly eight years of dedicated leadership to the Clubhouse. As President, Mike helped guide GOC through a season of real growth, shaped its strategic planning, served on the staff hiring committee, and took the time to personally recognize the founding members and volunteers who built the Clubhouse from the ground up. His steady guidance, generosity, and belief in GOC’s mission have left a lasting mark, and the entire GOC community is deeply grateful for his years of service.