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. 

Shoab Rana, Vice President

Shoab’s main reason for associating with GOC is his own son’s health issues. As Shoab became more familiar with the mission of GOC to help Members better cope with health challenges, he characterized the clubhouse model as no less than amazing. Shoab joined GOC’s board or directors to contribute to this noble cause. Over the last few years, Shoab has watched GOC grow due to its passionate and dedicated Members and staff. Shoab is very happy to be a part of the GOC.

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!

Michael Conlon

Dr. Michael Conlon is an experienced administrator, biostatistician, informatician, IT expert, and emeritus faculty member of the University of Florida. Dr. Conlon joined the GOC board in 2018.

Alexis Henderson

Alexis Henderson is a peer specialist who is a founding member of the Gainesville Opportunity Center. Her belief in how effective the Clubhouse model is comes from her personal experience acting as a Member Representative of GOC. According to Alexis, the GOC is not only a beautiful concept, but it is effective at addressing needs and implementing real change in individuals’ 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.

Reid Schreiber

Reid joined the board in 2018 as a Member Representative of GOC. He has an Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Florida. He is a Certified Recovery Peer Specialist. 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.

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.