Our Team – Down Syndrome Association of Brevard

Meet the Team

The Down Syndrome Association of Brevard (DSAB) is a 501 (c)(3) Florida non-profit organization, founded in 2006, dedicated to support, early intervention, education, awareness, and advocacy for persons with Down syndrome and their families.

DSAB is governed by a Board of Directors made up of Officers and an Executive Director. Officers (President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary) are elected by the Board each year at the January meeting. Our board meets monthly to ensure successful execution of our mission.

In 2013 Victoria and her husband James welcomed their first child, Kristalyn, born with Down syndrome and a multitude of surprise health complications. Though Kristalyn is still fed through a g-tube she is healthy and very proud to be the big sister to Hailey (2015) and Brooklyn (2018). Through Kristalyn, Victoria has found a mission supporting and advocating for persons with Down syndrome.

Victoria is a former Rollins College softball player/graduate and business executive. She and her husband own and operate East Coast Metalworks LLC. After serving on the board of directors for 8 years, Victoria is thrilled to be the DSAB Executive Director, and is excited to bring on new ideas, partners and ways to support those with Down syndrome in Brevard County.

Contact: director@dsabrevard.org

Steve and his family moved to Melbourne from Maryland in 2018, where Steve volunteered as an Area Director for Special Olympics. His daughter Candace runs her own business for motivational speaking called Great Life Unlimited and was featured in the 2020 DSAB virtual Buddy Walk. Steve, who enjoys anything to do with physical fitness, is also a retired educator and award-wining school principal. In fact, he was named Principal of the Year in Maryland in 2015-2016. Steve is also active with Suntree United Methodist Church, chaired the DSAB Executive Director Search Committee and has joined the executive committee.

Contact: president@dsabrevard.org

Debbie and her husband Brian have been lifetime community leaders and residents of Brevard County. Debbie is a retired educator and served as the guardian advocate for her brother Scotty who had Down syndrome until his passing in 2022. Debbie has been active with Junior League and Calvary Chapel Church, in which she has been a Women’s Bible Study Leader, Administrator for the Calvary Chapel Academy and one of the founders of the Jedi program there, an inclusive educational program for students with Down syndrome.

Debbie is excited to bring on new ideas and partners for fundraising events, as well as to serve as an advocate for more adult programming for individuals with Down syndrome.

Contact: vp@dsabrevard.org

Jay and his wife Donna have been married for almost 25 years and are the proud parents of Joel and Evan, who has Down syndrome. They have lived in Brevard County since 1999 after moving here from New York. Jay is the retired President, CEO and Member of the Board of Directors for two different Nasdaq-listed companies. Prior to that he was an executive at one of the world’s largest companies.

Jay remains active in his retirement. In addition to serving on the DSAB Board, he sits on the Board of Trustees for the National Down Syndrome Congress. He also serves on the Board of Directors for several other companies and is a Member of the President’s Council for his alma mater, Union College. In his spare time, Jay is a coach for Tim’s Kids, an organization that provides free equipment, ice time and instruction for children with disabilities who want to learn to play ice hockey. He also continues to play competitive ice hockey, including on a team attached to Patrick Air Force Base that plays games around the U.S. to raise money for charity and, on teams in USA Hockey’s Over 40 and Over 50 Nationals. Jay’s other free-time interests include running, kayaking, biking, golfing, traveling, and reading.

Contact: treasurer@dsabrevard.org

In 2019 Aknesha became the proud mom of Alaric born with Down Syndrome and two major health issues that required multiple surgeries in his first two months of life. Looking for support and some answers Aknesha reached out to the DSAB and got a ton of support from Amy Van Bergen. Because of her experience with DSAB’s support for Alaric, Aknesha saw an opportunity to help offer the same support to others and pay it forward. Aknesha is elated to be a DSAB Board Member and partner with the board to increase support to individuals with Down Syndrome and their families in Brevard County.

Aknesha is a graduate of Morgan State University, BS Industrial Engineering and Johns Hopkins University, MS Systems Engineering. Aknesha is and experienced executive business leader in the Aerospace, Defense, and Oil & Gas industries. She has a track record of optimizing performance, leading diverse teams, and driving cultural change. Aknesha is committed to professional development and civic outreach and is involved in many organizations such as a member of Institute of Industrial Engineers; International Council on Systems Engineering; Project Management Institute; member, Morgan State University Industrial and Systems Engineering Advisory Council; member, of Southern University and A&M College of Sciences and Engineering Advisory Board; member, Louisiana District Export Council.

Contact: secretary@dsabrevard.org

Brett and his wife Barbara have been married for over 30 years and are the proud parents of Andrew and Lee, who has Down syndrome. Brett is the Managing Partner of Sunroute Networks (wireless network technology consulting) and the Director of East/Southeast Region for BEC Technologies, a leading supplier of high-performance broadband technology products. Prior to this he spent eight years as a sales executive at Globecomm Systems, a leading global communications systems integrator. Brett and his family moved to Brevard County from Toronto Canada in 2001 and were especially attracted by the wonderful resources available to the children, especially Lee, through organizations like DSAB.

One of Brett’s reasons for serving is to continue to support some of DSAB’s focus and efforts on supporting adults achieve independence and career fulfillment. Brett also serves on the board of his HOA (Sawgrass at Suntree) and is a regional ambassador for his alma mater, the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering at the University of Toronto. In his spare time, Brett has coached Challenger softball teams and assisted where possible for various Challenger and Special Olympics sports Lee has been involved in. Brett and Lee are both avid golfers and the whole family love to travel.

Charles, and his family are life time natives of the Brevard County community. In High school, Charles would learn that his younger cousin Nicholas had been diagnosed with DS. Since graduating from UCF with a finance, and economics degree in 2021, Charles joined the local team of Lightle Becker Robison to pursue a career in commercial real estate.

Commercial real estate has allowed Charles the opportunity to create value for clients, and to forge lifelong relationships with local business leaders. While in college, Charles lead the executive team of his fraternity in the fundraising of nearly $15,000.00 towards research efforts with Huntsman Cancer Institute.

Throughout his career, Charles has upheld key leadership positions in organizations such as the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, Brevard County Ocean Rescue, and American Life Saving Association. In his spare time, Charles enjoys surfing, fishing, hiking, and dusting off the case of his Viola every now, and then.

Following his retirement as an Army officer, Doug Rothenbush moved to Melbourne in 2016 with his wife, Marlo, and their three daughters, Addison, Emily, and Jenna. Doug is now a nuclear engineer for the US Air Force at Patrick Space Force Base.

Immediately after Jenna was born with Down syndrome in 2005, Doug and his family learned the importance of having a strong support network. Since Jenna’s birth, the Rothenbushes have lived in six different states. Each move brought new challenges of finding available resources for health, education, and basic family needs.

Shortly after their arrival in Melbourne, they discovered DSAB and the exceptional support the association provides. As a member of the DSAB Board of Directors, Doug is dedicated to strengthening the Brevard County Down syndrome support network through strong community outreach and advocacy at the local, state, and national levels. In his free time Doug enjoys fishing, puzzles, traveling, and reading.

Jamie is a Florida native born in Fort Lauderdale. He lived in Deerfield Beach for 30 years before moving to Viera. Jamie joined the DSAB board in 2023 as our first self-advocate. Jamie has one older brother who is married with 2 children and he loves being an uncle playing at the park with his nephew and niece.

Jamie has worked at Chick-fil-A for over ten years first in Pompano Beach for seven years and for the last three years in Viera. Jamie has been an athlete in Special Olympics since elementary school participating in basketball, soccer, pickleball, golf and bowling. At home, he enjoys spending time with his 5-year-old rescue dog named Bonnie, who loves tummy rubs.

Born and raised in Damascus, Maryland, Joanna “Jo” Kiel comes from a large family of five girls. The sisters are very close, and one thing they all have in common is their dedication and drive for philanthropy. The youngest of the five sisters, Lexi, was born with Down syndrome in 1992. Lexi is the glue that holds the sisters together and keeps them grounded. Lexi is 31 now and lives at home with their loving parents in Maryland. Lexi is the absolute light of her familiar lives, and they are forever grateful for the cute, fun and challenging gift she is to her family and friends. Through Jo’s relationship with Lexi and lifelong passion for dance and cheerleading, she coached Special Olympics Cheerleading for three years in Maryland and four years in Brevard County.

Jo is a graduate of Marshall University and a former NFL Baltimore Ravens Cheerleader. Jo moved to Brevard County in 2014 with her husband. After 10 years as an environmental scientist, Jo began work in the space coast as an environmental compliance and occupational health and safety professional at Embraer Executive Aircraft in 2019. Jo recently made a career transition to Business Development Manager for Embraer’s executive jets. Jo is a dedicated wife to her incredible husband, Ryan, and mom to two young boys, Brady (5) and Ryder (4). Jo has an identical twin sister, who’s family moved to the space coast in 2020. Jo absolutely loves living in the space coast and all it has to offer. She is excited to bring her lifelong dedication to the Down syndrome community to the families and corporations in Brevard County.

Volunteer To Be Involved

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Our Goal

Through our community activities, events, and funding for our local families, we are striving to build a supportive culture of awareness, acceptance, and advocacy throughout Brevard County.

DSAB is fully funded by generous donations from local partners in advocacy and people like you! All of our funds stay in Brevard County to directly support individuals with Down syndrome and their families living here.

Meet the Team

Volunteer To Be Involved

Donate To Make a Difference

Our Goal

Connect With Us

Phone: 321-576-3296

Email: info@dsabrevard.org

Address: 4200 SR 524, Suite 101 Cocoa, FL 32926