Our Team
Amanda Grayce, Site Manager
I moved back to Ft. Myers from Tennessee with my 3 beautiful children 7 years ago, I have lived in 7 states but grew up in Wisconsin. I have a bachelor’s degree in education and have enjoyed working in a variety of settings including elderly care, childcare and healthcare. I am driven by my desire to help the people around me and make a difference in the world of those who deserve it most. I grew up with a mother who worked in the special needs community, which instilled a love for being involved in this community from a young age. I was drawn to GiGi’s by my passion to really make a difference for the greater good, and I am beyond excited to exemplify the core values of GiGi’s and grow this amazing organization for our local community!
Pam Garrett, Volunteer Math & Literacy Coordinator
Pam joined the GiGi’s Playhouse family in 2018. She has a master’s in special education from the University of Central Oklahoma. As literacy and math coordinator, Pam works closely with our volunteer tutors, providing training and ensuring they have materials needed to give our participants meaningful and purposeful lessons. She also works directly with participants as a tutor and enjoys seeing their reading and math skills grow. Pam moved to Fort Myers from Germany after retiring from the Department of Defense School System. She feels a strong connection with the families and participants of GiGi’s Playhouse and is thankful for the opportunity to be a GiGi’s volunteer.
Nancy Jones, Volunteer Program Coordinator
Nancy Jones moved to Cape Coral in 2023 from Minnesota. She is a retired Behavioral Psychologist and Board-Certified Behavior Analyst and has devoted over 36 years to supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities with a wide variety of diagnoses in their home, school, and vocational settings. Nancy has extensive experience in designing positive environments and programs that promote optimal learning for children, adolescents, and adults with Down syndrome. Nancy lives with her husband and Ragdoll cat named Mozart and is looking forward to training a new puppy who may one day serve as a therapy dog for individuals in need.
Stefani Dougherty, Speech Language Pathologist
I was raised in Cape Coral, Florida so SWFL has always been my home since I was 4 years old. I attended the University of South Florida for both my Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and continued on to pursue my Master’s Degree in Speech Language Pathology. I’ve been serving as SLP since 2017 in a variety of settings. I’ve provided therapy services at the preschool, elementary and middle school level, in an acute inpatient and trauma unit as well as in the home setting providing early intervention for young children. I live with my husband and two wonderful young children. I am excited for the opportunity to serve Gigi’s playhouse participants and their families. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Amina Grace Speech and Language program as well as be a part of Gigi’s Playhouse Fort Myers.
Board of Directors
Anita Kressel, President
Anita Kressel moved to Fort Myers in 2016. She graduated from Keller Graduate School of Management with a Master degree in Accounting and Financial Management and a Master degree in Business Administration. She works as the Finance Manager for a local fire department. She has one son Brayden who was born with Down syndrome. She is very passionate about advocating for her son and all his friends with Down syndrome. Anita is excited to be part of growing and expanding GiGi’s Playhouse Fort Myers.
Allison Leone, Vice President
Allison Leone, born in Rome, NY moved to SWFL in 2002. She graduated from the University of South Florida (USF) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications. Shortly after graduating Allison moved to Cape Coral, Florida where she accepted her first job in TV News but quickly moved into the Non-Profit sector. She worked in Marketing, Public Relations and development for most of her career. She and her amazing husband, Rick, welcomed their first child in 2013, a beautiful baby boy named Max, that they found out at birth had Down syndrome. They welcomed a second child in 2015, a charismatic little girl named Mila. With the birth of Max and Mila, Rick and Allison re-evaluated their family plans and priorities and it was decided Allison would stay at home with the kiddos and eventually enter the exciting journey of homeschooling. Allison joined the board of GiGi’s Playhouse Fort Myers in March of 2023 and is very excited to be a part of a much-needed support system for individuals with Down syndrome and their families. She is determined to raise awareness, acceptance and compassion for individuals with Down syndrome, the most important being love and inclusion for all.
Kory Walker, Co-Treasurer
Kory has been a resident of Southwest Florida since 2005, having originally grown up in Texas and Oklahoma. He joined the board of GiGi’s Playhouse Fort Myers in 2023 after he and his wife, Casey, learned that their beautiful daughter, Kali, had been diagnosed with Down syndrome prior to her birth.
Kory holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Oklahoma and is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®). He is currently a Vice President and Senior Trust Advisor with Northern Trust, bringing over 25 years of expertise in estate and trust administration, financial planning, and investment management.
Kory and Casey are passionate about giving back to the community and supporting individuals with Down syndrome through their work and involvement with GiGi’s Playhouse Fort Myers. Together, they raise their daughter, Kali, along with Kory’s three older daughters, Emma, Lila, and Maddie, and reside in Estero, FL.
Yolanda Nunez, Co-Treasurer
A graduate of University of Illinois-Chicago, her passion is to advocate for the Down Syndrome community and Not-For-Profit organizations anyway she can. She has over 30 years of experience as an Accountant and CPA serving private business clients. She has a specialty in Not-for-Profit organizations and has been subcontracted as an outsourced CFO for various organizations. Yolanda is the grandmother of a beautiful granddaughter, Sofia, who was born with Down Syndrome; thus, she is honored to serve the Down Syndrome Community in Fort Myers where her granddaughter lives and where her daughter in law, Samantha, co-founded Gigi’s Playhouse-Fort Myers LLC. Yolanda had the opportunity to be part of the group of individuals that support this Playhouse in 2019 as a Board Member and did not hesitate to take on responsibilities performing primarily treasury tasks and functions. Yolanda’s mission has always been to serve and inspire others.
Caroline Reitz, Secretary
Caroline is thrilled to have the opportunity to be part of the work at GiGi’s Playhouse. A graduate of Kent State University, her passion is to advocate for the Down Syndrome community within the Playhouse, as well as out in the Southwest community. As a past educator with over 20 years in the classroom, her mission has always been to serve, educate and inspire others. Caroline has called Southwest Florida her home since 2006, where she resides with her husband in the Gateway area. She is happy to work with her mother as a two-person sales team with RE/MAX Realty Group, helping others find their dream home in paradise.
Sergio Nunez, Board Member
Sergio Nunez born in Chicago, IL moved here to Fort myers, FL in 2006. He graduated from DePaul University in accounting and finance and moved down to purchase his Kitchen and Bath remodeling company, where he met his wonderful wife, Samantha. They have three children and their very first trailblazer is Sofia Nunez who was born with Down syndrome. That's where the journey began into his wife becoming one of the founding members of GiGi's Playhouse in Fort Myers, which sparked Sergio's interest in doing anything and everything he can for GiGi's.
Evan Rosenberg, Board Member
Evan is a native of Coral Springs Florida. He moved to Cape Coral in 2010. He and his wife, Angela, married in 2011 and have three boys. Their oldest son Emery has Down syndrome. Evan is a graduate of F.G.C.U.’s College of Business and the Radiology Program at Keiser University in Ft. Lauderdale. Evan is currently C.T. technologist at HealthPark Medical Center.
His hope is to continue spreading the motto, “you don’t know what you don’t know” It means to treat everyone like gold. You don’t know what anyone is going through so treat everyone with kindness and compassion.
Melissa Coon, Board Member
Melissa is delighted to contribute her event expertise and enthusiasm to GiGi’s Playhouse. In 2021, along with her husband and two adult children, relocated to SW Florida from Minnesota. Melissa brought her award-winning wedding & event planning business, and became a member of the board of the Uncommon Friends Foundation in 2023, where she oversees events at the historic Burroughs Home in downtown Fort Myers. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and holds certifications in project management and event planning. Inspired by her wonderful family and friends, Melissa enjoys spending free time with loved ones, seeking new travel experiences, relaxing at the beach, or simply cuddling with her loyal Basset Hound.