Meet Our Board
Nikki Turner, Board Chairperson
Nikki Turner is currently Founder & Managing Director of the CFO District and has extensive operational and strategic management experience in international business expansion for both early-stage and established multinational corporations. As a certified expert in Mobile Banking and Microfinance, her expertise spans across verticals inclusive of mobile devices and SaaS product applications. As a technology finance professional, she has a long history of partnering with business leaders to achieve strategic new levels for companies such as Gilead Sciences, Intel, Hewlett-Packard and Corning. She has a proven track record of influencing investment decisions to generate positive financial returns and corporate growth. Nikki holds an MBA in Finance from Carnegie Mellon University and a BS degree in Chemical Engineering from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University. In her spare time, she serves on the boards of Touching Miami with Love and Wellspring Counseling and is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
Peter Raffalski, Board Treasurer
Peter Raffalski is a Senior Vice President with the IBERIABANK – Private Client Group in Ocean Reef, with over 30 years of experience in banking, lending and investment management. He has been with the same institution for the past 22 years. Peter and his wife, Agnes, attend Christ Journey Church where he is currently a Deacon and where he has served on the Finance, Long Range Planning and Mission Committees. Peter has also been a member of numerous community boards including currently serving with Habitat for Humanity of the Upper Keys where he is a member of the Finance Committee.
Jaime Fernandez, Board Director
Dr. Jaime Fernandez, M.D., F.A.A.P. is a board certified physician in both Neonatology and Pediatrics. He has spent his career attending to the meticulous needs of critically ill infants and thus has an eye for detail and a clear understanding of the ethics essential to the care of patients. Dr. Fernandez is a graduate of SUNY Stony Brook University Hospital Fellowship program and Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Residency program. Dr. Fernandez lives in Palmetto Bay with his wife Cheryl where they are active members of Granada Presbyterian Church in Coral Gables, where he serves as an Elder.
Jim Hannon, Board Director
Jim is the founding shareholder of the Miami personal injury and medical malpractice law firm, Hannon Legal Group. Active in many community and legal organizations, he has served on the boards of directors for the Dade County Bar Association, The Miami-Dade Trial Lawyers Association, Westminster Christian School, The Greater Miami Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and in various capacities for his church.
John McWhirter, Board Director
John McWhirter graduated from Washington & Lee University with a BA in English. John works in the Film Production business as a freelance commercial producer for production companies from all over world. In addition to his freelance work, John is the Founder and President of Rivertree, inc a production service company facilitating productions for national and international clients. John is also Co-Founder and Executive Producer for Shiny New Content, a digital content creation company. Over the years, in addition to commercials, John has produced a Faith based film, two reality show pilots for the Cooking Channel, and is now developing a “location aware” prayer app called Prayer Map to encourage Christians to pray for their cities and neighborhoods. He is a long time member and former Deacon at Christ Journey Church where his wife, Andrea, is on staff.
Tova Kreps, LCSW; Board Director
Tova is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the Co-Founder and President of Wellspring Counseling. She has been practicing as a therapist with families, couples, individuals and children since 1990. She has prior board experience on the Board of Westminster Christian School, the Rafiki Foundation, and Little Disciples Preschool.
Janice Belbeck, Board Director
Janice Belbeck, DNP, MA, RN, FACHE completed her bachelor’s degree at Michigan State University, a master's degree in public affairs and human services administration from Rider University, and a doctoral degree in nursing at Georgetown University. She was awarded Fellow status in the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) in 2004. Dr. Belbeck’s experience ranges from staff nurse to corporate vice president in large healthcare systems, to consultant. Operational leadership, business analysis, and quality improvement have been the major areas of focus in her career. Currently, she serves as an adjunct professor for the Georgetown University School of Nursing and as a leadership development coach with MBA students at the University of Tennessee. Janice, her husband Mike, and their three children were long-time Miami residents and now reside in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Linda Powell, Board Director
Linda holds a Bachelor of Science in Childhood Education and built a career teaching in both private and public schools. She later joined The Powell Law Firm, where she has been collaborating with her husband as the office manager. Linda volunteered at Wellspring for over 8 years in the Bounce Program, and today, she serves as a liaison in the organization’s Community Relations team. She currently resides in South Florida with her spouse Brett.
Emilie Wierda, Board Director
Emilie Wierda is a grateful grandmother to five, mom to four incredible kids and their spouses, and wife to one amazing man for 40 years. And none of life has gone “according to plan.” But God has been near and helped her on this journey in a multitude of obvious ways- which she is happy to share if there are ears that want to hear. She has been a partner in business with her husband and now her children as well. In 2017, she graduated from Western Seminary and pursued ordination in the Anglican Church and was ordained to ministry in 2019 and 2020. She leads a congregation, along with her husband, of a few dozen “misfits” every Sunday morning beside an orthodox Jewish teacher. The congregation is called “The Ingathering.” Along with Wellspring, Emilie serves on the boards of Evergreen Commons Wellness Center for Older Adults, Western Seminary, and Ancient Paths along with a few advisory boards.