Board Chair
VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP
Jeffrey Maconaghy
Bio
Jeff Maconaghy is the president of AssuredPartners Transportation, a national transportation-specific insurance and risk management company. Jeff and his team created this division of AssuredPartners in 2016, and it has grown to over $1.25 billion in premium under his management. He was awarded National Power Broker of the Year in 2019. Additionally, Jeff is a Division I football official currently in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). He has worked over 250 Division I football games and 14 bowl games, having started in 2002. Jeff is married to his beautiful wife, Maureen. He has two children, Tyler and Camryn, and lives in Naples.
James Varilek
Vice Chair
Bio
Jim Varilek joined the STARability Board in December 2022. A business executive with 33 years at The Dow Chemical Company and 7 years with Olin Corporation, Jim retired as Chief Operating Officer of Olin in December 2022. While with Dow, Jim led the Disability Employee Network and served on the local Independent Community Living Board. Jim’s daughter Brittney has been a STAR participant in the Trailblazer Academy and thoroughly enjoys all that the program offers.
Jim and his wife, Mary, have four children (Nick, Ryan, Brendan and Britt), are avid golf and tennis players, and are full time residents of Naples.
Melanie Miller
Treasurer
Bio
Melanie Miller, Pelican Bay Foundation Vice President, has over 20 years of non-profit business and financial leadership experience. Prior to joining Pelican Bay Foundation, Melanie served in leadership roles for non-profits in Tulsa, Oklahoma with national recognition and international operations. She is a graduate of Leadership Tulsa and has previously served in board roles for multiple non-profits. Melanie’s husband, Robert, previously resided in Naples and they returned in 2019 bringing children Anna and Zane to Florida. Anna is a BCBA who works with individuals and families impacted by autism and Zane attends USF Tampa, both residing in St. Petersburg. Melanie and Robert enjoy spending time with family, fishing, boating, traveling, beaches, and gardening. Melanie and Robert share their home with dogs Dieter and Dixie, and cat Gusty. Melanie lives in Naples full-time and is committed to being involved in our community. She holds licenses as Certified Public Accountant and Community Association Manager with degrees in Accounting and Business Administration. Melanie is an advocate for women in leadership.
Holly Shapiro
Secretary
Bio
Holly A. Shapiro is Chief Operations Manager at Aries Title, Inc. She graduated Suma Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Science in Legal Studies and has worked in the legal field in SWFL for the last 25 years. She was born and raised in Northern Minnesota and moved to Florida in the early 90s. She lives in Naples with her Husband attorney Marc L. Shapiro and their two children, Nathan and Ariana. Nathan is a participant in Junior Trailblazer Academy and is thriving with his friends in the STARability programs. Holly is passionate about advocating for individuals with individuals with intellectual & developmental disabilities and their families. She is committed to making a difference in our community. She has volunteered at many local nonprofit organizations in Lee & Collier County. She Co-chaired the 2022 signature STAR Gala which raised a record breaking $3.2 million and is now joining our STARabililty Board of Directors as of April 2022.
Anne Fleming
Director
Bio
Anne Fleming, General Manager of Waterside Shops, has over 30 years of luxury retail experience. Prior to joining Waterside Shops in 2013, Anne worked at Neiman Marcus, Tiffany & Co. and Estée Lauder. She has lived and worked in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Kansas City, New York City, Dallas, Detroit and Miami.
Anne is passionate about volunteering in our community and currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Women’s Foundation of Collier County, and is a graduate of Greater Naples Leadership Class XXIV. Recently, she has served on the boards of Champions for Learning, the Greater Naples Chamber, and Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. In her role at Waterside Shops, Anne hosts charity events that give back over $300,000 annually to local nonprofits.
A graduate of UCLA, Anne’s interests include gardening, entertaining, and advocating for people with developmental disabilities. She lives in Naples full time with her son, Sasha.
Laura Georgelos
Director
Bio
Laura Georgelos joined our Board of Directors in July 2020. As a real estate broker with more than $200 million in sales over her many years in the business, Laura prides herself on her experience and knowledge to help her clients in all aspects of their move: strategically, financially as well as emotionally. Illinois transplants, Laura and her husband, Lou, live in Naples with their daughter, Tori, who participates in our Trailblazer Academy program. Laura has committed herself to her Illinois and Florida communities by volunteering for various organizations. Laura co-chaired our signature event, the STAR Gala, twice and helped raise almost $2 million. In 2020, she was named a Distinguished Volunteer by the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Collier-Lee Chapter.
Ken Gilman
Director
Bio
Ken Gilman joined our Board of Directors in 2017. An Ohio native, Ken owned a beauty supply distribution business in the mid-Atlantic. He served on the Board of Directors for the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes. He lives in Naples with his wife, Judy.
Meg Hardt
Director
Bio
Meg Hardt is the Senior Corporate Engagement Specialist at Arthrex, Inc. Meg’s primary focus at Arthrex is employee and community engagement projects. Currently she manages a Medical Device Industry course at FGCU as well as an internal training program geared towards employee education. She also shares the Arthrex mission with healthcare professionals who are visiting the global headquarters. Prior to working at Arthrex, Meg spent 10 years dedicating her time to philanthropy while residing in Georgia. She served on several board of directors including the local elementary school as Vice President of Fundraising and the Student Governance Council as Secretary. Prior to living in Georgia, Meg served as Director of Operations for All-Ways Advertising in New Jersey where she managed the firm’s product promotion division and developed in store marketing campaigns for Fortune 500 companies. Meg received her BA in Communications from the University of Maryland in 2003. Outside of the office, Meg spends most of her time as the mom of two active kids. On any given weekend you can find her on the sidelines cheering them on. She also enjoys spending time with her family outdoors and together they love to travel, hike, and boat the backwaters of Naples.
Lisa Kahn-Allen
Past Chair
Bio
Interior designer Lisa Kahn-Allen started her award-winning firm, Lisa Kahn Designs, in 2000. She offers interior design expertise for luxury residential and commercial clients across the United States and Europe. Lisa lives in Naples with her husband, Philip, and has two grown children. Their daughter, Chloe, has used many of our compassionate and life-altering services. Passionate about creating opportunities for children and adults with disabilities, Lisa became our Board President in 2018. She also enjoys writing her blog findingsanctuary.com, painting, gardening, cooking and listening to music that Philip has composed and recorded.
Tony McClure
Director
Bio
Tony McClure joined the Board of Directors in February 2023. An Ohio native, Tony spent the first ten years of his career at Porter Wright in the firm’s Litigation department in Columbus, Ohio. In 2012, Tony and his family became part of the Naples community, where he maintains his legal practice (admitted to both the Florida and Ohio bar) at the Naples office of Porter Wright. In his more than 20 years with Porter Wright, Tony has represented clients in a variety of disputes in both state and federal courts. He has experience in matters including complex commercial litigation, probate litigation, real estate and mortgage disputes, and product liability. Tony has successfully tried cases and assisted in trials and hearings in multiple courts and has argued before several courts of appeal, the Ohio Supreme Court, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Before joining the STARability Board, Tony served on the Board of Directors for Naples Therapeutic Riding Center, acting as President in 2018-2019. He is a member of the 2015 Class of Leadership Collier. He enjoys running and spending time with his wife, Kerry, and three children, Joe, Nick, and Anna. His oldest son, Joe, enjoys attending classes and social events with STARability, and is the inspiration for Tony’s service to the Board.
Joe Smallwood
Director
Bio
Joe founded BCB Homes Inc. in 1993 as the President. Since then, Joe has led the company through a significant period of growth establishing BCB Homes Inc. as one of the leading contractors in Southwest Florida. In 2007, Joe became the President and Chief Executive Officer of BCB Homes Inc., and in 2018 Greg Brisson took on the role of President of BCB Homes to work with Joe to run the 150+ person company.
A Naples native, Joe attended and graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. Joe returned to Naples where he worked at Boran Craig Barber Engle Construction for approximately six years and was promoted to become an owner of the commercial construction company before founding BCB Homes Inc.
In Joe’s free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Mary, and their two boys. He also enjoys hunting, boating and family vacations.
*July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2025
News to Your Inbox
STARability Foundation is a 501(c)3 charitable organization, registration #CH172. A copy of our official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free within the state. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by the state. For more information, contact the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs at 1.800.435.7352 or visit freshfromflorida.com.
