Our Team
Reports
SHINE WHERE YOU WORK
We're Hiring!
Be surrounded by smart, compassionate and motivated people with all abilities.
Volunteer Leadership
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jeffrey Maconaghy
Board Chair
Jeffrey Maconaghy
BOARD CHAIR
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.
Lisa Kahn-Allen
Past Chair
Lisa Kahn-Allen
PAST CHAIR, DIRECTOR
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.
James Varilek
Vice Chair
James Varilek
VICE CHAIR
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
Melanie Miller
TREASURER
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
Holly Shapiro
SECRETARY
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 Jr. Trailblazer Academy and is thriving with his friends in the STARability programs. Holly is passionate about advocating for 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.
Carrie Cooney
Director
Laura Georgelos
Director
Laura Georgelos
DIRECTOR
Laura Georgelos joined our Board of Directors in July 2020. As a real estate broker with more than $500 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, three times and helped raise almost $6 million. In 2020, she was named a Distinguished Volunteer by the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Collier-Lee Chapter.
Meg Hardt
Director
Meg Hardt
DIRECTOR
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.
Tony McClure
Director
Tony McClure
DIRECTOR
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
Joe Smallwood
DIRECTOR
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.
Jerry Starkey
Director
Jerry Starkey
DIRECTOR
Jerry Starkey joined the STARability board in April 2024. He has been active in the Florida business community since 1988 and is currently focusing on mixed-use and waterfront real estate redevelopment opportunities in Naples. Jerry has been on the board of several SWFL nonprofit organizations and currently is the board chair of Healthcare Network and a Lifetime Trustee of the Naples Children and Education Foundation. Jerry and his wife Adria support organizations focused on the underserved populations in Southwest Florida, especially those with an orientation toward children, education, and healthcare.
Andrew Krone
Director
Andrew Krone
DIRECTOR
Andy Krone is a local independent investment advisor with more than 20 years’ experience assisting clients achieve their financial goals, while managing their investment portfolio using a prudent risk-managed approach specifically tailored the needs of each client. Prior to his investment career, Andy was Vice President, Finance & Administration for a nonprofit based in Alexandria, VA whose mission was to accelerate the clean up of hazardous waste in the United States. His educational background includes degrees in finance, math, economics and accounting. He was formerly a CPA in Virginia. Andy and his wife of 47 years, Barbara, now live full time here in Naples.
Michael Rubenstein
Director
Michael Rubenstein
DIRECTOR
Michael Rubenstein, a Financial Advisor with the Matina Group at UBS Private Wealth Management, joined the Board of Directors in November 2024. Michael graduated cum laude from Vanderbilt University, before attaining his JD/MBA at the University of Miami, and LLM in Tax from Villanova University. Michael is a former tax and estate planning attorney and have has over 15 years of experience in the legal and wealth management industries.
As a native to SWFL, Michael is passionate about volunteering, getting involved, and helping the local community. In addition to STARbility, Michael currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples and Estate Planning Council of Naples. Prior to joining the STARability Board, Michael also served on the Board of Directors for the Children’s Museum of Naples, the Naples Therapeutic Riding Center, Canterbury School, and the Ronald McDonald House Charities of SWFL. He is a member of the 2019 Class of Associate Leadership Collier, and 2019 SWFL Top 40 Under 40 honoree. Michael lives in Naples full-time with his two sons, Jude and Matias.
Marsha Griffin
Director
July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2025
