Our Board
Working together to carry the mission forward.
Leaders Committed to Service
Strong organizations are guided by strong leadership, and at Abe Brown Ministries, our Board of Trustees plays an essential role in helping steward the mission that Reverend Abe Brown first established decades ago. Through their leadership, experience, and shared commitment to service, the board helps ensure that our organization continues creating lasting impact while remaining grounded in the values that have defined our work from the very beginning.
Joseph “Joe” Probasco
President
Joe Probasco is the Managing Partner of Bush Ross, P.A. a highly regarded law firm based in Tampa. Joe is honored to serve as President of the Board of Trustees of Abe Brown Ministries, where he is deeply dedicated to supporting returning citizens as they rebuld their lives and reintegrate into our community. In addition to his legal and philanthropic work, Joe is a passionate advocate for the Jewish community, both locally and nationally. He proudly serves on the Boards of the Jewish Federations of North America and the Tampa Jewish Community Centers and Federation, where he plays a key role in strengthening Jewish life and building meaningful connnections across communities.
His “why” is rooted in his Jewish faith and a belief in forgiveness, repentance, and second chances. Inspired by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks’ teaching that “God wrote forgiveness into the script,” he believes people can grow, make amends, and choose a better path. Through his professional work and community leadership, he seeks to create a just and compassionate society.
Major Kawanna Brown
Vice President
Major Kawanna Brown is the Jail Division II Commander for the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. She began her career in corrections with the Department of Juvenile Justice in 1998 and joined the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in 2002. Major Brown has served in a variety of roles, including detention deputy and supervisory positions in releasing, confinement, and the Field Training Officer (FTO) Program, where she was both a supervisor and FTO Coordinator. Before becoming Deputy Division Commander of Jail Division I, she served as a lieutenant in the Court Operations Division.
Major Brown holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of South Florida and is a graduate of the Southern Police Institute’s 85th Command Officers Development Course. She is a former board member of the Falkenburg Youth Academy Community Advisory Board.
A native of Florida, Major Brown was born and raised in Clearwater. She is married and has one son and a stepdaughter.
Dionne M. Jones, J.D., Ph.D
Past President
Dionne M. Jones, J.D., Ph.D., serves as Immediate Past President of the Board of Trustees for Abe Brown Ministries/InspHire, continuing to advance the organization’s mission through dedicated service and strategic leadership. She is the Chief Strategy Officer for the Hillsborough County Public Defender’s Office, overseeing strategic initiatives, community engagement, legislative affairs, and communications.
A graduate of the University of Florida, Dionne earned her B.A. and J.D. as a CLEO Fellow and completed Harvard Business School’s Governance for Non-Profit Leaders program. She has received the Florida Supreme Court Pro Bono Service Award. Dionne serves on several boards, including UF Law Alumni Council, The Spring of Tampa Bay, and Abe Brown Ministries. She is a founding member of the National Black Prosecutors Association – Tampa Chapter and a proud mother of two law students.
Travis Coy
Chairman, Governance Committee
Travis Coy is the Assistant State Attorney and Juvenile Division Chief in the Office of the State Attorney for the 13th Judicial Circuit, specializing in criminal prosecution with a focus on juvenile justice. He is dedicated to protecting the community while supporting youth accountability and rehabilitation.
Spiritually grounded, Travis serves as a Minister at his church, shaped profoundly by the guidance of his grandmother and mother. Committed to breaking cycles of recidivism, he collaborates with Abe Brown Ministries to help youth and returning citizens rebuild their lives. Motivated by a personal commitment to continue the important work begun by his wife and former Board member Theresa Jean-Pierre Coy, he champions justice, community healing, and transformation through service.
Shelley Fisher Attardo
Chairwoman, Finance Committee
Shelley Fisher Attardo is an accomplished leader with extensive experience in banking and institutional retirement services. She is Senior Vice President and Head of Client Service for Regions Bank and Institutional Services, bringing over 30 years of financial industry expertise to her role. Previously, she held leadership positions at Wells Fargo and a major employee benefits consulting firm, where she was a key contributor to strategic initiatives.
Shelley holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics from Georgia Institute of Technology and holds Series 7 and 63 licenses, as well as the Certified Retirement Services Professional designation. A proud mother and wife, she also served as Treasurer of the Robinson High School Band Boosters.
Dea Wilkins
Chairwoman, Investment Committee
Dea Wilkins is an accomplished executive leader with extensive experience driving corporate performance through technology and strategic transformation. She has held two CEO roles and two Fortune 500 CIO positions, leading product development, enterprise architecture, and global consulting initiatives across industries including technology, banking, healthcare, and energy.
A graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology (BS, Computer Science) and Duke University (MBA, Finance), she brings deep expertise in financial analysis, systems design, and data optimization.
Ms. Wilkins has also been a dedicated volunteer with Abe Brown Ministries for over 20 years, serving as a board trustee, teaching in prisons, and supporting reentry programs. She is passionate about helping individuals overcome barriers and build successful new paths.
Justin J. Bell, Esq.
Justin J. Bell is an attorney specializing in insurance litigation at Banker Lopez Gassler P.A., with a strong commitment to mentorship, leadership, and service. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Journey to Esquire Scholarship and Leadership Program, guiding and supporting aspiring legal professionals.
Justin’s Christian faith, shaped through personal challenges and spiritual growth, drives him to live with grace, mercy, discipline, and forgiveness. He is passionate about serving through Abe Brown Ministries, helping equip incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals with the tools and support needed to successfully reintegrate into society. Through this work, he seeks to restore hope, opportunity, and a sense of purpose to others.
Norman Harris, Esq.
Norman Harris is an attorney and founder of Champions for Justice Law, LLC, where he maintains a private law practice. He specializes in criminal law, entertainment, arts and sports law, and personal injury law, providing clients with skilled and personalized legal representation.
A graduate of Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law, Norman combines rigorous legal training with practical experience to navigate complex legal matters. Known for his dedication to justice and client advocacy, he applies his expertise to protect the rights of individuals and organizations while supporting the communities he serves.
Talmedge Hayes
Talmedge Hayes was sentenced at just 16 years old to multiple life sentences and spent 27 years in prison for his involvement in several robberies. In 2010, the Equal Justice Initiative began representing him after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling recognized that children should not be sentenced like adults and declared life without parole for non-homicide offenses unconstitutional. Following his release on April 1, 2016, he enrolled in Abe Brown Ministries’ Ready4Work–Hillsborough program and is now employed as a printing press operator in South Florida.
Having come a long way from where he once was, Talmedge is driven by a deeper purpose: he believes he can be a vessel to show others that they, too, can be redeemed. His journey reflects his faith and conviction that God grants second chances, and he uses his story to inspire hope and transformation in others.
Dr. Kathleen Heide, Ph.D.
Kathleen Heide, Ph.D. is a retired professor from the University of South Florida Department of Criminology, where she served for 43 years and continues to hold the rank of professor while maintaining an office in the department. She is also a licensed mental health counselor and consultant in private practice. Internationally recognized for her research on juvenile and adolescent homicide offenders, including parricide, she has evaluated individuals charged with crimes since 1978, developing deep expertise in criminal behavior, intervention, and rehabilitation strategies.
Grounded in a belief in rehabilitation and redemption, Kathleen specializes in trauma treatment for survivors of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, and other violent crimes. A long-time supporter of Abe Brown Ministries, she applies her knowledge and experience to advance second chances, restore lives, and strengthen communities.
Jahdel Morales Salda
Jahdel Morales Salda is Vice President of Construction Site Services at HCG Design and a proud graduate of Abe Brown Ministries’ Ready4Work-Hillsborough Program, which played a transformative role in his personal and professional development. Once serving a life sentence at 16, he completed his term in six years through faith, accountability, and perseverance, becoming a productive, goal-oriented citizen.
Drawing on his personal experience with reentry, Jahdel supports Abe Brown Ministries’ governance and programs, particularly the Reentry Programs, using his story to inspire and mentor others. His “why” is to empower, guide, and demonstrate that transformation is possible with faith, dedication, and a supportive community.
Antina Mobley, Esq.
Antina Mobley, Esq. earned her B.A. from Vanderbilt University in 1991 and her Juris Doctor from the University of Florida College of Law in 1994 as a Virgil Hawkins Fellow. Admitted to the Florida Bar in 1995, she has dedicated her career to advocating for those whose voices might otherwise go unheard.
Currently serving as Misdemeanor/Juvenile Bureau Chief and Bureau Chief of Career Attorney Development in the Public Defender’s Office, 13th Judicial Circuit, she has held multiple attorney and leadership roles. A committed community leader, Antina serves as a trustee of First Baptist Church of College Hill and participates in numerous professional and civic organizations, supporting justice, opportunity, and second chances.
Tammy Briant Spratling
Tammy Briant Spratling is CEO, coach, educator, and advocate for anti-discrimination and social justice, with a professional background spanning law, higher education, and nonprofit leadership. She brings a multidisciplinary approach to teaching, speaking, and consulting, with expertise in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB), strategic planning, and storytelling.
A strategic thinker with experience in organizational development, Tammy is committed to helping individuals and organizations grow with intention and purpose. Guided by her spirituality and a belief in second chances, she is inspired by the mission of Abe Brown Ministries, supporting returning citizens, fostering personal transformation, and helping create stronger, more inclusive communities.
Erin Gray Stefany
Erin Gray Stefany is a registered nurse with over 43 years of experience, including 15 years as an Emergency Department Case Manager, bringing deep compassion and expertise in addressing complex patient and community needs, including domestic violence, substance abuse, homelessness, mental health, child abuse, and trauma.
Born and raised in Tampa in a family committed to church and community service, Erin was introduced to Abe Brown Ministries in the 1980s and has witnessed its transformative impact. An elder at Logos Dei Community Church and active in Metropolitan Ministries and the Junior League of Tampa, she is inspired by her Christian faith and is passionate about supporting reentry, restoration, and hope through service and the ministry’s mission.