Staff & Careers

Katie Ballard

Director of Development and Fundraising

Katie moved to Pensacola in 2016 from her hometown of Indianapolis, IN. She graduated from Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy with a Master of Arts in Philanthropic Studies and Master of Public Affairs in Nonprofit Management. Katie has a passion for nonprofit work and finding new ways to build and enrich the community. She brings her knowledge of establishing and enhancing funding for nonprofit organizations to the SCI team in the role of Director of Development and Fundraising.

Rachael Gillette

President

Rachael is the President of Studer Community Institute. She oversees the work, strategic planning and financial stewardship for all of SCI. Rachael focuses on all core areas — early brain development, community building, and leadership development and entrepreneur support — to enable SCI to achieve its mission to improve the quality of life for all people in the diverse communities they serve.

Terry Horne

CivicCon Executive Director

Terry joined Studer Community Institute after a career in media leadership, including as President of the Pensacola News Journal and as well as other newspapers around the country. He is responsible for planning CivicCon Speaker Events with the aim of creating public dialogue on important topics. He also mentors local advocates and organizes classroom opportunities for citizens to be more effective as advocates for positive change. CivicCon is a partnership of the News Journal and the Studer Community Institute to make our community a better place to live, grow, work and invest through smart planning and civic conversations.

In Loving Memory of Rodney Jackson

Director of Business Engagement

Rodney brings his retail and commercial banking expertise to SCI to help ensure we are reaching and serving diverse businesses through The Spring and Leadership Development programs. Rodney is a Pensacola native and has returned full-time from his current home in Dallas. In addition, he is a U.S. Air Force veteran.

Eduardo Lara

CivicCon Communications Director

As CivicCon Communications Director, Eduardo manages all the social media, email communications and promotional materials for CivicCon. This means creating the link between the “big ideas” shared by world-class experts and the minds of local citizens and elected officials who can put these ideas into practice. Originally from Stevens Point, WI, Eduardo has worked in the mental health and social work fields, which inspired him to use his skills in communication to help CivicCon improve the quality of life for the residents of Pensacola and surrounding areas.

Frency Moore

Community Outreach Coordinator

Frency helps manage the public-facing aspects of Studer Community Institute. She recruits and trains program volunteers, as well as other projects that enhance our mission. Prior to joining our team, Frency taught children of all ages in public schools, religious schools, and private schools. She specialized in Gifted Education, Bilingual Education, and Trauma-Informed Education. Frency is a proud graduate of the University of West Florida and is passionate about building strong communities through education!

Steve Nissim

Chief Storyteller

Steve joined SCI in 2021 with the mission of increasing awareness and impact of the great work being done, services offered, and products available. He produces video stories on all aspects of SCI including Leadership & Development training, Early Learning initiatives, The Spring entrepreneur programs, and CivicCon. He aims to highlight the amazing people and difference-making actions of SCI. His work is featured on social media, SCI’s website and e-newsletters. A native of New York City, Steve has lived in Pensacola since 2000 and spent almost three decades as an award-winning TV sportscaster.

Gracie Price

Director of Building Jobs

As the Director of SCI's Building Jobs department, Gracie oversees the day-to-day operations of various programs and events, as well as leading EntreCon®, SCI's annual business, leadership & entrepreneurship conference. She is passionate about leadership and entrepreneurship development and loves helping helping businesses, supervisors and employees grow their skills. Gracie graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in marketing and economics and was a project analyst for Studer Group | Huron Consulting Group prior to joining the SCI team.

Kara Dieck

Building Jobs Program Manager

Kara comes to SCI as a Pensacola native. As Program Manager, she oversees the Building Jobs Programs — which includes planning and execution of all live trainings, managing and growing SCI’s Certification program, and assisting with EntreCon®, SCI's annual business, leadership & entrepreneurship conference. Kara excels in all things organization, streamlining processes and anticipating the needs of those around her. Each day her goal is to bring joy and light into the lives of the people she encounters.

Donte Sheppard

Early Learning Development Program Manager

Donte is the Early Learning Development Program Manager, focusing on the Basics Insights and parent outreach programs. The programs work to ensure that parents have the information and resources to assure their children have a great start at life. He has a strong background in education, most recently as an admissions coordinator at the University of West Florida. He is a keen communicator and can connect with diverse groups. His goal is to build meaningful relationships and make an impact in the community.