Stacey Efaw has served as the Executive Director of the Emergency Care Help Organization (ECHO) since 2002. Stacey has a big heart for the Greater Brandon Area. Having grown up in a military family and living all over the world, Stacey’s parents were stationed at MacDill Air Force Base in the 1980’s. Since then, the majority of Stacey’s life has been spent in the Tampa and Brandon area. Stacey attended Mann Middle School and Armwood High School. Stacey graduated from the University of South Florida in 1993 with her Bachelor’s in Business Management and again in 1998 with a Master’s in Business Administration.

As Executive Director of ECHO, Stacey manages the day-to-day operations and administration of the center. She is also charged with fostering relationships within the community with business leaders, partner organizations, and the residents ECHO serves on a daily basis. During her tenure, Stacey also has spearheaded fundraising efforts and new avenues for ECHO’s development. Her daily contributions to the organization are immeasurable. An active member of the Greater Brandon community, Stacey is a graduate of Leadership Brandon and a member of the Brandon South Rotary Club. Stacey enjoys being mom to her two daughters, Hannah & Emma.

Joni Damico began her career at the Emergency Care Help Organization as a volunteer in 2004. She was hired as the Center Director in 2009 because, according to Stacey Efaw, Executive Director, “This is a different type of job. We were looking for someone with supervisory experience but who also had the compassion needed to work with the clients. Joni has a very good work ethic and is great with our volunteers and clients.” Joni is originally from Greensburg, Pennsylvania: just outside of Pittsburgh, and moved with her family to Brandon in 1987.

She and her family have always remained diehard Pittsburgh Steelers fans. Joni has two grown children, Jeremy Damico who works for Verizon & Jessica Damico who is a Hillsborough County FireMedic. As Center Director of ECHO, Joni is responsible for a multitude of tasks, including the daily operations of the center, volunteer coordinating and supervising, assisting clients, and organizing special new fundraising events such as the Phil Stacey benefit concert and the ECHO Charity Monthly Thrift Sale to raise money for our food pantry. Joni’s willingness to do whatever it takes to “get the job done” and her ability to multi-task in a professional manner make her a valuable asset to ECHO.

Sharmaine Burr has worked as ECHO’s Client Center Supervisor since September 2012.  Sharmaine brings a passion to her job that is evidenced by both her leadership skills in supervising volunteers and HCC Interns, and her compassion for the clients she sees on a daily basis in the Client Center.  “I grew up in a single family household.  I believe that this experience gave me the patience and willingness to go above and beyond when it comes to helping residents in need,” said Sharmaine.

In addition to her personal experiences, Sharmaine’s professional experience makes her the perfect fit for ECHO.  Sharmaine worked for five years at Tampa General Hospital as the Coordinator in Trauma ICU.  She was responsible for working with doctors, nurses and patient families to coordinate their care.  Sharmaine is also a Certified Nursing Assistant, Certified in CPR and a Notary.

Sharmaine received  her Associates degree in Counseling/Human Services from HCC in 2012.  She is currently working on her Bachelor of Sciences degree in Human Services at St. Pete College with an expected completion in the fall of 2014.

Sharmaine is responsible for overseeing the day to day operations in the Client Center.  She is in charge of supervising numerous HCC Interns and specially trained volunteers.  She also conducts both Basic and Intermediate Computer classes as well as coordinating numerous other classes and outreach programs at ECHO.

Sharmaine has been happily married to Trae for seven years and is mother to Aaliyah and Sharira and stepmother to three children.

 

Kathy Lepesha Collins has a B.A. in Communications from the University of Scranton and a law degree from Loyola University in New Orleans. Kathy is a licensed Florida attorney who practiced for 17 years in the areas of worker’s compensation defense, personal injury and property defense. She works as a freelance writer for the Osprey Observer and devotes her time to charitable and civic organizations throughout Tampa Bay. Kathy first served on the ECHO Fashion Show Committee before joining the Board of Directors in 2007.

A distinguished member of the ECHO Executive Committee, she has served as Secretary, Vice President and President in 2010 before joining the staff as Events Coordinator. Collins call to service is also noted as she is the Past President of Brandon South Rotary an Executive Board Member of Tampa Prep’s Parent Alliance. She also volunteers her time at A Kid’s Place. For 20 years, Kathy has been happily married to her husband Jeff and enjoys spending time with their 13 year old daughter, Katie.