On October 1, dozens of Tampa Bay business leaders gathered for the Beaches to the Bay | Bosses for Babies Breakfast, led by the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County (JWB) and the Children’s Movement of Florida, to discuss how adopting family-friendly policies and championing quality early learning are good for the bottom line – and for children. 

Bosses for Babies is a statewide program of the Children’s Movement of Florida. It’s designed to engage business leaders in boosting their workforce and contributing to community prosperity through family-focused practices.

“From the Beaches to the Bay, we gathered together in a show of force to collectively illustrate that investing in early childhood development, quality early learning, and family-friendly policies pays off,” stated JWB Interim CEO Michael G. Mikurak, who brings decades of successful business acumen to his new role. “Our efforts recruiting new members to join the Movement over the past few months have paid off.”

The Children’s Movement of Florida made this historic announcement.

“Thanks to JWB’s recruitment efforts, a record-breaking 51% of all statewide Bosses for Babies champions are now right here in Tampa Bay,” proclaimed Ric Banciella, Business Director for the Children’s Movement. “That makes Tampa Bay a leader in the state for family-friendly practices that support workforce benefits such as paid parental leave, flexible work schedules, on-site childcare, health care, and more!”  

Bosses for Babies champions in attendance included Pinellas County Schools Superintendent Kevin Hendrick, St. Petersburg College President Dr. Tonjua Williams, Evara Health CEO Elodie Dorso, Amplify Clearwater CEO Amanda Payne, PNC Bank Vice President Dianne Jacob (Retired), Florida Department of Health – Pinellas County Director Dr. Ulyee Choe, Learning Independence for Tomorrow CEO Matt Spence, and many others.

“We are thrilled so many business leaders have stepped up to ensure children thrive in their first five years,” added Children’s Movement CEO Madeleine Thakur. “Bosses for Babies is a win for business, a win for families, and a win for Florida!”

To champion families in your business and be part of a statewide movement to build a stronger, more equitable future for every child, visit: ChildrensMovementFlorida.org/Bosses-for-Babies.

JWB also announced a powerful solution to the local childcare crisis – Careonomics: The Childcare Equation. Working with Chamber partners and employers across Pinellas County, JWB will disseminate surveys; gather, analyze, and map results; and convene partners across broad sectors to determine local childcare solutions. This effort supports our business community and, most importantly, our working families who rely on quality, affordable care for their children. The goal is to make significant, actionable progress against the childcare crisis with the deployment of Careonomics, investing in families to strengthen businesses.

“While the scale and scope of this effort is significant, the resulting impact will be immeasurable,” stated Mikurak. “When families can work and know their children are safe and thriving, we all win.”

A link to the childcare survey will be shared with area chambers of commerce and businesses in the coming weeks, with access from JWB’s website at: www.jwbpinellas.org.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Businesses win by attracting and retaining top talent—boosting productivity and employee loyalty while reducing turnover.
• Families win with increased job satisfaction, greater stability for working parents, lower stress, and better work-life balance.
• Florida wins with stronger, healthier families and communities; more parents in the workforce, driving economic growth; and better early childhood outcomes for Florida’s future workforce.
• Florida will add 4.5 million children under six by the year 2030.
• 55% of unplanned absences in the workforce are due to employees’ childcare issues.
• Florida businesses spend $1.7 billion annually due to employee turnover costs.
• Loss of revenue to the State of Florida due to childcare issues is estimated at $5.4 billion.
• The annual cost of childcare is nearly double the cost of in-state college tuition in Florida.

LEAD PHOTO: Tampa Bay Bosses for Babies Champions (L-R): Faith Bornoff – Pinellas County Licensing Board; Dr. Ulyee Choe – Florida Dept. of Health in Pinellas County; Mary Jo Plews – Healthy Start Coalition of Pinellas County; Maris Mowat – Healthy Start Coalition of Hillsborough County; Lisa Huff – Learning Empowered; Dr. Frederick Hicks – Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County; Matt Spence – Learning Independence for Tomorrow (LiFT); Madeleine Thakur – Children’s Movement of Florida; Dianne Jacob, PNC Bank (Retired); Michael Mikurak – Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County; Amanda Payne, Amplify Clearwater; Katie Roder-Turner – Family Healthcare Foundation; Jean Pierre – Suncoast Center; Kristen Arrojo Gnage – Florida Council Against Sexual Violence/JWB Board Vice Chair; April Lott – Directions for Living; Jake Hornstein – Our Children Have Rights; Elodie Dorso – Evara Health; and Ric Banciella – Children’s Movement of Florida/Bosses for Babies

The Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County (JWB) is pleased to announce the new slate of officers, as elected by the members of its Governing Board, effective October 1, 2025. Officers serve two-year terms.

Division Chief James “Jim” Millican now serves as the JWB Board Chair. He was appointed to the JWB Board by former Florida Governor Rick Scott in 2017 and recently reappointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in 2025. Chief Millican has been with the Lealman Fire District for 34 years. Starting his career with Lealman in 1991, he has risen through the ranks to Division Chief/Fire Marshal. He is a State Certified Fire Officer, Instructor, Fire Safety Inspector, ASHI CPR and First Aid Instructor, and a Nationally Certified Child Passenger Safety Seat Instructor/ Technician. As the Fire Marshal, Division Chief Millican oversees the district’s fire prevention division and is the district’s Public Information Officer. In addition, as the Governmental Affairs Liaison, he has been instrumental in getting legislation passed that helps the district, residents, and firefighters. He is currently President of the Florida Association of Special Districts and has served on their board for nearly two decades. Chief Millican also serves on the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board, as appointed by the Pinellas County Commission. His past leadership service includes Board Chair of the Lealman and Asian Neighborhood Family Center, Chair of the Safe Kids Florida Suncoast Coalition, and a former member of JWB Mid-County Community Council.

Ms. Kristen Gnage is the new JWB Board Vice Chair. She was appointed to the JWB Board in 2023 by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who reappointed her to serve again in 2025. Ms. Gnage serves as a staff attorney on the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence (FCASV) Legal Team after joining the organization in 2025. Ms. Gnage brings more than a decade of experience as a board-certified juvenile law specialist to her position. During her 13 years as an Assistant State Attorney for the Sixth Judicial Circuit’s Child Welfare Legal Services, she advocated for the rights of children and families in dependency, termination of parental rights, and injunction proceedings. Ms. Gnage received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Boston College and her law degree from Stetson University College of Law. Ms. Gnage is passionate about ensuring that all children, whether living with their family or in out-of-home care, have access to the early intervention, treatment, and independent living services that help children grow and thrive in our community.

The Honorable Bruce Bartlett continues to serve in the role of JWB Board Secretary. He served as Chief Assistant State Attorney for 28 years until his appointment as the State Attorney of the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in 2021. Mr. Bartlett was subsequently elected to the position of State Attorney in 2022 and re-elected in 2024. In his role as State Attorney, Mr. Bartlett serves in an ex-officio capacity on the JWB Board in his role as the State Attorney. During his career spanning four decades, Mr. Bartlett has held numerous professional memberships and received multiple awards. He has been a lecturer at Stetson University, instructor at St. Petersburg College and Pasco-Hernando Community College, and is currently on the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission. He formerly served as Chair of the Florida Bar Grievance Committee (6-D), Chair of the Judicial Nominating Commission (6-D), and member of the Pinellas County Police Athletic League (PAL). He received the Outstanding Professionalism in the Practice of Law Award from the St. Petersburg Bar Association (2007), Richard T. Earle Jr. Barney Masterson Inn of Court Award Demonstrating Highest Degree of Professionalism in the Practice of Law (2004), and Elk Lodge 1224 Prosecutor of the Year (1994).

The Honorable Patrice Moore, Circuit Court Judge with the Sixth Judicial Circuit, concluded her term as JWB Board Chair on September 20, 2025. She continues to serve as an ex-officio member of the JWB Board, to which she was appointed in 2014 by the Sixth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge. During her term as Board Chair, Judge Moore guided JWB to its completion of a robust five-year strategic plan, led the organization as it weathered two major back-to-back hurricanes, and oversaw annual $100 million-plus investments for programming, initiatives, and campaigns that strengthened the lives and improved the futures of hundreds of thousands of children.

The Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County’s (JWB) Interim CEO Michael G. Mikurak recently announced the promotion of Rebecca Gross Tieder from Director of Public Policy to the new role of Chief Public Awareness Officer (CPAO), effective October 1. 

As Chief Public Awareness Officer at JWB, she will advocate for children and families through education, legislative action, and authentic relationship-building.

In this role, Ms. Tieder will also serve as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, responsible for shaping and leading JWB’s public awareness, outreach, and education strategies, increasing JWB’s visibility, building public support, and mobilizing action.

“Becca is a passionate changemaker whose career has been defined by a deep commitment to improving lives. She brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership experience in advocacy and public affairs,” Mikurak said at the time of the announcement. “This promotion puts her in a position to have even greater strategic impact.”

Ms. Tieder’s influence spans both nonprofit and for-profit sectors. She founded two organizations recognized globally for their work in combating sexual assault, earning accolades such as a Telly Award and keynote invitations—including the prestigious “Conference on Ethics in America” at West Point. Her expertise has reached more than 500 universities and been featured on major media outlets including FOX, ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, NPR, and in publications like Self, Marie Claire, and Cosmopolitan.

A dynamic speaker and educator, Ms. Tieder has inspired more than 2 million people through lectures, TEDx Youth talks, and her role in the documentary “You Are the One.” She has also advised senior White House officials and brought her wit and insight to the nationally syndicated politainment podcast “Dishonorable Mention.”

Ms. Tieder brings unwavering optimism and creative spirit to this new role, seeing challenges as opportunities and thriving on bringing diverse perspectives together to build stronger, more connected communities.

JWB in an independent special taxing district that has been committed to making children a priority for 80 years. The organization invests in programs, services, and initiatives so children are ready to learn, succeed, and thrive in homes, schools, and neighborhoods that are healthy and safe.