Executive Director

Ann Davis has been Executive Director of Capital Area Healthy Start Coalition since its founding in 1992.  Starting with an initial agency budget of $113,000/year, Mrs. Davis guided the agency to an annual budget of  $1.2 million.  Prior to her current position, she was the Assistant Director of Elder Care Services in Leon County and ran their Meals on Wheels program.  She tells people, "I went from the old people business to the new people business…and most of the issues are the same."  A frail home-bound elderly person has many of the same needs for an advocate as the neonatal intensive care unit infant.

Mrs. Davis has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Florida State University and did her Post-Graduate work at the University of South Florida College of Public Health Leadership Institute.  She was named a 2004 Distinguished Leadership Finalist by Leadership Tallahassee; in 2003 she was named an Outstanding Community Woman by the American Association of University Women Tallahassee Branch; and in 1998 she was named Florida's Finest by the Executive Office of the Governor for her work to lower infant mortality.  She is married and has one son.

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Director of Operations

Joan is a long-time business and finance manager who spent much of her career in the for-profit sector, managing a small business for more than 20 years. She began working for non-profits as a volunteer, serving on non-profit boards, including a year as president of the Board of Directors of Tallahassee Habitat for Humanity. She also volunteered as bookkeeper and finance manager for a small agency for six months until a qualified office manager could be hired and trained. In 2004, she made the move into non-profit work on a full-time basis.

Joan considers Capital Area Healthy Start the perfect place for her to pursue her desire to make a real difference in the lives of the people in the community. As the grandmother of healthy teenagers, one of whom was born 8 weeks prematurely, she is committed to helping prevent parents and grandparents from having to face the fear, and sometimes tragedy, of a premature birth.

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Community Liaison

Kristina Abernathy is the Community Liaison for Capital Area Healthy Start Coalition. Kristina started her role in mid-July, and feels blessed to have this position. As a former elementary education teacher and Northwest Florida Field Director for the Florida Department of Education, Kristina believes her professional experiences will come in handy as Community Liaison. “My background in education and public relations allow me to assist with the roles and responsibilities I have on a daily basis,” explains Kristina.

Increasing the awareness among the public about Healthy Start’s efforts to assist families and babies is crucial. As the Community Liaison, Kristina serves Leon and Wakulla Counties by providing valuable information about Healthy Start’s resources and tools through a series of health fairs and presentations for young women. “It is important to educate our target audience on the factors involved before and during pregnancy,” says Kristina. “There are pregnancy myths and misconceptions, and Healthy Start feels like it is necessary to offer truthful information through health education with pamphlets, brochures, DVDs, etc.”

Kristina works closely with the Capital Area staff to gain knowledge and insight about her position, and feels right at home at the office. “It’s a learning process, and I take it in stride,” explains Kristina. To continue the success Healthy Start has had over the past 18 years is a goal Kristina is striving for as Community Liaison.

Born and raised in Tallahassee, Kristina attended Florida State University. In her free time, she enjoys reading, exercising, spending time with family and friends, and watching the FSU Seminoles play football.

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Quality Assurance / Quality Improvement Director

Kristy Lee Goldwire serves as the Quality Assurance Director for Capital Area Healthy Start Coalition.  Kristy holds a Masters Degree in Social Work Administration and Community Development from Florida A&M University. She has been working with women and children for the past six years and enjoys working to improve the lives of children.  Kristy truly believes in Healthy Start’s mission and works diligently to make sure women are receiving the services they need to prevent premature labor. In her spare time Kristy enjoys reading, running, and spending time with family.

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MomCare Coordinator

Tracy Coomer M.S.  is currently the MomCare Advisor, as well as the Annual Walk To Remember Event Coordinator.  She began working at CAHSC in 2007 as the Fetal/Infant Mortality Review (FIMR) Project Coordinator.  Although her job description has changed over time, Tracy’s dedication to improving the lives of women and babies has not.  In Tracy’s role as MomCare Advisor, she continues to reach out to Medicaid eligible pregnant women to offer these moms-to-be information and referrals to ensure each mom and baby has a better chance for a healthy start.

Tracy graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Social Work from The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 1987. She then moved to Florida where she worked for several years as a Social Worker with children and teens. In 1994, she earned a Masters Degree from University of Wisconsin-Stout.

Tracy has lived and worked in Tallahassee since 1999 and currently resides with her 9 year-old daughter, Jessie, and their two dogs.

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Nurisng Advisor, Healthy Pregnancy Network

Mary Shannahan serves as nursing advisor for the Healthy Pregnancy Network's Infant Mortality Review. She's served Capital Area Healthy Start in this capacity since 1995 but has been employed year-round only since 1999. Prior to then, Mary was an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing at Florida State University for 18 years.  

After earning a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing degree from D'Youville College in Buffalo, NY (1964), Mary received a Master's in Nursing degree in Women's & Infants' Health from the University of Florida (1972) & a Ph.D. in Higher Education from Florida State University (1980). She's worked as a Navy nurse, a public health nurse, a parent educator, and a nursing faculty member at both Florida Community College at Jacksonville (1969-1981) & Florida State University (1981-1999). While at FSU she received a University Teaching Award for excellence in undergraduate teaching.

Mary is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, the American Nurses' Association, the American Holistic Nurses' Association, & The Association of Women's Health, Obstetric, & Neonatal Nurses. She is also a volunteer at LeMoyne Art Foundation. She's visited China, Peru, Costa Rica, & the Navajo Nation (twice) on various study tours related to higher education and/or health care.

Mary has one daughter, Eileen, an honorary granddaughter, Sarah, and her cat Amelia. She likes to read, go to the movies, attend symphony, listen to many types of music, and is especially fond of classic "southern" rock. A New Jersey native, who's lived in Florida for 45 years, she is still thankful every day for the opportunity to live in this beautiful state.

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Community Health Educator

Denée Glenn coordinates the S.T.R.O.N.G.E.R. Girls Afterschool Program. Before joining the Healthy Start family in 2009, she worked at Jack McLean Community Center where the program is held. She believes passion is what separates the exemplary from the mediocre. Denée is truly passionate about the success of the girls program.

Denée graduated from FAMU in 2008 with a Bachelors in Psychology.  On that same day, she tearfully accepted a marriage proposal from her boyfriend of 5 years, Breyon. The couple wedded on February 21,2010.

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Administrative Assistant

Chelsea Tommasini is the Administrative Assistant for Capital Area Healthy Start Coalition. As the newest staff member, she is eager to learn the ins and outs of her new office environment and is excited to be a part of a company that has such a positive impact in the lives of women and babies.

Chelsea graduated from the Florida State University in 2008 with her Bachelors in Art History. In her free time, Chelsea enjoys traveling, hiking, and spending time outdoors with her fiancé, Josh, and their two Labrador Retrievers, Tally and Sammy.

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