Schools

Founder & Principal at Amazing Explorers Academy®. He has over 15 years of extensive experience working for investment banks, mostly in the Equity Division. Marcello helped start-up operations as head of sales and trading for Bradesco in NY, one of the largest Latin American banks. From 2000 to 2015, he worked for the top investment banks and was involved in the distribution of very high profile Latin American deals sold to US Institutional Funds. During this time, he established close relationship with the top investment funds in the US and Latin America. In 2014, after his departure from Banking, he started Bilanx LLC, which focused on originating and structuring financing deals for start-ups in the healthcare field. This expanded to other sectors when new high yield investors joined the venture. Marcello holds a degree in Business Administration from the Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania.

Advisor at Amazing Explorers Academy®. He began his franchising career in 2009 as the operating partner for a multi-unit master franchisee for Kilwins Chocolates and Ice Cream in Orlando, FL. During his tenure with Kilwins, Eric was credited with developing the first official sampling strategy that became a “Brand Best Practice”, implemented nationally in all eighty locations, increasing peak sales 38% versus non-sampling. In 2011, Eric became a multi-unit master franchisee for BurgerFi. He was later asked to serve a two year term on the National Advisory Committee for BurgerFi International Board of Directors after developing several key standard operating procedures and Franchisee Best Practices. Eric is a certified project manager from Drexel University, and studied finance and business management at Northeastern University.

Operations Director at Amazing Explorers Academy®. Joanna is an accomplished leader with a proven track record for delivering and maintaining a high quality educational environment. She is versed and very familiar with all Florida Statutes and the Office of Early Learning rules and regulations. Over the past 15 years she has worked in the child care industry in many capacities including a teacher, assistant director and director. In her current role, she writes and oversees all policies and procedures abided by over 200 childcare centers.

Chief Executive Officer at Amazing Explorers Academy®. She is a visionary, outcome-based manager with proven experience in impacting positive change at both organizational and community levels. Expertise in developing and executing innovative business strategies, programs, and projects from the conceptual stage through implementation. Possess a proven track record in for-profit and not-for-profit management. Dana has extensive experience in operations and management in the early learning space.

Melba Luciano is the former Superintendent of the School District of Osceola County. She has been an educator for over 35 years. During her years in education, she held the positions of classroom assistant, teacher, principal, and district-level administrator. As Superintendent, she was responsible for over 7,000 staff members and 62,000 students. Her greatest achievements included raising the graduation rate to 82%, opening the first employee Health, and creating the first K-12 STEM mobile lab. In addition, she collaborated with the City and County governments to begin a community literacy program, Osceola Reads, to prepare children for kindergarten. Mrs. Luciano works with organizations such as the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and United Arts of Central Florida to bring educational experiences to our children. She is a lifelong learner who believes that exposure to experiences makes a well-rounded person.

Joe Luciano is an Educational Specialist in the School District of Osceola County. He holds a degree in Business Systems and Information Technology. He has taught for over 25 years, with his youngest students in Pre-K and oldest students in Adult Education. Over the years, he has led students to state and national competitions. These students achieved multiple top 10 Awards in the implementation of various forms of technology. His finest accomplishment is the development of the nation’s first K-12 Mobile STEM Lab. As Project Manager, he worked on conceptualization, engineering, and developing the curriculum. This traveling classroom has provided a unique STEM experience to over 20,000 students and over 20,000 parents. In 2016, the Mobile STEM Lab was recognized as the “2016 Outstanding Emerging Program” by the national Mobile Lab Coalition. Currently, he continues to educate students in STEM curriculum.

Kelly Rogers has spent her career over the last 17 years addressing some of the most important and challenging public health issues in today’s youth. As Program Manager for Community & Gov’t Affairs/Nemours Florida Prevention Initiative – a department of Nemours Children’s Hospital, she is responsible for strategic prevention and population health initiatives to promote health and wellness where central Florida’s children live, learn and play. Kelly graduated from the University of Florida where she received a degree in Health Science Education and then continued her educational interests pursuing a Masters of Public Health degree from Florida International University. Following her passion to give back by helping others learn and apply life skills to develop healthy habits, Kelly remained in south Florida for many years working with adolescent youth before relocating back to central Florida to serve the mission of Nemours and help young children reach their fullest potential. Outside of Nemours, Kelly enjoys spending time with her husband and their two children watching college football (Go Gators!) and being by the water whether it be the pool, lake or ocean.

Advisor at Amazing Explorers Academy®. Carol has worked in the nonprofit field her entire career. First as a therapist for abused children and later as a CEO of one of the top domestic violence centers in the US. During her tenure at the helm, she became an expert in turning around struggling organizations, using her business acumen to achieve financial stability and her advocacy to engage the community as partners in the mission. She has a proven track record of hard work, integrity, ethics, and success. Utilizing this wealth of experience, Carol has spent the last decade developing a model to assist nonprofit organizations to assess their ability to take their organization to the next level before they spend tens of thousands on expensive campaign consultants. Her services focus on creating dynamic, fundable plans, developing outcomes the community cares about and will fund.