Session II Speakers

10:45am - 11:30pm

Ed Sheppard

Ed is a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard. He has operational experience both as a shipboard Deck Watch Officer and as a Coast Guard Aviator for 20 years flying helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft completing Search and Rescue, Law Enforcement, Counterterrorism, Migrant interdiction, and Incident Management Planning and Response for hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. Ed received his B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and a M.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. His experience as an engineer includes Aviation Depot Operations and Fleet Maintenance, Acquisitions, Program/Project Management, Process Improvement, Metrics Development, Analytics, and Storytelling. Ed has enjoyed the opportunity to share experiences and mentor others as a college and high school instructor, STEM robotics coordinator, sports coach, and leader development mentor.

Presenting in the MS/US Makerspace at 10:45am.

Elizabeth Hallock and David Wishner

We started our company from scratch in St. Pete in 2004 and focused on filling a void in residential architecture and design. Our company grew in size, but ultimately we have kept it small to focus on the aspects of the field that we each love and enjoy today - and we get to work out of our home! Hopefully, the connections we have built within the community, project by project, will be enjoyed for many generations to come.

Presenting in the US Robotics room at 10:45am.

Alexandria Crawford '12

Alexandria Crawford (she/her) is a Chicago-based actor, teaching artist, and arts activist. After graduating from Shorecrest in 2012, Alexandria studied at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, where she graduated in 2016 with a B.A. in English and Theatre Arts (musical theatre emphasis). 2019 Alexandria moved to Chicago after being accepted into the inaugural M.F.A. Acting cohort at Northwestern University, which Tony Award-winning director Anna D. Shapiro selected. Alexandria graduated from the program in 2022, and since graduating, she has worked consistently as an actor and teaching artist. When it comes to Alexandria and her artistry, she loves being part of meaningful stories that ignite conversations that audience members wouldn’t usually have, as it allows them to see the world through a different lens. Along with being an actor and teaching artist, Alexandria is also a passionate arts activist, focusing on bringing inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility to theatre arts communities. To learn more about Alexandria and her artistry, visit www.alexandriacrawford.com.

Presenting in CC 235 - Elmore at 10:45am.

Jennifer Phelps and Brian Wiley

As a BCBA and Director of the Center for Academic Excellence, alongside a high school counselor, we will introduce students to careers in psychology, therapy, and counseling. We will discuss the different roles within these fields, including behavior analysis, mental health counseling, and school counseling, highlighting their impact on individuals and communities. Students will learn about the education and skills required for these professions, as well as potential career paths and work settings. We will also explore real-world applications, such as supporting individuals with disabilities, providing mental health services, and guiding students through academic and personal challenges. Our goal is to inspire students to consider these meaningful careers and understand how they can make a difference in people’s lives.

Mrs. Phelps and Mr. Wiley will be presenting in CC 237 - Roush at 10:45am.

Jon Hoefer

Jon Hoefer is a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience in the graphic design and illustration industry. Since 2021, he has held the title of Creative Director of Shorecrest Preparatory School in St. Petersburg, Florida. His vast expertise includes: art direction, logo design, corporate identity and branding campaigns, photography, print and web design, editorial and children’s book illustration, cartooning and character development, apparel design, and magazine production.

Presenting in CC 239 - Kaschak at 10:45am.

Dr. Carley Befeler

Dr Carley Befeler grew up in Southern California. She earned a Bachelors Degree in History at the University of California at Berkeley and a Masters Degree in Physiology and Biophysics before attending medical school at Albany Medical College in New York. After a residency in Family Medicine at the University of Tennessee in Memphis, she spent 12 years teaching Family Medicine, primarily at Bayfront Hospital in St Petersburg. She is currently taking some time away from medicine to spend more time with her three children, who all attend Shorecrest Preparatory School.

Presenting in CC 240 - Battle at 10:45am.

Jorge Giroud '97

Experienced entrepreneur with a proven history directing organizations within the international travel and incentive marketing industries. Skilled in Accounting, Management, Operations, Logistics, Graphic Design and Strategic Planning. Trustworthy business partner highly involved in the creation, growth and sale of multiple entities in Europe and the United States. Bachelor of Science (B.S.) focused in Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication from University of Florida.

Presenting in CC 241 - Anderson at 10:45am.

Karla Hartley

A third generation native of Tampa, Florida, Karla Hartley has worked exclusively in the non-profit sector for more than 30 years. She spent 15 of those years as the Producing and Educational Programming Manager at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts. She is currently the President and Producing Artistic Director at Stageworks Theatre and runs a thriving business as an independent theatrical artist. As a director, she has helmed over 60 shows of varying sizes and styles, including a more than a dozen world premieres. Karla has designed, performed in or stage managed hundreds of performances from the Kennedy Center to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Karla received a BFA in Theater Studies from Boston University in 1992. Karla is also an adjunct instructor in the Department of Theater and Dance for the University of Tampa.

Presenting in CC 242 - Thorn at 10:45am.

George Quraishi

George is an Operations Specialist at Scale AI, a leading data annotation company that provides high-quality labeled data to train AI applications. His career has taken him through diverse and exciting industries—he's worked as a journalist, founded a soccer magazine, and even launched his own tech startup. Now at Scale AI, he brings his entrepreneurial spirit and expertise to the world of artificial intelligence.

Presenting in the Seminar Room at 10:45am.

Dr. Sarah Longino '13

Dr. Sarah Longino is a small animal general practice veterinarian who earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from the University of Minnesota. She previously completed her undergraduate studies at Florida State University where she earned her bachelor's in Business Management. Dr. Longino’s professional interests include small animal dentistry and client education, where she focuses on improving oral health and helping pet owners make informed decisions. As a St. Petersburg local, Dr. Longino is happy to be back in her community and to treat pets in need.

Presenting in CC 238 - College Counseling Office at 10:45am.

Marcus Blake '16

Marcus graduated from Shorecrest in 2016. He went on to receive his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in computer science from Columbia University in New York City. Marcus currently resides in New York where he works as a software engineer at Google where he develops machine learning models for Google Ads.

Marcus is a huge basketball fan, which stems from his participation as a member of Shorecrest’s varsity basketball team. Beyond sports, Marcus is also a lover of art, music, food, traveling, and scuba diving.

Presenting virtually in the Ohana room at 10:45am.

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