Hernando County is blessed with many fine community service organizations, as well as individuals who are not only successful business people, but who also dedicate hundreds of hours to causes they are passionate about. The list of fourteen nominees who are up for outstanding community leader is not exhaustive, by any means. It represents people whose friends or colleagues nominated them for the Readers’ Choice contest.
Cristina Alonzo, and her husband, Chelo “Jose” Alonzo, are co-owners/brokers of Florida’s A Team Realty. For Cristina, opening her real estate firm has given her a platform to give back in meaningful ways. “One of my proudest moments was hosting a community Thanksgiving for the National Alliance on Mental Illness where we were able to feed over 200 people,” Cristina remarked.
When it comes to ways to improve Hernando County, she realizes that growth benefits her business, but that it’s vital to invest in infrastructure, hire more teachers, ensure our hospitals are fully staffed, and prioritize the services that a growing community needs.
Ryan Amsler was elected a county commissioner in 2024. He takes his job seriously and is the face of the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) at many community functions. Among the events he recently participated in were the United Way of Hernando’s 10th Anniversary Kickball Tournament, the 100th birthday party for a veteran and a check presentation to the Dawn Center. His interest in abused spouses stems from his past work in the Guardian Ad Litem program in Hillsborough County.
Ryan states, “My greatest recent accomplishment would be earning the trust of the voters to represent their voice. I believe we need to focus on safety, infrastructure, and encouraging high paying jobs into the county, not growing government costs−all by prioritizing roads in our budget, finding new efficiencies in our spending and investing properly in economic development.”
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Brian Brijbag grew up in Hernando County. His law firm handles personal injury and malpractice cases, health law, and estate planning, along with other issues. Through his Project Jubilee, he has spearheaded an effort to erase medical debt for more than 1,600 area families totaling $3.2 million.
The Matthew Project, one of the projects connected with the Brijbag Family Foundation saw 2000 gifts given to homeless kids last Christmas. Another project Brian and his wife, Stephanie hold dear to their hearts is Rachel’s Room Project−named after their daughter, Rachel, who is Autistic.
Along with his successful law practice, involvement in the various projects of his foundation, and helping raise his five children, Brian manages to find time for other pursuits.
He acts in plays at Stage West; has written a couple of plays, himself; and cheers on his children who are budding actors. Brian is also a history and anthropology buff and enjoys exploring Florida’s lesser-known cultural stories.
“Hernando County is growing quickly, and with that growth comes both opportunity and responsibility,” Brian states. “I think we need to champion more inclusive community spaces and mental health resources, especially for our youth. If we keep prioritizing people over politics and look out for one another the way small towns are meant to, we’ll keep Hernando not only growing, but thriving.”
Tina and Wayne Cordova founded Posability, an organization that provides opportunities for support to children with disabilities and their families because their daughter Emmalee has several disabilities. Their facility in Spring Hill houses a special room in which children who are hypersensitive to sensory stimulation can play and create. They have after school and weekend programs. The organization also educates the public and advocates for those affected by disabilities.
“One of our proudest accomplishments in recent years at Posability has been the launch of new programs. Our F.R.I.E.N.D.S. program started in 2024 and has made significant strides in providing teens with disabilities a space to develop social skills and foster friendships. Our Posability Pictures program offers sensory-friendly movie experiences that bring accessibility to cinema for families,” Wayne remarks.
The Cordovas acknowledge that Hernando County has a strong sense of community, but there’s always room for improvement, especially in terms of disability inclusion and accessibility. They would like to see increased accessibility in public spaces, such as parks and libraries. “By continuing to educate, advocate, and collaborate, we can make Hernando County not just better, but a model of community inclusivity and support,” Cordova concludes.
Vivian Rivera Hernandez is the founder of Hernando Hispanic Heritage, a 501 c3 non-profit corporation that promotes Hispanic culture. She considers their greatest accomplishment was having the BOCC sign the very first proclamation recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month and bringing this celebration to Hernando County.
“I love our community and, moving forward, our leaders should discuss looking into offering entertainment, special events, park activities, more camps and other things for families to have fun in our county that may also in turn generate additional funds for the county,” Vivian states.
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Brandy Homan is deeply committed to her community. She serves on the boards of NAMI (National Alliance for Mental Illness), Rotary, and Kiwanis, dedicating her time to advocacy, service projects, and leadership initiatives.
She is always looking for ways to uplift and support those making a difference. For example, recently Brandy was the “celebrity” coach for the Timber Pines team in the United Way of Hernando’s 10th Anniversary Kickball Tournament.
On a personal level, Brandy cherishes time with her amazing husband, who is also her favorite travel buddy. She is a proud mom and Mimi, deeply devoted to her family. Her furbabies hold a special place in her heart, and she balances her busy life with a love for adventure, laughter, and making a difference.
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Natalie Kahler, the former Executive Director of Brooksville Main Street is involved in promoting the rich history of Hernando County. She is especially interested in the fascinating 170-year-old history of Chinsegut Hill Manor House and historic site. In that effort, Natalie hosts a podcast found on www.erdiary.com.
She also helped organize the Booksville Festival. The purpose of this event is to promote local authors and encourage more people to become avid readers. The first festival was held in January and will become an annual event.
Natalie believes that, “When you think about places people want to live or visit, they are spaces with very clear identities. The new buildings they construct and the events they hold all reflect a celebration of that identity. If we could unify around Hernando’s incredible assets, a lot of our problems would naturally dissolve.”
Mat Kline is CEO of You Thrive Florida, formerly Mid Florida Community Services, an agency that helps low income citizens with programs such as assistance paying utilities, child care and providing meals. Growing up poor he understands what disadvantaged people endure and how rewarding it is to observe the impact their services have on families and communities. “One of my greatest accomplishments was leading staff through the COVID pandemic. We experienced many challenges as it relates to funding, sustaining operations, and potential vaccine mandates. Our teams were resilient and remained committed to providing high quality services to individuals and families.”
Kline believes that the local community services network needs better communication, collaboration, reciprocal support, and leveraging of resources to make the most impact.
John Mitten, with his signature bow tie, is seen almost everywhere in Hernando County. He serves or has served on a number of boards, such as those of the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Pasco Hernando State College.
He was twice appointed by the governor to fill vacant seats on the BOCC and during his terms was elected chairman by his fellow board members. He supports numerous community organizations and attends many events.
As a franchisee of the Chick-fil-A corporation, Mitten takes seriously their Corporate Purpose: “To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us. To be a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.” This motivates him to be of service when the opportunity presents itself, whether it’s “in the moment or over time in service with an organization.” And John’s been doing this since he arrived here in 2003.
Looking at John in his natty business attire, you wouldn’t guess that he’s a farmer at heart. After a week attending to his many responsibilities, John states, “I enjoy being on my tractor or working on my small farm.”
Jessica Wright, in nominating Mitten for Outstanding Community Leader, states, “He is consistently demonstrating the ability to inspire and motivate others to work towards a common goal.”
Mike Nolen’s desire to help local entrepreneurs thrive, led him to create www.myHernando.com to promote small businesses and local events.
He explains his motivation this way: “Even though Hernando is a small county, there are a large number of creative and skillful artisans and vendors. However, the cost of the craft materials, vendor fees, social media promotions, and the eventual website would added up pretty quickly.”
He wanted to give these people a way to promote their businesses and believes in finding and celebrating commonalities instead of conflicts. As with the other nominees, Nolen sees Hernando as a good place in which to live but realizes that improvements can be made. “My hope would be that it [the website] opens up opportunities to bring the community closer together.”
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Tony Schoene is the owner of Muscle 4 Hire, a company that specializes in local and long distance moving, junk removal and even assisting the elderly and disabled in moving items around their home. They also participate in community events, such as the upcoming Back to School event by Noble Outreach Ministries.
When not involved in running his business or participating in community activities, Schoene enjoys spending time with his family, traveling and visiting new places.
Tony remarks, “Hernando County has been growing quickly in recent years. I feel it is important that the county build facilities for families and children to partake in positive activities and events.”
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April Johnson Spence has been an advocate in Hernando county for many years−from helping to organize Vet Fest, an event that showcases products and services for veterans and military personnel; to starting a Facebook group called Hernando County Voters, where people of all political persuasions can discuss issues; and another Facebook group called Hernando County Homesteading in which she and other members share ideas for sustainable living through growing your own food, recycling and even raising chickens.
When she’s not in advocacy mode or running her social media marketing company, she enjoys being outdoors in her garden, preserving food, and building her homesteading skills.
April states, “Hernando County has so much potential, but it needs transparent leadership, responsible development, and stronger civic engagement. By supporting citizen-led efforts, holding officials accountable, and creating space for all voices, we can build a more informed, united, and empowered community.”
Two other individuals were nominated for Outstanding Community Leader, but they were not available for interviews. They are Louis John and Tanya Stanton. Stanton works for You Thrive as the Director of Early Learning Programs. She works tirelessly to ensure that young learners receive the high-quality early education they deserve while collaborating with community partners, advocates for family resources. She inspires her team to go above and beyond every day.
Louis John recently spearheaded a massive hurricane relief drive last year and he manages the Spring Hill Neighbors Facebook Group dedicated to local issues and initiatives, further showcasing his commitment to making a difference.
These 14 nominees demonstrate the spirit of what being part of a community is all about.
Voting in all categories ends April 18. Be sure an go online at Hernando Sun 2025 Reader’s Choice Competition Support your favorite business, individual and organization. Let your voice be heard and make your vote count.
