Our Team
Promise Team Members
Jeff Kiel
President/CEO
Jeff joined Promise in 2020 after a career with media companies Gannett and Knight Ridder where he served senior leadership roles as Regional President, President and Publisher, VP/Sales and VP/Finance and CFO. He is graduate of the University of Florida Fisher School of Accounting; became a Florida CPA; and spent the beginning years of his career with Ernst and Young, an International Accounting Firm.
Jeff was born in Brooklyn, New York, and spent most of his life in Miami and San Jose California prior to moving to Brevard County in 2012.
Jeff has a long history of nonprofit involvement including United Way, Chambers of Commerce, Hospital Foundations, Special Olympics, etc. Most recently, Jeff served as United Way of Brevard County Board Chair and Countywide Fundraising Chair. While new to Promise, Jeff is no stranger as he was never far away when working at Gannett including assisting in the $100,000 grant Promise received from the Gannett Foundation in 2017.
Jeff and his wife Gayle have a son Ryan (married to Joanna) with grandsons Brady and Ryder; and daughter Alexa who is engaged to her fiancé Josh.
Nan Evans
COO/CFO
Rae Howard
Director of Programs and Services
Rae was hired as Promise in Brevard’s Director of Programs and Services in June of 2017 after a 15-year career with Cayuga Community College in Fulton, NY. Before relocating to Florida, Rae lived in Central New York for over 40 years and was committed to working with people of all ages with disabilities. Rae earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology at SUNY Oswego and a Master of Science degree in Adult Education from SUNY Buffalo. Rae and her husband, Aaron, have three adult children. Their oldest son, Joshua, had long dreamt of living independently, and Promise not only provides a safe place for Josh to live, but allowed Rae the opportunity to be part of a wonderful, hard-working group of people that make Promise such an amazing place. The best part of her job is seeing so many happy people have a chance to live on their own and continue to learn and grow in their independence.
Pat Rush
Residents Services Coordinator
Pat has more than 30 years of experience in Disability Services, which includes having a daughter with disabilities. Most recently, she was the Program Administrator for the Consumer Directed Care Plus (CDC+) program at the Agency for Persons with Disabilities in Tallahassee before coming to Promise. She reports that the best part of her job is the interaction she has with the Promisers and their families.
Kelly Sullivan
Employee Services Manager
Prior to her work at Promise, Kelly served as an Employment Specialist in Ohio, advocating for young adults with disabilities. After moving to Florida in 2012, Kelly became instrumental in the success of Promise Treasures. Kelly is a native of Massachusetts and earned a bachelor’s degree from Saint Mary’s College/University of Notre Dame in South Bend Indiana. Kelly has been a coach/teacher for more than 40 years, working with individuals ages 4 through the collegiate level, including special education in Chicago. Kelly absolutely loves the Promisers and said she feels great satisfaction watching them thrive within a working and living environment in which she is contributing to their growth and independence.
Tammy Farmer
Marketing & Communications Manager/Volunteer Coordinator/Manager of Aves' Place Ice Cream & Promise Cafe & Bakery
Tammy Farmer was hired as Promise in Brevard’s Marketing & Communications Manager in February 2017 after a 10-year career as the Managing Editor of the Hometown News newspaper. After growing up in the Space Coast area, Tammy earned a bachelor’s degree in Journalism & Communications from the University of Florida in Gainesville. The daughter-in-law of co-founder Betsy Farmer, and sister-in-law of co-founder, Luke, Tammy has had a behind-the-scenes look of Promise since the very beginning and could not be more thrilled to now be a part of such a unique and thriving organization. She and her husband, Josh, have two sons.
Sharon Kindred
Family Liaison
Sharon Kindred was hired as Promise in Brevard’s Family Liaison in March 2015 after a 20-year career as the Founder and Managing Editor of Space Coast Parent magazine. Sharon was born and raised in Brevard County. She graduated from Florida Southern College and has a degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood. She and her husband, Nick, have three children – Chloe, Lily and Griffin. Her daughter, Lily, is a resident of Promise and is loving the Promise lifestyle!
Jill Dunham
Promise Treasures Store Manager
Jill was hired as Store Manager of Promise Treasures in May 2017 and brings with her a wealth of managerial and disability experience. Prior to coming to Promise, Jill was the Executive Director of the Space Coast Center for Independent Living in Rockledge, which is a nonprofit agency that assists folks with disabilities with gaining their independence at home, in the community and in the workplace. Jill also held Vice President and Treasurer positions on the Florida Association for Centers of Independent Living Board of Directors, which served as a statewide voice to advocate equal rights for people with disabilities. Jill said she enjoys working with the Promisers and seeing them flourish in their daily lives with the opportunities Promise has made possible for them.
Melinda Rudisill
Nutritionist
Melinda is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with a background in food science. She has worked the past two years as a health coach and consulting dietitian. She enjoys helping people discover that healthy eating can be fun, easy and delicious. A healthy lifestyle is cultivated one healthy habit at a time. Melinda’s favorite part about working with the Promisers is building relationships with them and empowering them to make healthy choices so that they can accomplish their individual dream and goals.
Interested in living at Promise?
Click Here to fill out a survey that will tell us a little more about the potential resident and his or her needs. When we do have openings, we pull from this list. Please direct any additional questions to Rae Howard at rae@promiseinbrevard.com or (321) 722-7400, Ext. 109.
Interested in touring Promise?
Prior to Covid-19, we provided tours of the Promise Main Campus on the third Thursday of each month at 1 p.m. but have since put all tours on hold for the time being.
If interested in a tour, please call (321) 722-7400.
Every great achievement starts with a dream
Be part of the change in our community
There are many ways you can be a part of Promise. You can stay up to date with the latest news online. Subscribe to our newsletter or RSS. There are also many different ways you can help. Of course, donations are always welcome.
