Ella Nayor is an award-winning freelance journalist and community educator in Southwest Florida. Ms. Nayor’s focus is on humanitarian and socially conscious issues. Her work on thought-provocative issues such as the Holocaust and Muslims living in Southwest Florida has raised attention and interest to these and other sensitive issues in the Southwest Florida community. Aside from her journalism work, Ms. Nayor is a board member, community educator and facilitator and grants writer and fundraiser for The Laboratory Theater of Florida.
Ms. Nayor helps secure grant money and other funding for the socially conscious award-winning community theater. And throughout the theater season, Ms. Nayor works to create local expert-based community education panels for patrons to better understand sensitive issues such as race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, mental health, and human relations. Throughout the year, Ms. Nayor creates educational and experiential opportunities for visitors and patrons to learn about the Holocaust through programming with Holocaust survivors, WWII liberators, Hitler’s Youth speaker, and rabbis and clergy. At present, Ms. Nayor is working to create a Holocaust Education Department at the Jewish Federation of Lee and Charlotte Counties and is their volunteer Holocaust Education Director. This new department will be instrumental in developing anti-Semitism programs in the schools and Holocaust education, awareness, and remembrance for the Southwest Florida community. Ms. Nayor is a graduate of Gratz College in Philadelphia, where she is working towards a master’s degree in Holocaust and Genocide Studies where she is set to graduate this fall. In the past nearly 15 years, Ms. Nayor has spoken around the country at schools, colleges, and community organizations to promote understanding, acceptance, and dialogue about humanity.
She lives in Fort Myers, Fl. With her husband, Jeff, and two Scottish terriers Dexter and Fionn.
Nykkie Rizley: Founding Member and Vice President @ The Laboratory Theater of Florida: Director of Operations @ Royal Shell Vacations: President @ FAVR: Adoring Mother of Two Magical Girls: Adorably Dedicated Partner: Feeder of 3 Crazy, Fuzzy Things: Proud Member of a Huge Extended Family: Active Community Member: Beach Enthusiast: Book Nerd: Lover of Great Beers: Affectionately referred to as “Blood Girl”
Ryan Adair, News Manager, Waterman Broadcasting. Ryan is a three-time Emmy Award winning television producer who currently serves as the assistant news director for the local Southwest Florida ABC & NBC network affiliates.
Dr. Geri McArdle
Dr. Jerome Roberts supports the Arts in SW Florida in general, and the Laboratory Theater of Florida in particular because he believes the arts are a culture’s way of sending messages into a time that we will never see. Contemporary theatre is a direct reflection of the state of our current society…sent to a future who will judge us by the theatre we create…now!
Jennifer Isenhower
Zalman Velvel: The Lab Theater is one of the only theaters that has a commitment to producing new plays. New plays are the lifeblood of playwrights. They also have a commitment to teaching theater to young people. That is the life blood to the generation coming up who need to put down their cell phones and participate in their community. When I was asked to be a board member, I was honored to help.
Tiffany Powe-Salters
Brett Marston earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Acting/Directing from the University of Arizona in Tucson AZ. Upon graduation Brett moved to Phoenix AZ where he worked with The Actors Theater of Phoenix and the Scottsdale Conservatory Theatre as an actor, director and theater educator. Brett then returned to his roots on the east coast and continued working regionally in New York, Philadelphia and Minneapolis. While on the east coast Brett founded The Bridge Theater Company, a not-for-profit theater in New Hope PA dedicated to presenting the works of contemporary American playwrights. Favorite plays include THREE DAYS OF RAIN and ART.
Brett relocated to the SW Florida area in 2015 and has had the joy of acting and directing with multiple community theater companies since he arrived. Acting credits include Charlie in THE FOREIGNER, Robert in DON’T DRESS FOR DINNER, Walter in BECKY’S NEW CAR(The Naples Players). Directing credits include SECOND TIME AROUND and STEEL MAGNOLIAS (The Marco Players); CLEVER LITTLE LIES, NIGHT’ MOTHER, CHURCH & STATE and ON GOLDEN POND (Studio Players); THE LEGEND OF GEORGIA MCBRIDE and THE EIGHT REINDEER MONOLOGUES (The Lab). Brett is currently the Executive Director at Inspired Living Bonita Springs, a Validus Senior Living Memory Care community.
Peter Ndiangui, Adjunct Professor, Florida Gulf Coast University.
Yvonne Hill, author, spokesperson.