Executive Leadership
Shawn Salamida - President/CEO
Shawn Salamida, President and CEO of Partnership for Strong Families (PSF), is responsible for overseeing all facets of the community-based care agency charged with managing child welfare services for North Central Florida. PSF has received state and national recognition for its innovative approaches to foster care services, highlighted by The Library Partnership neighborhood resource center, which in 2010 made the inaugural list of Harvard University's Bright Ideas program. Through a prevention-oriented, family-centered approach, PSF has worked with community partners to reduce the foster care population in the 13-county area by 42% in the last six years.
Salamida also serves on the Board of Directors for the Florida Coalition for Children, with member agencies from all across the state. Salamida has also recently served as Board Chair for the Alachua County Children’s Alliance. He serves on several local and state-level committees pertaining to child welfare issues, and has presented workshops on foster care re-design at numerous national conferences.
Salamida has worked in the field of children’s services for 20 years, serving as administrator both in mental health and child welfare settings. Prior to being appointed CEO of PSF in 2008, Salamida served as Vice President of Administrative Services at Community Partnership for Children in Daytona Beach, Florida. In 2009, the Florida Coalition for Children presented Salamida with the Distinguished Service Award. Salamida holds a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Rollins College, and a bachelor’s degree in Mental Health and Human Services from Franciscan University.
Salamida comes from a unique family background, having 10 brothers and sisters, seven of whom are adopted. He and his wife Kathy have been married 20 years. They have 4 children of their own, and have recently adopted two more.
Thelma Clayton - Senior Vice President of Programs
Thelma Clayton was appointed Senior Vice President of Programs in November 2008. Clayton oversees all operational programs, including out-of-home care, adoptions, case management and partner family recruitment. Prior to working for Partnership for Strong Families, Clayton served as the Operations Program Administrator for the Department of Children and Families. In 2007, Clayton was presented with Partnership for Strong Families' Shining Star Award. In addition, she has received the Outstanding Performance Award from the Department of Children and Families in 2004 and the Ellen Foster Award and Outstanding Service to Dependent Children, Eighth Judicial Circuit Court Award in 1999. Clayton holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from the University of Central Florida and a Master of Arts in Adult Education from the University of South Florida.
Pebbles Edelman - Senior Vice President of Clinical and Community Services
Pebbles Edelman, appointed Senior Vice President of Clinical and Community Services in 2009, is responsible for the oversight and development of all clinical and family preservation programs within PSF's system of care, as well as provider and community relations. Prior to working with Partnership for Strong Families, Edelman served as the Program Director at Meridian Behavioral Healthcare. She has received numerous awards for her achievements, including the Distinguished Service Award for Exemplary Service to the Counseling Profession from the University of Florida in 2006 and a Meridian Outstanding Supervisor Award in 1998. In addition, she was presented with Partnership for Strong Families' Rising Star Award in 2009. Edelman holds a master's degree and a specialist's degree in counselor education from the University of Florida and has been a Licensed Mental Health Counselor since 1997.
Robert Holowiak - VP of Human Resources and Staff Development
Bob Holowiak joined Partnership in November, 2009. In his role, he provides leadership and consulting support to the organization on all HR matters including staffing, compensation and benefits and people development. He is responsible for the strategies, policies and programs needed to attract, motivate, develop and retain the people resources of the company.
Prior to PSF, Holowiak held senior HR executive positions in the private sector. Most recently he was with Rexam PLC, a British company, where he had been Vice President, Human Resources for the Americas and later for the Closures Division. Previously he held the position of Vice President – Human Resources with the Chinet Company, a subsidiary of Huhtamaki, Inc. Holowiak has a Bachelor’s Degree from Manhattan College and an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business.
Michael Reneke - Senior VP of Finance & Administration
Amanda Gray - VP of Financial Services
Amanda Gray, Vice President of Financial Services, joined Partnership for Strong Families, Inc. in 2004, and has been responsible for oversight of the agency’s multi-million dollar budget and revenue maximization since that time. She has also been responsible in the past for various other administrative functions within the agency. Prior to working for PSF, Gray served 30 years with the Department of Children and Families for the State of Florida. During her experience with the Department of Children of Families, she held numerous positions which included 27 years of responsibility in writing grants, managing contracts and budget oversight at both the District 3 and state headquarters level. Gray received the “Total Commitment Award for Extraordinary Customer Service” from DCF in 2004. In addition to her work with the DCF, Gray has been involved in numerous fundraising and community service projects since 1981 with the Junior League of Gainesville and served on their board as Treasurer. Gray holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida State University.
David Glennon - VP of Information Technology
Since 2004, David Glennon has been the Vice President for Information Technology, overseeing the agency’s communications network, software development and data management. Prior to his employment with PSF, he worked as an Operations & Management Consultant for the State of Florida’s Department of Children and Families in Gainesville. Glennon holds a Bachelors degree from the University of Florida.
