Executive Director
Christi@girlsplace.net
BS and MS, University of Florida
Joined Team GP August 2002
Our Team
Meet Our Team
Christi Arrington
Tara Counts, PhD
Operations Director
Tara@girlsplace.net
BS, NCSU, MS and PhD, UF
Re-Joined Team GP Dec 2023
Nevada Smith
Program Director, After School
Nevada@girlsplace.net
A.S., Santa Fe College
Joined Team GP February 2015
Kevin Pirkle
Program Director, Athletics
Kevin@girlsplace.net
BS, University of Florida
Joined Team GP July 2024
Misty Robinson
Program Director, ACHIEVE and Summer Day Camp
Misty@girlsplace.net
B.S., Oral Roberts University
Joined Team GP August 2025
Jillian Ariet
Operations Coordinator
Jillian@girlsplace.net
Joined Team GP March 2022
Lele, Pink Group Counselor
Gillean, Pink Group Counselor
Trinity, Red 2 Counselor
Isa, Red 3 Group Counselor
J’Niyah, Daisies Group Counselor
Taylor, Sunflowers Group Counselor
Devin, Yellow 5 Group Counselor
Maya, Yellow 5 Group Counselor
Taylor, Green & Blue Group Counselor
Mary, Driver
Alex, ACHIEVE
Amanda, BrainPower
Jusuk, BrainPower
Board of Directors
MaryKay Carodine,
University of Florida
President
Amy Howard,
Venture Realty
Treasurer
Mercedes Machado, PhD
University of Florida
Secretary
Hannah Farrell, University of Florida
Sybil Samuel, Cox Communications
Boisy Waiters, Santa Fe College
Myra Morgan, University of Florida – Retired
Sabrina Williams, Gainesville Community Counseling Center
Eric Atria, Esquire
Arleen Partridge, Volunteer
Leslie Ladendorf, City of Gainesville PRCA
