Romy Camargo grew up in Crystal River Florida. Romy enlisted in the Army in 1995 and Retired with the Rank of Chief Warrant Officer 3. While conducting a combat operation on September 16, 2008, his detachment was viciously ambushed. During the ambush, Romy sustained a gunshot wound to the back of the neck. The gunshot wound paralyzed him from the neck down. His medic Steve Hill who was the Lead Trainer at Stay In Step was able to stabilize him while his Team ODA 7115 prepped the Battlefield to be medically airlifted out of the Area. Once he arrived at Walter Reed Army a Medical Center he was treated for the gunshot wound and received an operation to help stabilize his neck. At this time the doctors were able to determine the nature of his injury, his C3 vertebra had been shattered and was extracted. His breathing was tied to a respirator and he was paralyzed from the shoulders down. He was then transferred to James A. Haley VA hospital in Tampa, Florida and was an inpatient for 18 months. Romy now lives in Tampa, FL where he is pursuing a furious pace rehabilitation and recovery five days a week and is the Founder of the Stay In Step Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Center.
Romy’s major awards and decorations include: Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Combat Infantry Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Special Operations Combat Divers Badge and the Special Operations Combat Divers Supervisors Badge. Romy is dedicated to Taking a Step Forward Towards Recovery!!
Gabriela Camargo is the Founder and Managing Director of the Stay in Step foundation . She grew up in Venezuela and she graduated from Law School in Caracas, Venezuela in 1998. She has over 10 years work experience within the administration and legal field. She has well developed skills in human relations/ interpersonal interactions.
For more than 5 years she has been an advocate for the military and civilian spouses and family members of people with spinal cord injuries. Her love, compassion, dedication and loyalty to her husband and her desire to help people with spinal cord injuries is the motivation to impulse this great project of the Stay In Step Center in Tampa. Her approach is not just manage and provide a service through Stay in Step , but also touches and changes peoples lives who are living with a spinal cord injury, sharing with those people’s an attitude of faith, hope and optimism during the process of rehabilitation and recovery.
“Five days a week, he would either travel to the Haley VA Hospital or to the only rehabilitation center available, in Orlando, Florida. Because of the circumstances Romy and I have developed a tremendous knoweldge of the SCI treatment and recovery environment. This is my reality, and Romulo’s reality every day. We know it better than most anyone. Driven by our focus on Romy’s recovery within our own family, we also know that most local SCI patients don’t have rehabilitation options in the immediate Tampa area. It is for this reason that we decided to create the Stay in Step Recovery Center.”
– Gaby Camargo
Casilda Saenz de Heredia is a Step In Step board member, with an emphasis on developing the caregiver support group program. She participates in the creation of online and in person events to make the caregivers feel better and give them a sense of control through education; and belonging through sharing experiences. A native of Spain she has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in organizational psychology by the University Autonoma of Madrid. She moved twenty years ago to the Tampa Bay area with a Human Resources consulting firm to work as a liaison with the Spanish speaking clients. Ever since that time she has always found joy in volunteering for low-income schools, translating materials for St Jude’s hospital, her parish and other nonprofits.
After becoming a mother, her career took a turn and became a Florida certified Spanish teacher and worked as such at Saint Lawrence Catholic School for almost a decade until 2020.
At a personal level she is marry to Carlos and together they run C&C Painting Contractors. They have two fantastic children Diego and Nicolas. As a family they devote their weekends to soccer and spend the summers in Spain visiting family.
Creating and maintain relationships and friendships comes natural to Casilda. She enjoys developing connections between people and building bridges amongst cultures.
Jose Javier Torres is a Venezuelan-American citizen, graduated from Law School in 1996 at the Universidad Santa Maria (Venezuela), with advanced studies in International Economic Law and Integration, Certifications in Management of Nonprofit Organizations (the University of South Florida – USF) and Emergent Leadership in Politics (Institute for Advanced Studies in Management – IESA).
After extensive training and experience in American Immigration Law and fulfilling all eligibility requirements, he is now preparing to take the Bar examination to be admitted as a lawyer in the United States.
In the past sixteen years, Jose Javier Torres has been entirely immersed in the immigration area. He worked for seven years at Lutheran Services of Florida as Manager of Legal Services, is the founder of the Free Legal Services Program for Refugees and Asylees.
In April 2014, Jose Javier assumes the Executive Direction of the Foundation of the Migrant Rights Foundation, now Migrants Foundation.
Jose Javier currently serves on the boards of several organizations in the area of Tampa Bay, as following: Emeritus President/Founder of Casa Venezuela Tampa Bay, Director of Venezuelan Awareness Foundation; and Past President of the Venezuelan Suncoast Association-VSA-, former Director at TICH and Senior Advisor on Hispanic Youth Voice – VJH. Jose Javier is currently serving as Director of well-renowned Venezuela Awareness Foundation and its very own program Raices Venezolanas Miami, helping Refugees and Asylees from Venezuela.
When he lived in Venezuela, Jose Javier worked for 14 years in the automotive industry, holding executive positions at BMW, Ferrari, General Motors, Mitsubishi, among other major corporations. Likewise, from 2002 and until 2006 he was appointed Nationwide Coordinator of Peace Judges and a member of the board of directors of first justice on the streets for the political party ‘Primero Justicia’.
Being immersed in both sectors, private and nonprofit, Jose Javier has been able to implement a successful formula of management development, leadership, and management of any model of the public or private organization.
Through his involvement with prestigious nonprofit organizations in the United States, Jose Javier has been prominent in getting billionaire resources from the Federal Government and State Authority to assist immigrants in need. On several occasions, Jose Javier, along with other community leaders, visited the United States Congress in Washington, DC, to advocate in front of Congressmen and Senators for fair immigration laws that would benefit the Hispanic community.
Known as the Hispanic Advocate, Jose Javier has understood the importance of immigration in the lives of millions of people in this country and has since focused his career to inform, defend and help Hispanic immigrants, promoting active campaigns for the protection of their rights.
Jose Javier is a leading analyst of the political situation and human rights in Latin America, with emphasis on Venezuela; being an exceptional expert witness to assist in the defense of cases of political persecution and human rights violations.
Susie Wiggin is a long-standing community volunteer, fundraiser, and advocate for those in need, and for the past five years has been championing for the special needs and resources for veterans of the armed forces and their family members who have experienced spinal cord injury and life-altering trauma.
Wiggin’s interest in raising awareness for veterans of the armed forces stems from the admiration and heroism of her husband George, a military veteran paratrooper turned entrepreneur that both Wiggin and her husband successfully built to a multi-million-dollar business before selling in 2005.
Today, Wiggin serves as Board Member and volunteer for StayInStep, a veteran founded and run organization proving long term rehabilitation and therapy to both veterans and civilians that suffer from a spinal cord and/or traumatic brain injury, or any other neurological disorder resulting in paralysis to those in the Greater Tampa Bay and surrounding areas. Leveraging her leadership, management, communication, and networking skills that were honed while successfully running a small business and managing a 500+ acre farm, Wiggins is responsible for community activation and serving as an advisor to several program initiatives at StayInStep, including the organization’s gala and grand opening.
Wiggins, if you ask her what she does, will say “I’m retired”, but those that know her, know that is far from the truth. She is a tireless servant to the community — Wiggins launched and continues to lead a locally recognized grief and counseling program at Creekside Church, supporting those that have been impacted by loss and trauma, while also serving on committees across several organizations that are helping those in need get access to food and nutrition, as well as events benefiting the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation.
Wiggins grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee and attended The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where her study of music at Cadek Hall launched her music career singing with show bands and recording demos in Nashville, Tennessee. Now a resident of Carrollwood, Florida, Wiggins enjoys volunteering in the community, spending time with friends, and driving up and down Dale Mabry with her yorkie terrier, Winston.
Megan Bramlett is a 7th generation Floridian, who grew up in Crystal River, FL. She attended the University of Miami receiving a degree in Business Communications, was a cheerleader for the football and basketball teams, a member of the Delta Gamma Sorority, and volunteered many hours to the local community.
After returning to the area, Megan decided that she wanted to truly assist in what was happening in her community. Megan returned to school where she received her certificate as a Licensed Practical Nurse. Megan stated, “I had found my true calling…and that was to help others.”
Formerly a Patient Care Liaison and now an Account Executive representing Concierge Home Health Care and Mobile Medical Now. She has been in the Healthcare field for over 10 plus years with a focus on orthopedics, assisted living, elder care, homecare and now venturing into mobile physicians to assist patients in getting the care they need in the home. Her true passion was making sure others received the care they so desperately needed and give them the resources to get that help.
Megan is currently serving on the board for Hope’s Closet. An organization that helps foster families and their children by providing a week’s worth of clothes, baby items and school supplies to newly fostered children that are in the system in Citrus County. She served previously on the Board for The Salvation Army – Citrus, leading their homeless shelter and providing needed clothing, shelter and food, along with resources for long term housing. Board Member for NAMI Hernando, providing resources for the mental health community.
Jon and Megan have been married for 7 years and have 2 children, Josh 16 and Jalena 13, who both keep them on their toes and moving with activities. Club Volleyball, Hunting, fishing, and boating are family favorites.
“Our family has been blessed to know Romy since our days at Crystal River High School an into adulthood. To watch his career blossom, marry Gaby and build a beautiful family. When we heard the news of Romy’s accident, we knew we wanted to reach out and be apart of what he was building. We are truly honored to be a part of The Stay in Step Foundation Family and serve all those needing help.”
Jon Hathorn is a Senior Advisor for Brown & Brown, Inc. currently working on the Tampa Bay team in the Middle Market Property & Casualty Division. Jon grew up in Crystal River, FL and graduated from Crystal River High School in 1993. Jon went on to obtain his Associates of Arts Degree from the College of Central Florida and his Bachelor of Arts Degree with a specialization in Business Management from St. Leo University.
Jon has held board positions on several organizations in the past. Jon sat as Treasurer and then President of Hernando County Crime Stoppers. During his tenure at HCCS Jon facilitated the grant writing to receive funding from the Office of the Attorney General for the State of Florida along with marketing the Anonymous TIPS line and planning the two annual fundraisers. Currently Jon holds a Board Member Position with Boys & Girls Club of Citrus County and is a Committee Member within that organization which focuses on Risk Management and Facilities.
Jon likes to devote his time and energy to organizations and causes that he is passionate about. During his adult years he has participated as a Board Member and Volunteer with United Way of Hernando County, March of Dimes, Children’s Miracle Network and Faith House.
Mindy Miller is partner with the law firm of Gomez Zwibel, P.C., where she focuses her practice on the representation of people who have suffered catastrophic injuries. She began as a trial lawyer over 23 years ago, but her real passion was ignited a decade ago when she began representing injured people and their families. “It is the honor of my life to bring light and hope to my clients during the darkest hours of their lives. Ensuring our justice system is working for the voiceless is everything to me.” Mindy was recently named one of the Best Lawyers in America (2023), Nation’s Top Lawyers (2021) and has been named a Super Lawyer, Rising Star for several years (2011, 2013, 2014).
Mindy is a Tampa native who graduated from Gaither High School before moving on to the Florida State University where she obtained her B.S. in Advertising and her law degree in 2000. She enjoys giving her time to several non-profit organizations including Young Life, a Christian ministry for high school students (where she served as Board Chair for several years), Metropolitan Ministries and Feeding America. Currently her favorite service project involves heading to the streets to help to feed homeless people through Thorn Ministries.
The Stay in Step organization is close to Mindy’s heart because many of her spinal cord injured clients have benefited from therapy facilities like SIS. Familiar with her clients having to seek treatment at facilities in Georgia and Jacksonville, she was very happy to learn that state-of-the art equipment and therapists were located at Stay in Step in the Tampa area. Mindy is thrilled to serve on the Board to help ensure our community has access to these services for years to come.
Married to Darren Miller for almost 22 years, Mindy enjoys family time with their two high-school-age sons. Travel and eating are high priority activities for this bunch. When she can find a few minutes for fun and relaxation you’ll find Mindy reading, attending a Pilates class or decorating for her friends.
Special Advisor/Chief Communicator
Special Advisor/Chief Communicator
Scott Mann believes in leaving tracks. It’s a lesson he learned from his father, Rex. “Leaving tracks” means giving back to causes larger than one’s self, and Scott began at a young age. He spent 23 years in the US Army (18 of them with Special Ops, and 15 as a Green Beret) before leaving for other pursuits. His list of titles now includes entrepreneur, CEO, stability expert, and mentor. Scott was deployed in Afghanistan with Romy and they immediately became friends. He was then placed on assignment with a different unit. Scott happened to be in D.C. when he heard about Romy being in the hospital. Scott joined a group of soldier friends who stayed in the hospital room in order to give Gaby a break. Each took shifts throughout the night watching over Romy. Scott remembers vividly one particular shift. He awoke for his 4 am
Scott happened to be in D.C. when he heard about Romy being in the hospital. Scott joined a group of soldier friends who stayed in the hospital room in order to give Gaby a break. Each took shifts throughout the night watching over Romy. Scott remembers vividly one particular shift. He awoke for his 4 am shift and as he approached the bed he felt eyes staring at him. As he looked down, Romy was not only awake…but he simply said, “Scott, are you ok?” Of all things, Romy was more concerned about Scott than himself. Scott was immediately touched and vowed to stay by Romy’s side and support whatever mission he chose in his recovery. Scott realized as Romy progressed through his rehabilitation, the vision that he and Gaby had for creating a facility. When he heard this vision, he quickly understood that they were all on the same page when it came to “leaving tracks.” Scott immediately knew what he could do to help…he could bring the business structure to ensure the vision of Romy and Gaby could be brought to life. “While Stay in Step has local implications, its potential impact for helping other wounded veterans and civilians get back in the game is profound,” says Scott. In addition to his work with Stay In Step, Scott is also the Founder/CEO of Patriot Families, a non-profit dedicated to helping military families and wounded veterans.
Corporate Relations
Corporate Relations
Greg joined Semper Capital Management in 2008 as the Chief Operating Officer and in 2010 became the firm’s Chief Executive Officer. In addition to leading Semper Capital, Greg serves on the Risk Management and Compliance committees. Prior to joining Semper Capital, Greg served as Founding and Managing Member of CP Capital Partners, LP. He previously served as an Associate Principal at McKinsey & Company in the Financial Services Group.
Greg began his career over 20 years ago and served as a Captain and Infantry Officer in the United States Marine Corps. He earned an AB from Princeton University.
Prior to joining Semper Capital, Greg served as Founding and Managing Member of CP Capital Partners, LP. He previously served as an Associate Principal at McKinsey & Company in the Financial Services Group. Greg began his career over 20 years ago and served as a Captain and Infantry Officer in the United States Marine Corps. He earned an AB from Princeton University.
President – Strategic Business Solutions
MBA, PMP, CMMI Associate
President – Strategic Business Solutions
MBA, PMP, CMMI Associate
Mrs. Bermudez is the President and Founder of Strategic Business Solutions, a management consulting firm specializing in strategic business development, full spectrum proposal services, and organizational and human performance improvement. Mrs. Bermudez brings over 25 years of experience in the state and federal marketplace as well as with commercial and nonprofit clients of all sizes. She has supported a variety of industries from education and health care to manufacturing and services.
Mrs. Bermudez has extensive experience working with extremely complex organizations and programs at the executive level. She routinely consults with C-Suite leaders, Public officials, General Officers, and Flag Officers. Mrs. Bermudez has served on the Boards of Examiners for the National Malcolm Baldrige Performance Excellence Program as well as the Florida Sterling Council, and she applies the Baldrige framework to her consulting engagements as well as in her own organization.
Mrs. Bermudez is equally committed to giving back to the communities in which she lives and to causes she cares deeply about. She Chairs the Board of Directors and is a passionate advocate for Stay In Step Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Center, a Tampa-based, veteran-founded, nonprofit rehabilitation center that delivers long-term rehabilitative therapy to people with spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries. She also commits her time and professional services to The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, ReGroup Foundation, Mary and Martha House, and a number of other local non-profit organizations.
Major General USAF (retired)
Major General USAF (retired)
Major General David J. Scott retired from the United States Air Force on 1 September, 2009. Prior to retirement he served as Deputy Director, Center for Special Operations, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. Major General Scott’s military career included duty as Deputy Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and command of flying operations at squadron, group, and wing levels including Special Operations aviation units in Fort Walton Beach, Florida and the USAF C-130 flight training base at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas. Along with stateside postings General Scott served in Germany, the United Kingdom, Panama, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
After retirement General Scott started, partnered with, or co-founded several companies and now owns Home Port Gallery in Apollo Beach and Bad Monkey Pub in Ybor City, Fl.. He is founder and President of Chinthé Consulting, Inc., contributes to several Tampa economic development efforts, and serves on the board of “Stay in Step” (innovative programs for spinal cord injury rehab), the “Brian Bill Foundation” (PTS, TBI, and chronic pain for veterans) the “Doolittle Institute” (facilitator for innovation at SOFWERX and AFRL), “All American Productions” (cultural and veteran event management) “@RISK” Technologies (cyber security), the “American Victory Ship” Maritime Museum (WWII vessel), and “UCANN” (medical cannabis research).
Interim Medical Director
Associate Professor, CardioOncology Program and Breast Program
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute/ University of South Florida
Dr. Roohi Ismail-Khan is a medical oncologist at the Moffitt Cancer Center where she also serves as Co-Director of the USF/Moffitt Cardio-Oncology Program. She has served 10 years in the Comprehensive Breast Program at Moffitt. She completed her Internal Medicine Residency at the University of South Florida and served as chief resident in her final year. She completed her Medical Oncology Fellowship at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and completed her MS in Clinical Research during her fellowship. Her research interests include reducing or eliminating long-term effects of chemotherapy and improving the quality of life for cancer patients. Her clinical research is also focused upon identifying high risk patient cohorts and minimizing cardiovascular side effects in patients receiving cardio-toxic therapy. Dr. Ismail-Khan is also an active teacher and mentor for USF medical students, Internal Medical residents, and Medical Oncology Fellows.
Most importantly, Dr. Ismail-Khan is the primary caregiver and advocate for her husband, Dr. Nadim Khan. Dr. Khan’s family has resided in the Tampa Bay Area for the last 25+ years. Her husband, Dr. Nadim Khan was also trained in Cardiology and Electrophysiology at USF and he was an attending Cardiologist at the James A. Haley VA Hospital before joining the Florida Medical Clinic (FMC) where he was a leader in Electrophysiology. They have four children and a lot of extended family in the area. FMC and Moffitt have been very supportive of the Khans since Dr. N. Khan’s unfortunate MVA on September 2, 2016. Dr. N. Khan was on his way to perform a procedure at Florida Hospital, Zephyrhills when a drunk driver collided with him (head on) causing a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) as well as multiple orthopedic injuries on the left side of his body. He also suffered multiple intracranial and subdural hemorrhages, resulting in life threatening injuries as well as resultant stroke like symptoms. After being stabilized at Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, he was taken to Tampa General Hospital trauma center. He was admitted to the Neuro ICU and after three weeks, he awoke from his coma but remained in a minimally conscious state.
In October of 2016, he was flown to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta to participate in their DOC (disorders of consciousness) program where he thankfully “emerged” from his minimally conscious state in November 2016. Since then, he has been fighting hard for his recovery. Unfortunately, his progress has been interrupted by late onset seizures. His most recent inpatient rehabilitation followed by outpatient rehabilitation took place at TIRR
(Texas Institute of Research and Rehabilitation). Two years post injury, when they were no longer eligible for acute rehabilitation, the Kahn family returned home to the Tampa Bay Area where the family has resided for the last 25+ years. Upon their return, they were desperate for continued long term therapy. That is when they were introduced to Stay In Step, an incredible Rehabilitation Center just minutes away from Moffitt. Stay In Step is the only rehabilitation center in Tampa that provides long term activity based therapy, the Khans’ chosen path to continued recovery. The environment at SIS and the activity based therapy program has literally saved the family and provided much needed hope and support. Without Stay in Step, they would have been forced to relocate to a city where long term therapy was available.
