Vice-President
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!!
President/Chair
Gabriela Rivero-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
Vice-Chair
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.
Community Outreach
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.
Public Relations
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.
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.
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).
Military & Strategic Affairs
Mercy Ameyaw Aston is a distinguished intelligence professional and accomplished finance senior leader whose career spans elite military service, corporate leadership, and impactful community engagement. After enlisting at just 17—motivated by the events of 9/11—she went on to serve 17 years in the U.S. Army, rising to Staff Sergeant/Acting First Sergeant and specializing in Special Operations Forces (SOF) intelligence targeting and signal network operations.
During her military career, Mercy held critical leadership roles, including Platoon Sergeant and Acting First Sergeant with the 4th Squadron, Joint Communication Support Element (JCSE), a selectively manned, rapid-deployment airborne unit supporting Joint Special Operations Task Forces (JSOTF) worldwide. As the Intelligence Targeting Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) supporting Special Operations Task Forces in Afghanistan, she partnered with DEA‑Forward Advisory Support Teams (FAST), the Afghan Threat Finance Cell, International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF), and multiple U.S. and coalition agencies to disrupt narcotics networks tied to insurgent operations.
After medically retiring due to combat injuries in 2019, Mercy navigated the difficult transition familiar to many veterans: translating high-level military skills into a corporate landscape that often lacks the vocabulary to understand them. She leveraged the discipline, leadership ethos, and analytical frameworks from her military career as her bridge into business. Today, she serves as a Director of Institutional Trading (RIA Partnership Group) on the Fixed Income Trading Desk at Raymond James Financial, where she serves as a liaison between Institutional Sales and Trading, helping connect client demand with market opportunities. She is responsible for both external and internal trading activities, working closely with sales, traders, and market participants to provide timely trade execution and source inventory for client needs.
Mercy’s lived experience in transition fuels her commitment to empowering other veterans. She serves as the Co-Founder and National Co‑Chair of the Raymond James Veterans Inclusion Network, “Valor,” where she helped drive more than $1.85 million in philanthropic impact across 65+ veteran and first‑responder nonprofit organizations since 2018. Her passion for service extends into robust nonprofit board leadership, with roles as the Board President of the Florida Municipal Bond Club, member of the Orlando Health Foundation Philanthropy Council, Chief of Operations for Fox Force Foundation, and Advisory Board Member for Ronald McDonald House Charities-Tampa, and Next 18. Her leadership and community impact have been recognized with numerous honors, including the 2026 PBR Horse Soldier-Be Cowboy Award, 2025 Patriot Fund- American Patriot of the Year, the 2024 Tampa Bay Business & Wealth -Women Who Win Award, the 2022 InvestmentNews- Rising Star Award, the 2021 Tampa Bay Business Journal- 40 Under 40, and inclusion in Marquis Who’s Who in America.
Born in Accra, Ghana and raised in Modena, Italy, Mercy speaks five languages and holds degrees in Political Science, International Affairs, and a master’s degree in Intelligence Studies and Strategic Operations. She lives in Florida with her husband, an Active-Duty U.S. Army Warrant Officer, and continues to serve her community through leadership, mentorship, and advocacy.
