Meet Our Local Team

Nicole Hamm is the Executive Director for Blue Zones Project Jacksonville. Nicole oversees the overall development and execution of the project and works alongside community partners and stakeholders to achieve success. Nicole attended Howard University studying supply chain management and Daytona State College in accounting management studies. 

With a passion for service Nicole serves as the Senior Vice President of Jacksonville Urban League Young Professionals, past President of the Rotaract club of Jacksonville Beaches, and serves on the board of non-profit Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry (B.E.A.M)

Nicole is also a graduate of Leadership Jacksonville Class of 2022 and the Jax Chamber Hightower Emerging Leaders Fellowship Class of 2021. 

In her spare time she can be found reading, exercising, cooking, spending time with friends, and exploring the city with her seven-year-old dog. Nicole is passionate about the future of Jacksonville and looks forward to being a part of it.

Marlo Zarka joins Blue Zones Project Jacksonville as the Public Policy Lead. Having worked in the public sector for more than two decades, Marlo has an accomplished track record for leading long range public policy strategies, public relations, and contingency planning for sustained business and stakeholder development. Marlo supports good people, good policy, and ultimately the betterment of Jacksonville.

A highly accomplished, results-driven public relations expert focused on municipal arenas, Marlo is an experienced political campaign consultant working with all political parties for city and county roles including serving as Strategic Planning Liaison for the nation’s 25th largest law enforcement agency serving the 12th largest city to develop strategic responses for high-priority events. The City of Jacksonville, Florida adopted her Capstone Research Thesis “Best Practices in Serving Public Needs.”

Marlo holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of North Florida. She is also an accomplished athlete; she ran the NYC Marathon and competed in the Ironman Triathlon. She adores everything Italian and is currently working towards becoming fluent in the language. She and her husband, Andy are so proud to instill a sense of place and belonging in their daughter, Amelia.

Rashid Williams, a native of Miami, FL, earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Marketing & Real Estate at Florida State University, a Master of Divinity from The Interdenominational Theological Center, and Master of Arts in Public School Leadership from Teachers College at Columbia University.

Rashid Williams has 13 years of experience in the field of education, three as a teacher and ten in school leadership and program management. In the summer of 2009 Williams joined Teach For America and became a corps member in Charlotte, NC. Upon completing an intensive summer training program Rashid was hired as a 7th grade Social Studies teacher at Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School, where he completed his two-year commitment.  Williams remained in the classroom a third year as a 7th & 8th grade History teacher at KIPP Charlotte, a free open enrollment, college preparatory public school serving almost 400 students in grades fifth through eighth. 

As a teacher, his ultimate goal was to help students understand the importance of history and empower them to be agents of change as history makers. Rashid decided to leave the classroom and become the Associate Director of KIPP Through College program at KIPP Charlotte in 2012. In that role he assisted 7th and 8th students and families with high school placement and college readiness. In 2013 Williams and his family moved to Jacksonville, FL so that he could become the Founding Dean of Scholars at Valor Academy of Leadership, an all-boys, tuition free, Public Charter School.  He served in that role for three years until the unfortunate closure of the school. 

Since January of 2017 he has served in various roles as a member of the KIPP Forward Program (formerly known as the KIPP Through College Program) at KIPP Jacksonville Schools where he assisted KIPP alumni and their families with the process of determining their post-secondary pathways.  Rashid believes that every student deserves access to a quality education that provides them with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to pursue the paths they choose – college, career and beyond – so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world.

Brittnay Camps is a two-time graduate of Florida State University, where she obtained her Bachelor’s in Social Work and a Master’s in Public Administration. Her passion for helping others to succeed by improving their quality of life has influenced her education and career path.

Brittnay serves on the Current Program Advisory Council Member at South University, is a Certified Patient Experience Professional (CPXP) and Social Worker, and is the Former Employee Engagement Council Member, and Nurse Residency Faculty Member at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare.

Brittnay has a wealth of social service experience, including child welfare, geriatrics, and disability advocacy. In the healthcare industry, she’s worked as a director in a skilled- nursing facility, a lead patient experience specialist, led quality improvement efforts, and developed departmental policies and procedures.

In her free time, Brittnay enjoys event planning, baking, attending FSU athletic events, and creating memories with her family.

Kristin Murray is a native of Jacksonville, Florida. She graduated from Florida A&M University with a BS in Journalism and received her MA in Strategic Communication and Digital Strategy from the University of Oklahoma.

Murray is a best-selling children’s book author, a Georgetown Leadership Institute graduate, and a thought leader in youth participation and involvement, globally. 

Kristin has always been fascinated with the life stories of other people and believes that people sharing those stories (giving witness) is a way to spread knowledge and healing. Kristin has worked as a teacher, journalist, professional communicator, and has spent over a decade in the non-profit sector. During that time she’s worked on several certifications around trauma, narrative storytelling and healing centered approaches. Most recently, Kristin completed her journey as a certified breath-work practitioner to help people soothe their nervous systems and reconnect with their innermost self.

Across all of her career paths, three things have remained consistent for Kristin – the value of human connection, the power of the human narrative, and the ability for each individual to live embodied. She gathers people to connect over justice, stories and personhood. Kristin works with individuals, nonprofits, and corporations to deepen connection with self and build relationships with others. In every place she steps into, Kristin believes in giving witness.

Lewan Brunson is a dedicated Public Policy Coordinator who made a significant transition in his life by moving to Jacksonville three years ago from South Carolina. Before making the move, Lewan primarily worked in city planning in South Carolina, where he lent his expertise to assist small communities with various endeavors. His contributions included facilitating facility upgrades, engaging in neighborhood beautification projects, and providing support for affordable housing and repairs. Additionally, he was instrumental in helping local governing bodies apply for community development grants.

Upon relocating to Jacksonville, Lewan became affiliated with the City of Jacksonville and was actively involved in helping to plan and secure funding for several projects, including city park upgrades, public facility maintenance, road resurfacing, and sidewalk repairs.

Lewan has developed a deep affection for Jacksonville and is particularly captivated by the diversity that the city offers. He expresses immense admiration for the unique character and atmosphere of each part of Jacksonville. The possibility of experiencing a different vibe by traveling 20 minutes in any direction makes him feel as though he is exploring different cities within one.

What resonated profoundly with Lewan and drew him towards the Blue Zones project was its emphasis on the vital connection between the health of communities and their surrounding environment. This concept has been a driving force behind Lewan’s career. He firmly believes that communities cannot be expected to thrive if their environments do not provide the necessary conditions for the citizens to flourish. Lewan has faith in the Blue Zones Jacksonville Project to address and rectify the factors that have been impeding community growth.

Brittany Nazario graduated from the University of North Florida with a BA in Cultural Anthropology. She holds a certificate in Digital Marketing Strategy and Business Opportunity from the Digital Marketing Institute, as well as Foundations of User Experience (UX) Design from Google, and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) with Squarespace. 

 After graduation, Nazario spent her time contributing to local community organizations including the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, ElderSource, a local Food Bank, the Historic Eastside CDC, and the Phoenix Arts and Innovation District. She enjoys working on greater stability, improved health equity and increased resilience in Jacksonville neighborhoods. Her work is rooted in lessons learned from the world’s longest-lived cultures, translated to strengthen social ties and sharpen policies to support healthy choices. 

Brittany Nazario is a founding member of Museums as Progress and served on the board of the Museum Computer Network. She actively volunteers at WJCT, serves as the Chair of the Riverside/Avondale Preservation Creative Placemaking Committee, and in 2023 was named one of Jacksonville Business Journal’s 40 under 40. Nazario says the best piece of advice she received is from her mentor Kerrie Slattery, who always says “Good comes from bad.” It’s encouraging to know even when times are hard, the negative will always be followed by a positive.

Carla Reddick is a dedicated professional with a strong background in mentorship, youth development, and organizational coordination. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Florida State University, which has provided her with a solid foundation in understanding the importance of community wellness and public health principles.

Carla began her career as a Mentor at TRIO, Upward Bound Program. She played a crucial role in empowering students to resolve current issues and develop coping strategies. By acknowledging students’ strengths and talents, she encouraged them to leverage these attributes. Her commitment to establishing healthy and trusting relationships through clear communication was a cornerstone of her mentoring.

Carla devoted herself to guiding and supporting low-income and first-generation college youths. She served as a Lead Pre-Collegiate Counselor at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. Her responsibilities included providing academic and non-academic counseling to high school students, helping them set and attain goals related to college readiness and career plans. Prior to her role at Blue Zones Project, Carla made significant contributions in the healthcare sector as an Assistant Program Coordinator for Infection Prevention & Control at Baptist Health. 

Carla’s skills include tutoring, mentoring, leadership, and team building, and she has a particular interest in youth development. Her educational background in Public Health and diverse experience show her commitment to nurturing and developing the potentials of young people, while also contributing to organizational efficiency and health and well-being programs.

Hannah Reese is a Jacksonville native with a passion for improving adequate access to healthcare and opportunities for a healthy life for everyone. Hannah received her B.S. in Biology from Baylor University and went on to expand her knowledge of serving under-resourced and underserved communities at Brown University where she received her Master of Public Health with a concentration in Global Health. 

Hannah has been active in the community as a past participant in Youth Leadership Jacksonville. She returned to Jacksonville following hurricane Irma to direct disaster relief efforts on the north side. It was during these months of working alongside residents, local representatives, and national organizations that Hannah shifted her focus to address social determinants of health to prevent acute and chronic illnesses rather than waiting to treat them. She brings a unique perspective with previous experience focusing on the physiological aspects of health and first hand experience in the healthcare industry. 

In her free time, Hannah enjoys visiting the beach, exercising, walking her dog, reading, and cooking. She is deeply excited by the work and mission of Blue Zones and is thrilled to be a part of making Jacksonville a healthier, happier place to live, work, and play.  

Sabrina is a leader with over ten years of administrative experience. As an administrator, she has past experience working as an Office Administrator for TerraWise Homes, a staff accountant at River Region, and currently as Parent Liaison for Duval County Public Schools and entrepreneur.

Sabrina specializes in efficiency. She is a detail-oriented and results-driven professional with extensive experience coordinating school-based events and programming to support teachers and parents to be involved in shaping the culture in schools. Sabrina is proficient in project planning and time management with a strong ability to identify and resolve challenges proactively. In addition, Sabrina has an innate ability to build collaborative relationships and adapt to various work environments while maintaining a high level of professionalism.

Sabrina has called Jacksonville, Florida home since birth. From elementary to high school Sabrina has attended Duval Public County schools. Since a young girl, Sabrina has received many awards and distinctions for her academic excellence. She is a proud graduate of Stanton College Preparatory School, recognized as the #1 high school in the nation while there. She has always been a woman of excellence and vision, achieving her goals of attending specific secondary and post-secondary institutions, a dream she’s had since the age of seven.

Sabrina graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor of science in Social Science and a business minor. She has a certificate of entrepreneurship from Jax Bridges and a leadership certificate from Impact Church of Jacksonville. As an entrepreneur, she enjoys using her skills in hospitality, organizing, marketing, and events to help businesses achieve their goals.

As Blue Zone Project Jacksonville Schools Coordinator, Sabrina has married her personal passion for wellness and education. Sabrina is the mother of two beautiful kids that attend a DCPS school. As a parent and community advocate she is committed to working alongside schools in our city to make sure that every student’s school experience is healthy and successful! Sabrina enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, reading and encouraging women in Jacksonville to be their best at home.

As the Office/Events Coordinator, Blue Zones Project-Jacksonville and a member of the Operations team, Toni manages and maintains the smooth operation of the Blue Zones Project- Jacksonville office. Along with supporting the Executive Director and Sector Leads, her goal is to ensure a well-organized work and office environment that enables the team to focus on their core responsibilities. Toni counts communication, team collaboration, administrative proficiency and problem-solving amongst her key-skills.

As a native New Yorker, and a resident of Jacksonville for 16 years, Toni has worked in the nonprofit sector for 10+ years. After attending Hunter College, CUNY, Toni worked to support the deaf and hard of hearing community at LaGuardia College and went on to gain her experience in working with several under served and under-resourced communities. It is that work which prompted her to pursue her Florida Certification as a Community Health Worker.

Toni is highly dedicated to continuous self improvement and is passionate about the well-being of those around her. She is committed to being a part of, and helping to create a positive and inclusive work space. Toni actively seeks opportunities to enhance work processes and to contribute to her team’s and the organization’s success.

Hayley Spring is the Public Policy Coordinator at Blue Zones Project Jacksonville. Prior to joining Blue Zones, Hayley served in the City of Jacksonville’s Public Affairs Office, where she specialized in city services, policy initiatives, and community development across Jacksonville’s 840+ square miles.

Born and raised in Jacksonville, Hayley believes strongly in creating tangible, local change. She received her Bachelor’s in Political Science and Psychology from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., before moving back home to cut her teeth in local government. With a focus on accessibility and transparency, Hayley is passionate about creating environments that work for everyone. She is an adept communicator, transforming complex, niche initiatives into palatable, accessible products. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Public Administration at the University of North Florida.

Outside of work and class, Hayley enjoys gardening, trying new recipes, long walks along the St. Johns River, and spending time with her family, friends, and Harriet the Cat. 

Ben McKissick-Hawley is the Organization and Well-Being Coordinator for Blue Zones Project Jacksonville, where he helps advance strategies that improve community health and longevity through environmental design, policy, and engagement. His background includes work with the City of Jacksonville as a City Planner and Project Intern, as well as regional planning experience with the Northeast Florida Regional Council. Earlier in his career, he served as Program Director at Eau Gallie Yacht Club, building leadership and problem-solving skills that continue to shape his approach to community well-being.

A graduate of Jacksonville University with a degree in Political Science, Ben is passionate about creating healthier, more connected places for people to live, work, and thrive. A Jacksonville native, he treasures the city’s natural beauty—from its marshes and rivers to its hidden trails—and often finds inspiration walking the Southbank Riverwalk along the St. Johns River. For Ben, joining Blue Zones Project Jacksonville is a natural extension of his personal mission: to make a positive impact on others and help unlock the full potential of the city he calls home.