Management Team Bios

Sue Straughn, Board Chairperson, was elected to the lead the board of directors of Council on Aging of West Florida in June 2007. Ms. Straughn has served on the board of directors since 1990. Ms. Straughn has been with WEAR ABC3 since 1973 and currently holds the positions of News Anchor/Public Affairs Director, Producer/Host of Straughn & Company public affairs program and Founder/Organizer of Communities Caring at Christmas campaign. Well known for her support and leadership in the community, Ms. Straughn is currently involved with 17 organizations and has been previously involved with an additional 30. Straughn is a true champion of community causes and has been recognized on many occasions including being honored as the recipient of the Media Award in the 2000 Quality Senior Living Awards sponsored by the Florida Council on Aging.

John B. Clark, M.S., President/CEO of Council on Aging of West Florida, has led the agency since 1974. As President/CEO, he is responsible for the overall operation of the agency. Clark is a 1967 graduate of St. Michael’s College in Vermont and has a Master’s Degree in counseling from Troy State University in Alabama. After graduation, he served 5 years on active duty as an officer in the USAF. Clark is currently active in numerous local and state organizations including; serving on the Campaign Cabinet of United Way of Escambia County; Past President of the Florida Council on Aging, Inc.; Vice President of the Florida Association of Aging Services Providers, and District Representative for the Community Care for the Elderly Coalition.

Laura Garrett, M.B.A., Executive Vice President, has been with the agency since 2002. Garrett is responsible for grant writing and the fiscal stability of the agency including preparation of agency budgets and supervision of the accounting department. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree from Bellhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi and graduated with a Master's Degree in Business Administration from the University of West Florida. As a graduate student, she was employed with the University of West Florida Small Business Development Center. Garrett is a United Way Loaned Executive and a member of the Long Term Recovery Committee. Garrett is a member of the LeaP Class of 2007 and the Junior League of Pensacola.

Rosa Sakalarios, PHR, Vice President/Human Resources, began with the Council on Aging of West Florida in 1984.  Sakalarios has worked in numerous departments within the agency including the adult day care and community services programs.  Prior to promotion as Human Resources Manager, she held the position of Executive Assistant.  Sakalarios earned her professional designation as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) in 1997 and is a member of both the national and local Society for Human Resource Management and served on the board of directors in 2004.  Sakalarios is also a third term loaned executive for United Way of Escambia County.   

Jeff Nall, APR, CPRC, Vice President/Marketing Communications, joined Council on Aging of West Florida in April, 2004. Nall is Accredited in Public Relations and a Certified Public Relations Counselor with over 15 years of marketing and public relations experience in both the corporate and not-for-profit sectors. He is responsible for the development and implementation of all integrated marketing communication initiatives for the agency and Senior Solutions, its private-pay division. Nall has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in marketing from the University of Arkansas. Nall is actively involved with the Florida Public Relations Association, currently serving as VP of Communications for the Association and immediate past-president of the Pensacola Chapter. Nall is a member of Pensacola Bay Area Advertising Federation, Pensacola Five Flags Rotary and the Leadership Pensacola Class of 2009.

Kenny Holt, B.A., Vice President/Social and Community Services began with Council on Aging of West Florida in March 2001 in the social services department, serving in various positions including Consumer Services Coordinator, Case Manager, Lead Case Manager, Social Services Supervisor and Social Services Director. In 2002, he was selected as the 2002 Case Manager of the Year by the Florida Association of Aging Services Providers (FASP) and was the Social Services Director when the department was collectively selected as the 2006 FASP Case Manager of the Year. As Vice President/Social and Community Services, his responsibilities include administration of meal programs and case management, as well as staff supervision. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia College of Missouri in 1993 while active duty with the U.S. Navy. He has served as a Loaned Executive for United Way of Escambia County and member of Escambia Long Term Recovery Committee, Be Ready Alliance Coordinating in Emergencies (BRACE), Escambia Case Management Task Force, Escambia and Santa Rosa County Interagency Coalition and the Compassionate Care at the End of Life Coalition.