Meet the team

Our Board

Meet our dedicated board members who bring a wealth of experience and passion to our organization. From industry leaders to community advocates, each member plays a crucial role in guiding our mission and driving our vision forward. Explore their backgrounds and expertise to see the incredible talent shaping our future.

Taylor Duffy

Board President

Taylor Duffy is a higher education and nonprofit professional that spent most of his childhood competing in tennis tournaments across the country. After undergoing multiple surgeries as a teen, he took a hiatus from the sport and moved to Orlando to attend the University of Central Florida.

Upon graduation, Taylor was appointed by Mayor Jerry Demings and the Board of County Commissioners to serve on the Orange County Disability Advisory Board. As Chair, he serves as one of the region’s leading voices on matters related to disabilities. In 2022, the Arthritis Foundation—the world’s largest organization supporting individuals with arthritis—appointed Taylor to their Orlando Leadership Board.

As Vice-Chair and Chair-elect of the county’s Review Panel for Human Services, Taylor has played an integral role in the allocation of more than $5,000,000 in grants that currently fund over 200 nonprofit programs in Central Florida. As COO and co-founder of PREP Scholars, he also provides career-focused education and mentorship to underserved students in Orlando.

Taylor began working with LSA to unify his passion for tennis with his commitment to improving the health and accessibility of Florida communities. He is grateful for the opportunity to expand his role as a member of the Board of Directors.

Karen Matthews

Vice President

Karen Matthews is a local Palm Beach County entrepreneur and is a passionate advocate for helping others. She is the President and Owner of KAM Business Solutions. KAM was created to help struggling and growing businesses, offering affordable consultation services to businesses looking to improve their efficiencies, sales strategies, and marketing planning. Karen aims to provide companies with the strategic support they need to succeed.

Karen’s career began with a passion for helping special needs children, which led her to pursue a degree in Psychology at Peru State College, Nebraska. She had the pleasure of working with several children on the spectrum and attending several conferences nationally. Karen’s entrepreneurial path began by co-founding several businesses before moving into various leadership roles in sales and marketing, leading sales teams to achieve multi-million dollar sales and breaking company records.

As a board member for Love Serving Autism, Karen is committed to bringing her expertise and passion for helping others to further assist the organization’s mission. Karen is eager to return to her roots and help the special needs community while celebrating how tennis, her chosen sport, can be a therapeutic gateway to increased life skills education and independence.

Jill Jolley

Board Secretary

Jill has over 25 years of experience in the automotive industry with Fortune 500 companies. She has expertise in sales, marketing, business analysis and customer experience. She currently works for Nissan North America as a Regional Operations Manager. Jill has owned and operated businesses in Palm Beach County. Jill is a graduate of Western Michigan University. She earned a Bachelor’s of Business degree in Finance and Economics.

Jill and her family relocated from Atlanta, GA to South Florida in 2009. She, her husband, Sam and son Brandon live in Wellington, FL. Brandon was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 2 and attends the Palm Beach School for Autism. Jill was introduced to Love Serving Autism through her son’s involvement with tennis. She has been involved as a parent volunteer and enjoys working with children and seeing them develop and flourish. Love Serving Autism has given their son a love for tennis and a social network he would not have experienced.

Love Serving Autism has provided a community of wonderful people that have had a positive impact on our family. This experience has provided new friends, resources and a better life for Brandon and our family. I am honored and grateful to be a part of the board. I hope to share what I have gained through Love Serving Autism with others and have a positive impact on their lives.

Dustin Forman

Board Treasurer

Dustin Forman is a nonprofit professional currently working in Development for Back on My Feet, a national nonprofit organization that combats homelessness. Prior to working in the nonprofit world, Dustin spent time working in higher education. Dustin is a graduate of the University of Central Florida where he holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications and holds a Master of Science Degree in Sports Administration from St. Thomas University.

Dustin was first introduced to Love Serving Autism in 2017 while working for USTA Florida. During his time with USTA Florida, Dustin worked closely with LSA Founder Lisa Pugliese-LaCroix, assisting in the expansion of programming in Palm Beach & Broward County. Dustin spent time volunteering to assist with programming both in-person and virtually, leading some of our Saturday morning virtual classes when LSA moved fully virtual in 2020.

Dustin is thrilled to join the Board of Directors and is excited to be part of an organization that he sees making a difference in the lives of its participants. “I feel blessed to be part of the Board of Directors for an organization that promotes inclusion, transforms lives, and creates the skills and confidence to increase the independence of its participants.”

Aldair Hernandez, MECM, CPCB

BOARD MEMBER​

Aldair Hernandez is a professional in the emergency management, crisis management, and business continuity industry. He is dedicated to ensuring organizations are prepared to navigate through disruptions and emerge resilient. With years of experience, he has honed his skills in developing and implementing robust continuity strategies that safeguard against a wide range of threats. As a visionary leader with a passion for driving positive change and making a difference in the community, Aldair’s role as a member of the Board of Directors for Love Serving Autism brings a wealth of experience and a strategic mindset to the table.

With a background in continuity and resilience, Aldair has demonstrated a strong commitment to making a positive impact in the community. He has served in various leadership roles, both within the nonprofit sector and beyond, showcasing his ability to effectively collaborate, strategize, and implement initiatives that drive meaningful change.

Aldair holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of North Florida and a Master’s Degree in Emergency and Crisis Management from the University of Central Florida, where he served in a variety of leadership roles within institutional and student-led organizations. He is thrilled to be part of the team and looks forward to increasing his love for advocating and ensuring that the organization’s mission continues to be successfully executed.

Lizet Santos

Board Member

I am a dedicated, family-oriented mother of two boys, committed to making a positive impact in our community. Beyond my work as a real estate professional, where I assist first-time homebuyers, sellers, and investors, I also connect clients with trusted home-related vendors to support all aspects of their homeownership journey.

In everything I do, whether it’s serving my clients or advocating for children with autism, I strive to build a stronger, more inclusive community where everyone has the opportunity to feel supported and valued. My involvement with this Love Serving Autism (LSA) stems from my belief in the power of sports therapy to enhance the lives of children with autism. I am inspired by the resilience and determination of these children and their families and am dedicated to helping create an environment where they can thrive. By offering programs like tennis and pickleball, LSA provides a space for kids to grow, connect, and experience the joy of movement in an inclusive setting.

I volunteer, fundraise, and serve on the board of directors for LSA because I am passionate about creating a community where every child, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to grow, thrive, and feel a sense of belonging. Through sports therapy programs like tennis and pickleball, this organization offers autistic children a unique way to build confidence, develop social skills, and find joy in physical activity.

I have witnessed the incredible impact that a supportive, inclusive environment can have on children and their families. The camaraderie, encouragement, and friendships that develop through these programs extend far beyond the court. They help foster life skills, improve mental and emotional well-being, and create a network of like-minded individuals who share similar experiences and challenges.

Being a part of this organization allows me to contribute to something larger than myself, helping to ensure that all children have the opportunity to feel valued and empowered. I believe in the transformative power of sports therapy and am committed to supporting these children and their families in every way I can.

Francois Truong

Board Member

After many years dabbling in multiple industries, Francois has found his niche in the financial services helping families and business owners protect their assets, from their children to their retirement assets and businesses. So much, that he was named Top 2 Leading Representative Award in the East/Southern region of the country in 2022 with a Fortune 500 company. He is married and have 2 beautiful children. One of his child was diagnosed on the spectrum and got involved early on. Due to building his own Financial Plan for his daughter, he became so passionate on educating Special Needs Planning and helping families put an ease to financial planning and how it could impact their families without proper planning. He is always looking for something new to learn and more ways to serve his community.

As a dedicated father and husband, his family is his driving force behind everything that he does. He is competitive by nature and always up for a pick-up game of basketball. Francois is a FAU Alumni where he received a double major in Marketing and Business Management and holds an MBA in International Business. He is trilingual, as he was born and raised in France, yet was raised by Vietnamese Parent. He moved to the United States and learned English here as his third language. Francois serves as a member of the FAU Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. Francois is always looking for way to connect with families in the community and serving the Autism community in all ways possible. Because he believes in bringing awareness as well as protecting the community, he has a mission to impact as many lives as he can reach as well as making the Autism world a better place. Francois became involved with LSA in 2022 after attending an incredible event and wanted to get involved. He loves their mission and looking forward to bringing more support to Love Serving Autism.

Melissa Commanday

Honorary Board Member

Melissa is a former student-athlete from Livingston, NJ. She was her high school’s first-ever twelve-letter athlete, playing three varsity sports all four years in high school in soccer, basketball, and softball. An All-State catcher, Melissa went on to play D1 softball at Colgate University in Hamilton, NY where she majored in Political Science. During her college years, Melissa also coached several girls’ sports teams at the local middle school. Her passion for sports and mentoring young athletes was something she was always dedicated to.

While working as the Director of Marketing and Inside Sales for a large national wholesale apparel company, Melissa also coached her son Ben’s baseball and basketball teams. At age 11, Ben decided to focus solely on tennis and Melissa was instrumental in helping him achieve his goals. In 2018, Melissa found Love Serving Autism during her search for an organization for Ben’s Bar Mitzvah project. Ben began volunteering, coaching, and participating in LSA events immediately and the family was hooked! Over the years, including during the pandemic, Ben continued to volunteer and turned his love for tennis into a passion for helping others.

Last fall, Ben began his journey as a collegiate student-athlete at Oberlin College in Ohio and Melissa was determined to continue her family’s relationship with LSA. She accepted the role of Volunteer Chair for the 2023 gala and helped communicate with and coordinate volunteers for LSA’s 300-person annual fundraiser. In January 2024, Melissa joined the Board of Directors to get even more involved with Love Serving Autism. She looks forward to continuing to find ways to help LSA grow and flourish in this new role.

Melissa is also dedicated to student-athlete mental health and is certified in Mental Health First Aid. She is a parent group leader as part of the At-Large Ambassador program for Morgan’s Message, a national non-profit organization devoted to confronting student-athlete mental health.

Melissa is thrilled to bring her background in sports and her passion for helping others to the LSA Board!