Our Team

Kim Praitano

President / CEO

Contact Kim Praitano

Kim Praitano is the President & CEO of Gilda’s Club South Florida, serving over 5000 people affected by cancer annually, addressing social determinants of health, providing support services, renowned cancer educational, and healthy lifestyle programs throughout South Florida.

Kim has held executive leadership positions for nearly 40 years , working with various nonprofit organizations and served as CEO of Dynamic Leadership Concepts, a consulting firm serving nonprofit organizations through professional development and capacity-building.

She is the Vice Chair/Chair-Elect of the Cancer Support Community Affiliate Network Council, a Board Member of the Ft. Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, Chair of the Chamber’s Small Business Council, member of the Racial Equity Council and a Chamber Ambassador.

Kim is a NJ Licensed Social Worker and a Certified Fundraising Executive with Masters degrees in Social Work and Criminal Justice from Rutgers University and Post-Graduate Certificates from Harvard University.

Bich-ly Ludwig

VP, Development

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Bio coming soon

Valerie Pigatt

Controller

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Valerie joined our team as Controller in November of 2021.  She oversees all aspects of the organization’s finances and reporting and operations. She started and established a 32-year career of financial management experience in the private, public and nonprofit sectors.

Before joining Gilda’s Club of South Florida, Valerie held a variety of positions that gave her a wide breadth and depth of experience and opportunities to hone her skills. By working in various capacities, Valerie is in the unique position to understand the nuances of many levels of an organization.  She gained a wealth of experience in the not-for-profit sector first as volunteer, employee, board member, auditor, president, and controller.

Valerie received her BA in Accounting from Florida Atlantic University and her MBA from Nova Southeastern University.  She is a Florida Licensed Certified Public Accountant and member of Beta Alpha Psi honors Accounting Fraternity.

She has an outgoing personality which sets her apart in the sometimes starch world of accounting. She is warm, welcoming and loves to be of assistance. Both of Valerie’s parents had cancer, she says “I love doing my part in assisting the agency fulfill its mission, so others don’t suffer alone”.

Kahli Mercik

VP, Programs and Services

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Kahli is an accomplished, data driven and result-oriented behavioral health leader with 15 years of inclusive and culturally competent practice experience in the areas of Mental Health, Domestic Violence, Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice. She has  in-depth working knowledge of the complexities of psychiatric and chemical dependency issues. Her expertise is in trauma counseling, anxiety disorders, and family therapy, attracting a diverse range of clients seeking specialized care. She is an Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Qualified Supervisor.

Kahli, most recently had her own private practice as well as being Clinical Director at Recovery in Tune, Ft. Lauderdale Behavioral Health, and in New York, Family Services – Beacon and NHS Human Services. Kahli holds a Master’s degree is Social Work from Hunter College and a B.A. in Psychology from Hampton College.

Tricia Lasher

Operations Manager

Contact Tricia Lasher

Bio coming soon.

Laura Acero

Development Coordinator

Contact Laura Acero

Bio coming soon.

Jenna Kraft Morris

Development Coordinator

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Jenna serves as our Development Coordinator, bringing a wealth of experience and a passion for making a difference. She transitioned into the nonprofit sector after eight successful years in sales, driven by a desire to create meaningful change. Jenna began her nonprofit career as a Fundraising Manager for SOS Children’s Village, where she spent a year and a half developing and executing fundraising strategies.

Jenna holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies, General from the University of Alabama. Her background in both sales and human development equips her with a unique blend of skills and insights, making her an asset to our organization.

In her current role, Jenna is dedicated to fostering relationships and driving initiatives that support the organization’s mission and goals. Her commitment to service and her strategic approach to development are evident in the positive impact she has made and continues to make in the nonprofit community.

Emily Gates

Healthy Living & Program Events Manager

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Emily Gates is the Healthy Lifestyle Coordinator at Gilda’s Club South Florida, where she brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to improving community well-being. In her previous role as Director of Healthy Living at the YMCA of South Palm Beach County, Emily led efforts to promote wellness, designing and implementing health programs tailored to the diverse needs of the community. At Gilda’s Club, Emily continues to build on her expertise, developing and managing wellness initiatives that support individuals and families. Her work fosters a health-focused, inclusive environment, dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for all participants.

Linda Tiga Hernandez

Clinical Services Manager

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Linda Tiga Hernández is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 5 years of experience in Oncology Social Work. At Gilda’s Club South Florida Linda works from her heart’s passion to help others and be part of their support system, by providing direct support services such as Individual counseling and facilitating support groups. Linda continuously seeks to connect with the Hispanic community to bring our mission and give access to our services to more people by reducing language barriers. Some of Linda’s hobbies and favorite things include: traveling, spending time with her pets, dance, play soccer and watch crime shows.

Robert Recupido

Outreach Coordinator

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Robert is the Outreach Coordinator at Gilda’s Club South Florida, where he connects individuals and families impacted by cancer to free, comprehensive support programs rooted in compassion, equity, and empowerment. With a strong academic foundation, he holds both a Master of Science and a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Nova Southeastern University.

As a public health professional with a passion for community wellness, he brings a unique blend of outreach, customer service, and operational leadership to his role. His background includes managing warranties and customer relations at Rebuild Master Tech, where he also supported website development, accounting, and CRM through Salesforce. He further honed his skills in team leadership and service excellence as a Crew Supervisor at AMC Weston 8 and as a cast member in the prestigious Disney College Program, where he earned 18 guest service recognition.

A member of The National Society of Leadership and Success, he is committed to advancing health equity, building trust within diverse communities, and ensuring every person impacted by cancer knows they are not alone.

Arianna Vega Johnson

Social Worker - Care Coordinator

Contact Arianna Vega Johnson

Arianna completed her Master’s degree in Social Work at Florida International University. During that time, interned at Gilda’s Club South Florida and was dedicated to connecting individuals to services in the community and providing emotional support to members impacted by cancer. Arianna was offered a full-time position as a Care Coordinator at Gilda’s Club doing what she did so well as an intern.

Erin Williams

Program Coordinator, Education

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Erin Williams is a skilled public health professional with a Master of Public Health specializing in Epidemiology and Health Analytics. She has an extensive background in data analysis, research, and cultural competence surveillance, gained during her tenure at Prava Institute Medical Services. Erin also served as a Public Health Specialist at the YMCA in New Jersey, where she applied her expertise in social health. She holds a Certificate in Social Health and Development and has published several research and health-related articles, further contributing to the field.