Meet the Out-Bound GSE Team!

The Group Study Exchange (GSE) is designed as is a cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for business people and professionals between the ages of 25-40 who are in the early stages of their careers. GSE provided study grants to the team members, who will experience the host country’s culture and institutions, observe how their vocations are practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships and exchange ideas.

Though the program is a wonderful opportunity to visit a new culture, the study exchange is not a vacation. Team members are learning to speak Polish so they can present their programs to Rotary clubs in the native language.

The out-bound team from District 6960 will travel to Poland (District 2230) and will stay with Rotarians during the four-week program. The in-bound team from District 2230 arrived in southwest Florida on May 14 and will be traveling through District 6960 for the next four weeks.

Meet the out-bound team from District 6960:

Team Leader- Sandra Scoggins

I live in Naples, Florida with my dog Sophie. I work with a charity organization that does sustainable humanitarian projects in Guatemala to provide primary education, as well as the basic necessities of clean water and food. Since becoming a Rotarian with the Bonita Springs Club, I have led 10 international projects that helped about 100,000 people get clean drinking water in Guatemala and India. I serve on the Board of Directors for my club and I will be the District Grants Coordinator for 2011-2012. I have two grown daughters and a one-year-old granddaughter. When I’m not working, I enjoy ballroom dancing, yoga and travel.

Team Member- Mary Brown

I'm 31 years old and have lived in Bradenton, Florida for almost 10 years. I was born in Rome, New York and grew up in a very rural, agricultural environment. After high school, I attended the State University of Geneseo at New York and graduated with a degree in English literature. I have a very creative mind and have always loved to write. In my spare time I focus on writing screenplays and scripts for television shows. Currently, I am a manager and copywriter for the Johnson Smith Company, a mail-order catalog business. We mail our catalogs all across the United States and Canada. I am looking forward to exploring my Polish heritage while here in Poland!

Team Member- Amara Cocilovo

I am 35 years old. I grew up in the mountains of Santa Fe, New Mexico, but now live about 1,500 miles away in Bradenton, Florida with my husband, Slade and our cat, Milo. I work at a wonderful museum planning special events and educational programs for adults and children. I volunteer on many community development projects and am passionate about arts and culture, preservation of our natural environment and supporting local farmers and businesses. I also enjoy practicing yoga, traveling, reading, dancing and listening to lots of different kinds of music.

Team Member – Jessica Schubick

I am 31 years old. My family has lived in Bradenton, Florida for more than 20 years. After graduating with a degree in filmmaking from New York University, I briefly moved to Los Angeles, California. It was great to see the West Coast of the United States, but I ultimately decided to move back to Florida for work and to be closer to my family and friends. I worked for a film festival for a few years before moving on to my current job at the South Florida Museum where I program a weekly film series and work on various educational projects for children and adults. I live with my mom and our two adorable dogs, and I enjoy traveling, writing, and watching movies in my free time.

Team Member- Carla Ulakovic

I'm 27 years old and live in Fort Myers, Florida.  After graduating from the University of Florida with a degree in Public Relations, I traveled to Australia as District 6960’s Ambassadorial Scholar. While in Queensland, I earned a Masters of the Arts in Communication and Advertising at Bond University. I have strong interest in the environment, travel as well as arts and culture. I now work for a water management district in Lehigh Acres, Florida creating public education programs, writing grants, and working with newspapers to help raise awareness on water quality and conservation issues. I freelance as the public relations liaison for a museum and gallery and am president-elect of the Southwest Florida Chapter of FPRA.