The Citrus County Chamber Team
Josh Wooten
President & CEO Josh Wooten is a Florida native who has called Citrus County home since 1984. Previously a local small business owner as well as a former Citrus County Commissioner, Josh was appointed in March 2009 to lead the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce. Throughout his time in the community, Josh has served on numerous local boards and advisory committees, including the Citrus Memorial Hospital advisory board, the Florida Sheriff Youth Ranch Board of Directors and the Board of County Commissioners Stakeholders Advisory Group, as well as served as a founder and board member of Keep Citrus County Beautiful, a former State Commander of the Sons of the American Legion, and a life member of the Citrus County Historical Society. He has also served on numerous regional water boards and environmental advisory groups. He is the proud father of four lovely daughters. Josh@citruscountychamber.com 
Corrine Sachewicz
Member Relations Manager Corrine joined the Chamber in 2017 and is presently our Member Relations Manager. She is the Liaison to the Business Women's Alliance (BWA) and Ambassadors. One of her strengths is building relationships within the community. After earning a B.S. in Marketing Management from Trenton State College, she worked extensively with Fortune 500 companies as an Account Manager with a Marketing firm for over 18 years. Corrine is a proud and dedicated mother to her two young adult children who she raised in Citrus County. Throughout most of their schooling, she served on several Gifted Advisory Boards, SAEC committees, volunteered in the classroom and coached Odyssey of the Mind. She currently sits on the College of Central Florida's Citrus Campus Advisory Committee. She has a fabulous green thumb and is passionate about nature and kayaking. She likes to use her creative talents whenever possible. Corrine@citruscountychamber.com |
Ardath Prendergast
Vice President of Operations and Business Retention & Expansion Ardath Prendergast has been a Chamber employee since 2011 and is presently Vice President / Operations & BRE. A graduate of the University of Central Florida with degrees in Allied Legal Services and Criminal Justice, Ardath specialized as an aviation paralegal in Dallas and Washington, DC. However, her childhood passion had always been dance and the arts - so when she moved to Atlanta, she switched over to the nonprofit world of arts and disability, and became the arts manager of the Arts Festival of Atlanta, executive director of the National Association of Independent Artists (NAIA) and also co-founded Full Radius Dance, a professional company of dancers with and without disabilities. In 2004, Ardath made full circle back to Florida, re-discovered the wonder of Florida’s outdoors, fell in love with our Citrus County community and insists she is never leaving Florida again! Ardath@citruscountychamber.com 
Jade White
Public Relations & Communications Manager Jade joined The Chamber in 2019 bringing over 10 years of media and public relations experience from her previous position at local radio station Citrus 95.3. She has lived in Citrus County since 2003 and graduated from Lecanto High School in 2008. Jade considers herself one of the 'lucky ones' having recently married her high school sweetheart, with whom she shares a beautiful daughter. She is grateful to be able to raise her family in such an amazing slice of paradise and among such wonderful community members. "My family originated in Illinois, not too far from Chicago, and to see such a different environment, such a caring and giving community. It's really astonishing. I've never seen an entire county rally around really anyone, even total strangers if they need help, quite like Citrus. I'm blessed to raise my daughter here, and honored for the opportunity to now give back to this amazing community." PR@citruscountychamber.com |
Cynthia Oswald
Program Support Specialist Cynthia’s leadership journey began in New York, serving as the executive director of the Livingston County Business Education Alliance (BEA), a nonprofit dedicated to providing career awareness programs for the emerging workforce, after years in the education sector with experience in everything from preschool to college faculty. After a successful tenure leading the BEA Cynthia was hired as the first woman president and CEO of the Livingston County Area Chamber of Commerce (LCACC). During her time at the chamber, she led the chamber’s 501c3 affiliate the Livingston County Education Alliance (LCEA) and held the county contract for tourism and the Visitor and Convention Bureau (VCB), along with overseeing the construction of the new chamber offices and visitor center. While in New York Cynthia was appointed to the U.S. Chamber’s Small Business Council in Washington, D.C. and Governor Cuomo’s Regional Economic Council and executive committee. She served as vice-chairwoman for the Chamber Alliance of New York State (CANYS), chaired the local United Way campaign and was named Livingston County Business Person of the Year by the New York State Department of Labor. Cynthia has also worked in international economic development in Europe, China, and Africa. She received the Excellence in Community Development award from the New Juaben, Ghana traditional ruler Dassabre Oti Boateng for her work supporting the creation of the first chamber of commerce and business women leadership group in the region. Throughout her career the end-game was always to relocate to Citrus County after discovering the county over thirty years ago when her parents moved to Crystal River as snowbirds. Landing here in 2016 to work as the Citrus County Public Information Officer (PIO) was the perfect position giving her a crash course in county history, culture, and amenities. Life has come full circle for Cynthia, in semi-retirement she is happy to be back in the chamber world as program support specialist for the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce two days a week. Cynthia has a BA in Human Services from the State University of New York (SUNY) and a certificate in nonprofit organizational management from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Northeast Institute at Villanova University. reception@citruscountychamber.com |
Judy Knowlton
Administrative Assistant- Inverness Judy Knowlton has worked for the Chamber since 2015 as an Administrative Assistant in the Inverness office. She graduated from Jamestown Business College as a Medical Assistant and worked Lutheran Social Services in youth services for ten years beginning in 1968. In 1983, as an Certified Activity Director, started the programming for Chautauqua Adult Care in New York State where she found her love in working in dementia and memory care and stayed for the next 20 years. She fell in love with Florida after visiting on vacation, and left New York behind to live happily in Inverness in 2003. After arriving, one of her most gratifying work experiences was being Director of Volunteer Services for Hospice of Citrus and the Nature Coast where she trained administrative and patient support volunteers to provide services to those with needs at end of life. Her work life within the human service field has been very fulfilling. She also enjoys performing in amateur theater. Inverness@citruscountychamber.com 
Missy Slanker
Special Events Manager Melissa (Missy) Slanker joined the Chamber team in 2022 and is presently the Special Events Manager. Although not originally native to Citrus County, she has resided here since 2007. Missy and her husband, Bobby started Sound Decisions in 2015 and joined the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce in 2017. Shortly after joining the Chamber, she became an Ambassador. She has a background in business since 2000 and earned her Associate’s Degree from Remington College. She currently sits on the board for United Way and Kings Bay Rotary. She enjoys connecting with the public and is always willing to go out of her way to help with projects, ribbon cuttings, mixers, luncheons, and fundraisers along with being a business owner, a wife, a mom of 5 and a Mimsie to 3 grandchildren. Events@CitrusCountyChamber.com |
