June 13, 2025
The USF Foundation Board of Directors recently appointed new leadership and expanded its membership, furthering its mission to inspire philanthropy and steward resources that support USF’s pursuit of excellence.
Previous Foundation Board Vice Chair Debbie Sembler, a community philanthropist and former member of the USF Board of Trustees, was elected to lead the organization as chair. Brad Bernstein, ’88, former head of the Equity Group at Monroe Capital who is currently serving as an advisor and board member to several private companies, was tapped to serve alongside her as vice chair.
Michelle Lynch, ’98, senior vice president of practice management and growth consulting at Raymond James, was selected as treasurer. Andrew Hafer, ’88, the executive chairman of DCE Productions, was chosen to serve as secretary.
Five new members joined the board: Vincent Raymond “Ray” Ferrera; Monique Hayes, ’01; Ahmed-Zayn Mohamed, ’16 and MD ’22; James “Jay” Nault, ’83 and MBA ’85; and Christine Turner, ’97. The group contributes a distinguished breadth of professional experience and diverse perspectives to the board. Their appointments await final approval by the USF Board of Trustees at its August meeting.
V. Raymond “Ray” Ferrara
Ray Ferrara is the founder and executive chair of ProVise Management Group LLC, a full-service financial planning firm that manages approximately $2 billion as of December 2024 and serves more than 1,200 families and clients across more than 30 states. A 50-year veteran of wealth management, Ferrara has authored several articles on financial topics, been quoted in major publications including The Wall Street Journal and is the host of the “Up Your Assets” podcast. In 2018, Ferrara was named Mr. Clearwater by the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce. He resides in Belleair with his wife, Kim, of 55 years.
Monique Hayes
Monique Hayes is a partner and attorney at DGIM Law and an adjunct professor at the University of Miami School of Law, where she earned her law degree in 2004. Prior to entering private practice, she served as law clerk to the Hon. Laurel M. Isicoff. Hayes practices in the areas of business transactions, estate planning and corporate restructuring. She is also founder and CEO of Estates Made Easy, an AI-driven platform for wealth preservation and protection through estate planning. She is a past chair of the USF Alumni Association Board of Directors and a 2014 USF Outstanding Young Alumna.
Ahmed-Zayn Mohamed
Dr. Ahmed-Zayn Mohamed is an intellectual property and life sciences attorney at Burr & Forman and an interventional radiology resident physician in the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. Mohamed was the youngest student to graduate from USF in 2016, earning dual bachelor’s degrees at 18 years old, and was also the first-ever MD/JD dual-degree candidate at the Morsani College of Medicine and Stetson University College of Law.
James “Jay” Nault
Jay Nault is the president and owner of Anclote Holding Company Inc., a privately owned real estate holding company, and the president, CEO and owner of Storage Zone Self Storage and Business Centers. He also owns numerous mobile home parks throughout the Southeast. In 2019, Nault established the Nault Foundation, which provides affordable housing as well as financial support to entrepreneurs. In 2023, Nault committed $10 million to name the Nault Center for Entrepreneurship in the USF Muma College of Business.
Christine M. Turner
Christine Turner is the CEO and partner of ChappellRoberts, an Emmy Award-winning creative agency based in the Tampa Bay area. Since joining the company in 1998, she has held several leadership positions, including president, vice president of account services and executive vice president. Turner is an advisory council member of the USF Zimmerman School of Advertising and Mass Communications and a past chair of the USF Alumni Association Board of Directors.