From the hallowed grounds of Camp LeJeune with the United States Marine Corps to the boardrooms of insurance agencies in Florida, Travis C. Sargent has always showcased unparalleled dedication, diligence, and leadership. Raised in the heart of Ormond Beach, Florida, Travis's journey is a tapestry of service, entrepreneurship, and civic responsibility. In the early years of his career, Travis enlisted with the United States Marine Corps. From 1998 to 2001, he took on the pivotal role of Manager of Quality Control, overseeing the maintenance of a vast array of heavy equipment and leading an estimable team of 30 Marines. His exceptional service did not go unnoticed, as he was honored with two Navy and Marine Corps medals for superior performance and exemplary conduct. His honorable discharge in December 2001 marked the end of a chapter but not the end of his commitment to excellence. Post his military service, Travis transitioned to the corporate world, joining the insurance industry. With over a decade of accumulated experience, he mastered roles spanning from Marketing Manager to Commercial Agent. A brief foray into Tallahassee had him advocating for product awareness and developing strategies to bolster the insurance landscape of North Florida. Throughout his tenure, Travis was responsible for everything from policy accuracy checks and client presentations to risk management data collection and direct liaisons with various stakeholders. His academic pursuits further complemented his professional journey. After graduating from Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, Travis earned his B.A. in Business Administration in 2006. He furthered his credentials by obtaining the Florida 220 Insurance License and graduating from Brown and Brown, Inc. Sales University. Today, as a City Commissioner, Travis brings with him a wealth of experience and a vision for the future. His unique blend of military discipline, corporate insights, and community spirit positions him as a valued asset to the Ormond Beach community. Outside of his professional commitments, Travis is an ardent lover of the outdoors. Whether it's casting a line on a serene fishing trip, soaking up the sun at the beach, or cherishing memorable moments with his family, he embodies the heart and soul of Ormond Beach through and through.

When spoken aloud, Carmen Vallone’s name resonates as majestically as trumpets blown by the highest choir of angels in the kingdom of heaven. Don’t worry though, his ticket price usually isn’t any higher than A typical Starbucks order. With his enthusiastic smile, and happily twisted vision of everyday life, Carmen guides you through a night of entertainment as he talks about being from Upstate New York, living in Florida, and what life is like on the road. Never one to attack the audience, Carmen makes you feel right at home, and you’ll never be scared to sit in the front row. In his 20 years of comedy, Carmen has been so many places and performed on so many stages, you might think he has been doing comedy for 21 years. He has been night clubbing with Bob Saget, he has drank champagne with Joan Rivers, and he went to a BBQ with Jim Carrey. You might have seen Carmen on NBC’s Last Comic Standing, CBS’s Comedy Night School, or Jamie Kennedy’s “Heckler” movie, but probably not. In addition to being a hilarious stand-up comedian, Carmen is also the host and producer of “A Joke Off ! ! !™”. A nationally touring comedy competition, currently in development for national TV.

Halifax Repertory Theatre (HRT) is a 501c3 traveling theatre group based out of the greater Daytona Beach area. HRT offers a variety of productions, from old classics to new excitements. Our performers deliver story-telling in a captivating way, bringing the intrigue of theatre back to our community. But our heart for the performing arts doesn't stop there. A percentage of the proceeds from our productions are donated to local organizations, like the Children’s Musical Theatre Workshop, a 501c3 Florida Non-Profit. This allows the love for theater to continue to grow and flourish in our community. We are passionate about bringing quality live entertainment into our community. Whether you're looking for a fun evening of entertainment, you're interested in experiencing the theatre like never before, or you feel motivated to support local arts, HRT is the perfect fit for you!

The Daytona Beach Choral Society (DBCS) was founded in 1974 and aims to spread the joy of singing across Volusia County. The choir holds two semesters annually, performing at least four concerts each year and participating in local events, including those at assisted living facilities and residential communities. DBCS offers a diverse musical repertoire, featuring genres such as Classical, Folk, Musical Theatre, Sacred, Pop, Gospel, and Cantatas. For the community, they provide cultural concerts, group sing opportunities, vocal workshops, and private event entertainment. They also collaborate with other arts organizations to enhance their outreach. Currently led by Tawn Thomas, who holds a Master of Music Education from Florida State University and has over 15 years of experience in public school music education, DBCS continues to thrive. Thomas enriches the choir with a variety of musical scores and lessons in vocal techniques, sight-reading, and music theory. DBCS is committed to providing an enjoyable choral experience for vocalists of all skill levels, fostering community connections through music and the joy of singing!

Andrew Gygi is a retired orthopedic surgeon. He has served on active duty with both the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy. He is a Gulf War veteran having served onboard the USNS Comfort during both Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

Gygi has been a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary for over 30 years, and while in the Naval Reserve served aboard the Coast Guard cutters Point Verde and Point Lobos. He is currently a communications watchstander and ombudsman at Coast Guard Station Ponce DeLeon Inlet.

The SPC-SW II is a 27FT shallow draft aluminum hull boat. The V-8 YANMAR diesel powered, jet drive boat is designed for shallow water operations. The boat incorporates a mechanically attached fixed fender system (Collar) made of solid closed cell foam. This platform is a center console, open deck design. While the SPC-SW II is designed for shallow water rescue operations, it is also capable of performing most Coast Guard missions. The SPC-SW II was manufactured by RECONCRAFT Estacada, Oregon. The Model of boat is 27FT SPC-SW II and was built in 2022.

Suzanne Gurule Oliver is a Naval Aviation veteran with extensive mechanical expertise, having worked on both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. In 1977, at a time when it was rare for women to serve in the military, she qualified as both an Air Crew member and a Plane Captain. As a founding member of Digital Solar Industries LLC in Orlando, Suzanne has made significant contributions to the tech industry. She also established Heart of a Fighter, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting women veterans and first responders transitioning to civilian life. Although Heart of a Fighter has now closed due to the successful transitions of many women since the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, Suzanne’s leadership and military training have solidified her role as a strong advocate for women in technology and maintenance.

Recently, Suzanne launched Momentum Research, a for-profit company based in Daytona Beach that specializes in utility pole mapping and double utility pole documentation. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Suzanne is a proud mother and grandmother, actively engaging in STEM programs to inspire her oldest granddaughter, who dreams of becoming an engineer. Suzanne is also a Master Trainer of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and a graduate of Tony Robbins Mastery University. She serves as a leader at Tony Robbins Leadership University and holds a degree from SRI University, where she graduated as a Practitioner of NLP and Master Trainer. As a certified life and business coach, she is committed to empowering women to build their own businesses.

Keynote Speaker

CDR John A. Higgins' Naval career started in September 1969 at NTC/RTC San Diego, CA. After "A" school, he trained as an Aviation Machinist Mate (jet engines) in Memphis, TN. His first fleet assignment was A-4's with Attack Squadron Forty Four, at Cecil Field, FL, followed by Attack Squadron One Two Seven in Lemoore, CA. He was later assigned to VQ4 at NAS Patuxent River, MD, where his "flying career" began and he logged over 2500 hours in the EC-130 Hercules. His love for flying flourished and he became the NATOPS Evaluator for TACAMO Inflight Technicians and VQ-4's "1980 Sea Sailor of the Year' In April 1981, Petty Officer Higgins was selected for the LDO Aviator Program and transferred to AOCS, Pensacola, FL. He completed his flight training in the T-28 and T-44 aircraft in Corpus Christy, TX, earning his wings on July 16, 1982. He then reported to VT-3 in Milton, FL as a Primary Flight Instructor in the T-34C to train new aviators and later as a FITC Instructor, training new assigned instructors. LT Higgins was later recognized as Pensacola Schools Command, Instructor of the Year, logging over 1800 hours in the T-34C. In April 1986 he was reassigned to the USS Ranger completing four tours as the Flight Deck Officer. Immediately following he was assigned to Point Magu, CA where he completed (three) six-month deployments in Antarctica. His next set of orders sent him to CFLSW DET NOLA in New Orleans, LA, operating T-39 Sabreliners as the NATOPS Officer and Wing Evaluator. In May 1993 upon completion of Aviation Safety School at Monterey, CA, LCD Higgins was assigned to VR-54 where he flew the new C-130T as the Safety Officer and Aviation Maintenance Officer. In September 1996 he transferred to NAF Washington as VR-53's Officer in Charge. In July of 1998, CD Higgins assumed the duties as Executive Office of VR-51 in Kaneohe, HI, and took command of the Squadron in September. He retired in December of 2000 after 30 years of service. In civilian life he continued to fly as a corporate pilot for another 16 years before fully retiring.

Special Guest Speaker

CDR Anita A. Williams completed a Master in Professional Studies (MPS) degree program at Georgetown University in Executive Emergency and Disaster Management (August 2022). She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Lynn University and a Master Certificate in Explosives Technology from Missouri University Science and Technology. Professionally, Williams serves as a Commander (O5) in the United States Coast Guard Reserves and is a recently retired DOJ Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent with extensive experience in world-wide criminal investigations and interviews/interrogations. Over the course of her distinguished and multi-faceted police career, CDR Williams’ focus has been criminal justice and public safety with specialized training and credentials in the areas of national defense, criminal investigations, emergency and disaster management, and executive leadership.

Music by Daytona Beach Choral Society

Attendees can expect to hear the National Anthem, and perhaps even a patriotic sing-a-long!

For more than 40 years, this community choir has brought the “joy of singing” to Volusia County. In addition to concerts that cover genres from classical works to contemporary pop, DBCS offers an outlet for our residents to learn new music, sight read, harmonize, exercise their vocal skills, and socialize with friends.

In 2020, they tackled their first virtual project, a performance of “A Tribute to the Armed Services,” which was arranged and orchestrated by Lloyd Larson (watch the video at https://youtu.be/mpSKI5Jwl1k). 

Pop-Up Art Exhibit

Hope4Veterans is a nonprofit organization that helps our military women, active duty, National Guard, and Veterans, through education, social events, and mentoring. The Hope4Veterans vision is to prevent isolation, homelessness, and suicide by providing sister connections, social meet and greets, Art and Women Projects, Peer2Peer Sister Program, and the resources and tools to help military women obtain the benefits they deserve.