BeWell Miami Summit Speaker Bios

Larissa Larz May is the founder of #HalfTheStory, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the next generation’s relationship with technology, and the co-founder and CEO of Ginko, a doctor-backed tool to help families navigate the complexities of the digital world. May has spent the past 10+ years driving the rapidly growing global movement towards digital wellness and building tangible solutions for families in the digital age. May founded #HalfTheStory after facing her own struggles with social media and founded Ginko after witnessing firsthand the challenges that come with parenting in a digital world. May has been featured in the WSJ, TIME, Forbes, Vanity Fair, Refinery29, Good Morning America, The Today Show, and CBS This Morning. May lives in Sonoma with her husband and two pugs.

For more than 20 years, Monica Wagenberg has served as an education leader dedicated to creating child-centered learning environments where every student has the opportunity to thrive. She currently serves as the Middle School Principal of General Studies at Lanaar School. With advanced education and extensive experience in both Special Education and Educational Leadership, she has supported the academic, social, and emotional development of children ranging from 18 months to 22 years of age. Wagenberg believes that strong partnerships with families are essential to student success, and regularly provides parent workshops and individualized coaching to support children both at school and at home. She is CPR certified, fluent in Spanish, and trained in Conscious Discipline, bringing a collaborative, inclusive, and relationship-focused approach to every educational community I serve.

Dr. Jessica Dahan is a developmental psychologist and licensed mental health counselor who has served as Director of Clinical Services at Jewish Community Services of South Florida for nearly three years, having previously held roles as a clinical supervisor and clinician within the organization. She earned her undergraduate degree from Rutgers University, where her interest in children's resilience took root, and went on to complete her Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology at Florida International University. During her doctoral training, she worked at the Child Anxiety and Phobia Program, a research clinic within FIU's Department of Psychology, providing cognitive behavioral treatment to children and adolescents experiencing anxiety and fear-based conditions.

At JCS, Dr. Dahan leads a team of cross-trained clinicians dedicated to serving Miami's most vulnerable children, youth, adolescents, and adults. Her leadership reflects a deep commitment to making quality mental health care accessible to those who need it most.

Melissa Orshan Spann, PhD, MBA, CEDS-C, is an experienced clinician and clinical supervisor with a demonstrated track record in leadership and program development. With a deep passion for her work, Dr. Spann is recognized as a skilled presenter and dedicated clinical operator, specializing in the treatment of complex eating disorders, trauma and adolescent development. Dr. Spann holds a Doctoral degree from Drexel University, an MBA from Florida Gulf Coast, an MSEd from the University of Miami, where she is an adjunct professor, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida. A native Floridian, she resides in Miami with her husband and pup while attempting to parent two teenagers.

Dr. Leonard Simon is a cybersecurity practitioner, educator, and Security Program Architect with more than 25 years of experience in information technology and cybersecurity. He holds a doctorate in information assurance and cybersecurity and is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). Since 2012, he has taught cybersecurity at the university level while helping organizations manage risk, strengthen security programs, and responsibly adopt emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.

Jami Young, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, psychotherapist, and mental health speaker with more than 20 years of experience helping teens, adults, couples, and families navigate the emotional challenges of everyday life. With a Master’s in Social Work from Columbia University, Jami combines clinical expertise with a warm, relatable approach that makes difficult conversations feel approachable. Jami is a parent to twin sixteen-year-old girls.

Michael Panzeca is a mental health and addiction professional with more than 40 years of experience helping individuals and families navigate some of life’s toughest challenges. He is also a longtime stand-up comedian who believes that sometimes the best way to get through the hard stuff is to find a reason to laugh. Through the Panzeca Approach, Michael combines decades of clinical experience with humor, honesty, and real-world insight to help parents communicate more effectively, reduce stress, and strengthen their relationships with their children. His workshops are informative, interactive, and—most importantly—proof that learning about parenting doesn’t have to feel like another parenting lecture.

Food is a huge passion of Yaniv Cohen’s. His love of food began at an early age, helping his mother cook and set the table. Growing up in a Sephardic Jewish Family, with North African and Middle Eastern roots, food is a way of life. Yaniv’s passion for food and hospitality propelled him to relocate to Miami, to open a branch of Shiraz Events, an innovative Catering, Design, and Production company. As he continued to delve into the world of culinary herbs and spices, he decided to go back to his roots and open an Israeli- Mediterranean restaurant inspired by spices and his family traditions. Jaffa has been open in Miami’s Design District since 2018. Yaniv’s goal as a chef and “The Spice Detective” is to share his passion and love for food and inspire others to enjoy the benefit of wholesome real ingredients cuisine. Yaniv is also the author of the My Spiced Kitchen, a Middle Eastern spice guide and cookbook and the winner of the Netflix cooking competition “Best Leftovers Ever.”

Josh is the cofounder of I AM Rising Together, a non-profit he launched with Ariel PollackStar of Lehem Zeh bakery in Yerucham, Miami's sister city in Israel. Born and raised in South Florida, Josh has long been committed to strengthening community through connection, shared experiences, and service. Together, he and Ariel are building programs that harness the power of cooking and shared meals to support mental health, resilience, and social connection in schools, synagogues, community centers, and homes. Their work uses mindful cooking and collaborative food experiences to reduce stress, foster open conversation, and empower individuals and families. Josh is also the founder of Kligler Law and serves as Of Counsel with GS2Law, where he primarily represents financial institutions and small businesses statewide. He brings the same handson, peoplefirst approach to his community work as he does to his legal practice. Josh lives in Miami with his wife, Claire, and is the proud father of three boys, ages 13, 10, and 4.

Lucia moved from Argentina to the U.S. and turned her own experience into a mission to support kids and families through cultural transitions. That’s what led her to pursue a Master’s in Bilingual Special Education. At Scheck Hillel, she founded WAH – We Are Here, a peer-led leadership program, and co-founded Shalva, supporting teens’ social emotional growth. Lucia completed her YTT500 HR – Yoga Teacher Training with Yoga Intent by Omehaye. She is indeed a lifelong learner and recently finished the Lifestyle Medicine and Wellness Coaching Immersion at Harvard Medical School. Lucia founded WE ARE ONE dedicated to uplifting the next generation through transformative wellness experiences that inspire well-being, leadership, and community.

Mercedes “Pachula” Ben moha is an experienced Jewish educator, youth leadership professional, and experiential learning facilitator with more than two decades of experience creating educational, cultural, and leadership experiences for children, teens, and young adults. She currently leads the youth leadership program at the Michael-Ann Russell JCC: the Pre-School of Madrichim and School of Madrichim. Her work focuses on developing meaningful experiences that combine Jewish identity, leadership, creativity, teamwork, and personal growth. Mercedes is also trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid and brings a creative, hands-on approach to education, using theater, music, storytelling, games, and experiential activities to help people connect, reflect, and grow. Her passion is creating experiences that turn complex ideas into something people can feel, experience, and take with them.

Stephanie Africk is Managing Director of Growth & Brand Engagement at HonestReporting, a media watchdog organization marking 25 years of standing up for Israel in the media, where she leads fundraising, donor engagement, and brand strategy. Before that, she founded and scaled SitterStream, a virtual care and wellness platform serving families worldwide, and held leadership roles at Jewish Women International and Jewish National Fund-USA. Stephanie is an entrepreneurial leader driven by building organizations that scale with purpose and impact.

Originally from New York and a graduate of the University of Vermont, Genevieve lived and worked in Israel with BINA, the Jewish Movement for Social Change. Upon returning to the United States, she led JNFuture, the young professional’s division of Jewish National Fund-USA in both Boston and New York. She currently serves as Director of Development at HonestReporting, where she works to support the organization’s mission of promoting fair and accurate media coverage of Israel.