Silvia Romero
Senior Director of Operations
Silvia has over 20 years of professional experience in education and organizational leadership through the arts.
Silvia’s Art History and studio courses left their indelible mark, with professors at UNF such as, Dr. Debra Murphy, Nofa Dixon, and Paul Ladnier. A nomination for an internship at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens brought a new opportunity.
She worked in programming, school and adult gallery tours and strategic planning at the Museum. After 6 years, Silvia embraced her new role as the Associate Director of Education and implemented the largest education initiative - a $1 million endowed program serving thousands of underserved students, funded by the J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver Foundation.
After starting a family, Silvia went back into the classroom at the Dubow preschool with her child, and also worked as a Montessori guide for 6 years. After relocating to Seattle, Washington, she enjoyed breathtaking views of the Pacific Northwest landscape, and the culture surrounding the arts.
She became the Arts Education Manager at Shorelake Arts, a non - profit arts organization.
She is invested in best practices for classroom accessibility for children with special needs, and was the keynote speaker at the 2018 annual gala and fundraising event for Listen and Talk, a specialized preschool for students who are deaf/hard of hearing. She led the art projects for the school's annual auction for 4 years, raising over $6,500 for the school's mission.
Silvia is a graduate of Beaches Emerging Leaders cohort through the Non Profit Center of Northeast Florida, as well as a graduate of the Non-Profit Executive Class of the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepeneurship.
She began her role at FCCC in July of 2023. She is a Notary Public, an avid crocheter, a mixed media artist, and a mom.
Kimberly Sheridan
Fundraising Manager
Kimberly Sheridan has been with the First Coast Cultural Center since 2021. She oversees membership, events, and local grants. Kimberly has experience working in many areas at FCCC over the past several years, including the Kick StART program in Duval and St. Johns County school, The Gift Shop, programming, graphic designs, exhibitions and more.
Kimberly has long had a passion for art and enjoys working at First Coast Cultural Center, serving our community.
Kimberly graduated from the University of North Florida in 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Minor in Creative Writing, after which she received teaching experience working at a preschool in Orange Park, FL. It is her enjoyment of teaching that first led her to the First Coast Cultural Center where teaching and art could be combined with Kick StART.
Kimberly enjoys spending free time with her husband (newly married as of October 29th, 2022) and their families, playing board games with friends, caring for her pet quaker parrot, and dabbling in art and music.
Candice Sirak, MM, MT-BC
Senior Music Therapist and Sound Connections® Music Therapy Manager
Candice Sirak graduated from FSU with both her bachelor's and master's degrees in Music Therapy. Through Sound Connections®, she can share her passion for music and helping others by working with students in St Johns County. Candice has been a Music Therapist with Sound Connections® since 2015 and became manager of the program in 2022. She has always loved singing and making music.
Aristotle said, "Where the needs of the world and your talents cross, there lies your vocation."
Candice first became interested in Music Therapy in high school. Once she learned what a Music Therapist was, she didn't want to be anything else; she knew it was her vocation. She has a passion for helping others at every stage of life.
Her master's thesis was in music during pregnancy and its effect on mothers and newborns . Her internship was with Big Bend Hospice in Tallahassee, using music during end of life care. And now she is working with young emerging minds, using music to help them grow and develop, as well as supporting their teachers who do the same. She believes that everyone can benefit from music in their lives, whether in a therapeutic relationship or not.
She has been in choirs all of her life; currently she is a member of the St Augustine Community Chorus. When Candice is not making music, she likes to make other things such as crochet and craft projects. An Orlando native, she also likes to spend time at Disney. She has lived in St Augustine since 2014, with her husband and three sons. Every day she is grateful that she gets to go to her dream job!
Heidy Brosofsky Weaver
Public Relations Specialist
Whether writing and producing music videos or teaching and designing publications, creativity has always been at the center of Heidy’s life. She found her niche in 8th grade when she joined the middle school newspaper staff. Then, she became editor of both her high school and college newspapers, graduating from Mercer University in Atlanta with a degree in Communications.
After graduation, Heidy’s internship as a reporter turned into a full-time job with Gwinnett Daily News near Atlanta, GA. While there, she received state and national awards before switching to a career in school public relations.
A Florida native, Heidy and her husband relocated to Ponte Vedra, and she became the Director of Communications for St. Johns County School District. While in this position, she frequently visited classrooms to take pictures and write stories for district publications and media outlets.
During one of those visits, she shared her desire to teach with an assistant principal, and soon after, she officially became an educator and earned an M.Ed. from the University of North Florida.
Heidy believes in higher-level thinking and learning through creative means. As an educator, she has always focused on out-of-the-box thinking, allowing students to grow as learners using their strengths and interests to propel them. In her most recent position with SJCSD, Heidy was a gifted consultative teacher at the district level. She has also taught overseas in an international school, in homeschool co-ops, and for Florida Virtual School.
Throughout her career, Heidy has continued freelance writing, photography, and creating publications, websites, and audio/visuals using the latest technology. Her three daughters share her love for art, and she is excited to promote the many amazing programs and events at the First Coast Cultural Center.
Peter Mankin
Flagler College Spring Intern
