Visionaires Officers 2022-2024
Dr. Cynthia Moore Chestnut
President
A native of Tallahassee, Cynthia Moore Chestnut received her B.S. in Speech Pathology from Florida A & M University; M.S. in Speech Pathology from Florida State University and D.P.A. from Nova-Southeastern University in Public Administration.
She began her political career in Gainesville, becoming the first African American woman elected to the Gainesville City Commission as mayor-commissioner; first woman and African American elected to serve in the Florida House of Representatives, House District 23; first African American woman elected to the Alachua County Commission and to serve as chair. In January 2022, Dr. Chestnut was re-elected to the Gainesville City Commission, serving in the seat where she began her political career as an at-large commissioner.
In 2014, Chestnut was elected to fill an unexpired term as chair of the Alachua County Democratic Executive Committee, and appointed as vice chair of the Florida Democratic Party. She was elected to a full four-year term as chair of the Alachua County Democratic Executive Committee in 2016, becoming the first African American to serve as party chair. In 2019, Chestnut was elected to chair the Democratic County Chairs Association of Florida.
In 2020, Dr. Chestnut became one of the founding members and first chair of the Florida Democratic Black Women’s Consortium, a grassroots organization dedicated to voter empowerment, voter education and building a bench of candidates for appointed or elected office in the state of Florida.
She is married to Charles S. Chestnut III, mother to Christopher and stepmother to five, including Charles “Chuck” Chestnut IV.
Rosemary W. Christy
Vice-President
Rosemary Christy was born and reared in McIntosh, FL. She attended Santa Fe Community College and received an Associate of Arts degree and the University of FL where she achieved a degree in Special Education. She later attended Nova University and received a Masters degree. Ms. Christy
worked initially in Duval County, teaching Trainable mentally handicapped students requiring behavior modification in a special classroom setting. She taught students in a self-contained classroom in Newberry, FL then came to Gainesville and taught students at Sidney Lanier School until she retired in 2007.
After retiring from the school board of Alachua County, She formed an agency-Topline Services, LLC which provides services for adults with disabilities for six years.
After closing the agency she worked with Hospital/ Homebound students for the SBAC. Ms. Christy taught five more years before, retiring fully in 2019. She is the
proud mom of a son. She enjoys reading, dancing, decorating, and spending time with family and friends.
Wanda Washington
Secretary
Ms. Washington was born in Gainesville but moved to Miami when she was ten years old. She returned to Gainesville to attend undergraduate school at the University of Florida graduating with a degree in history. After returning to Miami for a few years she decided to return to Gainesville permanently to be near family. She joined the staff at the University of Florida where she worked for thirty-two years before retiring in 2020. While at the University of Florida she earned a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and worked the majority of her time as an academic advisor for the colleges of Nursing , Pharmacy and Public Health and Health Professions. She also holds a master’s degree in Library and Information Sciences from Florida State University.
Her two favorite hobbies are reading and traveling. She loves to read biographies and mysteries and her two favorite cities are Paris and London with New York a close third. Mt Pleasant United Methodist Church is her church home.
Ana G. Cooper
Assistant Secretary
Ana Gainey Cooper is a native of Alachua County and raised in the Monteocha-Gordon Community. She is a graduate of Buchholz High School and received her AA degree from Santa Fe College. She went on to receive a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida with a major in Criminology and a minor in Sociology. Ana then graduated from Webster University with a master’s degree in counseling. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida and Georgia. She is recognized as a National Certified Counselor (NCC) by the National Board for Certified Counselors. She is employed as a mental health counselor for a non-profit agency and has her own private practice, Connecting the Dots Services, LLC. Ana is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and serves as the Treasurer while also serving as the Secretary with Fourth and One Mentoring, Inc. Ana is a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Gainesville, Florida.
Ana is the proud parent of a middle school aged daughter and a fur baby dog. She is the daughter of the late Elisha D. Gainey Sr. and Eddie Mae Williams Gainey. She is the sixth child of her parents’ seven children. Ana enjoys spending time with family, singing, dancing, watching movies and quiet time for self-reflection.
Regina Lovings Morse
Financial Secretary
Regina Lovings Morse is a retired Civil Engineer, with a BSCE from Howard University and a Masters of Environmental Engineering from University of Southern California. Regina’s career includes the Southern California Gas Company in several ascending positions and St. John’s Water Management District as Technical Program Manager. Regina is married to Christopher Morse, also a Civil Engineer, President of CSI, Inc.
She has been a member of the Visionaires since 1995, serving as President, Scholarship Chair, Membership Chair, By-Laws Committee, Annual Holiday Gathering Committee, Duval and Rawlings Elementary School staff receptions committee and committee assisting safety patrols to attend Washington D.C.
Regina is a member of Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church, currently serving in several committees and as Church Council Leader.
Ivy M. Bell
Treasurer
Ivy M. Bell is a native Mississippian who has lived in Gainesville, FL since 1995. Ivy works as a Senior Planner in the Alachua County Department of Growth Management. She has a Bachelor of Public Administration degree from Loyola University (New Orleans, LA) and a Master of Public Administration degree from Bernard Baruch College/City University of New York (New York, NY). Ivy’s interests are attending cultural events, baking, traveling and reading. Ivy is a member of Springhill M. B. Church, where she serves on the Board of Trustees and the Education Council. She is a member of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Ivy joined the Visionaires Club in 2001 and is currently serving as the Treasurer.
Barbara Moore-Austin
Chaplain
Barbara Moore Austin is a certified health and wellness coach with a master's degree in theology. She has a passion for helping older adults live healthier and happier lives that focus on nutrition, fitness, stress management, and spiritual well-being. As a motivational speaker, She loves to share her insights and experiences on topics such as aging gracefully, finding purpose, and overcoming challenges. She is also a certified Zumba and Chair One fitness instructor. She enjoys teaching fun and energetic classes that help people of all ages and abilities improve their physical and mental health. In addition, she is a missionary in the Church of God in Christ. She has a strong faith and a desire to serve God and His people. When she is not working, She enjoys spending time with her family. She also loves to grow and care for plants, both indoors and outdoors. Plants bring her joy and peace, and she believes they have healing powers.
Dr. Cynthia Batts
Chaplain - Assistant
Cynthia Batts is a native Floridian, She attended the University of Florida where she achieved both a bachelors, masters degree and doctorate degree. Cynthia enjoys spending time with her daughter, and traveling with friends.
Juanita Miles Hamilton
Parliamentarian
Mrs. Miles-Hamilton has been a member of the Visionaires, Inc for thirty six years and has served in the following positions: Vice President, Secretary, and presently as Parliamentarian.
Additionally, she filed for the Articles of Corporation with the State of Florida for our prestigious organization and served as chairperson of Constitution & Bylaws and Civics.
