Cathy Deckert
Ms. Deckert has over 30 years experience working in both the private and public sectors in administration, financial management, professional project management and consulting. Ms. Deckert served as a City Administrator for over five years and over the past seven+ years has acted as a Municipal Consultant and has served directly as District Manager for over 30 Independent Special Taxing Districts combined with administrative supervision of over 150+ Districts. She has handled the governmental entity creation process through organization, directed public financing and bond issuance processes in the municipal and special district arenas, along with municipal and district budgetary processes. Cathy has experience in strategic and comprehensive planning in both the private and public sectors and has served on a State Strategic and Comprehensive Planning Committee. Her involvement with public sector management includes direction over operation and maintenance activities, including utility systems; emergency management operations on the County, City and Special District levels; and extensive recreational activity planning experience.
Ms. Deckert has her Bachelors Degree in Experimental Psychology with a minor in Mathematics, including graduate courses toward her doctoral degree in Qualitative/Quantitative Analysis. She served as an Instructor at Broward Community College teaching Resource Requirements Planning, Forecasting and Master Scheduling philosophy and techniques.
Richard Ellington
Mr. Ellington practiced law in Palm Beach County for nearly 30 years prior to joining SDS in 2005. During the time he practiced law, he served as the County Attorney for Palm Beach County before entering private practice where his primary practice areas were public finance, real estate and governmental law. Mr. Ellington has participated in over $1 billion of public debt financings.
Mr. Ellington is a native of South Florida. He holds a B.A. in political science from Mississippi State University and a J.D. from the University of Mississippi School of Law. Mr. Ellington has been very active in the community serving as an Elder and Treasurer of Memorial Presbyterian Church, a founding member and Past President of Palm Beach County Sports Commission, former member of the Orange Bowl Committee and Vice Chairman of the Super Bowl XXIX and XXXIII Host Committee.
Neil Kalin
Educated in Canada and receiving a BSc Degree in Agronomy (Honors Microbiology) from the University of Guelph. Shortly after his graduation in 1974 Neil moved to the Sunshine State. His career path led him into Land Development and Golf Course Construction/ Management, a field that he worked in for nineteen years. From 1993 until 2006 he held the position of District Director at South Broward Drainage District in southwest Broward County. Here he was in charge of managing the water resources in an area of 73 square miles that experienced extreme urban growth and development.
Through his tenure at the district he was responsible for several storm water special assessment projects initiated to provide enhanced flood protection and water management to the residents of the district. At the time of his departure from South Broward Drainage District the population in the District had reached approximately 250,000. Neil, who prides himself on being adaptable, motivated and an effective problem solver brings to the firm as a professional a strong administrative, project and government management background.
Jason Pierman
Mr. Pierman joined SDS in 2006, having returned to South Florida from Columbus, Ohio, where he worked for BISYS Fund Services, Inc. During Mr. Pierman’s time in the mutual fund servicing industry, he worked as an Instructional Designer and then Manager of a multi-client call center. He brings a well rounded skill set to the company with his background in media and finance, having experience in project management, customer service, client relations, crisis management, policy writing and technical instruction.
Jason is a graduate of Denison University with a BA in Media Technology and Arts. He utilizes this skill set in overseeing SDS’ technical services and marketing initiatives. Jason also serves as President of The Benjamin School Alumni Council and is a member of the Board of Directors of The Friends of the Gale Academy of Environmental Science and Technology at Forest Hill Community High School.
Michael Rosen
Mr. Rosen recently joined the firm and has opened an SDS office in Bonita Springs and will service clients in the southwest part of Florida and help expand the business.
Previously Mike was Senior Vice President for Collier Enterprises and was in charge of managing the planning, design and entitlements for the future Town of Big Cypress, a 3,800 acre development in eastern Collier County. Prior to that he was the Vice President and Business Unit Manager for DiVosta Homes and managed the planning and development of various “Walk” communities from Naples to Sarasota.
Mike started his career in general contracting, building high rise condominiums, schools, hotels and other commercial projects before entering the development business. He is active with the Urban Land Institute and Collier Building Industry Association and is presently the Chair of the Developers Council. Mike is also on the Nova University Board of Advisors for the Master’s Degree in Real Estate Development.
Jason Yarborough
Mr. Yarborough is a Credential Manager through the International City/County Management Association with over 17 years of local government management experience in various positions including 7 years as a city manager and 6 years as a utilities director for a city of over 100,000 population. Under his leadership, the organizations he has served have won numerous state and national awards for performance excellence and innovation. He obtained a Certified Government Finance Officer designation from the Florida Government Finance Officers Association in 1997. Jason has local government experience in strategic planning, consensus building, budgeting, revenue enhancement, debt and financial management, performance optimization, environmental management systems, and utilities operations.
He received a Bachelor’s degree from Loyola University, New Orleans, LA and a Masters of Public Administration degree from the University of West Florida. In addition, He has completed the Harvard University Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government.