Co-Founder/ President

Sepi Ackerman is a passionate and accomplished volunteer with over a decade of experience championing causes that uplift children and strengthen the Sarasota community. Sepi has served in multiple nonprofit and school-based organizations, including Vice-President of Southside School Foundation for the Arts, Past President of Southside Elementary PTO, and prior board member of the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee.

Sepi is the creative force behind Cooking for the Arts, Southside School Foundation for the Arts’ largest annual fundraiser, and the co-founder of Holiday House SRQ.

She is recognized for her ability to bring people together for a common cause as seen time again thru her work most notably the "United Against Hate" campaign. Her motivation stems from a deep passion for making her community better and brighter for the next generation.

Outside of her volunteer work, Sepi is a Business Development Manager for Empath Health, where she continues to serve others with empathy and purpose. She holds a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) from Mercer University.

At home, Sepi cherishes time with her husband and two daughters—who are proud, hands-on volunteers at Holiday House—as well as their beloved mini-Bernedoodle, Stella.

Co-Founder / Team Captain

For the past 20 years, Jenny Infanti has been dedicated to improving education in Sarasota County as a middle school teacher, an active board member of the Education Foundation, and, most recently, through appointment to the Sarasota County Early Learning Coalition by Governor Ron DeSantis. She holds both a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Education and an MBA from the University of Florida. As the proud mother of two exceptional children, Alex and Caroline, she believes deeply in the power of education to change lives. Holiday House has been a natural extension of her devotion to our schools.

Vice-President

Hilary Yunis

Hilary Yunis is a lifelong Floridian and passionate nonprofit volunteer dedicated to advancing equity and well-being for underserved communities. She has served Holiday House SRQ since its inception, first as a volunteer and now as a board member, helping provide vital resources and joyful holiday experiences to Title I school children and their families. Hilary is the former President of the Southside School Foundation for the Arts, where she campaigned arts access and education. She also volunteers at a nonprofit farm focused on food insecurity, working to ensure that every member of the community has access to nourishing meals. In addition to her board service, Hilary has served on numerous committees throughout Sarasota, further demonstrating her deep commitment to community engagement and impact.

Secretary

Shera Friedman

Shera Friedman moved to Sarasota in 2019 with her husband and three children, bringing with her a strong commitment to public service and community engagement. Prior to relocating, Shera worked as an attorney and was appointed as a public defender for two municipalities—experience that reflects her deep dedication to advocacy and justice. In Sarasota, she continues her work in the nonprofit sector as a grant writer for a local organization. Shera is an active member of Temple Emanu-El, where she is Chair of the Junior Sisterhood Committee. She is also a member of the Junior League of Sarasota where she is the Chair-elect of the State Public Affairs Committee and has served as Chair of the Grants committee. She especially enjoyed volunteering for Holiday House SRQ and is honored to serve on the board, where she looks forward to contributing her skills and passion to furthering the organization’s mission.

Treasurer/ Team Captain:

Lori Mitchell

Lori joins the Holiday House board with a wealth of business experience. She owns and operates across several states Jimmy John’s, Fin & Tonic, and Tommy’s Express Car Washes. While entrepreneurship has been an important part of her journey, family and community have always remained at the core of her values. For more than a decade, she served as licensed foster parents, providing a loving home to 17 children and gaining meaningful insight into the diverse needs of children and families. Her longstanding commitment to service includes leadership on the Friends Forever Board of the Nebraska Humane Society, participation in raising puppies for Dogs, Inc., and continued involvement in philanthropic and community initiatives since relocating to Sarasota 11 years ago. Deeply devoted to the spirit of generosity and community engagement, she is honored to support the mission of Holiday House SRQ and to help bring the joy of the holiday season to children and families across Sarasota’s Title I schools.Married to her husband, Mark, for 36 years, she is the proud mother of three children and grandmother to three grandchildren.

Board of Directors

Amber Rylak

Amber currently serves as a Development Officer at the Education Foundation of Sarasota County, where she builds meaningful connections to support teachers, students, and help prepare every student for life. Before stepping into the world of philanthropy, Amber was a dedicated educator for 12 years. While teaching at Emma E. Booker Elementary School, she first experienced the magic of Holiday House. Watching her students light up with joy left a lasting impression and inspired her to one day be part of the cause behind that wonder.

Amber earned her degree in Health and Exercise Science Teaching from The College of New Jersey and is proud to be a member of the Leadership Sarasota Class of 2026. She remains deeply engaged in the local community through mentoring, volunteering, and coaching youth lacrosse. Amber is passionate about closing the opportunity gap, creating equitable pathways for students, and giving back in ways that bring people together.

She lives in Sarasota with her husband, Chris, and their golden retriever, Bear. Amber is honored to serve on the Holiday House SRQ Board and looks forward to helping remove barriers and bring the same joy she once witnessed in her students to families across the region.

Team Captain

Ava Rosin

Ava Rosin is honored to serve as a team captain for Holiday House. A 10th-grade student at ODA, Ava is actively involved in cheerleading and musical theatre, having starred in over a dozen plays. Gocio Elementary holds a special place in her heart, as ODA partners with the school on meaningful initiatives throughout the year, including Thanksgiving boxes, kindergarten buddy programs, and various fundraisers. Ava has a deep love for working with young children, especially those facing challenges, and currently serves as a teacher’s assistant. Her compassion and dedication make her an ideal fit for the role of team captain.

Melissa Zolmierski

Melissa brings warmth, compassion, and unwavering dedication to everything she does. With over 30 years of experience as a nurse and respiratory therapist, Melissa viewed her career not just as a profession but as a calling—one rooted in the ability to comfort others in their most vulnerable moments. She led her clinical work with an unshakeable commitment to care.

Although she has since stepped away from clinical practice, Melissa continues to serve others in meaningful ways. She has volunteered on numerous school committees and, in 2024, led the Go Gold campaign at Southside Elementary, raising critical funds and awareness for pediatric cancer research.

Today, as co-captain of Holiday House SRQ, Melissa helps bring the magic of the holiday season to children from lower-income families.

A firm believer in the power of community, Melissa is passionate about building connections and spreading kindness. Creative, dependable, and full of positive energy, she leads with heart—knowing that even the smallest acts of generosity can create lasting change.

Ariana Ackerman

Team Captain

Santa's Elves:

Sienna Ackerman

Caroline Infanti