Our Why
Paving the Way Foundation is a professional nonprofit run by a group of business experts committed to disrupting the cycle of child trafficking through educational and training programs. We pave the way to freedom for children, their families and our community.
We are driven by three simple principles: Educate. Empower. Prevent.
Educate our children about human trafficking; sharing recruitment and grooming tactics
Empower them with the knowledge about human trafficking and actions to take to stay safe, so we can....
Prevent them from being lured into this silent crime.
We are driven by three simple principles: Educate. Empower. Prevent.
Educate our children about human trafficking; sharing recruitment and grooming tactics
Empower them with the knowledge about human trafficking and actions to take to stay safe, so we can....
Prevent them from being lured into this silent crime.
Our Executive Team
Jan Edwards, President Frank Smith, Director Dana Clary, Director
Jan Edwards - Founder, President and Board Chair
Jan has extensive leadership, speaking and training expertise with Fortune 100 companies. After traveling to Ethiopia and learning about human trafficking there, she wanted to do something about it. She is instrumental in bringing awareness to this silent crime of trafficking to our community and around the country. She is a member of the UN National Council on Women, UNICEF Unite, Orlando Dream Academy and is the current Chairperson of the Seminole County Human Trafficking Task Force. She has relationships across all levels of law enforcement, education and government in her global community. She brings passion, drive and a commitment to make a difference out in the world such that children reach their full potential.
Meet the Woman Taking on a Billion Dollar Industry - Huffington Post
Frank Smith - ESQ, Director
Frank has over 18 years of experience practicing law and many years of business experience, helping run a family business. Mr. Smith cut his teeth in the Landlord/Tenant courts in New York City, expanding his practice to ultimately become an attorney that practice both litigation and transactional work. His clients include both domestic and international in the space of healthcare, cosmetics, real estate and financial. He is well steeped in the anti-trafficking Non-for-profit space as he sits on the board for Phantom Rescue and Fireball Run. Frank has been on the Executive Board for 3 years. He resides in Cooper City, Florida with his wife and children.
Dana Clary - Performance Coach - Director
Dana brings decades of board and board leadership experience. Starting her career with United Way, then Disney swept her away to be one of the youngest PR professionals on the team. Dana’s PR experience lead her to taking on many marketing and branding leadership roles in the Orlando area with organizations such as Create, Evoke and finally, SMT. She currently makes a difference as a performance coach with Landmark Worldwide on their personal coaching and development team. She resides in New Smyrna Beach with her two fur babies, Jack and Manny.
Jan has extensive leadership, speaking and training expertise with Fortune 100 companies. After traveling to Ethiopia and learning about human trafficking there, she wanted to do something about it. She is instrumental in bringing awareness to this silent crime of trafficking to our community and around the country. She is a member of the UN National Council on Women, UNICEF Unite, Orlando Dream Academy and is the current Chairperson of the Seminole County Human Trafficking Task Force. She has relationships across all levels of law enforcement, education and government in her global community. She brings passion, drive and a commitment to make a difference out in the world such that children reach their full potential.
Meet the Woman Taking on a Billion Dollar Industry - Huffington Post
Frank Smith - ESQ, Director
Frank has over 18 years of experience practicing law and many years of business experience, helping run a family business. Mr. Smith cut his teeth in the Landlord/Tenant courts in New York City, expanding his practice to ultimately become an attorney that practice both litigation and transactional work. His clients include both domestic and international in the space of healthcare, cosmetics, real estate and financial. He is well steeped in the anti-trafficking Non-for-profit space as he sits on the board for Phantom Rescue and Fireball Run. Frank has been on the Executive Board for 3 years. He resides in Cooper City, Florida with his wife and children.
Dana Clary - Performance Coach - Director
Dana brings decades of board and board leadership experience. Starting her career with United Way, then Disney swept her away to be one of the youngest PR professionals on the team. Dana’s PR experience lead her to taking on many marketing and branding leadership roles in the Orlando area with organizations such as Create, Evoke and finally, SMT. She currently makes a difference as a performance coach with Landmark Worldwide on their personal coaching and development team. She resides in New Smyrna Beach with her two fur babies, Jack and Manny.
Our Board and Lead Volunteers
Daniela Rodriquez - Mission Ambassador Coordinator
Daniela is an Account Representative with Entec Polymers. She gets to do operations and sales support. Daniela is a Spanish Language interpreter and an invaluable part of the team, as translated all of the print materials for Paving the Way Foundation. Daniela has joined our board in January of 2019 and has been managing our Mission Ambassadors for over 4 years. She lives in Orlando with her husband with her fur babies and are certified foster parents by the State of Florida! She's been on our board for 2 years.
Mallory Taylor - Connector
Mallory has over 14 years of retail management/merchandising experience. She's skilled at Increase sales through effective merchandising product knowledge and hiring/training and team development. Mallory was with Jan on her first trip to Ethiopia and was deeply moved by the her experience as well. She brings her business acumen , high energy and self -motivation to coordinating and working with all of our interns. She lives in Orlando with her husband and two terrific children. Mallory has been involved with fundraisers and events and has now been on our board for 2 years.
Maurice (Mo) Edwards - Law Enforcement/Human Trafficking Educator
Maurice T. Edwards works for NCMEC (National Center for Missing and Exploited Children) as an Analyst Supervisor working closely with local Law Enforcement to help find missing children. He is a former Human Trafficking Detective with the Seminole County Sheriff's Office in Seminole County, Florida since 2006. He was assigned to the Youth Intervention Services Unit. His responsibilities included the investigation of missing juveniles and human trafficking cases. He was also a Task Force Officer with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), assigned to the Innocent Images Task Force for human trafficking cases. Mo worked with local, state, and federal agencies in pursuit of the most comprehensive response and investigation to the crime of human trafficking. He is a member of the International Association of Human Trafficking Investigators (IAHTI) and serves as a human trafficking trainer. Mo routinely travels throughout the state of Florida to educate, provide awareness, and resources to law enforcement and civilians to combat human trafficking
Sacsha Balzar - International Law
Sascha is our newest board member. He has practiced law for over 18 years locally and abroad. Sacsha has extensive business and international law, law enforcement and undercover experience. He has an MBA and his law degree from an renowned international university. He currently sits on the board of Vilo Media, LTD out of the UK, as the Director of Development and resides in Central Florida with his wife and children. Sacsha has been on our board for almost 2 years.
Bernadette Cipriani - Major - Events and Fundraising
Bernadette Cipriani Major born a Pittsburgh native has been a resident of Orlando for 20 years.
She has an extensive background in medical management and has worked with providers for over 25 years. She has her BBA from Strayer University and has a diverse background in Human Resources. She has developed and implemented many employee rewards programs and is involved with many organizations. She has been a keynote speaker for many events, and is a volunteer auctioneer. She loves to run and is masterful at managing fundraising events. She believes in safety and education and has a first degree black belt.
Nada Haddad - Child Advocate and Attorney
Nada has dedicated her life to serving others. Ms. Haddad began her career in law as an immigration defense attorney, traveling across the United States representing clients from all over the world. Ms. Haddad defended the most vulnerable population of immigrants, asylum seekers, victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse and sexual violence, gang violence, and more specifically, those within the international deaf community. Ms. Haddad currently works in real estate and property tax law and sits on the board for The Portico Housing Solutions, is the Chair of the Liaison Subcommittee for the Governmental Public Policy and Advocacy Committee of the Florida Bar.
Mike Lang - Chairman, CEO and Founder of Nurse Care
Passionate leader focused on optimizing performance by employing holistic coaching and development of high performance people. Leveraging 25 years of healthcare experience, my vision and purpose is to equip providers with affordable solutions designed to improve their experience and performance allowing them to provide their patients with the highest level of care.
Mike knows that providers and patients deserve great care too! NurseCare improves patient experience ratings, patient choice, and offers providers an affordable on-ramp to the digital health revolution and immediately equips them with a "COVID-19 ready" platform. Mike believes child trafficking is a persistent evil that must be addressed with better education, awareness and other proactive measures. He along with causing breakthroughs in performance, Mike has a natural gifting with Marketing and Event Planning.
Dr. Jordan Rodriquez - Sr. Advisor for Prevention Education Curriculum and Design.
Jordan Rodriquez is currently the Director of Sales for Cady Studios, overseeing Central FL, North FL, and South GA and Education Analyst News 6 WKMG. He a retired principal of Seminole High school, Seminole counties largest school. He stood for creating an engaging, enriching and positive student experience at his school, creating caring, effective citizens for our community. Jordan received is B.S, M.A. and Ph.D. in Education at University of Central Florida. He has spent over 17 years in as an educator, Dean and Principal in Seminole County Florida, working with Lake Howell HS, Seminole HS, Winter Springs HS and Rock Lake Middle school. He is masterful as program development, leadership, community partnerships and creating an environment where teachers and students thrive. Jordan is trained in Behavioral Support, School Safe Programs and Instructional Leadership.
Daniela is an Account Representative with Entec Polymers. She gets to do operations and sales support. Daniela is a Spanish Language interpreter and an invaluable part of the team, as translated all of the print materials for Paving the Way Foundation. Daniela has joined our board in January of 2019 and has been managing our Mission Ambassadors for over 4 years. She lives in Orlando with her husband with her fur babies and are certified foster parents by the State of Florida! She's been on our board for 2 years.
Mallory Taylor - Connector
Mallory has over 14 years of retail management/merchandising experience. She's skilled at Increase sales through effective merchandising product knowledge and hiring/training and team development. Mallory was with Jan on her first trip to Ethiopia and was deeply moved by the her experience as well. She brings her business acumen , high energy and self -motivation to coordinating and working with all of our interns. She lives in Orlando with her husband and two terrific children. Mallory has been involved with fundraisers and events and has now been on our board for 2 years.
Maurice (Mo) Edwards - Law Enforcement/Human Trafficking Educator
Maurice T. Edwards works for NCMEC (National Center for Missing and Exploited Children) as an Analyst Supervisor working closely with local Law Enforcement to help find missing children. He is a former Human Trafficking Detective with the Seminole County Sheriff's Office in Seminole County, Florida since 2006. He was assigned to the Youth Intervention Services Unit. His responsibilities included the investigation of missing juveniles and human trafficking cases. He was also a Task Force Officer with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), assigned to the Innocent Images Task Force for human trafficking cases. Mo worked with local, state, and federal agencies in pursuit of the most comprehensive response and investigation to the crime of human trafficking. He is a member of the International Association of Human Trafficking Investigators (IAHTI) and serves as a human trafficking trainer. Mo routinely travels throughout the state of Florida to educate, provide awareness, and resources to law enforcement and civilians to combat human trafficking
Sacsha Balzar - International Law
Sascha is our newest board member. He has practiced law for over 18 years locally and abroad. Sacsha has extensive business and international law, law enforcement and undercover experience. He has an MBA and his law degree from an renowned international university. He currently sits on the board of Vilo Media, LTD out of the UK, as the Director of Development and resides in Central Florida with his wife and children. Sacsha has been on our board for almost 2 years.
Bernadette Cipriani - Major - Events and Fundraising
Bernadette Cipriani Major born a Pittsburgh native has been a resident of Orlando for 20 years.
She has an extensive background in medical management and has worked with providers for over 25 years. She has her BBA from Strayer University and has a diverse background in Human Resources. She has developed and implemented many employee rewards programs and is involved with many organizations. She has been a keynote speaker for many events, and is a volunteer auctioneer. She loves to run and is masterful at managing fundraising events. She believes in safety and education and has a first degree black belt.
Nada Haddad - Child Advocate and Attorney
Nada has dedicated her life to serving others. Ms. Haddad began her career in law as an immigration defense attorney, traveling across the United States representing clients from all over the world. Ms. Haddad defended the most vulnerable population of immigrants, asylum seekers, victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse and sexual violence, gang violence, and more specifically, those within the international deaf community. Ms. Haddad currently works in real estate and property tax law and sits on the board for The Portico Housing Solutions, is the Chair of the Liaison Subcommittee for the Governmental Public Policy and Advocacy Committee of the Florida Bar.
Mike Lang - Chairman, CEO and Founder of Nurse Care
Passionate leader focused on optimizing performance by employing holistic coaching and development of high performance people. Leveraging 25 years of healthcare experience, my vision and purpose is to equip providers with affordable solutions designed to improve their experience and performance allowing them to provide their patients with the highest level of care.
Mike knows that providers and patients deserve great care too! NurseCare improves patient experience ratings, patient choice, and offers providers an affordable on-ramp to the digital health revolution and immediately equips them with a "COVID-19 ready" platform. Mike believes child trafficking is a persistent evil that must be addressed with better education, awareness and other proactive measures. He along with causing breakthroughs in performance, Mike has a natural gifting with Marketing and Event Planning.
Dr. Jordan Rodriquez - Sr. Advisor for Prevention Education Curriculum and Design.
Jordan Rodriquez is currently the Director of Sales for Cady Studios, overseeing Central FL, North FL, and South GA and Education Analyst News 6 WKMG. He a retired principal of Seminole High school, Seminole counties largest school. He stood for creating an engaging, enriching and positive student experience at his school, creating caring, effective citizens for our community. Jordan received is B.S, M.A. and Ph.D. in Education at University of Central Florida. He has spent over 17 years in as an educator, Dean and Principal in Seminole County Florida, working with Lake Howell HS, Seminole HS, Winter Springs HS and Rock Lake Middle school. He is masterful as program development, leadership, community partnerships and creating an environment where teachers and students thrive. Jordan is trained in Behavioral Support, School Safe Programs and Instructional Leadership.
Survivor Leadership
We have an incredible team of Survivor Leaders that work closely with us to ensure we continue to be survivor informed and guided. This group is comprised of as lived experts and mental health professionals. Due to the sensitive nature of this, their names and pictures are not posted for their safety.
They are our hero's and we are forever grateful for them sharing their wisdom with us.
They are our hero's and we are forever grateful for them sharing their wisdom with us.
Mission Ambassadors
We have 45 Mission Ambassadors and Advocates throughout the country - from Phoenix to Ft. Lauderdale, Columbia SC, to Chicago to South Dakota, Miami to Jacksonville, FL and up the coast to Washington D.C. They are trained to lead a conversation following our award winning film, Trapped in the Trade to empower and educate our kids.
Together we've educated and trained over 19,000 youth, parents and teachers in the past five years. We impact our communities through powerful conversations saving our children from being lured into this dark world.
If you would like to join us on our mission to disrupt the cycle, please click here and complete our Mission Ambassador application or consider becoming a volunteer.
Together we can make a difference and end modern day slavery.
We have 45 Mission Ambassadors and Advocates throughout the country - from Phoenix to Ft. Lauderdale, Columbia SC, to Chicago to South Dakota, Miami to Jacksonville, FL and up the coast to Washington D.C. They are trained to lead a conversation following our award winning film, Trapped in the Trade to empower and educate our kids.
Together we've educated and trained over 19,000 youth, parents and teachers in the past five years. We impact our communities through powerful conversations saving our children from being lured into this dark world.
If you would like to join us on our mission to disrupt the cycle, please click here and complete our Mission Ambassador application or consider becoming a volunteer.
Together we can make a difference and end modern day slavery.
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