CommHIT25

E. Stanley Richardson is an American poet, actor, author, playwright, producer, educator, workshop facilitator, and an advocate for the transformative power of poetry and the arts. Richardson is the founder and director of ARTSPEAKSgnv Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting literacy, wellbeing, and creating healthier communities by providing access to creative arts and cultural programs in historically underserved areas of North Central Florida. Richardson serves as the inaugural Poet Laureate of Alachua County, Florida (2020 -2025) and is a Community Scientist at the University of Florida (UF) Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics. He is an active member of the UF Health Cancer Center Community Advisory Board and the External Advisory Board for Community Outreach and Engagement.

Marilou Schultz, of the Tábaahá clan and born for the Tsi’naajinii clan, is a fourth-generation Navajo weaver, artist, and educator who fuses ancestral wisdom and cutting-edge technology.  Intel commissioned her to craft a woven replica of their 1994 Pentium chip—she’s now known for works that blend pixel-perfect precision with centuries-old technique. Her traditional upbringing keeps her connected to her culture which influences her worldview as well as interpretations of these views. Her work has been in exhibitions in the United States and well as internationally. Right now, her pieces are on view at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) through September. Marilou teaches middle school math and Navajo style weaving when time permits. She’ll be joining us at CommHIT25 to unveil brand-new work and speak about the overlap of art, tradition, tech, and space.

With 25+ years in complex healthcare, transportation, and communication issues, Dr. Siler is a nationally-recognized leader in technologies and workforce education and development. As CommHIT’s CEO, she plans & operationalizes programs to assuage needs in rural and resource-poor or otherwise remote settings. Dr. Siler was an appointed stakeholder advisor to the Trump Administration White House Office of American Innovation and the Obama Administration White House Rural Council. Starting in 2008, Dr. Siler led the development of the nation’s first rural-based HIE. She was the Wave 1 Lead of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Task Group required under federal law to help health organizations of all sizes improve their digital security practices. For her depth and breadth of work in helping the nation’s rural health systems embrace health information technology, she received a 2013 Rural Hospital Champion Award from the U.S. Office of the National Coordinator (now the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy). Dr. Siler develops registered apprenticeship programs that help create a strong and flexible tech and health workforce that can help people day-to-day and in times of emergencies. Dr. Siler received her PhD from the University of Florida (UF) where she specialized in Immunology and Biochemistry and was a National Research Service Award (NRSA) Post-doctoral Fellow at the McKnight Brain Institute.

Blake Staring is a seasoned entrepreneur and C-level executive with two decades of experience in health and human performance. His work spans nutraceutical development, peptide therapy, and regenerative medicine—applied across startups, clinical settings, and multinational markets. As a Wellness Director for two Integrative Medicine clinics, and with a scientific foundation as a Holistic Nutritionist and Physiologist, Blake spearheaded innovative formulations that enhance human performance, optimize the gut-brain axis, and improve bioavailability. As a passionate pioneer in novel therapeutic compounds, he continues to pursue the future of performance-enhancing wellness. At the intersection of space science and human health, Blake focuses on novel therapeutics designed for the casual consumer as well as astronaut wellness for Mars-bound missions. His work blends science, biohacking, and ancient wisdom to develop space-adapted supplements and human performance protocols—advancing health and resilience for space explorers and individuals on Earth. Whether designing for high-stakes space environments or everyday longevity, Blake’s mission remains the same: advancing wellness and performance science through transformative solutions that benefit communities everywhere.

Dr. Willis is a Board-Certified Family Physician practicing family physician and CommHIT’s co-founder. In addition to remaining on the pulse of healthcare, he has 20+ years of experience as a private entrepreneur, hospital Chief Medical Information Officer (CMIO), and a community health center CMO at an NCQA Level-3 Certified Medical Home with eight clinical locations offering the following services: pediatric and adult medicine and dental, maternity, and behavioral health. He merges his clinical and technology expertise to assist medical providers and social service organizations with cybersecurity, community engagement research, and better uses of technology to improve community health. He established Healthy Ocala in 2007, a secure and private digital mechanism to share patient data in Ocala, FL. CommHIT expanded that into the first rurally-based Health Information Exchange in the nation. Dr. Willis was awarded the 2013 Critical Access and Rural Hospital Champion Award from the Office of the National Coordinator (now the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy). Dr. Willis completed his undergraduate training in mathematics at Stetson University and obtained his Medical Doctorate at the University of South Florida (USF). He completed his training at the Florida Hospital Family Practice Residency in Orlando in 2000.