About Us

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Dr. Robert “Navy Bob” Roncska is a retired U.S. Navy Captain and former Commodore of Submarine Squadron Seven, where he oversaw ten nuclear submarines, 1,700 sailors, and $25 billion in assets. He previously commanded the USS Texas, led missions beneath the Arctic ice, and served as Naval Aide to President George W. Bush, who nicknamed him “Navy Bob.” After retiring in 2018, he joined AdventHealth, rising to Executive Director of High Reliability and Unit Culture, supporting 48 hospitals across seven states, focusing on patient safety and organizational reliability. 

Bob serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Central Florida’s School of Global Health Management and Informatics. Bob is also the author of Beyond the Sea and High Reliability Healthcare where he shares his stories of the Navy and how they can be applied to leadership and healthcare. Bob holds a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College, an MS in Engineering/Industrial Management from the University of Central Florida, and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from SUNY Maritime College. 

Bob lives in Winter Park, FL with his wife Stephanie and two dogs. He has two children, Sophia and Zachary. Bob is an avid runner and fitness enthusiast, including participating in Ironman Triathlons, firmly believing in the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle for both personal well-being and professional success.

Visit navybob.com to learn more. 

Dr. Katie Gottsch brings over 25 years of experience with The Walt Disney Company, where she led engagement and enhanced experiences for customers and employees during major transformations including the introduction of mobile app technology, social media, and park expansions at EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. 

Katie leads strategic planning and culture development for the Leading with Love team and our clients to build people-first environments, rooted in trust, clarity, and operational excellence. 

Katie also serves as a strategic advisor for doctoral students and is a public relations faculty member at Full Sail University. Katie holds a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), an MBA and a Master of Human Resources from Rollins College and a BS in biology from Mary Washington College.

Katie lives in Orlando, FL with her dog Saylor. Katie has a love of the water, whether above the surface on her boat exploring Florida’s lakes, or volunteering with The SCUBA Gym and coaching kids with physical and cognitive disabilities. She also loves to travel and spend time with her two nephews and niece. 

Katherine Bentley is a relationship strategist and speaker advisor with nearly 15 years of experience at one of the nation's top speakers’ bureaus, most recently as Vice President of Client Relations at Leading Authorities. 

Katherine leads the reach and impact of Leading with Love by forging strong client partnerships by managing the end-to-end client experience from initial consultation through post-event follow-up for speaking opportunities. 

Katherine graduated cum laude from the University of Miami with a Bachelor of Science in Communication and completed U.S. Air Force leadership coursework while in Washington, D.C. 

Katherine lives in Houston, TX with her husband and young son. She enjoys spending time with family, volunteering at her son’s school, and exploring creative ways to connect ideas with people.

Gail Lamarche is a marketing and communications strategist with nearly 30 years of experience helping leaders and organizations define their voice and build meaningful relationships with the communities they serve. 

At Leading with Love, Gail brings a blend of strategic thinking, creative storytelling, and operational discipline helping the team stay aligned, focused, and connected as the message reaches new audiences across industries. Known for her integrator mindset, she excels at bridging vision with execution, bringing consistency and heart to everything she touches. Her approach is grounded in service, driven by authenticity, and focused on building trust.

A lifelong New England sports fan, Gail enjoys time with her family and cheering on the Red Sox and New England Patriots. She blends her passion for baseball with philanthropy serving on the Boston Red Sox Celebrity Golf Classic Tournament Committee, helping raise millions of dollars for Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. Gail also serves on the Board of Directors for the Southwest Florida Seminole Club, where she leads its annual fishing tournament benefitting scholarship programs for Florida State University students.

Dr. J.B. Adams has more than 20 years of experience as an executive development strategist, coach, and speaker, with expertise in leadership development, executive presence, emotional intelligence, and interpersonal trust in the workplace. He has designed and delivered innovative learning experiences for emerging startups, established corporations, and major government agencies. His client portfolio includes organizations such as The Walt Disney Company, Disney Institute, Amazon, Hilton Worldwide, Tiffany & Co., Bank of America, Toyota, Walmart, Liberty Mutual, Herschend Family Entertainment, Rollins College, and Orlando Health.

J.B. began his career with The Walt Disney Company, where he led the design of core professional development programs at the Disney Institute. He has since worked extensively with senior executives and leadership teams to build cultures of trust, strengthen organizational alignment, and enhance performance through effective communication and engagement strategies.

He earned his Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) from the University of Florida, researching how employees experience trust and distrust with organizational leaders. He also holds an MBA from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, and a BS from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

J.B. was raised on a family farm in rural Illinois. He currently lives in Orlando, Florida and takes an avid interest in history and genealogy.

Carl Metzger is a public safety leader with 36 years of law enforcement experience in Central Florida, most recently as the Chief of Police for the University of Central Florida (UCF) Police Department. In his current role as Associate Vice President for Public Safety, he oversees more than 130 sworn and civilian Police, Victim Services, Emergency Management, and Department of Security employees.

Before joining UCF, Carl spent 26 years with the Orlando Police Department, working throughout the patrol, administrative services and special operations divisions while also rising in the ranks.

Carl is a member of the Orange Osceola County Police Chiefs Association, where he served four years as President, the Central Florida Criminal Justice Association, the Florida Police Chief’s Association, the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. He serves on the Board of Directors for the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Greater Orlando, the Central Florida CIT Advisory Council, the UCF Criminal Justice Advisory Council, and is a member of the Florida Chamber of Commerce Leadership Cabinet on Safety, Wellness, and Sustainability.  Metzger is a certified suicide prevention instructor, and he teaches CIT/suicide prevention to the agencies in Orange County.  

Carl earned a Bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Florida and a Master’s degree in criminal justice from UCF. 

Carl is a dedicated husband of 36 years and a devoted father. An avid runner and biker, he has completed 20 marathons, 220+ half-marathons and numerous century (100-mile) bike rides, including three 250-mile Police Unity Tours, helping to raise over $35,000 for the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, DC. 

Natalie Amitan, RN, BSN, MBA is a visionary healthcare leader with more than 15 years of experience advancing patient safety, operational excellence, and enterprise risk management.

She currently serves as a Director of Risk Management and Patient Safety, where she drives system-wide initiatives that align clinical outcomes with organizational strategy. Throughout her career, she has consistently been recognized for building cultures of accountability, innovation, and collaboration—values that mirror her commitment to compassionate leadership and high reliability in complex healthcare environments.

Guided by the principles of Leading with Love, Natalie believes that lasting change in healthcare stems from openness, creativity, and respect. She has led transformative projects that improve provider communication, enhance regulatory compliance, and integrate smart risk-taking into everyday practice. Her clinical roots as an emergency nurse and transplant coordinator give her a deep appreciation for the challenges faced on the frontline, while her MBA studies sharpen her ability to bridge clinical and business priorities.

Natalie lives in Miami with her husband, three children, and their dog, Luna. She enjoys traveling with her family and making lasting memories together.

Rachael DeGeorge is a leadership development professional and project manager who is passionate about helping people and organizations thrive. With a background in human resources and organizational development, she has spent her career designing and facilitating programs that inspire growth, collaboration, and meaningful connection.

Rachael has managed large-scale initiatives, including global leadership summits, and brings a thoughtful and people-centered approach to every project she leads.

Her work is grounded in the belief that leadership begins with empathy and service. Rachael is committed to creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and equipped to make a difference in their communities and workplaces. She is especially drawn to initiatives that encourage collaboration and amplify voices that are often overlooked.

Beyond her professional experience, Rachael’s passion for service extends into her personal life. Whether through mentoring, volunteering, or simply showing up for others with compassion, she believes in the power of small actions to create lasting impact. Her guiding principle is that love and kindness are the most transformative tools a leader can bring to the table.

Rachael lives in Oklahoma with her husband and two young children, who inspire her daily to lead with curiosity, creativity, and care. 

Jamie Hollis, MA is a leadership coach and organizational development professional passionate about helping individuals and teams thrive in meaningful work. She partners with organizations to strengthen engagement, elevate leadership capacity, and drive authentic cultural transformation. With more than 20 years of executive and program leadership experience spanning the nonprofit, higher education, and corporate sectors,

Jamie brings a grounded, strategic, and human-centered approach to every engagement. Her diverse client portfolio includes organizations such as the University of Central Florida, Stetson University, Grennan Fender, the American Academy of Optometry, and the Heart of Florida United Way.

Jamie’s foundational work in the nonprofit sector shaped her commitment to people-centered leadership and organizational growth. She served as the Senior Program Manager at the Edyth Bush Institute at Rollins College, where she provided strategic oversight for professional development programs, designed leadership curricula, and facilitated workshops for nonprofit executives. Earlier in her career, she led behavioral health and autism programming at Easter Seals Central Illinois and served as Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce.

Jamie holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychologyand is a certified DiSC® trainer. She lives in Winter Park, Florida, with her two children, Sam and Maia, and enjoys gardening, cooking, and spending time in nature.

Anailese Ruzica is a graphic design student at Belmont University in Nashville with a passion for creativity, wellness, and storytelling through art. 

As a military kid, she learned early on how to adapt, stay grounded, and connect with others across changing environments. That upbringing shaped her curiosity about the world and helped her understand the power of storytelling—especially through visual design.

Outside of school, she has worked as a barista and shift lead at Bongo Java, a well-known Nashville coffee shop. Working in a fast-paced café taught her how to multitask, communicate under pressure, and problem-solve quickly and effectively. She also played a key role in the shop’s recent makeover, helping repaint and redesign the space to create a more relaxed and inviting atmosphere. 

Dr. George Graen was a trailblazer in the field of leadership and organizational psychology.  Best known as the creator of Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) theory, he forever reshaped how we understand leadership - and how we, as leaders, understand people. He believed leadership was never about power or control, but about relationships grounded in trust, mutual respect, and genuine care. 

He taught us that love belongs in leadership — and he lived that truth in how he mentored, encouraged, and inspired others. 

More than a thought partner, he was a mentor, friend, and key influence in shaping the foundation of Leading with Love. His belief that leadership begins with authentic relationships continues to guide our work every day. Though he is no longer with us, his legacy lives on in our mission, our values, and our hearts.

Dr. Graen Obituary