IRCF Team Member Since: 2015

When he is not surfing, Jeffrey R. Pickering is President and CEO of Indian River Community Foundation in Vero Beach, Florida.  Mr. Pickering has more than 25 years of experience in philanthropy, nonprofit leadership and fundraising, including five years as President and CEO of Kern Community Foundation in Bakersfield, California, and four years as Vice President at the Community Foundation of Central Florida.  Prior to entering the community foundation field, Mr. Pickering served for 10 years in leadership roles at two nonprofit respite centers in Chicago, Illinois and Orlando, Florida that provided residential medical recovery for ill and injured homeless adults discharged from area hospitals. 

Mr. Pickering holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and Spanish from the University of South Florida, a master’s degree in leadership studies from the School of Leadership and Education Sciences at the University of San Diego, a certificate in business administration from the Roy E. Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College and attended Stanford University’s Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (“d.school”).  Mr. Pickering is an alumnus of the Vincentian Service Corps, where he served for one year after graduation from college as a lay missioner working among homeless men and women in New York City.  In 2016, Mr. Pickering was honored to be selected for the CFLeads Executive Leadership Institute for Community Foundation CEOs, and he currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Indian River Estate Planning Council and is Chairman of the Community Foundations of Florida.

Mr. Pickering is married to Stephanie Brooks Pickering of Palm Springs, California. The Pickerings have three children, Colin, Olivia and Grant.

IRCF Team Member Since: 2022

Heather O’Shea has three decades of leadership experience, including stints in the for-profit sector with Baxter Healthcare Corporation and Robert Half International as well as 17 years as a teacher and administrator at the Bosque School, an independent, 6-12 school in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Most recently, she served as editor in chief of Vero Beach Magazine, where she developed a deep appreciation for her new “hometown” and its abundant nonprofit community.

Heather graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a triple major in English, Economics, and Theology, and completed both an Executive MBA and a PhD in literature at the University of New Mexico. A Pittsburgh native, Heather and her husband Fred Gordon moved to Vero Beach in 2018 and can’t imagine calling anywhere else home.

IRCF Team Member Since: 2015

Yamilet Cendejas is the Director of Development and Donor Services at Indian River Community Foundation in Vero Beach, Florida. Previously, Ms. Cendejas’ experience includes fine dining server at Oak Harbor Country Club and customer service representative in her family’s business, Yami’s Ice Cream Shop. Ms. Cendejas holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Indian River State College. She is a member of the international honor society Sigma Beta Delta. She serves on the Board of Association of Fundraising Professionals FL, Indian River Chapter.

IRCF Team Member Since: 2021

Brooke Sauserman is the Director of Grants and Nonprofit Services at Indian River Community Foundation in Vero Beach, Florida. Brooke is originally from Maryland but moved to Vero Beach in 2021 with her husband, Hunter Sauserman. Brooke’s previous experience includes special education and office administration. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Family and Child Development from Liberty University. Brooke is a member of Junior League Indian River, serving as the Chair of the Community Committee. Brooke also serves on the Indian River County Children Services Grants Subcommittee.

IRCF Team Member Since: 2025

Susan Lawson, CPA, brings more than 30 years of diverse accounting experience to her role as Controller at Indian River Community Foundation.  Susan is originally from Kentucky and lived in Toronto, Canada for many years.  She moved permanently to Vero Beach in 2018, after a lifetime of Vero vacations.  Susan has many years of varied accounting experience including roles in public accounting, private industry, multinational public corporations, and not for profit accounting.  In Canada, she held the designation of Chartered Professional Accountant.  She completed the CPA Canada In-Depth Tax Programs Parts I, II, and III along with the HST/GST program, working with a focus on income tax accounting and compliance for Canadian public companies.  Susan holds a B.A. in business administration from Transylvania University and a Kentucky Certified Public Accounting license.  Susan has held various board positions for non-profit and professional organizations.  She is currently the Treasurer of her condominium association and an active volunteer.

IRCF Team Member Since: 2025

Shayla Macias is the Administrative Coordinator at the Indian River Community Foundation in Vero Beach, Florida. A lifelong resident of Fellsmere, she brings a strong background in finance, public policy, and administrative leadership to her role. Shayla earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (B.S.B.A.) in Business Economics from UCF, along with a Certificate in Human Resources. In addition to her professional career, Shayla is actively involved in public service. She is a newly elected City Council Member for the City of Fellsmere and serves as a Board Member for the Treasure Coast Regional League of Cities and an Alternate Member on the Economic Development Council.