As the Community Big Read comes to a close, F-M Central School District is hosting one final conversation featuring a panel of special guests.
The Big Read finale, “From a House of Cards to a Strong Foundation: Redefining Success in our Community,” will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 28 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the High School Auditorium. Keynote speaker Dr. Melissa Carman will be joined by 5 panelists to discuss how to pursue success while staying true to what matters to you. Panelists will share practical advice, stories, and insight.
Unlike with other F-M Big Read events, there is no need to RSVP. This event is open to adults and students within the F-M district, along with those from other local and surrounding school districts.
Panelists include:
- Dr. Melissa Carman: Keynote speaker, CEO/Founder of CNY Mental Health Counseling and Dr. Melissa Carman Coaching
- Will Hartley: Student Assistance Counselor at Jamesville-Dewitt High School, Social Worker
- Kate Houck: CEO of David’s Refuge, CEO/Founder of Brave CNY
- Dr. Kaushal Nanavati: Integrative Medicine Physician, Assistant Dean of Wellness at Upstate Medical University
- Jeff Knauss: Entrepreneur, CEO of Opin, Restaurateur, Investor
- Arel Moodie: Founder/President of Reed Oak, Co-founder of Talkadot, Disney+ Host
Dr. Melissa Carman is the Founder and Executive Director of CNY Mental Health Counseling, PLLC, a thriving group practice with 14 counselors located in Manlius and Fayetteville. A Central New York native, Dr. Carman’s journey has taken her from Cornell University, where she earned her B.S. in Human Development, to the University of North Carolina for her M.S. in Mental Health Counseling, and back to her CNY roots at Syracuse University, where she completed her Ph.D. in Counseling and Supervision.
After starting her career at the Syracuse University Counseling Center, where she specialized in supporting student-athletes and the broader student body with holistic well-being, performance enhancement, emotional regulation, and navigating academic, personal, and identity challenges, Dr. Carman launched her private practice in 2011. Over the years, her passion for enhancing accessibility to high-quality mental health care has driven her to transform the practice into a collaborative hub for individuals, couples, and organizations through the creation of formalized partnerships. CNY Mental Health Counseling is a proud partner to the Fayetteville-Manlius School District.
Today, Dr. Carman’s focus extends beyond traditional counseling. Through her coaching practice, Dr. Melissa Carman Coaching, LLC, she works with executives, entrepreneurs, and leaders in healthcare, education, and private sectors to help them thrive as leaders. By addressing blind spots and navigating both personal and professional challenges, she empowers clients to foster growth, resilience, and meaningful impact.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Melissa loves spending time with her husband and their six children in their various activities, cherishing the energy and connection of their blended family. They find joy in traveling, hiking, discovering new restaurants, spending time with their cousins and grandparents, and recharging at their camp on Lake Ontario.
Will Hartley brings a wealth of experience and dedication to his work as the school social worker at Jamesville-DeWitt High School, where he has served students, families, and the school community for over 25 years. A Princeton University graduate and former collegiate lacrosse player, Will’s commitment to teamwork and resilience created a foundation for his professional life. In addition to his impactful role in education, Will has maintained a thriving private practice for adolescents, individuals, and families, helping clients navigate life’s challenges with compassion and expertise.
A natural mentor, he has also coached various sports and spent time as a teacher earlier in his career, showcasing his passion for empowering young people in all aspects of their development. Outside of work, Will embraces the joys and adventures of a “Brady Bunch” blended family, raising six children aged 20-26. His dedication to fostering connection, building resilience, and promoting growth shines through in both his personal and professional life, making him a trusted and valued presence in his community.
Kate Houck is the Executive Director of David’s Refuge, a Central and Western NY organization dedicated to supporting parents and guardians of children with special needs or life-threatening illnesses. Since joining in 2015, Kate has led the organization to significant growth, earning recognition as one of Central New York’s Best Places to Work (2019-2023) while exceeding development goals and reducing caregiver burnout.
In 2023, Kate launched Brave CNY, a coaching and consulting company dedicated to supporting leaders in their professional development, fostering positive company cultures, and driving greater outcomes. Drawing on her extensive leadership experience, Kate empowers clients to navigate challenges and unlock their full potential.
Previously, Kate spent a decade with the Muscular Dystrophy Association in leadership roles. She is a 40 Under 40 honoree, has completed advanced leadership and DEI training, and actively contributes to community organizations, including Profound Mastermind, Women United and the Marcellus Forward Nonprofit Leadership Group.
Kate, a SUNY Cortland alumna with a degree in Communications, treasures her family—husband Paul and their two teens, Nathan and Leah. Her passions include nature, exercise, and fostering positivity, guided by her favorite quote from Carole King: “You’ve got to get up every morning with a smile on your face and show the world all the love in your heart.”
Dr. Kaushal Nanavati, is an Integrative Family Physician at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY who enjoys educating people on wellness, self-care, and achieving contentment and peace in life using humor, stories, and real, tangible examples. He was born in India and grew up in Rochester, NY. He has over 28 years of experience as a Family Physician and is also board Certified in Integrative Medicine. He is the Assistant Dean of Wellness at Upstate and also Director of Integrative Medicine and Survivorship at the Upstate Cancer Center.
He has enjoyed learning karate and coaching his son in basketball, has completed a marathon, loves to play tennis and golf, and cherishes personal time with his family. He is also an author having written a book series, CORE 4 of Wellness, which is a culmination of insights addressing the importance of nutrition, physical exercise, stress management, and spiritual wellness to achieve a balanced life.
He is a sought after speaker and has spoken to multiple groups internationally and here in the U.S. Groups include: Wells Fargo, Royal Bank of Canada, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and multiple academic conferences. He conducts workshops on organizational wellness and personal well-being.
Jeff Knauss is a serial entrepreneur and angel investor. In 2021, he received an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from SUNY Oswego after graduating in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in public relations with a concentration in marketing.
His entrepreneurial journey started as the CEO and co-founder (alongside his business partner Jake Tanner) of Digital Hyve, a full-service digital marketing agency with offices in Syracuse and Rochester. Digital Hyve was named the 52nd fastest private growing company in the United States by Inc. Magazine in their annual Inc. 5,000 edition and was also named the 5th fastest growing Marketing and Advertising Company in the nation. They were listed on the Inc. 5,000 list 5 years in a row.
After scaling Digital Hyve to an 8-figure revenue company, Jeff sold Digital Hyve to an independently-owned ad agency, which resulted in DH’s 56 employees becoming employee-owners of the business through an ESOP. This has been Jeff’s proudest professional moment, as it honored the employees that helped build Digital Hyve.
Jeff has been featured in Entrepreneur Magazine, Adweek, Inc. Magazine, Fortune Magazine, Facebook.com Success Stories, and multiple television news networks. He is currently a partner and investor in 13 businesses ranging from various startups focused on medical research, professional networking, mobile payment apps, commercial real estate, 3 restaurants (Hidden Fish, Clover’s, and XO Taco), diversity recruitment, and e-commerce.
Prior to starting Digital Hyve, Jeff spent 8 years in broadcast television. Jeff serves on the Board of Directors of Community Financial System, Inc., a diversified financial services company focused on four main business lines: banking, benefits administration, insurance services and wealth management, with total assets over $15 billion. Community Financial System, Inc. is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CBU. He also currently serves on the Board of Directors of the SUNY Oswego Foundation.
In the past, Jeff has served on the Board of Directors of Byrne Dairy, Food Bank of CNY, United Way of CNY, OCC Foundation, Loretto Foundation, CenterState CEO, and CNYSME. In 2021, Jeff and his wife started the Knauss Family Foundation which focuses on helping break generational poverty cycles through children’s health and well-being, education, and career pathing.
At home in Skaneateles, NY, with his wife, Heta, and children, Max and Lila, Jeff’s life is a testament to the harmony between professional success and personal fulfillment. His journey is not just about business milestones but also about enriching his community and cherishing family life.
Arel Moodie is a TV show host of “Family Reboot” on Disney+ and professional speaker who has spoken at the White House and has been acknowledged by President Obama.
Arel has done extensive work on understanding human relationship dynamics to understand what makes people tick and how to positively use these universal truths. He has been quoted in The New York Times, USA Today, Forbes, Black Enterprise, Huffington Post and contributor to TV shows like “The Doctors”.
His podcast has reached millions of people in 178 countries and was the number 1 career podcast on Apple. Inc. Magazine called him a “High-Energy, Motivator” and named him to their “30 Under 30 list” of America’s top entrepreneurs and he has been also named to the 40 Under 40 list of top CNY business professionals. As a professional speaker, he has spoken to over 750,000 people in 48 states and 5 countries.
For fun, our speaker likes to dance; he has performed at Madison Square Garden and Arel has two viral videos that have millions of views, and one of them was even featured on The Ellen Show! Arel’s greatest joy comes from his role as a family man. He is a devoted husband, having met his wife at age 18, and a proud father of two sons.