Our Executive Team
State Committeewoman: Stefanie Ambrosio Pontlitz
Stefanie was born in Clearwater and moved to Pasco County at the age of two. She is a graduate of River Ridge High School and graduated Cum Laude from Florida State University. She was elected as Republican State Committeewoman for Pasco County in August of 2024.
Stefanie has been an active participant in the Pasco REC for several years. Most notably, she was the Chairperson for the 2021 Reagan Day Dinner, which raised more than $200,000 for the Pasco Republican Party and, at the time, was the highest-grossing fundraiser for any party in the state of Florida. She has since participated in additional events, including the 2023 Lincoln Day Dinner, meetings, and REC projects.
Stefanie is married to Derek Pontlitz, and they have 2 fur babies and a niece they adore.
Currently, Stefanie sits on the Advisory Board for RESPECT of Florida, has been appointed to the Pasco Hernando Workforce Board, was Past President of Trinity Rotary, Past President of Leadership Pasco, Past President of Junior Service League, Past President of the West Pasco Young Professionals Group, and sits on various boards and committees throughout the county and Tampa Bay area.
Stefanie has experience in finance and business management and works full-time as the CEO for a local non-profit. She dedicates her life to creating fiscally responsible resources for social services in our community. Stefanie looks forward to creating a larger impact in Pasco County through her service to the Republican Party as State Committeewoman.
State Committeeman: Shawn Foster
Shawn Foster brought a wealth of political and government experience when he started Sunrise Consulting Group 20 years ago. Having worked inside the state and federal echelons of government for over 20 years, Shawn has built unique relationships and gained powerful knowledge to achieve success for his clients.
Shawn began his political and government career in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Shawn was the student body President and graduated from USF-Sarasota. Shawn started in the legislative process working for a State Representative in Sarasota County.
Shawn served as Congressman Gus Bilirakis’ District Director for six years. This experience allowed Shawn to become well acquainted with not only the numerous issues being debated in Washington, but also the opportunity to become engrained in the issues facing the State of Florida.
Prior to working for Congressman Bilirakis, Shawn served as a Senior Legislative Aide for State Senator Mike Fasano. In addition to his work inside government, Shawn has an astute political background, as he has managed and consulted on numerous political campaigns over the past 20 years.
Shawn started lobbying in 2006 and was previously the Managing Partner for the Tampa Bay office of the Southern Strategy Group. He is well versed in the political efforts of both the private and public sectors.
Shawn has assisted several state associations in the past 10 years. He is the current Executive Director of the Florida Academy of Pain Medicine. Prior to that, Shawn served as the Assistant Executive Director for two years and was the exhibit coordinator. Shawn has also been a consultant for the Florida Blueberry Growers Association, Florida Blueberry Festival Association, Florida Association of Local Housing Finance Authorities, Florida Solar Energy Industries Association, the Florida Schools Boards Association, and the Florida Bail Agents Association.
Shawn has worked with and represented the Florida Bail Agents Association (FBAA) for the past seven years. During his tenure helping the FBAA and other various associations, Shawn generally works and assists on various issues ranging from legislative lobbying to association development and growth. During his time with the FBAA, Shawn has continually assisted the President, the Board, and the Association as a whole to advance association growth, coordinate quarterly meetings and secure speakers, promote marketing and membership expansion, obtain sponsorships and fundraising, and provide counsel on association business. There are very few issues that would arise that Shawn has not had some experience with.
Chairman: Troy Stevenson
Who is Troy Stevenson? Troy has been an involved member of our Pasco County community for over 20 years. He was general sales manager for Wesley Chapel Nissan but was then promoted to head their public relations department. While in that post, he started their Community Involvement Team to increase community engagement and support of charitable organizations.
Troy is also an active first responder and volunteer. For 16 years he's been an active first responder for NDMS (National Disaster Medical Services) and has been deployed during such emergencies as Hurricanes Katrina and Maria, Superstorm Sandy, and other vaccination and relief efforts. In a time of disaster, Troy puts his boots on the ground to help those in need.
He has owned Acme On The Go for 9 years. Through this business, he has helped support many local businesses and community events. He has also continued his community support through this business by donating use of it during times of community need.
He is a dedicated family man who has been married to Iris for over 27 years. He has three
daughters and five grandchildren, who are the absolute center of his life. All of his spare time centers around being involved with the lives of his children and grandchildren.
Troy's community involvement runs deep. He is an active member of his church, Life Church, in Wesley Chapel. He is on the board of directors of the Wesley Chapel Rotary and the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce. His support of numerous charitable organizations, including the Lions Club, Big Brothers & Big Sisters, Pasco County Sheriff's Office's Family Support Network, and Miracles Schools (a non-profit school for special needs kids), has garnered him multiple awards and recognitions.
Troy is a Conservative Republican with strong community and family values. He wants to bring his business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit to the County Commission to help serve the residents of Pasco County. He wants to help our county grow while also balancing the need to protect the natural beauty of our area.
"Serving my community is a passion for me, whether it's a response to a natural disaster, starting a school drive for our kids in Pasco, or building homes for the underprivileged. I've worked and lived in Pasco for over 25 years. God has blessed me and my family, and our passion is giving back."
Vice Chairman: Walter Price
Walter Price was born and raised in central Florida in the city of Tavares, “America’s Seaplane City.” Immediately after graduating from high school, he attended the University of South Florida and graduated in 2004 with a B.A. in Communications.
I moved home to start my real estate career in 2005 with my father. In 2007, I moved back to Pasco County and opened a real estate appraisal firm that is now entering its 21st year in operation.
I have 3 children, Caleb, Ethan, and Madison. My wife, Stacey, and I are very busy with the children and their travel sports.
My political experience began in 2011 when I ran for Pasco County Property Appraiser for the 2012 election. The year of campaigning taught me so much, and I was eager to continue to learn and understand politics. I became a precinct committeeman and ran the Young Republicans Club of Pasco County.
I wanted to continue to serve the community and give public service to the residents of Pasco County. In 2016, I became a Firefighter and was hired by Pasco County Fire Rescue. I quickly realized my love for politics was still burning and saw the need for the Fire Department to become more political and build long-lasting relationships with the elected officials. I was able to help start a Political Action Committee of which I am currently the chair. I travel to both Tallahassee and Washington, D.C., to help advocate for Pasco County fire fighters.
I have been a lifelong Republican and conservative. I understand the dangers that come with socialist and communist ideologies and know that neither of them has any place in our country. Most importantly, it is so critical that we teach our children and youth the truth about our history as a country and why we are the greatest country in the world. The United States of America.
“If a house was on fire, there could be but two parties. One in favor of putting out the fire. Another is in favor of the house burning." ― Abraham Lincoln.
Treasurer: Chris Casella
Chris Casella is a dedicated public servant with a lifelong commitment to his community and the principles of freedom, equality, and justice. Originally from Island Park, New York, Chris began his service career at a young age. At 19, he joined the Island Park Fire Department as a volunteer firefighter and EMT. His dedication to helping others continued when he worked as an EMT for the New York City Emergency Medical Service and later joined the New York City Police Department in 1990. During his 12-year career with the NYPD, Chris served in various roles, including assignments in the 113th Precinct, Queens Task Force, Queens Robbery Task Force, and the Organized Crime Control Bureau-Narcotics Division.
After retiring from the NYPD in 2002, Chris shifted his focus to supporting his local community in Wesley Chapel, Florida. An active member of the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel since 2016, he has held several leadership positions, including Club President (2019-2020) and District 6950 Membership Chair. Most notably, Chris served as Rotary District 6950 District Governor for the 2023-2024 Rotary year, leading over 1,800 Rotarians across 51 clubs in Pasco, Pinellas, Hernando, and Citrus Counties. His dedication to service has been recognized with numerous awards, including District Rotarian of the Year.
Chris is also an active board member of the Pasco Education Foundation, where he works to enhance educational opportunities for students and educators in Pasco County. Through its initiatives, the foundation fosters academic excellence and provides vital resources for future leaders.
Recently appointed Treasurer of the Pasco County Republican Party’s Executive Board, Chris is committed to advancing the Republican Party's mission. He works to foster loyalty, promote an informed electorate, increase Republican voter registration, and support qualified Republican candidates for office.
Chris lives in Wesley Chapel with his wife, Melinda, and continues to serve his community with integrity and purpose.
Secretary: Devin Alexander
Devin Alexander is a fourth-generation resident of Pasco County raised on the east side. The Pasco Pirate graduate would go on to Adrian College in Adrian, Michigan to earn his bachelor’s degree in Political Science. During his time there, he served 2 terms as the Student Body President working closely with Senior Administration to improve retention.
He joined the REC in 2018 and has served in multiple organizations, including the Pasco Young Republicans, East Pasco Republican Club and Zephyrhills Main Street. Currently, he serves as the Executive Director of Florida Business Professionals of America, Inc., one of the Career and Technical Education organizations that help prepare students for the workforce.
Devin is a proud conservative who wants to help show the light of the Republican Party to young adults and minorities. He passionately believes the American dream is alive and thriving if you are willing to work hard and have faith in God.
Yvette is deeply passionate about her involvement with the Republican Party, as she believes in the foundational values and principles of America. A strong advocate for conservative values, protection of the unborn, and a firm supporter of the military and those who serve, along with First Responders believing that their sacrifices uphold the freedoms, protection, and security we enjoy. Yvette holds biblical principles close to her heart, believing that the values found in Scripture—such as faith, integrity, and service to others—are vital for both personal growth and the strength of the nation. She believes that to make a difference in this country, it’s essential to remain actively engaged in the political process and work toward preserving the right to worship and the biblical principles that make America great.
Yvette is a highly experienced professional with a strong background in business development, project coordination, and community involvement. She currently works for Lucas, Macyszyn & Dyer Law Firm, where she has spent the past 20 years, starting as a receptionist and paralegal before growing into the role of Business Development Manager. Over the years, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the firm’s growth and client relations. Yvette is also an accomplished vlog cast host, hosting Elephants in the Room for the RPOP with Sandy Graves, past State Committeewoman, and Around Town—People, Places, and Things with Amy Walters, Owner of City Lifestyle—New Port Richey. Yvette currently serves as the President of a local BNI International chapter, Professional Edge, and President of Kingdom Business Network.
In addition to her professional roles, Yvette serves as the Associate Pastor of Market Place Ministries at Lakewood Family Church in Hudson, FL and is deeply committed to giving back to her community. She is the Community Events Coordinator and a Board Member of the Lucas, Macyszyn & Dyer Community Foundation, which supports veterans, first responders, single parents, and children in the local area.
Yvette is a native Floridian and has been married for 39 years to her high school sweetheart, Don, and they are proud parents to three children, grandparents to two grandchildren, and have a cute dog, Lucy, and a cat named Kitta. A passionate and energetic speaker, Yvette shares her faith and the Gospel at churches, women’s conferences, and networking meetings. She loves the Lord and people and believes that it is always better to give with a happy heart than to receive.
Yvette is an active member of her community, a Rotarian, and enjoys connecting with people through service, leadership, and her various roles in local organizations.
Honoring Exemplary Leadership & Dedication to Pasco County Republicans
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to James Mallo, Rudy Gonzalez, Sandy Graves, and Jeannie James for their outstanding leadership, dedicated service, and invaluable contributions to the success of the Republican Party of Pasco County. Your unwavering commitment continues to inspire and strengthen our mission.
Thank you for all you do for our great community!