
ABWG Leadership
Meet the leadership team behind Apollo Beach Women’s Group, LLC, dedicated to connecting, supporting, and empowering women across the SouthShore communities of Apollo Beach, Riverview, Ruskin, Wimauma, and Sun City Center. We are a 100% volunteer organization.

Michele Rodkey Kubala
Social and Special Events
Health & Wellness Advocate
Owner, Kubala Health LLC
Michele joined the Apollo Beach Women’s Group in January 2022 and quickly found lifelong friendships and genuine kindness. When asked by former Admin, Solangel Bell, to host monthly lunches, she happily stepped in, bringing her natural passion for connection. After moving from Maryland, and missing lifelong girlfriends, she sought a community and found it here. She is excited to join efforts with Elena Parades and Paulette Wagner in creating meaningful and fun events for our amazing community of women.
Michele is a trusted weight loss and wellness coach teaching nutritional balance for lifelong wellness. Since 2019, Michele has been on her personal health journey and supports a wide range of clients—from teens to seniors, diabetics, nursing moms, GLP-1 users, athletes, and more. Helping her clients to feel energized, confident, and to age gracefully is rewarding on both sides. Michele offers pressure-free wellness consultations along with down-to-earth strategies for navigating real-life challenges. Curious to learn more? Fill out her health form or share it with a friend who has mentioned needing support. https://form.jotform.com/coachmichele7/health-form.
Michele lives in the Waterset community with her wonderful husband, Tom, and their sweet cat, Raja. She loves taking Florida staycations and day trips to explore surrounding cities. Whether she is relaxing at a beachside restaurant, enjoying fine dining, boating, or shopping with friends, she soaks up every bit of life. Michele thrives on meaningful experiences. She loves the thrill of amusement park roller coasters, attending Broadway shows, concerts, and local festivals, exploring museums, strolling through botanical gardens, and soaking up the sun on relaxing beach or pool days. This adventurous Aries once jumped out of a perfectly good plane—just to feel the rush of flying. While she is often on the go, she also cherishes quiet moments to recharge and reflect.

Elena Mesa Paredes
Social and Networking Events
Advocate for Women in Business
Community Leader
Advocate for Women in Business
After many years of participating in social and networking groups, Elena sought to be part of a meaningful women’s community—one free of drama and full of genuine connection, encouragement, and mutual support. That vision continues to drive her mission to empower and unite local businesswomen through authentic relationships and shared growth. With an extensive background in marketing, business development, sales, community outreach, and public relations, Elena brings decades of leadership and passion for people to everything she does. Before entering the real estate and mortgage industry, Elena spent over 30 years in leadership roles, shaping teams and strengthening community connections.
Elena currently serves as a Board Member of The Tampa Club, a premier social and business club in downtown Tampa, and as Chair of the Epicurean Club. Deeply rooted in service, she volunteers with Post 9/11 Veterans and is the Co-Chair of the Friends of the Giving Society for AdventHealth Riverview.
Her history of community leadership includes serving as Chairwoman of the Upper Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce, Founding President of the Westchase Rotary Club, and serving as a mentor for the Hispanic Professional Women’s Association. These experiences have built a foundation of collaboration, empowerment, and service that continues to guide her work today.
Elena is passionate about supporting local businesswomen and believes strongly in the power of connection, mentorship, and giving back. Through her leadership, she strives to create opportunities for others to grow, collaborate, and thrive—proving that when women support one another, the entire community succeeds.

Elizabeth Bucklin
Volunteerism
Beth joined the Apollo Beach Women’s Group in September 2025 after moving to Apollo Beach with her husband to embrace the empty nest life. She quickly saw the kindness and positive energy in both Elena and Michele and knew she wanted to be part of this community. Always looking for opportunities to connect and serve, she stepped in and offered to help build the group’s community service endeavors. Beth served as a volunteer for over a decade at Seeds of Hope, Inc., a food pantry serving the needs of the Brandon area community. Since 2013, Beth has helped to manage weekly food distributions and coordinate the numerous high school volunteers needed regularly. She is extremely excited to join efforts with Elena and Michele and bring her passion for helping and serving others to create meaningful community service events with this amazing group of women.
Beth works as a Medical Record and Audit Manager for Infusion for Health and has been in Health Information Management for over 25 years. She is also a health and fitness fanatic pursuing a 2nd career in strength-training-based coaching, especially for women over 50. Her goal is always to help other women feel strong, confident, and healthy well into their 80’s and beyond! Beth lives in Waterset with her amazing husband, Brian, and their very sweet, very spoiled Australian Shepherd, Libby. They have 3 adult children and 3 beautiful granddaughters. She and her husband enjoy scuba diving, boating, outdoor living, and exploring the beautiful beaches of Florida. Originally from the Chicago area (Go Bears!), she embraces everything Florida life has to offer with its warm, sunny, lush, tropical environment! While she loves big, adventurous travel and get-togethers, she is also just as happy catching up with a friend or two over a glass of wine on her back patio. It’s a fast-paced, fragmented world we live in today, and we all need a little community, connection, and kindness as we go along!