ADVERTISING/MARKETING
Environmental PR Group has announced one promotion and two staff additions. Rebecca Bray has been promoted from supervising account executive to director of client services. Kelly Diedring and Jason Townsend have joined the firm as account executives.
Sandy D’Elosua has been promoted to senior account executive at RFB Communications Group, responsible for strategic planning, media relations, writing and research. She previously served as an account executive for the agency. Rachel Gossett has joined RFB Communications Group as an account coordinator. Gossett previously was a junior account executive for the Dutcher Group in Tampa.
BANKING/FINANCE
Tom Dorety, president and chief executive officer of Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union since 1996, has been elected board chairman of the Credit Union National Association.
Fifth Third Bank (Tampa Bay) announced four appointments. Tasmin Kirkbride has joined as a middle market relationship manager. John McElhone has joined as vice president and area sales manager. Stella Varellas and Jonathan Prieskorn have joined as mortgage loan originators.
Colonial Bank has appointed two new members to its Florida West Coast board of directors. Jack P. Brandon practices at Peterson & Myers in Lake Wales, and James C. Franklin Jr. serves as chairman for Lanier Upshaw Inc.
DESIGN/ENGINEERING
Gresham, Smith and Partners announced that Sheila Bosch has joined the firm as a director of research. Bosch will serve as a resource to support, understand and apply research evidence regarding how the physical health care facility environment can improve patient and staff outcomes. She will work from the company’s Tampa office.
HEALTH CARE
JSA Healthcare Corp. announced the following: Tina Costahas joined JSA Healthcare Corp. in St. Petersburg as director of operations. Lynda Place has joined JSA Medical Group in Tarpon Springs as nurse administrator. Cheryl Meola has joined JSA Medical Group in Bradenton as nurse administrator. Pat Harp, project nurse for JSA Healthcare Corp., has been promoted to case manager for JSA Medical Group City Center in Tampa. Penny McRay, nurse administrator for JSA Medical Group Gateway, has been promoted to director of case management for JSA Healthcare Corp. in St. Petersburg. Debra Venello, training and development coordinator level II for JSA Healthcare Corp., has been promoted to administrator for JSA Medical Group Ninth St. in St. Petersburg. Marcia Miessler, project nurse for JSA Healthcare Corp., has been promoted to nurse administrator for JSA Medical Group Gateway in St. Petersburg. Case manager Diane Kershner has moved from JSA Medical Group Woodlands to JSA Medical Group Sheldon in Tampa.
HONORS
Richard M. Weiss, clerk of the circuit court, accountant, auditor and clerk to the board of county commissioners, received two national awards from the Government Finance Officers Association for the fiscal year that ended September 2006. Weiss received the certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting for Polk County Florida, and the award for outstanding achievement in popular annual financial reporting each for the fiscal year that ended September, 2006.
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick LLP announced that Charles R. Fletcher, partner in the Tampa office, has been appointed to the board of the Florida Biofuels Association Inc., a group of private- and public-sector professionals promoting locally produced alternative fuels such as ethanol. The organization also serves as a resource for the development of a sustainable biofuels sector in Florida.
REAL ESTATE
Patricia Staebler, a state-certified general appraiser and commercial broker, has joined Keller Williams Realty of Greater Manatee and will lead the commercial division. Staebler’s background encompasses management of an engineering office, extensive knowledge in the construction industry as well as property management of residential and commercial units.
Kirby Cockrum has been named home mortgage consultant for Capstone Home Mortgage. Cockrum will work out of Prudential Tropical Realty’s northeast St. Petersburg office.
OTHER
Julie Wills has joined the American Red Cross Tampa Bay Region as regional development director. Wills will develop corporate partnerships and major gifts in support of regional initiatives. She is also responsible for staff development in the four chapters in the region.
Announcements should be submitted, preferably by e-mail, to Christina Mancing at cmancing@tampatrib.com. Or they can be mailed to Business News department, The Tampa Tribune, P.O. Box 191, Tampa FL 33601, or faxed to (813) 258-8504. Photos must be identified on the back and will not be returned. The Tribune does not guarantee that announcements will be published.
STEPHEN McDONALD
52, promoted to operations manager for Manhattan Construction Co.’s Florida division
Notable: In one of his previous positions, he directed the construction of Yacht Haven Grande, a luxury resort and facility for megayachts on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. He has been with Manhattan more than 10 years.
First job: “Growing up on a ranch, it was a combination of doing yardwork and working on a ranch.”
Education: Bachelor of science degree in construction science (building construction) through the College of Architecture at Texas A&M University
Inspiration: “The pastor, Benjamin J. Shanks, of my home church. He walked the talk, cared for all and showed strength at all times.”
Unwinding: “I recharge by taking time for ‘me’ in a quiet setting. I read, watch TV and busy myself by writing short inspirational thoughts. I play golf or do other outdoor activities because I enjoy nature.”
Surprise: “That I am a true cowboy at heart and I am really a simple person to understand.”
Biggest mistake: “Not really listening! I have learned that listening is paramount in being able to make good decisions or managing a team and/or your life.”
Favorite song: “Midnight Train to Georgia”
Christina Mancing
RICH PEREIRA
48, promoted to vice president, U.S. sales, East VAR (Value Added Reseller) for Tech Data Corp.
First job: “Dishwasher and cook at the Officers Club on the Cherry Point Marine Corps base in North Carolina.”
Education: Bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, and master’s in business administration from Florida State University
Advice: “Get a good education and then keep on learning, especially about problem solving and communication. And develop a strong network of colleagues that you can count on throughout your career.”
Unwinding: “I enjoy gardening with my wife, along with a nice glass of wine.”
Favorite Web site: www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml. “This is where I get my daily Scripture readings and overall news and information for my faith life.”
Priority for growth in Tampa: “Affordable housing and reasonable taxes that enable young, talented professionals to move to our area and obtain the American dream.”
Surprise: “I traveled all over the U.S. and the world before I was 20 years old — living in Japan, Okinawa, Egypt — and visited Europe. Also, that I was an avid surfer and raced sailboats with my family on the Pacific, Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.”
Mentor: Pete Peterson, senior vice president, AIS Division, Tech Data, who said: “Problems are not like fine wine; they don’t get better with time, so nip them in the bud.”
Christina Mancing
Business People, March 23, 2008
ADVERTISING/ MARKETING
The American Marketing Association Tampa Bay Chapter has appointed Colleen Chappell and Rich Odato to the professional organization’s board of directors. Chappell, president and CEO of Roberts Communications & Marketing, will serve as creative brand director. Odato, president of Odato Marketing Group, will serve as new business director.
BANKING/FINANCE
CNBS Financial Group Inc. has named Al Knighton as mortgage loan officer for the Largo office. Knighton previously worked as a loan officer for a large residential-mortgage lender. Dennis Manning has been named vice president, senior mortgage loan officer, for its Tampa mortgage office. Previously Manning was assistant vice president and branch manager for a Florida-based residential lender.
Margaret C. Trimble has joined The Financial Well Inc. as the portfolio administrator. She previously was with Aon Investment Consulting.
Colonial Bank has named two new managers to its Spring Lake office in Winter Haven. Cindi Hauge is branch sales manager. Debbie Harsh is market manager. Colonial Bank has named Nancy Kahrs market manager for the Foxwood office in Lakeland.
CONSULTING
Aon Consulting Worldwide announced that Mary Kay Vona has joined the Tampa office as executive vice president and Southeast region leader. Vona joins Aon Consulting from IBM, where she was the global learning executive and partner in the human capital management practice.
HONORS
The Florida Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus recently announced Paul Catoe, president and chief executive of Tampa Bay & Co., will serve as chairman of its board of directors.
LAW
The law offices of Arnstein & Lehr LLP announced that Loretta Comiskey O’Keeffe has been promoted to partner. O’Keeffe practices in the litigation department in Tampa, where she concentrates in premises liability and commercial litigation, including disputes regarding real estate, construction, corporations, contracts, insurance and collections.
Carlton Fields announced that five lawyers have been elected shareholders in the Tampa office: Matthew Cogburn has experience in construction litigation, government representation, insurance litigation, construction contract drafting and negotiation, and general commercial litigation. Penelope Dixon is a member of the firm’s products and toxic tort liability, business litigation and trade regulation, labor and employment, and pharmaceutical and medical device practice groups. Jason Quintero’s practice focuses on all aspects of construction litigation, with an emphasis on lien law and surety disputes. Mark Smith’s practice focuses on construction litigation. Marty Solomon’s practice focuses on real property litigation, class action defense and commercial litigation, principally for title insurance underwriters.
OTHER
Alltrust Insurance has announced the addition of Connie Zamzow as senior account executive. Prior to joining Alltrust, she was a vice president at Wachovia Insurance Services.
The Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center has hired Gail G. Holtzman to serve as first vice president and general counsel. Her background includes litigation and representation of employers in administrative proceedings, training and counseling of clients and preparation of policies and documents, along with mediation.
Freedman’s Office Furniture has promoted Amy Glover to inside marketing coordinator. Glover joined the Freedman’s team last year.
Elisa Valentin has joined Mploy Inc.as a recruiting consultant. Valentin formerly was a human resources generalist for a local insurance company. She is bilingual in Spanish and English and received her bachelor of arts degree in mass communication from the University of Tampa.
Lanier Upshaw Inc. announced the following new hires: Jennifer Zibilich as employee benefits account executive; Catherine Winchester as assistant vice president-director of P&C claims; Sarah Brownlee as employee benefits and commercial risk consultant; and Edwin B. Tucker as employee benefits risk consultant.
Announcements should be submitted, preferably by e-mail, to Christina Mancing: email cmancing@tampatrib.com. Or they can be mailed to Business News department, The Tampa Tribune, P.O. Box 191, Tampa FL 33601, or faxed to (813) 258-8504. Photos must be identified on the back and will not be returned. The Tribune does not guarantee that announcements will be published.
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