Advertising Section
Week of April 24
Advertising & Public Relations
O'Donnell Agency, West Palm Beach
Carey O'Donnell has been named 2017 Small Business Person of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches. Founder of O'Donnell Agency, a leading advertising and PR firm based in West Palm Beach and Sarasota, the award recognizes community leadership and business excellence. Earlier this year the firm won 18 American Advertising Federation's (ADDY) Awards from its Treasure Coast Chapter.
O'Donnell Agency, West Palm Beach
O'Donnell Agency, one of Florida's leading public relations, advertising and digital media companies, has added Irene Carvalho as Director of Media and Client Services and promoted Amanda Sueiro Rier to Senior Graphic Designer.
Carvalho brings more than 15 years of experience in media buying, new client onboarding and staff development to her role at O'Donnell, where she manages the agency's award-winning advertising and design department.
Sueiro Rier's fast track at the agency is a result of her exceptional work in brand and identity development, collateral design, and print and digital ad design. She earned her BFA from Barry University and a post-baccalaureate degree from the School of the Museum of Fine Art in Boston.
Law
Gunster, Miami
Gunster has added Arturo Ross as a shareholder in its Miami office, where he will greatly expand the firm's labor & employment law practice. Ross concentrates on issues involving employers and labor relations, defending clients before the NLRB and the EEOC in numerous large scale and multi-employer negotiations.
Week of April 17
Construction
Kaufman Lynn Construction, Boca Raton
Kaufman Lynn Construction Founder & CEO Michael Kaufman is the newest member of the Broward Workshop, a nomination based, private, non-profit, non-partisan business organization comprised of the chief decision makers representing 100 of Broward County's business and professions seeking to facilitate solutions to the county's most critical issues.
Ashton Woods, Orlando
Private homebuilder Ashton Woods has promoted Mike Roche to the newly-created role of Starlight Homes Division Manager in Florida. In this role, Roche will oversee and establish the strategic direction of all operations in his markets throughout Florida. Roche, previously vice president of sales and marketing for Ashton Woods’ Florida division, has played an integral role in the company’s growth across Orlando and Southwest Florida over the past 10 years.
Economic Development
Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce, Bonita Springs
The Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce has promoted Chelsea Garlock to Events and Creative Coordinator. In this new role, Garlock will have increased graphics and events responsibilities. Garlock previously served as the Marketing Coordinator for South Bay Realty, and is on the Board of Directors of Girls on the Run of Collier County.
Advertising & Public Relations
The Taproot Agency, Tallahassee
Florida-based marketing and behavior-change firm, The Taproot Agency, announced Jon Edwards to be named President, effective immediately. As President, Edwards will oversee the day-to-day operations of the business, as well as continuing to provide creative direction on all client campaigns. “Jon has been an integral part of our team for many years as a trusted advisor,” said Sean Doughtie, Founder and CEO of The Taproot Agency.
Banking
SunTrust Banks Inc., Orlando
SunTrust Banks, Inc. has promoted Arnold Evans to a newly created position as enterprise ethics officer. Evans most recently served as Central Florida Division president for SunTrust in Orlando. Prior to that, he was regional president for SunTrust in Jacksonville, Florida. Evans will report to SunTrust Chief Risk Officer Jerome Lienhard.
Week of April 10
Arts / Entertainment
Art & History Museums, Maitland
The Art & History Museums - Maitland - has announced that Mark S. Harmon will be the organization's next CEO and Executive Director. Harmon joins the A&H from the Washington County Museum in Oregon, where he served as Executive Director since 2015. Harmon is a passionate executive with experience enhancing the financial sustainability of institutions in Ohio, Illinois and Oregon.
Health Care / Medicine / Medical Services
USF Health, Tampa
The University of South Florida College of Public Health has named Linda Merrell as the 2017 Florida Outstanding Woman in Public Health. Merrell, AS, RN, BIS, Hon. DH was nominated by health practitioners across the state. The COPH bestows the award each year to a woman whose career accomplishments and leadership contribute significantly to the field of public health in Florida.
Premier Eye Care, Tampa
Jeff Nowak, an experienced leader in health care operations and technology, has joined Premier Eye Care as Chief Solutions Officer, where he is focused on addressing business challenges and opportunities with technology solutions.
Nowak has more than 25 years of experience, including high-level operational roles at MedHOK, Inc., Elsevier and WellCare Health Plans.
Insurance
AmeriLife, Clearwater
Mike Vietri is AmeriLife's newly appointed Chief Distribution and Marketing Officer. With a sales and marketing career spanning over 30 years, he successfully led one of the country's largest career agency and general distribution groups while working for MetLife. In his new role, Vietri will work to align AmeriLife's marketing, product and distribution functions.
Education
Orange County Public Schools, Orlando
Superintendent Barbara Jenkins is named the 2017 Hispanic-Serving School District Superintendent of the Year by the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS). Currently, Orange County Public Schools is the 10th largest school district in the country with a Hispanic population of 40 percent (81,378). That includes a 5 percent (16,377) increase in the last five years.
Transportation / Logistics / Distribution
Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale
The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) has elected Steve Cernak to serve as the association’s chairman of the board for the 2017-18 activity year. Mr. Cernak is chief executive and port director for Port Everglades in Broward County. Cernak has led Port Everglades as port director since March 2012. Before that, his career in the seaport industry extends more than 30 years, involving both port authority and private-sector experience.
Week of April 3
Health Care / Medicine / Medical Services
Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville,
Michael A. Mayo, FACHE, hospital president of Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, has been appointed to the Council of Regents, the legislative body of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Mayo took office at the Council of Regents meeting during ACHE’s 60th Congress on Healthcare Leadership in Chicago. As a Regent, he will represent ACHE’s membership in the Northern and Western Chapter of Florida.
Centerstone, Bradenton
Centerstone announced that Melissa Larkin-Skinner has been named chief executive officer of its Florida operations. A member of the Centerstone team since 1997, she has served as the organization’s interim CEO since December 2016. Larkin-Skinner, a licensed mental health counselor, has nearly 25 years of experience in mental health and addictions treatment programs including hospital, outpatient, crisis and child welfare services.
Health Foundation of South Florida, Miami
Health Foundation of South Florida announced that Thao M.P. Tran, M.D. M.P.H. has been elected chairwoman of its Board of Directors. The Board leads South Florida’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving health and health services for all residents in Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties. Dr. Tran, who is the Medical Director of Kesier University’s Graduate School Physician Assistant Program, has served on the Foundation’s Board since 2012.
Education
University of Florida - Multicultural & Diversity Affairs, Gainesville
The University of Florida announced that Will Atkins has been selected as Executive Director of Multicultural and Diversity Affairs. The Executive Director oversees the department, including Black Affairs, Hispanic-Latino Affairs, Asian Pacific Islander American Affairs, Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Queer Affairs, and Intercultural Engagement.
Media / Publishing
NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, Miami
NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises announced it has named Beau Ferrari to Executive Vice President of NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises. Ferrari previously served as Executive Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Development for Univision Communications Inc. He will be based in Miami.