DEVELOPMENT -- Tampa-based Beck Group, a developer, has promoted Sam Ellison to manager of Mexican and international operations. Ellison, 52, will remain managing director of Beck's Florida region and replaces Larry Wilson, who is retiring.
Rex Jensen has been tapped as president of Sarasota-based Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, an agriculture and mining company and real estate developer. Jensen was most recently vice president of real estate at the company and replaces John Clarke, who will remain CEO and director.
Viera-based Viera Co., a developer, has promoted Stephen L. Johnson to president. Johnson, 50, replaces Thomas A. Babcock, who resigned. Babcock will continue with Viera's parent company, A. Duda & Sons, as a consultant. Johnson was most recently vice president.
DISTRIBUTION -- Perry Monych is out as president of U.S. operations at Clearwater-based Tech Data Corp., an IT reseller. Nestor Cano, 38, president of worldwide operations, will take over U.S. operations in addition to his current responsibilities. Monych says he is leaving for personal reasons.
LABORATORIES -- Clearwater-based VitalLabs, which operates on the west coast of Florida, has named John R. Hadden CEO. Hadden was most recently senior vice president of National Business Development Group for Chantilly, Va.-based American Medical Laboratories. He replaces Edwin B. Salmon Jr., who remains chairman.
LAW -- Edmund T. Baxa Jr. has been promoted to Chicago-based Foley & Lardner's national management committee. Baxa, managing partner of the law firm's Orlando office, is one of 16 members on the committee.
MEDIA -- Orlando-based Sunshine Network, Florida's largest 24-hour regional sports network, has named Ned Tate executive producer. Tate was most recently production manager and executive producer for WKYC-TV in Cleveland and replaces Chris Glass, who is now working at the Baltimore Orioles TV network.
TECHNOLOGY -- Neal Ater has joined Tampa-based Jibe Inc. as CEO. Ater replaces founding CEO Greg Schmitzer, who will remain president of worldwide sales. Ater was recently senior vice president of Mountain View, Calif.-based Veritas, a software manufacturer. Jibe provides web users a portal to share music, software and other computer data.
TOURISM -- Peter Guptill has been named 2002-03 chairman of Visit Florida, the state's tourism marketing agency. Guptill, Florida president of Tulsa, Okla.-based Dollar Rent A Car, is based in Tampa.