Government -- Gov. Jeb Bush and members of the state Cabinet chose James Zingale, 53, to take over as executive director of the Florida Department of Revenue (DOR). Formerly deputy director, he succeeds Larry Fuchs, 57, [Florida Trend, August 1999], who is retiring this month after seven years with the DOR. Zingale has more than 20 years of public management experience and has served as an adviser to Florida governors, the Cabinet and both chambers of the Florida Legislature. Prior to joining the DOR in 1990, he served four years as staff director of the Florida House of Representatives Appropriations Committee.
Healthcare -- John Okkerse Jr. joins ProxyMed as chief executive officer. The Fort Lauderdale-based company provides Internet and private network-based healthcare services. He replaces Harold Blue, who will remain chairman of the board of directors. Okkerse, 50, comes to ProxyMed from SmithKline Beecham, where he served nearly three years as president of the healthcare company's clinical laboratories division in Philadelphia.
Gary Schultz steps in as the new president of United Healthcare of Florida. He previously ran United's south Florida health plan since 1995. Schultz replaces Fred Dunlap, who will continue to work with the Orlando-based insurance company for a few months to help with the transition. United Healthcare had revenues in excess of $2 billion in 1999 and serves nearly 800,000 managed
care clients.
Emil Miller takes over as the new president and CEO of Rockledge-based Wuesthoff Health Systems in Brevard County [Florida Trend, March 1999]. Miller, 45, comes to Wuesthoff from Northridge Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, where he served four years as CEO. Miller takes over from Titus Hall, who served as interim CEO for a year after the resignation of Robert Carman, Wuesthoff's president and CEO for 17 years.
Publishing -- Disney Publishing Worldwide named Jessica Knopf director, Spanish & Portuguese language, Latin America and the U.S. Knopf, 35, most recently served as regional director of publications for Disney consumer products Latin America since 1994. She will be based in Miami. Disney Publishing Worldwide prints children's books and magazines in 37 languages and distributes them in more than 100 countries.
Retail -- Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. named Allen Rowland its new president, CEO and a director of the grocery store chain [Florida Trend, March 1999]. Rowland, 55, comes to Jacksonville-based Winn-Dixie after spending his entire career in the grocery industry. He previously was president and chief operating officer of Salt Lake City-based Smith's Food & Drug Centers. Prior to that he spent 25 years with Idaho-based Albertson's. Rowland takes over from Dano Davis, 56, Winn-Dixie's CEO since 1988, and James Kufeldt, who retired as president last spring. Davis will remain chairman of the board of directors.
Technology -- Vertetrak Inc. appointed Jeffrey Birnbach CEO of the Sarasota-based software company. Vertetrak develops software for medical examiners, coroners and forensic specialists to be used in medical investigations of deaths. Previously, Birnbach was CEO of Houston-based PhysiTel, a software developer of telemedicine solutions designed for NASA and other technology clients.
Walt Nawrocki, 54, an industry veteran who spent 31 years with IBM, takes over as CEO of Intraco Systems in Boca Raton. He served most recently as IBM's manager for worldwide product development. He replaces Jack Berger, who will remain president. Intraco specializes in data and voice system designs for large and mid-size companies and has worked with clients such as Microsoft and Cisco Systems.
Anthony Ibarguen is resigning as president and COO after three years with Clearwater-based Tech Data Corp. He joins Wayne, Pa.-based Internet Capital Group, where he'll be managing director of operations and president of professional services. Nestor Cano, Tech Data's executive vice president of U.S. sales and marketing, was promoted to president of the Americas. Tech Data isn't seeking a replacement for Ibarguen.