Education -- Real estate developer Al Hoffman takes over from former Danka Chairman Dan Doyle as chair of the Florida Council on Economic Education, a partnership between schools and businesses that teaches children in K-12 about the free enterprise system. He'll serve through December 1999. Among the council's most popular programs are the Florida Stock Market Game, the Student Free Enterprise Bank and the annual Governor's Awards for Excellence, which recognize outstanding teachers.
Entertainment -- the newest star in Walt Disney Co.'s Orlando cast is Judson Green, 46, who takes over as chairman of the newly reorganized Walt Disney Attractions. He replaces retiring Richard A. Nunis, the 43-year company veteran who has led Walt Disney World since it opened in 1971. Green, president of Walt Disney Attractions since 1991, will oversee long-term growth and international expansion of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disneyland, Disney Regional Entertainment and Walt Disney Imagineering. To oversee day-to-day operations, Green tapped Paul Pressler, 42, as president of Walt Disney Attractions. Pressler, president of Disneyland for the past four years, joined the company in 1987.
Finance -- Jim DeGennaro, senior vice president of the Central Florida Development Council, takes over as president of Florida First Capital Finance, a certified development corporation that markets SBA 504 property and equipment loans in many parts of Florida.
Healthcare -- Former Florida Secretary of State Sandra B. Mortham joined the Florida Medical Association (FMA) as a strategic analyst. Mortham, 47, stepped down as Gov. Jeb Bush's running mate in the 1998 gubernatorial campaign and then lost her re-election bid amidst ethical concerns over her office's use of a $60,000 Philip Morris Co. grant intended for a non-profit historical association. In the FMA post, she will focus on lobbying, grassroots communications and membership development.
Media -- Former Florida Trend Tallahassee Editor John D. McKinnon, 41, was named editor of the Wall Street Journal's Florida Journal. He replaces Robert Johnson, who remains in the WSJ's Orlando office developing stories for the newspaper's national edition and new projects. McKinnon, who has a law degree from the University of North Carolina, left Trend to join the WSJ in early 1997. He has also been a reporter for the St. Petersburg Times and Miami Herald.
El Nuevo Herald tapped Carlos Castaneda as publisher and editor of the Miami Spanish-language daily that is part of the Miami Herald Publishing Co. and Knight Ridder. He replaces Alberto Ibarg?en, publisher of El Nuevo Herald until last fall when he was named publisher of the Miami Herald Publishing Co. Cuban-born Castaneda, 66, spent the past 25 years as publisher of El Nuevo Dia in Puerto Rico.
Retail -- In a bid to turn Republic Industries into a household name among U.S. consumers, the company has tapped marketing wiz John H. Costello as its new president. Costello, credited with creating the "Softer Side of Sears" campaign for Sears department stores, will oversee Republic's 360 new-car dealerships, 40 AutoNation USA used-car superstores and three auto-rental companies. Prior to joining Sears in 1993, Costello, 52, held executive posts with Nielsen Marketing Research USA; Wells, Rich, Greene advertising agency; Pepsi-Cola USA; and Procter and Gamble.
Service -- Tampa's fast-growing Sykes Enterprises, which provides technical customer service support for computer makers such as Apple and IBM, tapped David L. Grimes as president. He takes over from John H. Sykes, 62, who remains chairman and CEO. Grimes, 51, is a 28-year veteran of the telecommunications industry and has spent the past 15 years with AT&T, most recently as a regional sales and marketing vice president.
Sports -- Ed Turanchik resigned as a Hillsborough County commissioner to become CEO and president of Florida 2012 Inc., the Tampa/Orlando regional bid to attract the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. Turanchik originally pitched the Olympics idea last year [FT, Global Markets, December 1998]. Florida 2012 will submit its bid in March 2000, the U.S. Olympic Committee will choose U.S. finalists in March 2002, and the U.S. candidate city, which will compete with cities abroad, in fall 2002.
Technology -- There has been more executive reshuffling at Able Telcom Holding, a West Palm Beach company that designs, installs and maintains advanced communication networks for voice, data and video systems. Frank Swartz, a member of Able's board of directors, was named chairman, replacing Gideon Taylor, who continues as a director. Billy Ray, treasurer and vice president for mergers and acquisitions, takes over as interim CEO and president from Frazier Gaines, who remains on Able's board. Gaines had been serving as CEO since October when, after only two months on the job, Robert E. Dupuis resigned as CEO and president.