Shutts & Bowen LLP is proud to announce that Kristin Drecktrah Paz, a Partner in the firm's Miami office, has been recognized by The Florida Bar as Board Certified in International Litigation and Arbitration.

Paz's practice focuses on international and complex dispute resolution, including commercial arbitration, investment arbitration, and international litigation.

Shutts & Bowen LLP is pleased to announce that Daniel Nordby, a partner in the firm's Tallahassee office, has earned Board Certification from The Florida Bar as an expert in State and Federal Government and Administrative Practice.

Nordby is a member of the Appellate Practice Group and focuses his practice on high-profile, high stakes matters of law and public policy.

Beth Vecchioli has joined Holland & Knight's Florida Government Advocacy Team in Tallahassee as a senior policy advisor. Ms. Vecchioli, a former regulator at the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, focuses on insurance regulation, lobbying and financial services matters.

In recognition of her immense contributions to the apartment industry and its advocacy efforts, Bonnie Smetzer, CPM, HCCP, partner and executive vice president of JMG Realty Inc., has been selected as the National Apartment Association's (NAA) 2020 Advocacy365 Advocate of the Year. Each fall, NAA recognizes the U.S. apartment industry's top grassroots advocate.

Karen A. Brimmer's civil trial practice was 43 years in the making, but this year she decided to build upon that experience by joining Upchurch Watson White & Max to become a full-time mediator instead. Brimmer spent the first 23 years of her career at a boutique civil-defense law firm in South Florida. She has tried more than 100 jury trials in state and federal courts in Florida. 

Bonne Santé Group, Inc., an emerging growth Health & Wellness company in the nutraceutical sector, announced that it has engaged industry veteran Ryan Zackon in the capacity of Chief Executive Officer. Zackon, 38, most recently served as Vice President and Interim Chief Operating Officer for Twinlab Consolidated Holdings, Inc.

Matt Haggman has joined the Miami-Dade Beacon Council as Executive Vice President, One Community One Goal. The former Miami Director at Knight Foundation, award-winning journalist and long-time community leader brings years of experience and a passion for Miami to this community-wide strategic initiative focused on shaping Miami-Dade's economic future.

South State has announced the appointment of LeDon Jones, its first director of Corporate Stewardship. Jones has 21 years of service with the company, having most recently served as director of Community Development, where he led efforts to enhance community access to capital and investment, and empower community members through active engagement in financial literacy.

Suffolk, one of the largest building contractors in Florida, recently hired Stephen Chang as Chief Operating Officer for its West Palm Beach office. Chang will be responsible for executing the business strategies and ensuring a high level of client service for Suffolk's diverse portfolio of projects in Palm Beach and Broward Counties.

Florida Funders elects Rachel Sapoznik, Founder, President, & CEO of Sapoznik Insurance, to the Board of Directors. With over 30 years of corporate wellness and insurance industry experience coupled with a background as an angel investor, Sapoznik will assist the Board in strategic decisions around the organization's future.

eCapital Corp announces Charles Sheppard has been named Chief Operating Officer. In this new role, Charles will oversee both the eCapital Freight Factoring and eCapital Commercial Finance divisions, ensuring the company has unified leadership and is well-equipped to continue to scale and further establish itself as a leader in alternative finance.

First Port City Bank is pleased to announce it has hired USDA industry veteran Richard Duncan to its SBA/USDA lending division. Duncan will work as an SBA and Government Guaranteed Lender giving specific focus to his specialty area of USDA business and industry loans. His lending will focus on the geographic areas of the southeastern United States.