WJCT Public Media announced the appointment of Sarah Dobson as Vice President of Development. Dobson will oversee the major gifts fundraising program, known as the “First Coast Society,” along with campaign fundraising and planned giving. Throughout her career, Dobson has excelled at developing strategies to meet fundraising goals and strengthen community impact.

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP is pleased to announce Wally Martinez, the firm’s longest-serving managing partner, will transition into Chief Growth Officer. As Chief Growth Officer, Martinez will work closely with practice leaders on targeted growth opportunities in strategic practices and markets. An accomplished practitioner, Martinez will resume an active litigation practice. 

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP is pleased to announce Sam Danon will become the firm’s managing partner. With an active role in leadership, Danon has been elected by his partners to the firm’s executive committee multiple times, serving 12+ years. He recently served as co-head of the litigation team for 10+ years. Danon will maintain offices in Miami, New York and Washington, D.C. 

Michelle Oyola McGovern has joined Comcast as Vice President of Government Affairs for the Florida Region. She will lead the government affairs team in fostering strategic relationships with government officials and community leaders in Comcast's service footprint in Florida and oversee work to bridge the digital divide by bringing Xfinity internet services to new areas.

Catarina Suplicy is the new Director of Community Engagement at the Alan B. Levan|NSU Broward Center of Innovation. Her organizational skills & entrepreneurial mindset will expand the Center's membership & promote innovation. The Levan Center of Innovation powers the tech innovation ecosystem, resulting in ideation, new technologies, talent pipeline, startups & job creation.

Dix.Hite + Partners - a leading landscape architecture firm based in Longwood - announced the appointment of Kody Smith, PLA to Chief Executive Officer. In his role as CEO, Smith will oversee implementation of Dix.Hite's Blue Sky Vision and strategic plan. Kody is known for his intense respect and passion for the environment and culture of the places he designs.

The national board of directors for the American Liver Foundation announced the election of a new board chair, Emmanuel Thomas, MD, PhD, FAASLD, Associate Professor, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Thomas previously served ALF as a national board member, medical advisor, and chair of the board nominating committee.

The Community Foundation of Broward elected Juliet Murphy Roulhac as its Chair. Roulhac is the Director of Corporate Philanthropy and Community Engagement for Florida Power & Light Company and an attorney with 25+ years of business litigation and appellate experience. "I believe in the power of local philanthropy to tackle big challenges and make lives better in Broward."

United Way of Broward County President/CEO Kathleen Cannon has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve of Atlanta Miami Branch. In this role, Cannon will provide economic information to the district Bank's president and head office directors. The information is used in discussing monetary policy options and making discount rate recommendations.

Rikiya "Riki" Thomas' practice focuses on corporate legal matters, including mergers and acquisitions, SEC compliance, corporate governance, securities offerings and private equity transactions. Riki has represented companies in multiple industries and serves as outside general counsel to a number of clients. Riki attended law school at Thurgood Marshall School of Law.

Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O'Gara is pleased to announce that Attorney Leah A. Foertsch was promoted to Office Managing Partner of its Boca Raton office. She is a member of the firm's Estate & Trust Planning, Administration and Litigation Team. She also structures multimillion-dollar real estate transactions for commercial and residential properties.

Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O'Gara is pleased to announce that Peter S. Strobis, Esq. joined the firm's Estate and Trust Planning, Administration and Litigation Team. He is highly skilled at developing customized estate plans, providing counsel during administration, representing clients in probate and trust litigation and creating business succession plans.

Gunster's newly-established Naples office officially welcomes Hugh D. Hayes, former circuit court judge and the longest serving judge in Florida history. Hayes joins the firm as an of counsel attorney, serving in its Alternative Dispute Resolution practice as a mediator, arbitrator and special master to select clients.

Jan Cairnes, former CEO of Hanley Foundation, has been named its National Director of Public Policy. She will oversee advocacy services nationwide to combat the stigma of substance use disorders. A Certified Prevention Professional, Cairnes has spent 25 years spearheading Hanley's prevention initiatives, and chairs the Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association.

Dr. Rachel Pappert Docekal has been named CEO of Hanley Foundation, Florida's largest provider of grant-funded programs to eliminate addiction. She will oversee Board and donor relations and strategies to support Hanley's expansion initiatives. Docekal served as CEO of Hanley Foundation from 2010-2014, prior to founding and serving as Managing Director of the Lyrae Group.

Miller Construction Company, a statewide, privately-held construction firm, announces the promotion of Steve Glascott to Vice President of the company's Central Florida office. He will oversee and manage all projects in the Tampa Bay, Orlando, Jacksonville and surrounding markets with a focus on client relations and business development.

Strategos Group, a leading Florida-based education management consulting firm, has added former Arkansas Secretary of Education Johnny Key as a Partner in its national State Superintendent Engagement Practice. Having also previously served as a state senator and state representative in Arkansas, Key brings decades of policy experience in education reform to Strategos.

Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Company, P.A. recently welcomed Melinda Graham, EA as a Senior Associate in the Tax Services division. Graham graduated from Harding University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting. She is an Enrolled Agent (EA) and joined the Tax Services division, bringing experience with multiple tax and accounting software programs. 

Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Company, P.A. recently welcomed Vanessa Suarez as the Human Resources Specialist. Suarez graduated from Hodges University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and also earned the Hispanic Institute’s Leadership Program certification. She brings seven years of HR experience and 12 years of accounting payables and receivables experience.

Shutts & Bowen LLP announced the launch of the firm's Land Use Practice Group, which will provide real estate developers and investors with representation in the fields of land use, zoning, and local government matters. Alexander I. Tachmes, a partner in the Miami office of Shutts & Bowen LLP, was appointed to lead the state-wide group.

Steven Escobar joined Fifth Third Bank as vice president and middle market relationship manager where he will advise and assist middle market companies in Tampa Bay with maximizing working capital, sponsor financing, dividend recapitalizations, owner occupied real estate financing, acquisition financing, business transition strategies and increasing shareholder value.