Shutts & Bowen LLP announced today the elevation of Eduardo H. Rivero to partner, effective January 1, 2024. Rivero is in the Miami office, where he is a member of the Class Action and Mass Litigation Practice Group. Eduardo focuses his practice on personal injury protection litigation, specializing in the interpretation and application of automobile insurance policies.

Shutts & Bowen LLP announced today the elevation of Alyssa Cory to partner, effective January 1, 2024. Cory is in the Tampa office, where she is a member of the Appellate Practice Group. She focuses her practice on appeals and civil litigation support in both federal and state courts. She assists clients with developing and framing key legal arguments on appeal.

Shutts & Bowen LLP announced today the elevation of Matthew D. Foley to partner, effective January 1, 2024. Foley is in the Orlando office, where he is a member of the Real Estate Practice Group.

Gunster elevates its Business Litigation practice with the addition of accomplished litigator and counselor, Jon Philipson. He joins the Tampa office as a shareholder, bringing valuable experience in successfully navigating complex business disputes, supported by his background in public service and family-owned business.

Climate First Bank appoints Irma Walsh as Attorney Banking Specialist. Walsh has been with Climate First Bank since 2021, bringing a banking and operations management background. In her new role, Walsh will exclusively work to support and build out attorney-based services. She is based in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Grove Bank & Trust announced that Jose E. Cueto has been promoted to CEO from his role as President and COO. In his new position, he will be responsible for strategically growing and expanding the bank's capabilities and people resources as he is supported by a highly skilled and motivated management team.

Grove Bank & Trust announced the promotion of Ed Joyce to President from his role as Vice Chairman and Chief Client Engagement Officer. Since joining Grove Bank & Trust in 2021, Joyce has been a powerful force for his team and has provided invaluable service to the bank's clients. In his new role, Joyce will continue to help the bank expand its capabilities and services.

Grove Bank & Trust has promoted Emma Pacetti to Executive Vice President. Pacetti joined Grove Bank & Trust in 2023 as Senior Vice President, and has since successfully increased the market share, revenue, and profitability of her regions.

Grove Bank & Trust has promoted Andrew Yanez to Executive Vice President, Chief Lending Officer. Yanez joined Grove Bank & Trust in 2023 and served as Senior Vice President, Senior Lending Officer, where he has developed the bank's loan portfolio, ensuring loan quality, diversification and profitability.

Camila Sainz de la Peña, IIDA, NCIDQ, has recently been promoted to Partner of AIC Architecture. Camila has led as Studio Director for the past several years and also serves as a mentor to junior staff. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in the History of Art and Architecture from Harvard University and a Master of Fine Arts in Interior Design from the New York School of Interior Design. 

U.S. Sugar has promoted Eric Edwards to Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, where he leads the company's governmental affairs efforts in Florida & Washington DC. Previously VP, State Governmental Affairs, Edwards was recognized by U.S. Sugar's Board of Directors as a senior leader in corporate management & business strategy. He first started with U.S. Sugar in 2016.

Brinkley Morgan announced Jonathan Schiller was appointed Head of the firm's Family Law Department and named equity partner. Mr. Schiller will serve and support the Department's 11 attorneys in Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton. He represents high-net-worth individuals and affluent business owners in dissolution of marriage and divorce actions.

Dale Human, a seasoned 17-year veteran of the homebuilding industry, has joined Casa Fresca Homes as its Vice President of Sales Operations. In this newly created role, Human will develop processes to support further expansion, quality consistency, and customer satisfaction for which Casa Fresca is known. Most recently, Human was Director of Sales for Lennar Homes.

WFLA News Channel 8 is proud to welcome Paola Suro to its anchor team. Suro, a bilingual journalist, will co-anchor News Channel 8 at 6:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. weeknights on the CW Tampa Bay. In addition, Miss Suro will anchor the Spanish language Noticias Tampa Hoy newscast weeknights at 10:30 p.m. She is a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.

Stonehill, a leading strategy and innovation firm, announced today that it has promoted Julie Stollings to Vice President of Project Management and Post Merger Integration. In her new role, Mrs. Stollings will be entrusted with guiding the future of Stonehill's project management and post merger integration offerings and growing its current portfolio of clients.

Ocean Bank promoted Vanessa Lugo to Executive VP & Chief Financial Officer. Lugo joined Ocean Bank in 2015 and has climbed the ranks as Chief Accounting Officer, Senior VP, and operating CFO. She manages financial reporting, accounting, forecasting & planning, financial controls and corporate taxes for Ocean Bankshares, Ocean Bank, and their subsidiaries, and is a CPA.

Castle Group, the premier choice for community management, is pleased to announce that Kristen Searle, Executive Vice President of Human Resources for Castle Group, has been named Chief Human Resources Officer. She began her career in 2005 at SBA Communications in Boca Raton as a Recruiter, scaling to Human Resources Manager in 2008 and HR Director in 2013. Her 13-year tenure with the company came to a close in the summer of 2019, when she joined Castle Group as VP of Human Resources. Searle's promotion comes on the heels of her five year anniversary at Castle, marking two significant milestones for her Castle career.

Continue reading at https://www.castlegroup.com/kristen-searle-promoted-to-chief-human-resources-officer/

Broward Health appointed seasoned healthcare executive, Kristen Z. Bowman, MBA, as the new Chief Executive Officer of Broward Health Coral Springs. Bowman previously served as WellStar Cobb Medical Center’s interim CEO and held leadership roles at the hospital including COO and Assistant Vice President of Operations. Bowman is a member of the American College of Health Care Executives. 

Dr. Natalia Spinelli, a fellowship-trained breast surgeon who is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery and Society of Surgical Oncology, has joined Precision Healthcare Specialists, a Southwest Florida multispecialty physician group. Fluent in English and Spanish, Spinelli focuses on patients with breast cancer and other breast diseases. Spinelli is also a member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons.

Rotary District 6930 is pleased to announce Mr.Owen Robinson, a distinguished member and current President of the Rotary Club of West Palm Beach, as the newly appointed District Governor for the 2026-2027 term. Robinson's 17-year tenure brings a wealth of experience to his new role; Robinson will oversee 43 Rotary clubs across the southern, south-central, and southeast regions of Florida. 

Nationwide employment law firm Jackson Lewis P.C. is pleased to announce that Amy K. Recla of the firm’s Tampa office has been elevated to Principal. Amy’s practice focuses on representing employers in workplace law matters, including preventive counseling; claims such as race, age, religion, national origin, disability and sex discrimination, sexual harassment, whistleblower and wage issues. 

ServisFirst Bank Sarasota welcomes George Nicolopoulos as Vice President, Commercial Banking. Nicolopoulos is a proactive, results-driven problem-solver with strengths in communication, relationship building, and negotiation in the banking industry. Nicolopoulos is a member of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance and a Small Business of the Year judge for the Manatee Chamber of Commerce.

ServisFirst Bank Orlando welcomes Philip de Freitas as Senior Vice President, Treasury Management Sales. de Freitas is a highly accomplished and focused senior sales rainmaker with an outstanding track record in resourcefulness and serving a diverse range of clients. Prior to joining ServisFirst Bank, de Freitas served as Vice President, Treasury Management Sales Officer for Seacoast Bank.

ServisFirst Bank Tampa welcomes Tiffany Rodriguez as Vice President, Commercial Banking Officer. Rodriguez is a highly motivated individual with a history of success in driving profitability and operational excellence in the banking industry. Her expertise lies in banking, business administration, sales, client relationship management, retention, and staffing.

ServisFirst Bank Tampa welcomes Kaela Lerner as Senior Vice President, Treasury Management Sales. Lerner is a goal-oriented highly analytical professional with extensive experience in market management, business development, banking operations, mergers & acquisitions, project management, and process development/improvement. Lerner is also a member of the Lighthouse for the Blind and Low Vision.

Florida law firm Lewis, Longman & Walker is pleased to announce that Amy Taylor Petrick has been elected shareholder of the firm. Amy's practice focuses on litigation. She is Board Certified by The Florida Bar as a specialist in City, County and Local Government Law and serves as Vice-Chair of the firm's Litigation Practice Group. Learn more at https://www.LLW-LAW.com/.