Carmela D. Jackson, an attorney specializing in commercial and real estate litigation, has joined the law firm of Abadin Cook in Miami. She is experienced in civil, criminal and commercial litigation, and has represented clients in an array of matters including breach of contract, real estate litigation, landlord-tenant disputes, secured transactions, asset recovery & liquidation and settlement negotiations. She is co-chairman of the Ethics Subcommittee of the American Bar Association Litigation Section’s Commercial and Business Litigation Committee, a member of the Dade County Bar Association, and a member of the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. Bar Association.
Alexis Cooper joins Daniels Kashtan Downs Robertson & McGirney P.A. as an associate
Alexis Cooper has been hired as an associate at the civil litigation firm of Daniels Kashtan Downs Robertson & McGirney P.A. in Coral Gables. She was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2011 and has joined the firm’s growing business litigation practice group. In 2008 she served with senior U.S. District Judge Susan Bucklew, and in 2009, served with U.S. Magistrate Judge Gary Jones. She also has clerked for FPL Group in Juno Beach and participated in the London Law Consortium through the University of Iowa.
Vanessa Fioravante-Cuomo promoted to VP at Kreps DeMaria Public Relations & Marketing
Vanessa Fioravante-Cuomo has been promoted to vice president at Kreps DeMaria Public Relations & Marketing in Miami. She has been with the agency for three years and was account director before the promotion. In addition to overseeing the firm’s growing hospitality division and creating strategic campaigns for a range of clients, she will also assume an increased leadership role in account management of the firm’s client base, its staff supervision and business development. She also will continue to manage key agency accounts. Before joining the agency, she was vice president and co-director of media at a luxury-brand public relations and events firm in Miami.
Lisa Gaeta named VP, board of trustees, South Florida chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Lisa Gaeta has been named vice president of the board of trustees for the South Florida chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). She is president and chief executive officer of Finance Placements & Consulting Inc. LLS is a voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer.
Raymond J. Kayal, Sr. named executive director, board of directors, Camillus Health Concern
Raymond J. Kayal, Sr. has been named executive director of the Camillus Health Concern (CHC) board of directors. He previously served as CHC’s interim executive director, taking over the duties of former executive director Hirut Kassaye in April. As executive director, he will oversee the day-to-day operations of CHC and manage the administration of outreach programs, which include satellite sites at Betterway of Miami, the Salvation Army, the Camillus House Shelter, and Mother Theresa’s Sisters of Charity. He also will be responsible for expanding the scope of medical services and interventions provided at community, street, and shelter sites throughout Miami-Dade County for the homeless. For seven years before becoming interim executive director, he was a board member of Camillus House and Camillus Health Concern.
Stephanie G. Brown promoted to VP, enrollment and student services, Nova Southeastern University
Stephanie G. Brown has been promoted to vice president, enrollment and student services at Nova Southeastern University. In her expanded role, she will be responsible for services at the main Fort Lauderdale/Davie campus and for regional centers in Tampa, Fort Myers, Orlando, Jacksonville, Miami, West Palm Beach and the Bahamas. She was associate vice president of enrollment and student services.
Richard A. Ryles named a partner in the WPB law office of Ward Damon Posner Pheterson & Bleau
Richard A. Ryles has joined the firm of Ward Damon Posner Pheterson & Bleau as a partner in the West Palm Beach office. He focuses his practice on trial advocacy, personal injury, premises liability, inadequate security, insurance bad faith and commercial litigation. Before joining Ward Damon Posner, Ryles practiced law at his own firm. He also was chairman of the Palm Beach County Chapter of the NAACP - Legal Redress Committee.
Stephen Unger named chairman of surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center
Stephen Wise Unger has been named chairman of surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach. He has been with the institution’s department of surgery since 1982. He began as an attending physician, then an associate and eventually as the vice chairman.
Steve Kahn named as a vice president at Fort Lauderdale office of Thornton Tomasetti
Steve Kahn has joined the Fort Lauderdale office of Thornton Tomasetti as vice president in the building performance practice. He has more than 28 years experience in forensic architecture, design theory, construction and project management and has specialized in forensics for the past 10 years. He also provides mediation services and serves as an expert witness in construction defect, building failures and compliance cases on behalf of attorneys, owners, developers and insurance companies. Before joining Thornton Tomasetti, Kahn headed his own architectural firm and construction and development firm. He started his career as project architect with big-box retailer Office Depot.
Steve Pouk named vice president at Miami-based Coastal Construction
Steve Pouk has joined Miami-based Coastal Construction as vice president. In his new role, he will oversee the design, development and construction of hospitality projects in South Florida and in the Caribbean. He most recently was senior vice president for Starwood Hotels and Resorts, where he oversaw operations in the company’s design and construction department in the Bahamas, Mexico and U.S. Virgin Islands plus pre-development work in Aruba and Antigua. He also was project director of the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort and Residences, leading the design, development and construction team.
