Movers in South Florida

Chair of the board for Educate Tomorrow

Melanie E. Damian, a principal partner with the law firm of Damian & Valori, has been appointed chair of the Board of Directors for Educate Tomorrow, an international non-profit organization based in Miami.

The organization also appointed three new members to its board of directors: Jason Mazer, Kara Stearns Sharp and Christopher V. Damian.

Advisory council president of the Funding Arts Network

Debra Scholl has been elected president of the advisory council of the Miami-based Funding Arts Network, dedicated to supporting local visual and performing arts organizations.

Chairman of the board for The Wellness Community - Greater Miami

Rudy Kranys has been elected as chairman of the board for The Wellness Community - Greater Miami. He is a founding partner of Syntheon, a medical device company.

The Wellness Community – Greater Miami is part of an international non-profit organization that provides support, education and hope to people with cancer and their loved ones.

executive director of The Wellness Community - Greater Miami

Lynn Mitchell has been hired as the executive director of The Wellness Community - Greater Miami. Previously, she was executive director for the Junior Orange Bowl Committee.

The Wellness Community – Greater Miami is part of an international non-profit organization that provides support, education and hope to people with cancer and their loved ones.

Board members at The Southeastern Division of the Children's Home Society

The Southeastern Division of the Children's Home Society has named new members to its Board of Directors. They are:

Joni Armstrong Coffey is an assistant county attorney for Miami-Dade County and heads the Zoning, Land Use and Environment Section of the office.

George Fernandez is a commercial real estate associate with NAI Miami.

Sharon Quinn-Dixon is a tax attorney and specializes in employee benefits law. She is a director and a shareholder in Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson.

Board of Trustees for The Historical Museum of Southern Florida

The Historical Museum of Southern Florida has appointed five new members to its 2008-09 board of trustees. They are Sara Gutierrez-Hernandez [pictured], Phillip M. Hudson III, Leslie J. Lott, Francis X. Sexton, Jr. and Donald Slesnick II [pictured].

Gutierrez-Hernandez is founder and president of South Bay Lending in Miami.

Slesnick is the mayor of Coral Gables and managing partner of Slesnick & Casey.

Hudson is a partner resident of Arnstein & Lehr in Miami.

Lott is the founding partner of the Miami intellectual property firm of Lott & Friedland.

Sexton is a founding partner of Concepción, Sexton & Martinez in Coral Gables.

Director of communications for Cruise Lines International Association

Lanie Fagan has been appointed as the director of communications for Cruise Lines International Association. She is based in the Fort Lauderdale office.

Previously, she was the associate director of corporate communications with KPMG, a network of firms providing audit, tax, and advisory services, in Montvale, New Jersey. Prior to that, she was the senior media and community relations specialist for FPL Energy.

Executive director of The Haitian Cultural Art Alliance

Nathaniel O. Wilkins has been hired as the executive director of The Haitian Cultural Art Alliance.

Board of trustees members for Our Kids of Miami-Dade/Monroe

Carmen Dominguez and Keith T. Ward have been elected to the board of trustees for Our Kids of Miami-Dade/Monroe. It is a non-profit organization that supports local control and leadership of the newly-privatized child welfare system in Florida.

Dominguez is chief administration attorney at Miami Dade College. Prior to that, she worked for the Department of Children and Families.

Ward is president of Quality Management North America. He also served as secretary and vice-chair of the Dade Community Foundation Board of Governors.

Board members of the British-American Chamber of Commerce

The British-American Chamber of Commerce has added the following people to its board of directors:

Tania Cruz, an attorney with Squire, Sanders & Dempsey










John Crawford, vice president of finance with Intercontinental Hotels Group

Harold L. Lewis, a partner with Pathman, Lewis

David W. Jamison Jr., an attorney with Bilzin, Sumberg, Baena, Price & Axelrod

Adrian Pennie, a manager at LloydsTSB Bank

Myrtle P. Alexander, president of Myrtle P. Alexander & Associates, who was also appointed as executive director for the chamber

and Brian Corbett [not pictured]

President of The Rhythm Foundation Board of Directors

Ricardo Taño Feijóo, principal of architectural firm RTKL Associates, has been appointed president of The Rhythm Foundation Board of Directors, a Miami-based nonprofit cultural organization.

Other new board members appointed were Jacqueline Hea of Nortel Networks, Bianca Moura of Bin 18, and Beco Dranoff, an independent music producer.

Vice president of partnerships for The Orange Bowl Committee

Jarrett R. Nasca has been hired as vice president of partnerships for The Orange Bowl Committee, the host organization of the FedEx Orange Bowl, the 2009 BCS National Championship game and Orange Bowl Festival.

Previously, he was vice president of corporate marketing for Sunrise Sports and Entertainment, the parent company of the Florida Panthers, BankAtlantic Center, Sinatra Theatre and SSE Publications.

Board members for The Orange Bowl Committee

Seven new board members have been elected to The Orange Bowl Committee.

Jeffrey T. Roberts has been elected second vice chairman.

Alfonso A. Cueto, a past president, has been elected a member.

Christopher E. Knight, a past president, has been elected a member.

Shawn D. Crews has been elected as a member at-large.

Barry T. Kates has been elected as a member at-large.

Shelley B. Daniel-Rutherford has been elected as a member at-large.

Laura M. Horton has been elected as a member at-large

Chair of the Board for the Florida Regional Minority Business Council

LaRae Floyd, diversity manager for Broward Health, has been named the chair of the Board for the Florida Regional Minority Business Council.

The council is a non-profit organization with a goal to increase purchasing from minority businesses by government entities and corporations, while increasing Minority Business Enterprise’s operating capacity through hands-on business assistance, training and access to technology and capital resources.

Executive director of The Broward Performing Arts Foundation

Lisa Kitei has been hired as the executive director of The Broward Performing Arts Foundation.

Previously, she was vice president of corporate communications for JM Family Enterprises.

President and chief executive of the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts

Christina DePaul has been appointed as the president and chief executive of the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts.

She most recently served as senior vice president of the Corcoran Gallery of Art and Dean of the Corcoran College of Art + Design in Washington, D.C.

President and chief executive of United Way of Broward County

Jennifer O'Flannery has been named as president and chief executive of United Way of Broward County. She is currently chief of staff and trustee liaison for Florida Atlantic University.

Ambassador at large of commerce for Florida, by the International Business Council of Florida

Elena Brouwer, director and chief executive of the International Etiquette Centre, has been named ambassador at large of commerce for Florida, by the International Business Council of Florida.

Board of trustees member for the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts

Sandra Muss has been elected to serve a two-year term on the board of trustees for the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts, based in Miami.

It is a not-for-profit organization that identifies emerging artists and assists them in their educational and professional development.

President of the Business Referral Group

Carlos B. Castillo, commercial attorney and a partner with Seidman, Prewitt, DiBello & Lopez, has been appointed president of the Business Referral Group, a business networking group that meets every Tuesday in Coral Gables.

Vice president of communications for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation

Marc Fest has been appointed as vice president of communications for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. He succeeds Larry Meyer, who has become senior communications officer and remains secretary to the board of trustees.

Fest joined the foundation in March 2007 as director of communications.

Chief information officer of Our Kids of Miami-Dade/Monroe

Patricia K. Smith has been appointed chief information officer of the non-profit organization Our Kids of Miami-Dade/Monroe. Previously, she was global vice president of IT at Stiefel Laboratories.

Administrative director for the Junior Orange Bowl Committee

Mark Pidal has been hired as administrative director for the Junior Orange Bowl Committee. He has served four months as interim director during most of the festival season.

Chair of the board for Carrfour Supportive Housing

John Messer has been elected as the 2008 chairperson of the board of directors for Carrfour Supportive Housing. He is a partner with the Miami accounting firm of Grant Thornton.

Board members for the African American Success Foundation.

Shelia Dudley, senior manager of human resources compliance at Burger King Corp., and Irvin Minney, manager at Broward County Transportation, have joined the board of directors for the African American Success Foundation.

The following people were elected as Board Officers for 2008:

• Charles Webster as chair
• Tyson Jones as vice chair
• Shelia Dudley as secretary
• Rosetta Newton as treasurer

President of the local chapter of National Association of Professional Organizers

Suzy Wilkoff, owner and president of Tasks Unlimited in Miami, has been elected president of the newly formed South Florida Chapter of The National Association of Professional Organizers.

Founded in 1985, association's mission is to develop, lead, and promote professional organizers and the organizing industry. NAPO South Florida's membership includes 27 organizers from Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Martin counties.

New community advisory board members for WLRN

The Community Advisory Board of WLRN Public Radio and Television for South Florida has elected new officers. They are: Jeanne Westphal, director of The Hospitality Institute in Miami, and Noreen Frye, director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Miami.

Board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County.

Gregory A. Haile, an attorney with the Florida business law firm Berger Singerman, has joined the board of directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County.

Chair of the board of directors for Health Foundation of South Florida

Susan Kelley, founder and chief executive officer of marketing, advertising and public relations agency Kelley Swofford Roy, has been elected as the first chairwoman of the board of directors for Health Foundation of South Florida.

Chair of Episcopal Charities of Southeast Florida

Benjamine Reid, a shareholder of Carlton Fields, has been appointed chair of Episcopal Charities of Southeast Florida. He previously served as vice chair.

Board members at The Broward Community College Foundation

The Broward Community College Foundation has named six people to its board of directors.  They include:

• Marybeth Bosko, shareholder at Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart
• Joel Kamphuis, financial advisor at Gunn Allen Financial
• Anne "Annie" Kessler, who serves on the board of directors for the Broward General Children’s Cancer Hospital
• Marsha Levy, who serves on the boards of directors for STARS Academy at BCC, HANDY, Jack & Jill Children’s Center, Broward Beautiful, and the Florida Highway Beautification Council
• Robert Nicholson, attorney at Broad and Cassel Attorneys at Law
• Jorge Antonio Seminario, vice president and financial advisor at Morgan Stanley

Board of trustees members for local chapter of Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Southern Florida Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has added Jorge L. Benitez and Raul J. Chacon Jr. to its board of trustees.

Benitez is a director with the international consulting, technology and outsourcing services firm Accenture. Chacon is a partner with the law firm of Houck Anderson in Miami.

New board member for the Humane Society of Broward County

John N. Lambros, a partner in the law firm of Brinkley, Morgan, Solomon, Tatum, Stanley, Lunny & Crosby, has been appointed to the board of directors of the Humane Society of Broward County.

Broward Housing Solutions adds board members

Broward Housing Solutions has added the following people to its board of directors:

Donald Bravo, assistant vice president and relationship manager of Wachovia Bank, N.A.

Lisa Celestin

Cathy Westervelt

Jeffrey Mindling, senior vice president and chief credit officer at BankAtlantic, has been named vice chair of the board of directors.

Chief operating officer of the Voices For Children Foundation

Tania Rodriguez has been promoted to chief operating officer of the Voices For Children Foundation.

The mission of the foundation is to raise funds to ensure that every abused and neglected child in Miami-Dade County has a court-appointed Guardian Ad Litem and that financial assistance and other resources are available for their health, educational and social needs.

Chair of the Doral Business Council

Nubielena Medina, principal of NMG Consulting, has been elected chair for the Doral Business Council.

The council is the advocate for economic development and business promotion for the City of Doral and surrounding areas. She is a founding member of the council.

Board member for the Partners for Self-Employment

Fernando Capablanca, president and chief executive of Union Credit Bank, has been elected to the Board of Directors for the Partners for Self-Employment. The Miami-based, non-profit organization helps low-income families be financially self-sufficient.

Executive director of Camillus Health Concern

Hirut Kassaye has been hired as executive director of Camillus Health Concern, a non-profit that provides health care for the homeless and low-income populations of Miami-Dade County. She been a part of the agency’s management team for nine years.

Board members for The Humane Society of Greater Miami Adopt-A-Pet

The Humane Society of Greater Miami Adopt-A-Pet has elected Alan Rubin as the new chairman of the board. He is a government consultant for the law firm of Akerman Senterfitt in Miami.

Other new officers include Rob Hudson as vice-chairman, Michelle Headley-Manners as secretary, Margaret Lopez as treasurer, and Sam Blum, David Young and Jason Alderman as members-at-large.

Board members and officers at Seafarers' House

Seafarers' House at Port Everglades has named its 2008 Board of Directors. 

Ronald G. Perkins, chairman of American Document Management, has been elected as 2008 board president.

Other officers are:

Jane Toney, vice president of National Maritime Services, has been elected as vice president. Eugene Sweeney of International Registries has been elected as treasurer. Lisa Friesecke of Motor Services Hugo Stamp has been elected as secretary. Allan Milledge is president emeritus.

New board members include:

Phyllis Bannister

Jim Hampel of G&G Shipping

Margaret Kempel of the Port Everglades Association

Along with Tom Grimmett and Carol Harrison.

Seafarers' House at Port Everglades describes itself as a multi-faith cooperation among Christians, Muslims and Jews as well as labor, business and civic leaders with a mission "to improve the lives of seafarers and their families through multi-faith service."

Board members of ARC Broward

Rafael Soltero of Noritsu Koki Co. and Pam Sands of Kelly Services have been elected to the ARC Broward Board of Directors.

ARC Broward is a private, not-for-profit organization based in Sunrise that provides support and assistance primarily to children and adults with mental retardation, autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other developmental disabilities.

Treasurer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward

Tracy Weintraub, a senior audit partner in the accounting firm Berenfeld Spritzer Shechter & Sheer, has been named treasurer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward.

President and chairman of the Orange Bowl Committee

S. Daniel "Danny" Ponce has been installed as the 70th president and chairman of the Orange Bowl Committee.

Vice president at Catholic Hospice

Bonnie Alkema has been hired as vice president of performance improvement for Catholic Hospice.

Catholic Hospice is a not-for-profit health care organization sponsored by the Archdiocese of Miami and Mercy Hospital. It provides care to terminally ill patients and their families throughout Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties.

Board member for Food for the Poor

William G. Benson has been named to the board of directors for Food for the Poor, based in Coconut Creek.

He is a partner in the accounting firm of Keefe, McCullough & Co. in Fort Lauderdale.

Board members at South Florida Local Initiatives Support Corporation

South Florida Local Initiatives Support Corporation has made the following appointments to its board of directors:

Donna Waldron, executive director of National City Bank's Community Development Corp. for Southeast Florida, has been named chair.

Stephen Sonnabend, senior vice president of Sonesta International Hotel Corp., has been named vice-chair.

Carol Molnar, vice president and Florida CRA manager for Comerica Bank, has been named secretary and treasurer.

LISC helps resident-led, community-based development organizations improve distressed communities and neighborhoods. South Florida LISC has offices in West Palm Beach and downtown Miami.

Officers at National Black MBA Association

The South Florida chapter of National Black MBA Association has named new officers for 2008 through 2010. They include:

President: Catherine A. Minnis, regional coordinator at Miami-Dade Team Metro

Vice President-Administration: Troy L. Maxey, managing director at Latin America & Caribbean Division of FedEx Express

Vice President-Operations: T.C. Adderly, chief executive officer at Executive Thinkers

Treasurer: Valerie Pigatt, controller at Federation of Public Employees

Assistant Treasurer: Tahlia Gray, purchasing analyst at HS Worldwide Repair

Recording Secretary: Cheryl Jones, knowledge base specialist at Miami-Dade Answer Center

Corresponding Secretary/Scholarship Chair: Pat Williams, consultant for Burger King Corp.

Board Advisor: Avis M. Russ, senior organizational development consultant at JM Family Enterprises

Leaders of Tomorrow Program Chair:  Allison Quick, senior project manager at JM Service Center

Membership Chair:  Darell Scott [no photo], business analyst at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida

Director of design and construction at Camillus House

Frank Cervoni has been hired as the director of design and construction for Camillus House, an organization that provides humanitarian services to the indigent and homeless in Miami-Dade County.

He will oversee the construction of Camillus House’s new $88 million campus. Most recently, he worked in construction administration for the Adache Group in Fort Lauderdale.

Board members at The Samantha Foundation

Five members have been appointed to the board of directors at The Samantha Foundation, a Miami-based organization dedicated to preventing child death and injuries in the home. The new board members are:

• Jorge Iglesias, promotions manager for Bacardi USA
• Frank Jackson, public information officer for the Community Affairs and Media Relations Unit of the Coral Gables Police Department
• John L. Mason, principal of Mason & Associates
• Devon Rifkin, chief executive and founder of The Great American Hanger Company
• Jennifer Rivera, account supervisor at Pantín/Beber Silverstein Public Relations

Executive committee at Miami Coalition of Christians and Jews

Alejandro Aguirre, deputy editor and publisher of Diario Las Americas and president of the executive committee of the Inter-American Press Association, has been elected chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Miami Coalition of Christians and Jews.

Also elected to the executive committee are Kenneth Hoffman as vice-chair, Susan Lupien-Meredith as treasurer and Herman Dorsett as secretary.

CEO of Florida Breast Cancer Coalition Research Foundation

James R. Konschnik has been hired the chief executive of The Florida Breast Cancer Coalition Research Foundation, headquartered in Hallandale.

Most recently, he has held various not-for-profit management positions including executive director for The Center for Positive Connections and director of Development for Easter Seals South Florida.

Chief curator at the Historical Museum of Southern Florida

Joanne Hyppolite has been promoted to chief curator at the Historical Museum of Southern Florida. She began her employment as the museum’s community researcher in the Collections and Exhibitions Department in September 2004.

Executive committee member of the Power Network

Robin King, a partner with the Fort Lauderdale law firm of Arnstein & Lehr, has been appointed to the executive committee of the Power Network of Fort Lauderdale and the campaign committee of Leave a Legacy.

The Power Network organization holds charitable events and serves as a platform to create synergistic relationships with its members and the community. Leave a Legacy is a broad-based community campaign that involves all types of nonprofit groups.

Board members at Camillus House and Camillus Health Concern

The following people have been appointed to serve on the Board of Directors of Camillus House, which provides help to the indigent and homeless in Miami-Dade County:

Julie Grimes, owner representative of PH Hotels, oversees the operation of Double Tree Grand Hotel, The Bentley Beach Hotel and The Bentley Hotel.

Eugenio Hernandez is a partner in the firm Avila, Rodriguez, Hernandez, Mena & Ferri and works in the field of immigration and consular law.

Rod Hildebrant is president and sole owner of Hospice Advantage.

Alfredo Mesa is vice president of Dutko Worldwide.

Also, Kate M. Callahan has been appointed to serve as chairwoman of Board of Directors of Camillus Health Concern, a sister organization of Camillus House. She previously worked at CHC as a registered nurse and served on the Camillus House board. She succeeds former CHC Chairwoman Francis Afram-Gyening.