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Movers & Shakers

Ferre appointed to Metropolitan Planning Organization in Miami-Dade

 Former Miami Mayor Maurice  Ferre, a Democrat who supported Rick Scott in the 2010 gubernatorial race after losing his own bid for the U.S. Senate, has been appointed by the governor to the Metropolitan Planning Organization of Miami-Dade County.

Ferré, 78, succeeds Maritza Gutierrez.

Miami attorney named Bondi's associate deputy for legal policy

Nilda R. Pedrosa has been appointed by Attorney General Pam Bondi to serve as associate deputy attorney general for legal policy, based in Miami. Pedrosa’s previous positions include chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart; a senior policy advisor to former U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez; and assistant dean at Florida International University College of Law. Attorney Pedrosa is a Miami native and graduate of FIU and New England Law.

New appointments to Children’s Trust board in Miami-Dade 

Scott made three appointments to the Children's Trust governing board in Miami-Dade County.

Marissa Leichter, 36, of Surfside, the senior program attorney with the Guardian Ad Litem Program, succeeds Benjamin F. Gilbert Jr.

Trudy Novicki, 62, of Miami, the executive director of Krisiti House, Inc., succeeds Pamela Lillard.

Kadie Black, 30, of Miami, the external affairs director for Our Kids of Miami-Dade/Monroe, Inc., succeeds Jose Gregoire.


Florida Dems hire new fund-raisers

Sarah Smith and Michael Hoffman have been picked for top fund-raising posts at the Florida Democratic Party.

Smith, who will be party’s finance director, most recently managed fundraising events for the Miami Children's Museum.  She directed fund-raising efforts in north Florida for Alex Sink’s 2010 election campaign for governor.

Hoffman  has raised money for Sink's 2010 campaign and Barack Obama's re-election.

Following manager's ouster, former Jeb Bush aide appointed to interim Pensacola post

Colleen M. Castille has been appointed Pensacola’s interim city administrator following the ouster of Bill Reynolds. Mayor Ashton Hayward fired  Reynolds as administrator according to the Pensacola News Journal, “citing his disappointment over revelations contained in a report from State Attorney Bill Eddins last week that Reynolds handed sensitive personnel documents to a political rival and former City Council member during an encounter at World of Beer.”

Castille is a former secretary of both the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Department of Community Affairs and also was a chief Cabinet aide for former Gov. Jeb Bush.

Governor's appointees

Scott has made two new appointments and two reappointments to the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County:

Kelly O’Brien, 43, of Tampa, president of KSO properties, fills a vacant seat on the board.

Edwin Narain, 36, a Tampa area sales manager at AT&T, succeeds Valerie H. Goddard.

Tampa resident Susan Schneider, 60, a psychological services diagnostician with Hillsborough County Public Schools, has been reappointed to the board.

Christopher Brown, 44, of Brandon, an attorney with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, has also been reappointed.

Sarasota County Judge Kimberly C. Bonner has been appointed to the Twelfth Judicial Circuit,  which includes Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties. Bonner, 47, of Sidell, has served as a Sarasota County judge since 2002. She fills a vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Rick DeFuria.

David Dunbar has been appointed to the Governing Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

Dunbar, 61, of Palm Harbor, is a commercial banker with Synovus Bank of Florida. He serves as a board of trustee for Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo and as a board member of the Homeless Emergency Project in Clearwater.

Appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

New officers for Florida Federation of professional women

The Florida Federation of Business and Professional Women has recently elected state officers for 2013-2014:

President: Christy Crump, director of operations with the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.

Vice President: Cynthia Ramirez, senior vice president and commercial real estate executive at Florida Capital Bank.

Recording secretary:  Nancy Robinson, certified public accountant.

Treasurer: Lisa Armbrust, financial advisor at Morgan Stanley.

Parliamentarian: Mary Giddens, owner/operator of Diamond G Ranch

Business Manager: Carole J. Tolomeo, office manager at the Margate Police Department

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