Melody Odell, an employee of Hotel Indigo in Sarasota, has won a Celebrate Service Award from InterContinental Hotels Group for using her skills as a nurse to help an injured guest. IHG celebrated employees at its 4,400 hotels, offices and reservation centers as part of Celebrate Service Week July 26-30. at Hotel Indigo, a guest returned to the hotel limping after a long jog around Bayfront Park. Odell, who is a part-time nurse in addition to working at the hotel’s front desk, got an ice pack and wrapped the woman’s ankle with an ace bandage. The next week, the guest sent the hotel a letter thanking Odell for her actions.
Synovus Bank of Florida has hired Lisa Van Ullen as vice president of wealth management-financial consultant, Synovus Securities, inc. her responsibilities include providing a full range of financial services such as estate and tax planning, investment management, personal trust, insurance services and private banking services, primarily in Manatee and Sarasota counties. She has more than 20 years of experience in wealth management.
BB&T Investment Services has promoted Henry Eller to investment officer. Eller, who joined the bank in 2009, is a licensed investment counselor, based in Sarasota.
John Wideikis, attorney with Berntsson, Ittersagen, Gunderson, Waksler & Wideikis LLP of Murdock and Englewood, has been selected as a Florida Super Lawyers Rising Star. he was selected by an independent panel in the field of real property law. Only 5 percent of practicing attorneys in the state make the list, published by Thomson Reuters.
Olga Weider, an accountant at Christopher, Smith, Leonard, Bristow & Stanell PA, Certified Public Accountants, has passed the exam to become a CPA. She joined CS&L in 2005 and primarily works with the audit team.
Cornerstone Solutions Group, a full service commercial landscape contractor in Bradenton, has added four people to its staff. Chris Lee, account manager, has more than 15 years of experience in lawn and ornamental care and is a certified pest control operator licensed in Florida. Michael Willard, account manager, brings an extensive knowledge of golf course maintenance and plant material. Chris Rogers, project manager/business development, previously worked on projects with Universal Studios, Walt Disney World and Sea World. he has extensive experience with arbor care, including the relocation of large trees. Wanda Miranda, executive administrative assistant, will be responsible for proposal preparation and new employee screening.
Aimi Jackson, of Bradenton, has joined Kforce inc. of Tampa as project coordinator at the National Recruiting Center. Kforce is a professional staffing service. Jackson is also working toward her Bachelor of Science at the University of South Florida.
Attorney John Ervin has joined the Sarasota firm of Livingston, Patterson, Strickland & Siegel PA. he earned his J.D. cum laude from University of Maine in 2007 and his Master of Laws in taxation from the University of Florida in 2008. Ervin’s focus will be tax and business law.
RS&H, a facilities and infrastructure consulting firm, has hired Richard Tillery as a senior transportation planner at its Sarasota office. he has more than 14 years of experience in travel demand modeling, long-range transportation and mobility planning, and transit modeling. Tillery is certified with the American Institute of Certified Planners.
Financial consultant Richard Field is now associated with Professional Benefits inc., an investment service and benefits administration firm in Sarasota. Field, a financial consultant for 17 years, is fully licensed to handle stocks, bonds, mutual funds, options, retirement plans, annuities and life and health insurance. PB specializes in income planning for retirement.
The Charlotte County Commission has appointed Hazel Crouch, owner of Place in the Sun, to the Charlotte County Tourist Development Council. her term will end in May 2012. Julie Mathis, executive director of the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce, was reappointed to a four-year term ending in June 2014. Crouch has owned and managed Place in the Sun, a vacation rentals and home management company in Charlotte County, since 2003. Mathis has served as the council’s chairwoman since November 2008 and has been a member for 10 years. The council oversees the use of tourist development tax money collected within the county and provides guidance to the Charlotte Harbor Visitor & Convention Bureau.
Jo Dvorak has joined Cabot Reserve on the Green as administrator. Cabot Reserve is a 60-bed nonprofit assisted living community in Sarasota owned by Family Extended Care of Miami. Dvorak brings more than 30 years of management and marketing experience to her new position, with her last 12 years spent working in assisted living communities in Sarasota.
Thomas Luzier, a shareholder in the Sarasota-based law firm Dunlap & Moran, has been certified in real estate by the Florida Board of Legal Specialization and Education. Luzier’s practice covers a variety of real estate and business transactional matters, focusing on the representation of individual and institutional clients on all phases of buying, financing, selling and leasing residential and commercial property.
The Punta Gorda Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association re-elected its board of directors for a second term at a meeting July 28. Past president Randy Ann Bechtel installed the slate: Andrea Carroll, president; Virginia Vaughn, vice president; Marge Szmania, secretary; and Peggy Wilbur, treasurer. The chapter raises money for scholarships for local students and works to expand business and educational opportunities for its members.
Cutting Loose Salon, Pamper Lounge and AfterHours by Cutting Loose have filled two key staff positions. Tracey Rider joins the team as general manager, bringing numerous years of experience in salon management. April Piana, who also has many years of experience, will focus on eyebrow design, skin balancing and natural nourishing dermal treatments.
Matthew Borland has joined Take Care Private Duty Home Health Care’s Sarasota office staff as project manager to spearhead the continued development of best business practices. he was previously an accounts payable lead for a worldwide travel company in Boston.
Webster University has promoted two employees at its Sarasota Metropolitan Campus. Cindy Saunders, who joined Webster in 2007 as campus manager, has been promoted to assistant director. Rebecca Rathburn, an administrative assistant since April 2009, is now campus manager.
Dixie Southern, a custom steel fabricator in Duette, has hired Eugene Sweet as senior sales and marketing manager and Calvin Bennett III as quality manager. Sweet has more than 25 years of domestic and international sales and marketing experience in the chemical, filters, agriculture, wind and solar markets. Bennett comes to Dixie Southern from Ceradyne Thermal Materials, where he served as senior process engineer.
Dustin Kilduff, a student at the University of South Florida College of Business in Sarasota, is working as an intern at the Raymond James Financial Services office on Gatewood Drive in Lakewood Ranch. “Dustin will be learning the financial services industry from the ground up,” said Jim Zientara, branch manager. Kilduff was born and raised in Bradenton and graduated from Lakewood Ranch High School in 2005. he is working toward his bachelor’s degree in finance.
A group of 27 emerging and experienced community leaders graduated this month in the third class of the Gulf Coast Leadership Institute, a comprehensive leadership development program created and funded by the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice. In exchange for their training, the participants have committed to use their newly gained skills for the long-term benefit of their community. The graduates of the 2010 Gulf Coast Leadership Institute are: David Blehar, chief financial officer, Senior Friendship Centers; Veronica Brady, senior vice president, SunTrust Bank; Andrew Britton, attorney, Britton Law Office; Christopher Cogan, CEO and managing director, Area 32 Ventures; John Cox, sheriff’s deputy and director of Police Athletic League of Sarasota County; Corinne Deckard, assistant managing director, Asolo Repertory Theatre; Anne Garlington, wealth advisor and regional sales manager, Comerica Wealth Management; TinaRae Gregoire, executive director, Achievements Learning Centers; Michael Hartley, vice president, DKE inc.; Marilyn Harwell, retired book publisher; Susan Hoffman, editor, Sun Coast Media Group/The Arcadian; Kent Kirschner, CEO, the Media Maquiladora; Susan Kosko, portfolio manager, Northern Trust Bank; Dave Lowell, general manager; Ram Marine Services; Michael Mansfield, executive director, Charlotte County Habitat for Humanity; Giovanna McGrath, consultant, program coordinator for Gulf Coast Leadership Institute; Lisa Merritt, executive director, Multicultural Health Institute; Jonathon Phelps, president, Corin Bay Real Estate; Matthew Rheingans, attorney/president, Law Office of Matthew Rheingans PA; Michael Scott, development director, Sarasota Ballet of Florida; Warren Simonds, vice president and CMO, Willis a. Smith Construction; Bridget Spiess, Realtor, Re/Max Alliance Group; Craig Tiernan, financial adviser, Wells Fargo Advisors; Jean Trammell, president, The Venice Company; Jennifer Tucker, Healthy Communities coordinator, South County Family YMCA; David Ursel, speech language pathologist, Sarasota County School Board; and Gayle Williams, president/owner, Vision PR & Marketing.
Jenifer Schembri has been hired as a new principal at the Manatee County law firm of Blalock Walters. She is board certified by the Florida Bar in tax law, received her Master of Laws in taxation with honors from the University of Florida, and is also a certified public accountant. Schembri will head up the firm’s new tax law practice.
Thomas Hoppman has joined the Piana Acupuncture and Wellness Center in Sarasota as a licensed massage therapist. his other certifications/degrees include neuromuscular therapy, Qigong and Tai Chi.
Cornerstone Solutions Group awarded its Caught in the Act of Caring Award for June to Michael Willard of the Bradenton office. he exemplifies outstanding customer service and attention to detail with every customer.
IN BRIEF: Family paw park celebrates opening
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