Tampa Bay Local Business News | Bay Area Business Magazine

	José Peña, VP and head of retail banking for Fifth Third Bank (Tampa Bay), will serve on the Senior Executive Council Advisory Board (SECAB) for the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC). SECAB services as an important link between the USHCC and Fortune 500 corporations with buying power.
	Fifth Third Bank (Tampa Bay) recently appointed Stephen Klasko, dean of the Morsani College of Medicine at the University of South Florida (USF) and CEO of USF Health, and Marion Albanese, former managing partner of Ernst & Young, to its board of directors.
	Bayshore Technologies is pleased to announce that David Duncan has joined the company as a member of the Customer Support team. David holds a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing from MSU. David will be supporting Bayshore's Senior Sales Consultant Group.
	Deb Keniston was recently honored with a 5 Years of Service Award from First Bank.
	Sherry Thatcher was recently honored with a 5 Years of Service Award from First Bank.
	Roving Coaches International (RCI) has announced that Monica Marie Kosiorek, Certified Professional Coach and owner of Tampa-based Unlock Your Potential LLC, has been named a certified member of the international organization. “I’m beyond thrilled to be bringing these innovative coaching methods to employees and employer groups across the Tampa area,” said Kosiorek, who draws on her coaching experience to patiently assess how her clients can unlock their greatest potential.
	Florida Governor Rick Scott teamed up with the Office Depot Foundation to donate more than 5,000 sackpacks to children in Tampa and St. Petersburg at the Office Depot store at 211 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa on Thursday. The donations are part of the Foundation's 2012 National Backpack Program, which will place some 400,000 sackpacks containing essential school supplies into the hands of children around the world this year.
	For the third straight year, AgileThought, Inc., a national provider of mobile and custom software solutions, is recognized as being one of the best Florida companies to work for in the midsized-companies category by Florida Trend magazine. AgileThought considers its success a collective effort by all team members, whose individual passion for their craft and common goals lead to a great working environment and open collaborative culture.
	Claudia Meyer has recently been presented with the RE/MAX Hall of Fame Award, which honors successful agents who have earned more than $1 million in commissions during their careers with the company. In 2011, only less than 2 percent of all RE/MAX affiliates earned this prestigious award. “Claudia is a mega-million dollar producer who is more than deserving of this very prestigious award,” said Peter Crowley, President and Broker/Owner of the RE/MAX Alliance Group. “She provides the highest level of informed professional service to buyers and sellers in the Sarasota area, and continues to raise the bar in real estate.”
	Jo Ann Koontz of the Koontz & Associates law firm in Sarasota has been selected to serve on the faculty for the 2012 Florida Symposium for Financial Planning Professionals. Scheduled for August 2-3 in Tampa, this annual symposium by the Financial Planning Association of Tampa Bay presents cutting-edge sessions on a wide variety of financial planning topics. Specific areas covered include retirement planning, elder care, health insurance, business planning and succession, and investments.With a dual certification as an attorney and Certified Public Accountant, Koontz is a sought-after speaker on the tax implications of real estate transactions, short sales and foreclosures, among other legal matters.
	Dania Perry of CENTURY 21 Jim White & Associates is the No. 1 agent nationally in the CENTURY 21® System based on sales production in 2011. Perry was recently honored at the CENTURY 21 Global Conference in New Orleans, LA.Highly-motivated to create a name for herself, Perry earned her real estate license in two weeks and began going door-to-door to introduce herself to the communities she served. After three months in the business, Perry sold her first home which she had on the market within 17 days.“I am so proud to congratulate Dania Perry on this remarkable accomplishment,” said Rick Davidson, president & CEO, Century 21 Real Estate LLC.
	GWIZ - The Science Center today announced that Sara Rankin Wilson has accepted the position of Chief Executive Officer at GWIZ. Sara has over 17 years of record-breaking non-profit performance and was most recently interim co-president and vice president of resource development for the United Way of Manatee County and the United Way Foundation.“Sara brings an exceptional proven track record of nonprofit management and donor development to GWIZ,” said GWIZ Board Chairperson Kelley Lear.
	Lloyd Williams, an accomplished hospitality industry veteran with more than two decades of experience at several notable resort and conference centers, has been named General Manager at Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg, Va., resort representatives announced today. Williams joins Lansdowne Resort after serving as the Managing Director at Innisbrook Resort near Tampa, Fla. “Lansdowne is the region’s iconic resort and meetings destination and one I have been familiar with over my years in the hospitality industry,” said Williams.
	PARC, a nonprofit agency that serves over 800 individuals with developmental disabilities, announces that the Board of Directors has appointed Karen Higgins as President & CEO. Through her dynamic and active career with PARC she has extensive experience in nonprofit leadership and has developed successful teams in areas of Supported Employment and Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Supported Living, Residential Habilitation, Intermediate Care Facilities for Developmental Disabilities, Day Programs, Behavior Support Services and Children’s Services.
	Brian Lamb, president of Fifth Third Bank ( Tampa Bay ), recently received the Multicultural Leadership Award from the Florida Diversity Council (FLDC). The award recognizes individuals of all cultural backgrounds who have made an impact through their achievements and who exemplify excellence in their fields.
	Ierna’s Heating and Cooling donated a new heating and cooling system to the family of Nelida Bagley of Land O Lakes, Florida . This is truly an example of the community working together to help each other. Part of the donation came from the proceeds of the 2012 “Bring the Heat” Chili Cook Off family event, and the rest was donated directly from Ierna’s to install the $3,500 home comfort system.
	First Bank employee in Bradenton, Florida recently received 2012 Awards of Excellence from the bank. Joann Baker, who serves as a financial service representative at First Bank’s Bradenton office (4601 Manatee Ave. W), garnered Top Sales Professional of the Year honors.
	First Bank employee in Bradenton, Florida recently received 2012 Awards of Excellence from the bank. Claudia Ruiz, a customer service representative (9819 Cortez Rd), received Top Referrer of the Year. This is the second year that Ruiz has earned this award.
	FIRST BANK RECOGNIZES SENIOR BRANCH MANAGER IN BRANDON Renee Sharifranzy of Brandon, Florida honored with 5 Years of Service Award.Renee Sharifranzy was recently honored with a 5 Years of Service Award from First Bank.Sharifranzy is a vice president and senior branch manager at First Bank’s Brandon branch (110 W. Bloomingdale Ave). She lives in Brandon, Florida.
	Rhonda Coupland has joined RE/MAX Alliance Group in the Manatee Avenue Office. Originally from Canada , Coupland moved to Bradenton in 1979. Previously with RE/MAX Gulfstream, which has since merged to form RE/MAX Alliance Group, she returns to RE/MAX to invigorate her real estate career. She has also worked in the title industry, doing pre-closing, post-closing and marketing for Masters Title Insurance. Her father is David Coupland, a founder and Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Alliance Group.
	Realtor Ben Cannon has joined RE/MAX Alliance Group as a team member with Nicki Conway in the Sarasota Office. With more than 20 years of sales and marketing experience, he brings a high level of customer service that is focused on the client’s needs. After a successful real estate career in Naples , Florida , Cannon is now a full-time resident of Sarasota , which he has visited many times over the years.
	Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge selected Tampa’s Debra Campbell, founder of Forward Thinking Initiatives, as one of 15 educators from throughout the U.S. to be honored with its prestigious Leavey Award for Excellence in Private Enterprise Education. Campbell received the Leavey Award for her work with Forward Thinking Initiatives (FTI), a nonprofit she founded in 2004 to teach entrepreneurship, creative thinking and innovation to teens throughout Tampa Bay . “I am so honored to have received this prestigious award from the Freedoms and Leavey Foundations,” said Campbell .
	Dave Samler has joined RE/MAX Alliance Group as a sales associate in the Manatee Avenue office. A 33-year resident of the area, he is partnering with his wife, longtime Realtor Rebecca Samler. “RE/MAX Alliance Group is a quality company with great leadership,” he said Samler has a background in athletic administration with St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in Bradenton , where he served as a physical education teacher, math teacher, and baseball, basketball and soccer coach. He is a Certified Athletic Administrator (CAA), Certified Interscholastic Coach (CIC), former board member of the Florida High School Athletic Association, and two-time recipient of the Who’s Who of America ’s Teachers award.
	TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®, the largest franchised moving company in North America, recognizes its top franchise performers this week by naming the company’s “Achievement in Excellence” (AIE) winners. The top 14 locations out of the company’s 200 plus franchise locations are announced. The Pinellas, Fla. location, owned by Bill Bass and Don Hughes and operated by Robin and Jay Bulmer, has been recognized as the top overall winner in customer service as reported by customers who used TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® services in 2011.
	Ride-Away was one of six mobility dealerships honored with the Ralph Braun Signature Award from the Braun Corporation, the world’s largest manufacturer of wheelchair accessible vehicles, lifts and ramps. The dealer was the only company within the sales region to win the award, which is based on customer satisfaction survey results from 2011. The honor is presented to dealers who earn the highest average CSI score in the region – with the Tampa team receiving an average score of 99%.The awards were given at the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA) conference in Phoenix at the end of February.