Soundbytes Winter 2023

Compiled by Rebecca Padgett Frett | Photos courtesy of individuals

Capital // Local Honors

» Coldwell Banker Honors Tallahassee Agent With Award

Shaquille O’Neal and Christie Perkins

Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC recently announced winners of its 2023 Leadership Awards, recognizing Coldwell Banker affiliated real estate professionals who embody the fundamental values of the brand. Christie Perkins, sales associate with the Tallahassee office of Coldwell Banker Hartung, received the Coldwell Banker Heroes award. She is pictured with NBA great Shaquille O’Neal, who was the keynote speaker at the annual Gen Blue Experience, a gathering of Coldwell Banker agents from around the world. Perkins was recognized for her efforts in assisting a family impacted by the war in Ukraine. She provided the family with a year of free housing, allowing them to breathe, grieve, heal and enjoy a sense of safety. Perkins rallied the Tallahassee community and local real estate professionals to achieve this goal.

Eugene Lamb, Jr.

» Tallahassee Community College District Board of Trustees chairman Eugene Lamb, Jr. has been awarded the 2023 Southern Region Trustee Leadership Award by the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT). Lamb has served on the board since 2007 when he was appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist. Upon receiving a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education from Dillard University in 1971, Lamb began his professional career as a teacher at Cobb Middle School. After retiring from teaching in 2004, he served as a member of the Gadsden County Commission and the City of Midway City Council. He also coached basketball at Godby High School from 1974 to 1987. He is a member of the Florida High School Athletic Association board of directors and was appointed by Gov. Rick Scott to the Florida Commission on Healthcare and Hospital Funding. Gov. Ron DeSantis named him to his education transition committee in 2018.

» Leon County Emergency Medical Services (LCEMS) was named EMS Provider of the Year by the Florida Department of Health for its continuous dedication to delivering unparalleled emergency medical care and serving the community through training and public education programs. Each year, the statewide award recognizes an organization that assumes a leadership role in the Florida EMS community, demonstrates outstanding initiative in the areas of public education and training, and epitomizes excellence in the areas of quality assurance and medical control protocol development and implementation. In addition to the EMS Provider of the Year Award, Leon County Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Michael Aries was named EMT of the Year. Aries, who has served with LCEMS for 20 years, was recognized for providing exceptional lifesaving care to the community and for going above and beyond the call of duty to help his fellow first responders.

New and Notable

» Matt Guse was recently announced as the new president of 2-1-1 Big Bend. Guse will lead employees and volunteers as they assist the residents of the Big Bend region with support, resources and referrals around the clock. Guse began his career in nonprofit work as the CEO of the Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend Region, where he worked for eight years. In 2021, he moved to Dallas and worked in medical research at the Dallas VA Hospital before making his way back to Tallahassee in August 2023.

John Hogan

» Capital Health Plan announced that long-time president and CEO John Hogan is retiring from his position and will be succeeded by Sabin Bass, who has served as Capital Health Plan’s executive vice president and chief financial officer. Bass has been with Capital Health Plan since 2003, initially serving as senior vice president/CFO, and since 2018, in his current role of executive vice president/CFO. He has broad senior management experience with managed care organizations and HMOs, including Healthsource, CIGNA and Amerigroup Corporation, successfully supporting and managing the rapid growth of those companies.

» The Kearney Center has announced the appointment of Sonya Wilson as its new executive director and Danielle Dougherty as the new manager of grant awards. The Kearney Center is known for its innovative approach to addressing homelessness. It offers more than just temporary shelter and meals by providing pathways to independence and empowerment. Wilson’s extensive experience and deep understanding of the complex issues surrounding homelessness make her an ideal leader to guide The Kearney Center toward fulfillment of its mission, while Dougherty’s expertise in grant management will contribute significantly to the organization’s continued growth
and impact.

» South-Florida based developer Urban Street Development (USD) announced a significant expansion to Hotel Indigo, a fixture in the heart of the vibrant CollegeTown district. The expansion will add 84 new hotel rooms to its existing 143-room capacity. Since its grand opening in 2020, Hotel Indigo has become a landmark destination for both business and leisure travelers, especially as a hub for Florida State University sports fans, parents, alumni and legislators. The expansion project is scheduled to break ground in spring 2024, with an estimated completion date set for 14 months later.

» Agency Partners

Daryl Green, president and partner, Rob Marshke, owner, CADE Advertising

CADE Advertising has welcomed Daryl Green as president and partner. Green, a highly experienced marketing professional, formerly led Compass Marketing & Consulting as agency director and chief creative director. In 2020, he started Capital Media Company, a media procurement agency serving clients across the Southeast. CADE was founded by John Cade, Laura Franson and Rick Shapley, then was acquired in 2017 by Rob Marshke.

Emerald Coast // New & Notable

» Orchestra Adds Staff

Sinfonia Gulf Coast has added two new professional staff members. Daniel Milana has been named to the role of director of development. He will be responsible for maintaining and developing the organization’s corporate and private donors in addition to managing all aspects of regional and national grant and foundation research, writing, management and implementation. He will serve the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation in the same role. Milana comes to Sinfonia Gulf Coast from the Atlanta Film Society where he was the business development manager. Miranda Rojas joins the Sinfonia Gulf Coast team as an education and outreach assistant. Rojas is familiar with Sinfonia’s education programs having been a member of the Carriola Quartet, Sinfonia’s string quartet in residence. In her new role, she will provide support to music director Margaret Gordon for the Sinfonia Youth Orchestra and After-School Orchestra programs. She also will offer music lessons through her private studio.

Michelle Hayes Uhlfelder

» A new boutique marketing and PR agency, Cherrytop, led by Michelle Hayes Uhlfelder, is emerging as a strategic partner for businesses. Cherrytop draws on Uhlfelder’s extensive experience with global and regional brands, combined with her advanced postgraduate certifications from Cornell University in Marketing AI and Stanford University’s School of Engineering Digital Transformations programs. While Cherrytop offers traditional marketing and public relations services, it especially excels in helping teams navigate and harness the intricacies of the digital transformation landscape.

» Town Center Manager

Andrew “Andy” Peach

Grand Boulevard at Sandestin has announced the hiring of Andrew “Andy” Peach as the new general manager of the popular Town Center. Peach will assume oversight of all operations at the 52-acre property. He is a senior retail real estate professional experienced in managing and leasing upscale shopping centers, including mixed-use assets. He was senior general manager for the Shops at Merrick Park in Coral Gables, a luxury asset anchored by Nieman Marcus with high-end retail, dining/entertainment, fitness, office and residential components. Peach arrives after the successful 16-year tenure of Bill Bubel as Grand Boulevard’s original general manager. Bubel is moving into the full-time role of vice president of operations for Howard Group, the developer and co-owner of Grand Boulevard.

Local Honors

» Three Northwest Florida tourist development councils swept the board in the rural county marketing category in the 2023 Flagler Awards competition conducted by Visit Florida. The awards, named for tourism pioneer Henry Flagler, honor individuals and organizations that help position Florida as a leading tourism destination.

» The Gulf County TDC won a Henry award for a campaign titled “Ordinary Magic.” The Franklin County TDC earned a bronze award for a “Villages Re-engagement” campaign. The Holmes County TDC earned silver for its “Wild, Welcoming Unexplored Florida” radio spot, which was produced by Kerigan Marketing of Mexico Beach on a tight schedule. “We are especially proud of this award since we were hired by Holmes County in February and completed research and copywriting/production in time for the Flagler Awards entry deadline in May,” said agency principal Jack Kerigan.

I-10 // New & Notable

» Air Methods, a leading air medical service provider, announced that Calhoun-Liberty Hospital’s Emergency Medical Services will be using Air Methods’ online EMS Review program to provide additional training for their emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics. Ascend’s offerings of innovative online education programs assist emergency medical responders to advance their training, help improve emergent patient outcomes and meet their continuing education needs. Working in conjunction with the local board of county commissioners, Calhoun Liberty Hospital provides emergency medical services to the citizens and visitors of Calhoun County. The EMS department, which responds to about 4,000 calls for service annually, also provides interfacility transport services for patients that require specialty services not available at Calhoun-Liberty Hospital.