BuzzWorthyitems of note
Yvonne Ulmer has
been selected to be the
new president and CEO
of the YWCA Tampa
Bay. Yvonne is the
former Provost/CEO of
St. Petersburg College’s
Downtown campus and
Midtown campus. Her
immediate goal is to
establish the YWCA as the
“go to” resource for social
justice and for women
and children in need of
assistance.
Richard Gonzmart,
the fourth-generation family member and
president of the Columbia Restaurant
Group, was honored with the Pro Ecclesia et
Pontifice medal by Pope Francis. Richard,
who is known for his charitable works,
received the medal for his distinguished
service to the Roman Catholic Church.
It is the highest medal that can be awarded
to the laity by the Pope.
Julie and Steve Weintraub of the Gold
& Diamond Source acted as judges for
the 5th Annual Wheelchairs 4 Kids “Jail
and Bail” fundraiser. The event was a huge
success.
Dr. Zena Lansky has been named a
“Woman of Distinction” by the Jewish
Federation of Pinellas and Pasco Counties.
The award was presented to her in
recognition of her many contributions to
this community.
Pam and Les Muma have donated $5
million to Junior Achievement to help
start a program called Finance Park that
will teach eighth-grade students about
personal finance. The Mumas believe that
this type of financial education is needed
and have been active supporters of Junior
Achievement for three decades.
Lauren Pepin (left) and her husband Tom (right) were presented with the
Humanitarian of the Year award by the Judeo Christian Health Clinic at their
“An Affair of the Heart” dinner at Higgins Hall in Tampa. The dinner’s chair,
Crisha Murray Scolaro, founder of Pepin Academies, presented the award,
as former news anchor Gayle Sierens Martin congratulated the couple.
68 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE
Craig Richard has been named president
and CEO of the Tampa Hillsborough
Economic Development Corporation that
recruits jobs and businesses for the area.
Craig is succeeding Rick Homans, who is
now leading the Tampa Bay Partnership.
Michael Francis, the musical director
of The Florida Orchestra, has granted
tenure a year ahead of schedule to
Samantha Bennett, Casey
Jones and John Upton. By
doing so, Michael is declaring
his high opinion of their
musical talents by making
them permanent members of
the Orchestra.
Fran Risser was honored
by the Morean Arts Center
for her generous support of
their programs that touch
people’s lives in a wondrous
and exhilarating way.
Josh Bomstein of Creative
Contractors has announced
that Temple B’nai Israel in
Clearwater has completed a
16,000 square-foot renovation
of its sanctuary, social hall,
| JULY/AUGUST 2016
chapel lobby, offices
and entryway that was
designed by Behar +
Peteranecz Architects
and built by Creative
Contractors, Inc.
Bob Gries, Jr. held
his 4th Annual Heart of
a Champion Scholarship
Dinner, where he honored
70 outstanding young
women from Hillsborough
County’s public and
private schools.
Kim Dohrman, the
CEO of Creative Clay,
and Jody Bikoff, the director of marketing
and exhibitions, have created an exhibit
with Team Spathose that incorporates
palm spathe, the fibrous, woody bract,
with artists who fashion the spathes into
sculptures, art objects, clothing or décor.
The exhibit, “Community Pride: The Art
of Collaboration,” is at Creative Clay’s
Good Folk Gallery.
Holly and John Tomlin and their partner and daughter
Ali St. Cyr held a grand opening ribbon cutting party
attended by Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and Tampa
Chamber President Bob Rohrlack to celebrate the
opening of their new Tomlin St. Cyr & Associates Real
Estate Brokerage at 3097 Henderson Boulevard in Tampa.