BuzzWorthyitems of note
Pat DePlasco, executive
director of Keep Pinellas
Beautiful, is celebrating
two prestigious awards
her organization received
f rom Keep Amer i ca
Beautiful at its national
conference. Keep Pinellas
Beautiful received the 2018
President’s Circle Award
that recognized exemplary
performance in creating
a green and beautiful
community, and the Affiliate
of Excellence Award that recognized the
Top 15 affiliates for their programs and
impact. Keep America Beautiful, the
nation’s iconic community improvement
nonprofit organization, has more than
600 community-based affiliates.
Elliott Rakofsky is the new director of
development for the Greater Largo Library
Foundation Inc., overseeing the newly
refurbished Largo Public Library at
120 Central Park Drive in Largo.
Dan Shouvlin, owner of Clear Skyz
Inc., CEO of Frenchy’s and Clear Sky
restaurants, was installed as the new
president of the Florida Restaurant and
Lodging Association during the group’s
dinner held in Clearwater Beach.
Darlene Kole was given a retirement
party in thanks for her eight years as
president/CEO of the Clearwater Beach
Chamber of Commerce.
Thomas Cheezem accompanied his parents Katherine
and Mike Cheezem, CEO of JMC Communities, to a
celebration at the newly restored Belleview Inn to preview
the Magnolia, JMC Communities’ final mid-rise building at
its Belleview Place, a private gated community with resort
Alberta Mceuen, a certified financial
planner, senior vice president and wealth
management adviser at the Merrill Lynch
office at 2601 U.S. Highway 19 N. in
Clearwater, was recently recognized on
the Forbes “Best-In-State Advisors” list
for 2019.
Pam Muma of Belleair has been
chosen for a Junior Achievement National
Centennial Leadership Award that
recognizes her outstanding performance
with Junior Achievement Tampa Bay,
where she created a scholarship program
for graduating seniors and many other
charitable endeavors.
Mike Sutton, CEO of Habitat for
Humanity of Pinellas County, which builds
affordable housing, has been selected to
head the Clearwater Regional Chamber
of Commerce as the chair of its board
of directors. He has served on the board
66 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | MAY/JUNE 2019
the last three years and is
a dynamic leader.
Geoffrey Simon,
Raymond James managing
director and senior vice
president of investments,
was happy to celebrate
entrepreneur and retailer
Herb Brown’s 95th birthday
with a public television
rebroadcast of Suncoast
Business Forum’s 2012 profile
on Brown. Brown and his
wife Diane, who moved to
Clearwater in 1970, are true inspirations.
They have helped our community grow
through their philanthropy efforts and
community service.
John Gilliss of Friendly Kia in New
Port Richey has been chosen by Kia Motors
America for the fourth time to receive
the brand’s President’s Club honors, thus
recognizing him as one of the top 30 dealers
in the country out of nearly 800 Kia dealers
for his sales volume and ability to provide
outstanding customer satisfaction.
Judy Genshaft, University of South
Florida president, received the Award
for Institutional Transformation from the
American Council on Education. USF was
the only university in the United States
with a student population over 5,000 to
receive this annual prestigious award,
which highlights USF’s national leadership
in student success. The university has been
amenities atop a 35-foot bluff in Belleair.
GRAM
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