The Central West Coast chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association installed its 2022-2023 board of directors and recognized outstanding members during the Chapter Awards & Board Installation, held recently at the Sarasota Yacht Club.

The event, which continued the honored tradition of the passing of the gavel by former presidents of CWC-FPRA, was a celebration of the past year of successes and opportunities for the coming year.

The following members were recognized – with immediate past president Melanie Reda bestowing the awards – during the program.

Hunter Carpenter was named Member of the Year; Sheryl Vieira earned the Ginya Carnahan Promoting the Profession Award; Travis Cornwell earned the Thomas Nunan Rising Star Award; Sarah Glendening earned the Ginnie Duffey Troyer Award of Professionalism; and Joe Curley, Joe Grano, and Kim Livengood each received Awards of Appreciation for helping to make it a special year for CWC.

Additionally, the board celebrated some highlights from the recent FPRA Annual Conference in Orlando. During the conference, CWC-FPRA earned the coveted Chapter of the Year Award as well as honors for diversity, equity & inclusion, and membership, as the chapter became the largest in the state.

Erin Hoffer graduated from the LeadershipFPRA Class VI; Hunter Carpenter was recognized as a Joe Curley Rising Leader Class member and awarded a LeadershipFPRA scholarship; and CWC members took home 11 awards during the Golden Image Awards Gala, including top honors – Grand Golden Image Awards – earned by Kim Livengood and Sharon Kunkel in two out of the three professional categories.

The new FPRA state president, Jay Morgan-Schleuning, installed the chapter’s 2022-2023 board of directors, who will each serve a one-year term.

The CWC-FPRA 2022-2023 board of directors are:

• President: Sheryl Vieira, Caldwell Trust Co.

• President-Elect: Sarah Glendening, Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center.

• Immediate Past President: Melanie Reda, KSC Inc.

• Finance: Erin Hoffer, KSC Inc.

• Membership: Travis Cornwell, Next-Mark.

• Media Relations/Editorial: Sharon Kunkel, Wordslinger Marketing & PR.

• Digital Communications: Crystal Rothaar, Senior Friendship Centers.

• Creative: Jennifer Linzy, Manatee Clerk of Circuit Court.

• Community Liaison: Hunter Carpenter, First Watch.

• Credentialing: Erin Hoffer, KSC Inc.

• Events: Nathaniel Sweetman, Visit Sarasota County.

• Image Awards: Hallie Peilet, The Haven.

• At-Large (non-voting): Joe Curley, Universal Studios Parks & Resorts; Eleni Kouvatsos, First Watch; Kim Livengood, The Eclipse Agency; and Elise Ramer, Premier Sotheby’s International Realty.

…

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County has appointed a new member to its 2022-2023 board of directors, which governs the organization, its charitable investments and strategic decision-making.

Joining the board for a three-year term is Dr. Laura Mattia, who is currently a member of the foundation’s Investment Committee. With credentials both in academia and business, Mattia brings a wealth of expertise to the board.

Mattia is a certified financial planner, a fee-only comprehensive financial adviser and a fiduciary advocate.

She has held chief financial officer positions and been an adviser to top CEOs for their businesses and family offices.

Mattia also teaches CFPs how to create financial plans as fiduciaries at Texas Tech University and in finance service firms nationwide. Recently, she created a CFP-registered program at the Muma Business College, University of South Florida, in Tampa.

…

CenterPlace Health, a provider of primary care health services for children and adults and Sarasota County’s only federally qualified health center, has hired a new CEO. The board of directors selected Kari Ellingstad.

She started in the position Sept. 2. Ellingstad has served on the board since 2017.

Involved in community health initiatives in Sarasota County for more than 20 years, Ellingstad was formerly the director of the Community Health Improvement Partnership. In that role she supported the coordination of citizen-led initiatives to address community health interests of local concern, facilitated a four-county health care leadership collaborative and oversaw CHIP’s research activities, including the design and implementation of regular, large-scale community health surveys.

She also has experience in the corporate world, working most recently as vice president of I-Net Consulting, a local firm providing managed IT services.

Ellingstad initially moved to Florida to attend New College in Sarasota, where she earned a bachelor’s. She later received a master’s in public health from the University of South Florida.

…

Intercoastal Medical Group has added a podiatrist, Logan T. Shannon, DPM, to its Beneva Professional Center Podiatry office, in Sarasota.

Dr. Shannon received an undergraduate degree from Iowa State University. He earned a medical degree from Des Moines University College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery, in Iowa, and completed his residency in podiatric medicine and surgery at the Aultman Alliance Community Hospital, in Ohio.

From there, Shannon completed a fellowship in ACFAS Reconstruction and Limb Salvage at the Professional Education and Research Institute, in Roanoke, Virginia.

…

Doing business in an increasingly digital world, new technologies are changing the way businesses operate at an exponential rate. Shumaker is selecting two of its partners to lead its Technology Business Sector to help technology and innovation-focused companies, such as companies engaged in the development and manufacture of cutting-edge technologies, data management and protection strategies, software development, digital marketing, web design and the provision of online services.

Shumaker is prepared to help these businesses navigate the concerns involved in creating, acquiring, licensing, distributing and utilizing evolving technology.

Shumaker Partner Doug Cherry will serve as Technology Business Sector chair, from the Sarasota office. Shumaker Partner Phillip Lee will serve as co-chair, from the Toledo, Ohio, office.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: PR chapter celebrates the year's successes, CenterPlace hires CEO