People on the Move
Culinary and hospitality venues have announced executive teams, including one appointment in South Beach of an executive chef who was a contestant on a Food Network television show. Additionally, as a new hotel in Hollywood sets to open, its executive team was announced. And the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association announced its board, featuring members from across the state, including Duck Key in the Florida Keys. Want more? Submit promotions, new hires to SunSentinel.com/peopleonthemove or email peopleonthemove@sunsentinel.com. Contact ckent@sunsentinel.com, 954-356-4662, or Twitter @mindingyourbiz
Communications
AT&T has appointed Angela Muñiz Rutherford assistant vice president and general manager — National Business for the Florida region, based in Sunrise. Rutherford joined the company in 1999 as an account manager. Additionally, Thais Asper has been named regional director of external affairs for MiamiDade and Monroe counties. Before joining the company, Asper was chief of staff at LSN Partners. She also has served in the Florida House of Representatives as a legislative aide and in the Miami Realtors Association as governmental affairs manager.
Culinary, hospitality
Nicolas Bour, who most recently competed on Food Network’s “Beat Bobby Flay,” as Season 13 round-one winner, has been appointed executive chef at the Gates Hotel South Beach — a DoubleTree by Hilton. Previously, Bour was executive chef of Ocean House Management in Rhode Island. Bour has worked at Loews Coronado Bay. In addition,
Brent McNally was appointed general manager at the 235-room Gates Hotel South Beach. Most recently, McNally was general manager for Monterey Tides Hotel. Prior, he held various executive leadership positions including general manager at Shorebreak Hotel and assistant general manager at Cypress Hotel, currently Juniper Hotel. The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, FRLA, representing more than 10,000 members in the hospitality industry, announced its incoming 2018 Chairman of the Board and Executive Committee. They are: Chairman of the Board: Kevin Speidel, Hilton Grand Vacations, Orlando; Vice Chairman:
Alan Palmieri, Marlow’s Tavern, Orlando; Secretary-Treasurer: Sheldon Suga, Hawks Cay Resort, Duck Key; Restaurant Director 2018-19; Jim Shirley, Great Southern Café, Santa Rosa Beach; Lodging Director 2018-19:
Olivia Hoblit, Seaside Amelia Inn, Amelia Island; Restaurant Director 2018: Cathie
Koch, Bloomin’ Brands Inc., Tampa and Immediate-PastChairman: Don Fox, Firehouse of America LLC, Jacksonville. Arden, a planned community in Wellington, appointed
Luisana Omana as onsite lifestyle director. Previously a lifestyle director at an activeadult community, Omana also served as vice president of events for the South Florida chapter of Prospanica, an organization em-
powering Hispanic business professionals to achieve their full educational, economic and social potential. The 12-story Circ Hotel, set to open in Hollywood in the spring, has announced its executive team, including directors: Heather Alexsa, rooms; Anne-Marie Khoury, human resources; Tom LaBau, engineering; Ashley
Macias, finance; Milan Markov, food and beverage, and Massimiliano Lozzi, executive chef. The hotel, managed by Trust Hospitality, announced earlier that Kara Lundgren is general manager and Matt Lois is director of sales. W Hotels has appointed Gregory Polino as general manager of W Miami, on Brickell. He was hotel manager at sister property W South Beach.
Tourism
SMG, the operator of the Greater Fort Lauderdale/ Broward County Convention Center, recently promoted Ashley York to director of event services at the 600,000-square-foot multipurpose facility. York joined the venue management services company in 2012, and was named senior event manager in 2017. In addition, Renee
Browning has joined the convention center as assistant general manager, from Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex in Birmingham, Ala., where she was assistant director of sales. Browning is a returning team member of SMG, having previously overseen the sales and marketing initiatives for 17 facilities in SMG’s Convention Center Division as regional director of sales and marketing.
Nonprofit
Jeremy Morse has joined the Mental Health Association of Palm Beach County as chief executive officer. His appointment will begin in March, following outgoing CEO Pam Gionfriddo. Morse was most recently director of institutional support at Palm Beach Atlantic University. Prior to that, he was vice president of social enterprise for The Lord’s Place. Trustbridge — Hospice of Broward County Foundation has elected six new board members to represent the growth and expansion of the Foundation in Broward County. Board members will provide mission-based leadership and advance the work of the Foundation, which includes raising funds for the special hospice services of Trustbridge. They are:
Darcy Clinton, community volunteer; Jessica Lerner, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Community Care Plan; Sheryl-Anne Murray, vice president at
HealthPlan Services; Jason Neufeld, attorney at Neufeld, Kleinberg & Pinkiert PA; Renée K.
Quinn, corporate strategist at Damn Good Hospitality Group and Meredith Tucker, CPA, at Kaufman Rossin. Each new member will serve a three-year term and be eligible for re-appointment for one additional term.
Construction
George Cuesta, a principal at Cuesta Construction in Miami, was recently elected as chairman of the Associated Builders and Contractors of Florida. He will oversee all five ABC chapters in Florida.
Certification
Bureau Veritas, a testing inspection and certification (TIC) services firm, for food producers, manufacturers, retailers and restaurants involved in the production, packaging, handling, transportation and sale of food, announced that Dan Braz has joined as merger and acquisition vice president, in Fort Lauderdale. Previously, Braz was the global head of industrial investment banking at PI Capital International. He has also lead mergers and acquisitions in the healthcare and life sciences fields.
Real estate
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate announced that Ann Pearson has become a sales associate with its Boca Resort and Beach offices. Formerly with “B” Realtors, Pearson specializes in residential property sales. Avison Young’s Florida Capital Markets Group has expanded with the addition of Rosendo
Caveiro as senior vice president, based in Miami.