Newmakers (Sara/Mana edition)

Newmakers (Sara/Mana edition)

Law

× Stephen Perry has joined the law firm of Blalock, Walters, Held & Johnson as an associate. Perry will practice in both the banking and real estates areas.

× David Gurley and Conrad Lazo of the law firm Gurley, Dramis and Lazo were sworn by Federal District Judge Garcia Gregory of San Juan on March 24 allowing them to represent clients before the U. S. District Court in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Gurley and Lazo practice in Sarasota and San Juan.

Banking

× Clifford Ford recently joined the bank as senior vice president/commercial lending for United Bank. Ford was previously with Branch Banking and Trust Co.

× Ronald Gelbman is the newest member of the board of directors of SunTrust Bank Southwest Florida. Gelbman is retired from Johnson & Johnson.

Business

× Monique Michaud has been appointed an interior designer at UniSource Office Furniture in Sarasota. Michaud previously worked for IDS in Tampa.

× Robert Kurvin, vice president of investments and a financial adviser at the Venice office of Raymond James & Associates Inc., has been named to the firm's 2004 President's Club. Kurvin joined Raymond James in 1983.

× John Mauldin has joined IBA Consultants Inc. as a senior consultant. Mauldin, with 30 years of experience in the construction industry, worked previously as a branch manager for Coastal Construction Products Inc. in Tampa.

× Tom Vossman has joined VenVest Inc. to lead the sales and market development efforts for the company's two home services franchises, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® and One Hour Air Conditioning and Heating®. Vossman recently was the senior vice president of the combined operations division for American Residential Services.

× Mary Beth Bos of MBJ Group Inc. was awarded the credentials of Certified Professional Values Analyst (CPVA). Bos is a corporate and executive coach with Coaching Vision, a subsidiary of MBJ Group.

× Phillip Brooks, a licensed mental health counselor, was promoted to vice president of outpatient and youth services for First Step of Sarasota Inc. Brooks has 16 years of counseling experience and established First Step's in-school collaboration for treatment of youth at risk of expulsion in Sarasota County schools.

× Lydia Patton has been promoted to vice president at UniSource Office Furniture with responsibility for all accounting, MIS, and human resources functions in the Tampa and Sarasota operations. Patton is in her eighth year with UniSource.

Real Estate

× Diane Skelly, a Tivoli Homes sales consultant, has moved to Rivo at Ringling Sales Center to market a new high-rise condominium on Ringling Blvd. A licensed Realtor, Skelly has been a top producer for Tivoli Homes for six years.