Newsmakers (Sara/Mana)

Newsmakers (Sara/Mana)

MANATEE/SARASOTA

Education

• Gov. Jeb Bush has appointed Kim Binkley-Seyer, Chris Kofler and David Hicks to the Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County. Binkley-Seyer, Sarasota, owner of The Seyer Group, was appointed for a term ending in 2009. She will serve as chairwoman. Kofler, president of Unisource Group, was appointed for a term ending in 2008. Hicks, president of Alladin Ward Electric and Air Inc., was appointed for a term ending in 2007.

Construction

• Warren G. Simonds, director of client relations with Willis A. Smith Construction Inc., has been nominated as national trustee of The Society for Marketing Professional Services Foundation. The foundation provides research and education in the field of professional services marketing.

Financial

• Mark W. Duren has joined Liberty Savings Bank as a mortgage loan officer and will be responsible with assisting customers with home financings. Duren previously practiced law as an in-house attorney in Ohio at NCR Corp., including its Gasper Division and at AT&T.

• Palmetto-based Manatee River Community Bank has promoted three associates: Karia Mei was promoted to vice president, Todd Schuneman was promoted to vice president commercial lender/security office and Richard Rinehart was promoted to vice president consumer lending.

• LandMark Bank of Florida has named Pamela L. Gifford branch manager. Gifford will be responsible for the newest LandMark Banking Center at 8444 S. Tamiami Trail. The new banking center is scheduled to open in mid-October. Gifford previously spent 16 years at Bank of America, where she held positions in personal banking and branch management.

Government

• Sarasota County commissioners reappointed Laurel Schiller and Roland Piccone to new four-year terms on the county's planning commission. Piccone is an engineer with Dufresne-Henry Inc. in Sarasota, and Schiller is co-owner of Florida Native Plants Inc.

Law

Abel Band attorney Anthony J. Abate, a shareholder and member of the firm's litigation and dispute resolution and administrative services and project development practice groups, has received certification as a board certified construction lawyer from the Florida Bar.

• Kathryn A. Gifford has joined the law firm of Williams Parker Harrison Dietz & Getzen. Gifford's primary area of practice is real estate law.

LEE/COLLIER

Engineering

• WilsonMiller, a design and engineering firm in Naples, hired Iqbal Hossein as a senior project manager based in the firm's Fort Myers office. Hossein will specialize in water and wastewater-treatment plant planning, studies, design and construction. Hossein recently served as task leader on design improvements for a water treatment facility in New York City.

Financial

• Chris Gair, executive vice president and senior trust officer at Fort Myers-based Investors' Security Trust of Fort Myers, was recently elected chairman of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation. Gair succeeds Susan Bennett, who served as chairman for two years. Gair previously served on the executive committee and chairman of the foundation's finance committee.

Real Estate

• Pamela Van Vleck, a broker/manager at VIP Commercial-TCN Worldwide in Fort Myers, was inducted into Manchester Who's Who Registry Among Executives and Professionals. The networking organization has 50,000 members. Van Vleck has worked in the real estate profession for 35 years, including eight years in her current position.

Retail

• Fort Myers-based Chico's FAS named Charles Nesbit Jr., executive vice president and chief operating officer. Prior to his promotion, Nesbit served as executive vice president for operations. Charles Kleman, who served dual roles as COO and chief financial officer, will refocus on his duties as CFO. In addition, Chico's named Michael Weiss to its board of directors. Weiss is retired chairman and CEO of Express, a subsidiary of Limited Brands. Chico's also hired Michael Elleman as senior vice president for real estate. Prior to joining Chico's, Elleman was senior vice president for real estate for Charlotte Russe.