Corporate Report: Nov. 22

Reeder Ranch and Dairy's J.T. named to Agriculture Hall of Fame
James Thomas (J.T.) Reeder of Palmetto's Reeder Farms and Reeder Ranch and Dairy Inc. is being posthumously inducted into the Manatee County Agriculture Hall of Fame.

Reeder started the vegetable-farming venture with his father, Hiram Reeder, and mother, Layla Reeder, in the mid-1930s. Reeder Farms started with 40 acres purchased in the Ruskin area, but in 1946 the farm was sold and land was purchased in Manatee County. Over time the farm phased out of vegetables and moved into citrus, dairy, beef cattle and a community airport. Reeder was active in operating the business until his death in early 2009.

C1 Bank chief operating officer named Florida School of Banking director
St. Petersburg-based C1 Bank announced that Rita Lowman, C1 Bank's chief operating officer, was named director of the Florida School of Banking. The Florida School of Banking, located at the University of Florida, is one of the top banking schools in Florida.

Lowman's three-year term will culminate with her serving as the chairwoman of the board in 2016.

Evolucia chief financial officer retiring, search started for replacement
Evolucia Inc.'s chief financial officer and executive vice president, Charles Rockwood, has resigned from the company for personal reasons.

Following his resignation, Rockwood plans to continue to support Evolucia in an advisory role until a new chief financial officer is appointed. In the interim, Mel Interiano, chairman and CEO of Evolucia, will serve as the principal financial officer.

Former SunTrust executive hired by BNY Mellon Wealth Management
BNY Mellon has hired Christopher Swink as senior director for business development at BNY Mellon Wealth Management. He will be stationed in the firm's Tampa office and report to Regional Director Ray Ifert.

Swink comes to BNY Mellon from SunTrust Private Wealth Management, where he served as vice president and adviser to high net worth clients. Prior to that, he was a relationship manager with Wachovia Wealth Management and an adviser at Dean Witter and JP Morgan Investments.

He received the Reuters AdvicePoint Top Advisor award in 2008.

BNY Mellon Wealth Management says Swink was hired as part of the company's decision to vastly increase its sales force in top U.S. wealth markets by the end of 2014. BNY Mellon Wealth Management plans to expand the firm's sales force by 50% over the next year. Since it was opened in 2009, the Tampa office has grown from seven to 13 employees.

ChappellRoberts Management wins Stevie Awards
The leadership team of Tampa ad agency ChappellRoberts has received a Gold Stevie Award and was named Management Team of the Year by the international awards. Colleen Chappell, president and CEO, and agency principals: Erin Gray, Patrick Owings, Sarah Tildsley and Christine Turner, won the business services category for marketing, advertising and public relations.

The ChappellRoberts team was recognized for growing revenue to its highest level in 30 years, for making innovative operational changes and adding two new key divisions that accounted for a quarter of its total revenue.

“The greatest decision I've made was surrounding myself with the best leadership team in the industry,” Chappell says in a press release. “Having our leadership be recognized on this international stage is an incredible honor and a testament to our collective strengths.”

More than 3,000 entries were submitted to the Stevie Awards, which recognize sales, business development, customer service and call/contact center professionals. Winners were selected by more than 250 executive judges.