compiled by Lauren Salinero
MetroWest
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer appointed Green Grass Marketing & Advertising Owner and Creative Director Gretchen Hahn of MetroWest to The Mennello Museum of American Art board of trustees. She was chosen based on her experience, integrity and involvement in the community. Gretchen, the founder of GGMA, has more than two decades of experience in television, advertising, marketing and public relations. She is also an advisory board member for the Orlando Sports Foundation and a member of the West Orange Chamber of Commerce.
Sandpointe
George Rahi of Sandpointe receives an International Diamond Society Award for his exceptional performance in 2015 as a Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate sales associate.
Sandpointe resident George Rahi, a sales associate with Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, earned the company’s International Diamond Society Award for outstanding performance in 2015.
“The International Diamond Society designation is an honor that recognizes our high-producing sales associates,” said Clark Toole, president of Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, Florida. “Exceptional market knowledge, professionalism and dedication to customer service have enabled George to achieve these remarkable results. This highly coveted award is only bestowed upon the top-producing Coldwell Banker sales associates worldwide.”
Sterling Pointe
Winter Garden Commissioner Robert “Bobby” Olszewski and his currently expecting wife, Allison, of Sterling Pointe attend the third annual Tri-County League of Cities Distinguished Service Awards Gala.
City officials that make up the Tri-County League of Cities, including Sterling Pointe resident and Winter Garden Commissioner Robert “Bobby” Olszewski, turned out for the annual Distinguished Service Awards Gala. The event, started in 2013, was held at the Rachel D. Murrah Civic Center in Winter Park. The league consists of city and county members within Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties. Its purpose is to bring various units of local government together for the benefit of residents. The gala awards recognize individual accomplishments of those who serve their city with valuable contributions.
Winderlakes
Winderlakes resident Diana Chastain (third from right) is one of the disc jockey scratching contest winners at a Hard Rock Hotel media event.
Windermere
Jennifer Barrows of Windermere joins the team at WithumSmith+Brown PC.
WithumSmith+Brown PC, a certified public accountants and consultants company, announced the addition of Windermere resident Jennifer Barrows as business development executive. In her new position, Jennifer is responsible for creating new business opportunities and growing the company’s customer base in Orlando. Jennifer is also a current member and former board member of Commercial Real Estate Women and the Central Florida Women’s League.
Jerry Norton of Windermere received a Silver Beaver Award for distinguished service to youth in the local community, the highest honor given to a volunteer by the Boy Scouts of America Central Florida Council. Recipients are registered adult leaders who have made an impact on the lives of youth through service given to the council. The award is presented to those who implement the Scouting program and perform community service through hard work, self-sacrifice, dedication and many years of service. Most importantly, it is given to those who do not actively seek it. Jerry, who works with Troop and Crew 6 out of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, was presented the award at the Central Florida Council and Eagle Scout Recognition Banquet held at Buena Vista Palace in the Walt Disney World Resort.
Winter Garden
Winter Garden resident Jim Gross is the new general manager of DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld.
Officials of DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld announced the addition of Winter Garden resident Jim Gross as their new general manager. Jim brings more than 20 years of progressive industry experience to the position. He will build on the current success of the hotel by helping to drive revenue, strengthening the operating performance, and repositioning the hotel as a result of the coming 40,000-square-foot conference center addition, while building on the strong culture that ensures excellent guest service and experiences.
Et Al
Congratulations to the following Southwest-area residents on their recent academic achievements:
• Southwest students who made their school’s 2016 spring semester dean’s lists included Celebration resident Alexey Barron, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford; Windermere residents Abigail Brady, Elizabeth Bragg, Spencer Cast, Olivia Cole and Madeline Sundberg, Samford University; Dr. Phillips resident John Corkum and Windermere resident Jeanne–Marie Potthast, Benedictine College; Windermere resident Cameron Green, Furman University; Windermere resident Kevin Heaney, the University of Wisconsin-Madison; Windermere resident Manuela Herrera, Bucknell University; Windermere residents Andrew Kane and Hwi Young Ko, Mercer University Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics; and Winter Garden resident Alyssa Kidwell, James Madison University.
• Olympia High School alumna and Windermere resident Kristen Bublitz earned a Bachelor of Science in biology and history from Centre College.
• Alban Harp of Winter Garden was accepted to Shaw University to pursue a bachelor’s degree.
• Robert Hartman of Ocoee was named to Mercer University School of Engineering president’s list for the 2016 spring semester.
• MetroWest resident Romeo Ibanez IV graduated from Bowdoin College with a major in history and a minor in Asian studies.
• Olympia High School alumna Ashley Jesser graduated from Marietta College with a Bachelor of Arts in political science.
• Dr. Phillips resident Karon Montgomery earned a Master of Science in human services from Springfield College.
• Ocoee resident Jessica Robbins graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stout with a Master of Science in information and communication technologies.
West Orange Chamber of Commerce members celebrate the opening of Keke’s Breakfast Café.
West Orange Chamber of Commerce members held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Keke’s Breakfast Café. WOCC builds partnerships, strong businesses and commitment to the community by serving as the leading business advocate in Central Florida, facilitating opportunity to nearly 1,000 member businesses. For more information, call 407-656-1304 or visit wochamber.com on the Web.
Former astronaut Buzz Aldrin, one of the first men to walk on the moon in 1969, joins Southwest resident and Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs at the 2016 Invictus Games.
Southwest resident and Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs showed her support for wounded warriors from around the world as a guest at the opening ceremony of the 2016 Invictus Games at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The ceremony featured Prince Harry of Wales, first lady Michelle Obama, actor Morgan Freeman, former President George W. Bush, and other distinguished guests and musical performers.
In recognition of the contributions to a healthy economy made by local entrepreneurs and small business owners, members of the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida celebrated U.S. Small Business Administration’s National Small Business Week with a luncheon and awards ceremony. Winter Garden resident Sarah Blake, president of Elipsis Engineering & Consulting, was the state of Florida and north Florida district winner for woman-owned small business person of the year. Sunil Tarneja, a Southwest resident and president of C.T. Windows Inc., dba Architectural Aluminum Techniques, was named the north Florida district winner of small business person of the year.
Daisy Scouts of Troop 4015 from the Dr. Win Service Unit create matching stuffed bears at Build-A-Bear Workshop.
Dr. Win Service Unit Daisy Scouts Troop 4015 held an end-of-the-year party at Build-A-Bear Workshop. The first-year Scouts made bears that matched their Daisy uniforms. The Girl Scout mission is to build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.
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