Movers & Shakers: November 2023

Sarah Wertheimer
Connect Class 8
Calusa Region

Sarah Wertheimer received the Freedom Award for Community Service from the Sarasota County Branch of the NAACP. She currently serves as the executive director for Embracing our Differences.

Mark Wilson
Cornerstone Class 26
Northwest Region

Florida Trend named Mark Wilson the Floridian of the Year for 2023. Mark is the president and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. Read more.

Bill Moor
Cornerstone Class 16
Northwest Region

The Florida Bankers Association named Bill Moor its 2023 Trust Banker of the Year. Bill currently serves as the president of Capital City Trust Company.

Edrick Hamilton
Education Class 6
Northeast Region
Lifetime Member

Edrick Hamilton began a new position as an ESE behavior site coach at Keystone Heights Jr./Sr. High School in Clay County. 

Melissa McKinlay
Cornerstone Class 37
Gulfstream Region
Lifetime Member

Melissa McKinlay received the Palm Beach County Nonprofit Chamber of Commerce Community Spirit Award and was selected as a finalist for the Chamber of Commerce of the Greater Palm Beaches Athena Award for Leadership. She was also elected to the Board of Directors of the South Florida Fair, the Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County, and the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce. Melissa currently serves as the vice president of government relations for WGI.

John Flanagan
Cornerstone Class 40
Lifetime Member

John Flanagan began a new position as the commissioner for labor and employment services with the City of Atlanta. In this role, he will administer employment services-related programs, including apprenticeship, employment services, summer youth employment, managing the Eligible Training Providers List, on-the-job training, and other programs. Read more.

Noel Martinez
Cornerstone Class 40
Gulfstream Region
Lifetime Member

The Florida Association of Chamber Professionals named Noel Martinez the Executive of the Year. He currently serves as president and CEO of the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce. Read more.

Sarah Criser Elwell
Connect Class 8
Gulfstream Region

The Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches named Sarah Criser Elwell the 2023 Athena Young Professional at its annual event this fall. Sarah is the CEO of the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches.

Aakash Patel
College Class 7
West Central Region

Tampa Bay Business & Wealth named Aakash Patel as one of its 2023 Apogee Awards winners. Aakash is the president of Elevate, Inc. Read more.

Derek Koger
Cornerstone Class 35
Gold Coast Region
Lifetime Member

Jamie Flynn
Connect Class 11
Southwest Region

Derek Koger and Jamie Flynn accepted the Mark Samuelian Award on behalf of the Seminole Tribe of Florida for their residential development in Hollywood, Florida. The award commemorates the life and legacy of the late Miami Beach Commissioner Mark Samuelian, who championed a residents-first approach to resilience for homes and communities that face natural and climate hazards. Derek is the executive director of tribal community development, and Jamie is the director of housing for the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

Ben Dachepalli
Cornerstone Class 31
West Central Region
Lifetime Member

Ben Dachepalli was reappointed as general counsel for the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council. He is a partner at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings.