Movers & Shakers: October 2025
Grasford Smith
Cornerstone Class 40
Gulfstream Region
Grasford Smith was elected Vice President of the National Bar Association.
April Donahue
Cornerstone Class 38
Southwest Region
April Donahue has been appointed Managing Director of the Miami-Dade and Broward County Medical Associations.
Fred Karlinsky
Cornerstone Class 36
Gold Coast Region
Lifetime Member
Fred Karlinsky was honored with the Florida Insurance Council (FIC)’s Mark Trafton Distinguished Service Award at its 2025 Summer Symposium.
Ann Marie Sorrell
Connect Class 6
Gulfstream Region
The Mosaic Group just celebrated their 20th Anniversary with a special event hosted by their President and CEO, Ann Marie Sorrell.
Kim Vassar
Connect Class 13
Gold Coast Region
Kim Vassar has been selected as one of 25 participants statewide to participate in the 2025–2026 Partners in Policymaking® program through the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council.
Kimano Edwards
Connect Class 11
Northeast Region
Kimano Edwards recently launched his own law firm. He is now the Managing Attorney at Edwards Law, PLLC.
Jamie Gilmore
Connect Class 13
East Central Region
Nicole Plunkett
Connect Class 13
Gulfstream Region
Jamie Gilmore and Nicole Plunkett recently teamed up to launch the first Landscape Architecture Summer Camp at the University of Florida. This one-day event was a joint effort between the UF Department of Landscape Architecture, Kut Different, and Future Landscape Architects of America.
Together, they brought nearly 30 Kut Different students to campus for a hands-on introduction to landscape architecture.
Danielle Shull
Connect Class 9
Gulfstream Region
Lifetime Member
Danielle Shull has been recognized as a 2025 ATHENA Leadership Award Finalist.
Makayla Buchanan
Education Class 6
Northeast Region
Lifetime Member
Makayla Buchanan has been named the new Chief of Staff for the Children's Movement of Florida.
Peter Moore
Cornerstone Class 32
Gold Coast Region
Lifetime Member
Peter Moore's Chen Moore & Associates has been recognized in the Engineering News-Record (ENR) 2025 Top 500 Design Firms List.
Laurie Breslin
Education Class 6
Calusa Region
Lifetime Member
Laurie Breslin was named Superintendent of Schools for Manatee County.
Joe Goldstein
Cornerstone Class 38
Gold Coast Region
Joe Goldstein has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America® 2026 Edition.
Nikesh Patel
Connect Class 13
Calusa Region
Lifetime Member
Nikesh Patel has begun his new role as Director of Public Works for the City of Sarasota.
Kalinthia Dillard
Cornerstone Class 39
Gulfstream Region
Kalinthia Dillard was designated a Certified Inspector General - Counsel.
Chester Spellman
Connect Class 4
Northeast Region
Chester Spellman was recently selected to serve on the National Board of the nonprofit organization, Ampact.
Ben Dachepalli
Cornerstone Class 31
West Central Region
Lifetime Member
Ben Dachepalli has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for 2026.
Megan West
Education Class 5
Gold Coast Region
Megan West has joined the National Speech and Debate Association as their Campaign Director.
Sandra Ericson
Connect Class 7
Gold Coast Region
Lifetime Member
Sandra Ericson has been named the 2025 recipient of the Bill Adams Lifetime Achievement Award by the Public Relations Society of America's Miami Chapter.
Pegine Echevarria
Cornerstone Class 37
Northeast Region
Lifetime Member
Pegine Echevarria was honored with the prestigious Legends of the Platform Award at the 2025 Legends Banquet.
Sherry Hartnett
Cornerstone Class 38
Northwest Region
Sherry Hartnett was recently awarded the Rotary Club of Pensacola’s Grover Robinson Service Award for 2025, given in recognition of “countless acts of Service Above Self.”
Kathy Salerno
Connect Class 12
Gold Coast Region
Kathy Salerno was recently honored at the The Cordish Companies Green Blazer Awards Gala & Celebration presented by Florida Blue. She was recognized by Community-Based Connections, Inc. for making a lasting impact on community health.
Kinard Robinson
Connect Class 14
West Central Region
Kinard Robinson just launched his new company called, NEXTKNOWN. It is a platform designed to help emerging professionals build the clarity, confidence and community they need to show up and stand out.
Albie Kaminsky
Connect Class 12
West Central Region
Lifetime Member
Albie Kaminsky has been promoted to Vice President of Government Affairs with Spectrum.
Don Slesnick
Cornerstone Class 9
Southeast Region
Don Slesnick and posthumously his wife, Jeannett Slesnick, were awarded the 2025 George E. Merrick Award of Excellence from The Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce.
Maggie Gunther
Connect Class 6
Gold Coast Region
Maggie Gunther is serving as the Board Chair of the Tower Forum and Board President of the Historic Stranahan House Museum this year.
Abel Harding
Cornerstone Class 39
Northeast Region
Abel Harding was named JAX Chamber chair-elect for 2026.
Emily Colón
Connect Class 11
West Central Region
Emily Colón has been selected as a participant in Orlando Economic Partnership (OEP)'s Public Leadership Institute’s Civic Track.
Bemetra Simmons
Cornerstone Class 38
West Central Region
Lifetime Member
Bemetra Simmons was named a finalist for the Apogee Awards by Tampa Bay Business & Wealth Magazine.
Shandale Terrell
Education Class 8
West Central Region
Lifetime Member
Shandale Terrell has been reappointed to the Polk County Board of County Commissioners, Community Relations Advisory Council.
Roshell R. Rinkins
Cornerstone Class 42
Southeast Region
Lifetime Member
Roshell R. Rinkins has been selected as a member of the 2025-2026 International Women's Forum (IWF) Leadership Fellows class.
Phillip Lee
Connect Class 10
West Central Region
Phillip Lee was awarded the Tampa Bay Business & Wealth Magazine Apogee Award for President of the Year (large company category).