The Tampa Connection class of 2016-2017 celebrated the conclusion of their year at a memorable Graduation program on Tuesday May 9, 2017 at F.I.V.E. Labs in the Westshore Business district. The program began with an inaugural “Chair’s Reception” sponsored by Greenberg Traurig and Cherry Bekaert where class members mingled with board members, non-profit agency representatives, company sponsors, and special Keynote Speaker Gary Sasso from the law firm Carlton Fields.
When the ceremony commenced, the class was greeted with more impressive “jokes” from Chair Woody Pollack, who first announced Tampa Connection’s new logo!
Then Gary Sasso was introduced as the Keynote Speaker. Mr. Sasso spoke eloquently about the importance of Leadership and Community Service in his 10 minute address. He emphasized the importance of “raising your hand” when the opportunity presents itself and to make sure that one checks their motives to be sure you are doing the right thing for the right reason.
Following his talk, the program moved to the class presentations portion where each team had representatives present to the class the achievements their team had accomplished over the course of the class year. The class gave tremendous presentations ranging from moving videos to binders created for a new Young Leadership Board. This year, in between each presentation, Chair Pollack walked the class down memory lane with a slideshow of pictures and recap of each program from Opening Retreat to Philanthropy Engagement Day.
After this, Chair Pollack introduced this year’s Betty Tribble Award Winner, Dave Burton who gave a moving thank you speech where he stressed the importance of giving back to the community. Then came the big moment: presentation of graduation certificates. Despite mis-pronouncing multiple names and even skipping a Blue team member, Chair-Elect David Pearlman called the names and Pollack presented the certificates. Team members of the year were announced as follows:
Blue-Steve Edinger
Red-Bianca Mieses
Green-Adam Zaki
Purple-Rachel Grannan
Orange- Ilana Goldenberg
After presentation of certificates, a standing ovation was given to Woody Pollack for his leadership over the course of the class year. Then a presentation was given by the Tampa Connection Alumni Committee members Richard Burns and Dave Arndt on the importance of staying involved in the Tampa Connection family through the Alumni Committee.
Prior to concluding, Pollack thanked those board members rolling off for their service-Chris Rux, C.J. Mintrone, Richard Helme, Anthony Derby, and Joanna Cheshire . The evening was then concluded with a well-attended reception in the lobby of host, F.I.V.E. Labs. Congratulations to the Tampa Connection Class of 2016-2017!
2017 Graduates by Team
Creative Clay – Red Team
Liaisons: Nate Cocco, Rick Garrett, Daniel Sykes
| Sterling Birdsong, USAmeribank | Neil Khant, NRK Real Estate Advisors |
| Joshua Casselman, Roghu, Inc | Jordan Maniscalco, The Beck Group |
| Thomas Curran, Jr., Shumaker | Bianca Mieses, CI Group |
| Cori Godeke, Masonite | Nicholas Ptacek, Aldi |
| Amy Harris, Deloitte & Touche | Julie Redcay, Hills. County Community College |
| Cristina Howell, United Healthcare | Alexandra Smith, King Engineering |
| Logan Kanai, Aon Risk Solutions |
PERFECT ATTENDANCE – Sterling Birdson, Bianca Mieses
Boys & Girls Club of Tampa Bay – Blue Team
Liaisons: Chris DeCort, Adriana Williams, Cecile Bare, Chris Toye
| Kiersten Adams, WellCare Health Plans, Inc. | Tiffany Love McElheran, Bush Ross |
| Julia Bortan, Christopher, Smith & Leonard | Natalya Muncuff, Ali Specialties |
| Steve Edinger, Catalina Marketing | Kenji Plennert, Tampa Electric |
| Bradley Knudsen, Cherry Bekaert | Danielle Poritz, PWC |
| Michael Labbee, Quarles & Brady | Thomas Seeko, Westshore Financial Group |
| Dario Loayza, USAmeribank | Robert Shield, Merrill Lynch |
After School All-Stars of Tampa Bay – Orange Team
Liaisons: Erin McKenney, Joanna Cheshire, Niti Shah
| Brooke Bauerle, Rivero, Gordimer & Company | Lauren Hobby, ProMedica |
| Rebeccah Cagno, The Bank of Tampa, | Janet Marnatti, Hills. County Public Library |
| Kevin Chambers, Charter Communications | R. Clay Matthews, Smolker, Bartlett |
| Patrick Duffey, Holland & Knight, | Lauren Taylor, Shutts & Bowen |
| Ilana Goldenberg, Tampa International Airport | Jimmy Terpening, Shutts & Bowen |
| Stephani Heirshberg, Workrite Ergonomics | John Weatherford, Sunshine Bank |
| Michael Hilder, Cherry Bekaert |
1Voice Foundation – Purple Team
Liaisons: Gretchen Lehman, Brian Holliday, Richard Helme, Amanda Malinowski
| Valeen Arena, GrayRobinson | Jonathan Leoniff, PNC Bank |
| Jessica Byrn, Syniverse | Courtney Long, Dominion Payroll Services |
| Carmen Campise, Jr., Fifth Third Bank | Greg Mitro, Raymond James & Associates |
| Chely Cantrell, Hills. County Public Library | Katie Peluso, Holland & Knight |
| Rachel Grannan, The Goal | Jennifer Pemble, Warren Averett |
| Matthew Hale, Stichter, Riedel | Jennifer Rabon, HUB International Florida |
| Nicholas Horner, Foley & Lardner |
PERFECT ATTENDANCE – Rachel Grannan, Nicholas Horner, Jonathan Leoniff, Jennifer Pemble
Great Explorations – Green Team
Liaisons: Melissa Fields, David Pearlman, Hethre Strickland
| Carolina Blanco, Hill Ward Henderson | Hillary Griffin, PWC |
| Lori Brightwell, Hills. County Library Services | Stephanie Kane, Bradley |
| Alicia Brown, CBIZ MHM | Jonathan Oliver, Pineywoods Capital |
| Aubrey Burris, Foley & Lardner | Nick Plott, Tampa Electric |
| Hendrik Cloete, Deloitte | Sara Sheffield, Buckenheimer & Bulnes |
| Joseph Eagleton, Brannock & Humphries | Adam Zaki, Thomas Financial |
| Lissette Garcia, AXA Advisors |
PERFECT ATTENDANCE –Sara Sheffield, Adam Zaki
2016 – 2017 Board Members
Woody Pollack – Chair, Greenberg Traurig
David Pearlman – Vice-Chair, Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
Brian Holliday – Treasurer, Fifth Third Bank
Chris Toye – Secretary, Morgan Stanley.
Chris Rux – Immediate Past Chair, Cherry Bekaert LLP
Cecile Bare – The Bank of Tampa
Joanna Cheshire – Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Nate Cocco – State Farm
Chris DeCort – Johnson & Cassidy, PA
Anthony Derby – Brew Bus USA
Amanda Edwards – PayChex
Melissa Fields – Bank of America
Liana Fuente – Fuente Companies
Rick Garrett – Garrett Roofing
Richard Helme – Deloitte & Touche
Gretchen Lehman – Ogletree Deakins,
Amanda Malinowski – PIP Printing & Marketing Services
Erin McKenney, Avesta
CJ Mintrone – PNC Bank
Niti Shah – University of Tampa
Hethre Strickland – Coalesse
Daniel Sykes – Panther International, LLC
Adriana Williams – SunTrust Bank
Administrator: Natalie Raymer