Hurley joins Womens Food Alliance board
Kathleen Hurley has joined the advisory board of directors for the Womens Food Alliance. The former owner of the Casa de Suenos bed and breakfast, Hurley joins the board of professional hospitality members that currently includes WFA Founder Leigh Cort; Tammy Cipriani, Woody’s Bar BQ; Dana Stallings, Jax Kitchen and Kilwins (Town Center); cookbook author Belinda Hulin; Allie Olsen, SimplyStAugustine.com; Monica Stouder, Monica Lea Photography; Sherry Stoppelbein, Hot Shot Bakery and Datil B Good; Rebekah Lowry, Casa Marina Hotel; and Nancy Slatsky, Swiss Chalet Fine Foods.
Hochsprung joins Haven Hospice/VNA as CFO
Anne Hochsprung has joined Haven Hospice and the Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice of the Florida Keys as chief financial officer.
Hochsprung previously served for 16 years at CFO for Suncoast Hospice/Empath Health in Clearwater, Florida.
“Anne is a very valuable addition to the Haven and VNA/HFK team,” said Gayle Mattson, president of Haven and VNA/HFK. “Anne shares our passion for providing Floridians with the very best hospice, palliative care and home health services that we have to offer.”
A certified public accountant, Hochsprung received her bachelor’s degree from Bradley University. She is active in national organizations including the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and the National Association for Home Care & Hospice Care (NAHC).
“Haven is a regional provider that continues to expand, which is evident from the recent partnership with VNA/HFK,” Hochsprung said. “I am excited to help further our mission of honoring life by providing comfort, care and compassion to patients and families.”
Almeida joins Freedom Boat Club's National Marketing Advisory Council
Lisa Almeida was one of eight Freedom Boat Club's franchisees recently named to the franchisor’s National Marketing Advisory Council. The owner of Freedom Boat Clubs Jacksonville & St. Augustine, Almeida was recognized during the company’s national conference, held Nov. 13-17 in Sarasota.
“Freedom Boat Club of Jacksonville & St. Augustine is very proud to be actively engaged in the work of the National Franchise Marketing Advisory Council,” she said. “By working together with other top marketers in our business and with our corporate marketing team, we collectively are able to positively impact the success and continued growth of Freedom Boat Club.”
Keys receives historic preservation award
Dr. Leslee Keys, Flagler College director of historic preservation and special initiatives, recently received the inaugural University of Florida Historic Preservation Distinguished Alumni Award for her work on advancing the discipline and profession through practice, research and service.
Keys has devoted more than three decades of professional experience to the field of historic preservation. She holds a doctorate in historic preservation from the University of Florida and has taught at Florida State College at Jacksonville, the University of Louisville, Barry University and Flagler College. She has served on numerous committees, including the Hotel Ponce de Leon 125th Anniversary committee, the Flagler College 50th Anniversary Steering Committee and is a past president of the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. In 2015, she published “Hotel Ponce de Leon: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of Flagler’s Gilded Age Palace,” a book that details the historic building’s transformation — from opulent luxury hotel in the late 1800s to its current state as a private, liberal arts college.
Bryan elected first woman chair of YMCA of Florida’s First Coast
Peggy Bryan has been elected chair of the Metropolitan Board of Directors for the YMCA of Florida’s First Coast. Bryan, who previously served as vice chair, is the first woman to hold the position.
“We are fortunate to have a proven civic leader like Peggy, who has been a tireless advocate for the Y and our goal to strengthen communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility,” said Eric Mann, president and CEO of YMCA of Florida’s First Coast. “Her leadership and deep interest in building a stronger First Coast are enormous assets to not only the organization, but everyone who calls Jacksonville home.”
A Jacksonville native, Bryan has received numerous awards for her philanthropic activities, including the Florida Times-Union’s 2014 EVE Lifetime Achievement Award. She was also instrumental in the fundraising efforts for the new Winston Family YMCA, as well as the building of Gateway’s new outpatient/administration facility.
Previously, Bryan served as president of Learn to Read, PACE Center for Girls, Greenscape of Jacksonville, Leadership Jacksonville and Youth Leadership Jacksonville. In addition, she serves on several other local boards, including the Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, the Y’s charter school, Tiger Academy, and more.
“It’s an honor to serve as chairwoman of the Y’s Metropolitan Board of Directors,” Bryan said. “The wide diversity of Y programs throughout the First Coast significantly strengthens the foundations of our community and touches so many people’s lives, getting to be a part of this dynamic force is a very real privilege.”
