Class Notes

College

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'13

Cody Hinson

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Cody Hinson (Legal Studies) has been recognized as Sales Executive of the Year in 2020 by NewsBank Inc. He joined the company's sales team in 2017 and has been an award-winning top performer each year since then. Hinson previously worked in real estate in Naples.

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'17

Caroline Vives-Vietri

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College of Arts & Science

Caroline Vives-Vietri (Communication) has found herself back at The Nest as an assistant director of Alumni Relations. After five years in the government sector, she decided it was time to return back to FGCU and give back to the university that helped jump-start her career in nonprofit management and public administration. She resides in Cape Coral with her family and her poodle, LuLu.

'02

Jamie B. Schwinghamer

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College of Arts & Science

Jamie B. (Turner) Schwinghamer (Liberal Studies) has been named president of the Collier County Women’s Bar Association. A Roetzel & Andress shareholder, she is an attorney in the firm’s Naples office and recently was named practice group manager of probate, trust and guardianship litigation. She counsels clients on a variety of matters including: will and trust contests; disputed estate and trust administrations; trust modification, revocation and termination; surcharge and removal proceedings; elder guardianships;, guardianship advocacy and litigation; business contracts; and shareholder and partnership disputes and appeals. A magna cum laude graduate of the University of Miami School of Law, she lives in Estero with her husband, Jeremy Schwinghamer ('01, Masters in Public Administration).

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'16

Dakota (Doyle) Boswell

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College of Arts & Sciences

Dakota (Doyle) Boswell (Anthropology) and Benjamin Boswell (Communication) married in 2021. Dakota is a media specialist at Proactive Talent, and Benjamin is a lab technician at Goodcat Laboratories. They live in Naples, Florida.

'16

Raychel Briggs

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College of Arts & Sciences

Raychel Briggs (Communication) has joined Georgia State University in Atlanta to serve as a manager of marketing and media.

'08

Michelle Williams

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College of Arts & Sciences

Michelle Williams (Liberal Studies) now works on the corporate legal staff at Owens Corning. After graduating from FGCU, she went on to paralegal training at Toledo University.

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'08

Tina M. Ekblad

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College of Arts & Sciences

Tina M. Ekblad (Master of Public Administration) has joined Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson's statewide Land Development, Zoning & Environmental group as a director of planning in Tallahassee. She will work with the law firm's attorneys, planners and geographic information systems specialists to further support and diversify planning services throughout Florida. Ekblad is a certified planner with over 15 years of experience in the private and public sectors. She provides clients with strategic guidance to efficiently navigate through a broad range of growth management, permitting and planning issues. She has worked on projects ranging from lot creation to large-scale planned developments and mining facilities.

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'11

Paul C. Milford

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College of Arts & Sciences

Paul C. Milford (Psychology) has been promoted to coordinator of Social Work Services for the School District of Lee County. In this new role, he will provide administrative support to a department of 70 school social workers. Milford has been with the School District of Lee County since 2017 and had previously served as a school social worker at multiple schools throughout the county.

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'17

Caroline B. Vives-Vietri

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College of Arts & Sciences

Caroline B. Vives-Vietri (Communication) graduated in August 2021 with a master's degree in public administration and nonprofit management from the University of Central Florida College of Community Innovation and Education. Through this program, she also earned a credential from the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance as a Certified Nonprofit Professional. She also holds a Fundraising Certificate from the UCF School of Public Administration.

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'20

Josh Ballin

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College of Arts & Sciences

Josh Ballin (Integrated Studies) recently began a new role as a premier sales associate in North Carolina for Prudential Financial. He will be participating in Prudential's inaugural Sales Training Excellence Program, which covers group insurance and financial wellness products and services, licensing exam support, consultative selling skills and financial underwriting concepts through hands-on coaching and 1-on-1 job shadowing with territory management.

'10

Katharine E. O'Connor

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College of Arts & Sciences

Katharine E. O'Connor (Communication) was recently honored with the Teacher of the Year award from the Florida Communication Association. The award is conferred on a teacher or professor based on nominations, recommendations and student support. O'Connor teaches at Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers.

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'17

Iman Zekri

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College of Arts & Sciences

Iman Zekri (Political Science) has been appointed to The Florida Bar’s Student Education & Admissions to the Bar Committee. The committee is tasked with determining whether Florida schools are adequately preparing their students to practice law. If the committee concludes that a school is insufficiently training its students, it makes recommendations to The Florida Bar’s Board of Governors and Florida law school deans. The committee also monitors and reviews proposed legislation affecting legal education. Zekir is a divorce, marital and family law attorney with Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A.

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'18

Sadie Fox

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College of Arts & Sciences

Sadie Fox (Communication) has joined Florida Skin Center as a marketing coordinator responsible for developing and coordinating efforts across various platforms. Before joining the practice, Fox worked at the Parr Moto marketing and communications firm as a project coordinator for two years. She helped develop digital and print marketing assets for Harley-Davidson dealerships nationwide and helped create seasonal marketing plans. In addition to her digital marketing experience, Fox has experience working with the local nonprofit, Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida, as a brand advancement intern. “In a short time, Sadie has hit the ground running and proved herself to be a valuable part of our team,” said Kimberly Royal, director of marketing and communications for Florida Skin Center, which provides a full range of medical and cosmetic dermatological care. “In particular, she has elevated our digital marketing strategy and reach. Our team is equipped and energized more than ever for advancing the company’s mission and vision.” Established in 2001, Florida Skin Center has offices in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres and Punta Gorda.

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'11

Jaimie Miller

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College of Arts & Sciences

Jaimie Miller (Communications/Public Relations) recently earned the designation of Certified Public Relations Counselor (CPRC). Miller is senior vice president of marketing with CONRIC PR + Marketing in Fort Myers, where she has worked for four years helping clients in nonprofit and for-profit sectors to develop creative marketing and public relations strategies.

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'20

Kayla Reiter

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College of Arts & Sciences

Kayla Reiter (Psychology) is a business development representative primarily focusing on young adults for Aware Recovery Care Inc., a comprehensive, multi-state drug and alcohol addiction rehab program. She joined the company in September 2020.

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'05

Kali Kaye

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College of Arts & Sciences

Kali Kaye (Communication), a member of the Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA), recently achieved Accreditation in Public Relations (APR).  She joins an elite group of skilled professionals committed to practicing with high ethical standards. As the internal communications supervisor at Lee Health, Kaye manages the strategic communication efforts for medical staff and volunteers.

'20

Laurel De Luca

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College of Arts & Sciences

Laurel De Luca (Journalism) has joined Soukup Strategic Solutions in Naples as fundraising, marketing and communications coordinator. In her new role, she will specialize in branding, social media and public relations. During her time at FGCU, De Luca served as a staff writer for Eagle News. Soukup Strategic Solutions has expanded with plans to serve more nonprofits nationwide.

'10

Ryan Veranich

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College of Arts & Sciences

Ryan Veranich (Communication) has accepted a new position with Weichert Realtors-Agency ONE. As a Realtor in the greater Fort Myers and Naples area, he works alongside prospective home buyers and sellers, guiding clients through the process.

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'17

Iman Zerki

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College of Arts & Sciences

Iman Zerki (Political Science) was recognized with the 2020 Florida Bar Journal Excellence in Writing Award. Members of the journal’s editorial board nominate outstanding submissions based on substance, style and quality of writing and research. Her article, “Respectfully Dissenting: How Dissenting Opinions Shape the Law and Impact Collegiality Among Judges,” originally appeared in the September/October 2020 edition of the Florida Bar Journal. As a lawyer at Henderson Franklin, Zerki enjoys expressing her passion for research and writing.

'08

Amanda Grant

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College of Arts & Sciences

Amanda M.V. Grant (Legal Studies) has been named to the board of directors of the Chester County Bar Foundation, the charitable affiliate of the Chester County Bar Association. Additionally, she recently was presented with the 2021 John McKenna Access to Justice Award and the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s 2021 PBA Pro Bono Award. She practices with Unruh Turner Burke & Frees, one of Chester County, Pennsylvania’s largest law firms.