People on the Move: Alexander, Monteiro-Tribble to board; Lazzara appointed; six Hidden Gems honored

Promotions, hirings and happenings for business people in Northeast Florida. Send items to [email protected]

• The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida elected Carol J. Alexander and Velma Monteiro-Tribble to its board of trustees for three-year terms, starting in January.

Trustee and U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis will become chairman-elect of the board, in anticipation of becoming chairman in January 2022.

Alexander is president and chief creative officer of MaBu: A Cultural Resource. She was the founding executive director of Ritz Theatre & LaVilla Museum, and she founded and directed the artistic and educational operations at the American Beach Museum on Amelia Island since it opened in 2014.

Monteiro-Tribble is director of grants and programs for the Florida Blue Foundation. She previously served as executive officer and assistant treasurer of the Alcoa Foundation.

• Marius Dobren, co-founder and president of Sawgrass Finance LLC, announced the asset-based lender has opened at 822 N. Florida A1A, Suite 310, in Ponte Vedra Beach. It will provide lines of credit of up to $3 million to small and medium-size businesses by leveraging the company’s assets such as accounts receivable, inventory, machinery and equipment. 

• Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Christopher Lazzara, of Atlantic Beach, to the University of North Florida board of trustees. Lazzara is CEO of MountainStar Capital and previously was a senior managing partner of Ponte Vedra Management Group. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

• Cmdr. Joshua Garland assumed the role of director for Surgical Services at Naval Hospital Jacksonville. He previously served as an orthopedic surgeon at the hospital.

• Three women joined the board of the Memorial Park Association board of directors for three-year terms.

Leah Kavanagh-Lim is a 20-year veteran with Medtronic.

Ann Mackey has a 35-year career in the financial industry, including serving as CFO for Step Up For Students Inc. She will serve as the association treasurer.

Vickie Mangin owns and operates Avignon Services LLC, a personal consulting business that focuses on customer service leadership training, project management and community advocacy. 

• The JAX Chamber Professional Women’s Council honored six Hidden Gems at the annual Women Connecting Women Awards. Criteria for award winners include being a JAX Chamber member, role model and mentor for other women, and active supporter of women in the community. 

Frontline Woman of the Year: Elizabeth Gunn, vice president, Patient Care Services, Baptist Medical Center.

Professional Business Woman of the Year: Jillian Foss, founder, Ladies Executive Golf Society and associate adviser, BKS-Partners.

Woman Business Owner of the Year: Mindy Barker, founder and CEO, Barker Associates.

Women’s Advocate of the Year: Melissa Fulmore-Hardwick, vice president, IT Enterprise Applications, Acosta, and founder, Brown Girls in the Boardroom.

Female First Responder of the Year: Deborah Wesley, assistant chief, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

Professional Minority Woman of the Year: Shardae Bautista, founder and president, TEAM Inc., and procurement specialist, Kaman Aerospace Corp.

• Jacksonville-based Stellar, a design, engineering, construction and mechanical services company, promoted seven leaders on its senior management team.

Bob Hepp was named division vice president of Parts, Service and Compressors. 

Chris Williams was named division vice president of Mechanical Services.

Justin Bridegan was named vice president of marketing.

Stacey King was named vice president of human resources.  

Joe Mark, John Bowles and Tim Jenkins were named vice presidents of operations in the Commercial Division.