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Appointments at the Emera and Berkshire Hathaway highlight this week's Tampa Bay business Movers & Shakers

 
Jessica Schiminske
Jessica Schiminske
Published March 31, 2017

Banking

HomeBanc has promoted Jessica Schiminske to retail branch manager of its branch in Kenneth City in Pinellas County. Schiminske has 10 years of banking experience and has been with HomeBanc for four years. She attended Onondaga Community College and Morrisville State College in New York. She holds an associate in arts degree with a study in humanities and journalism. HomeBanc, with headquarters in Tampa, has 14 offices, including retail branches in Lake Mary, Winter Park, Lakewood Ranch, Belleair Bluffs, Countryside, Dunedin, Kenneth City, Pinellas Park, Seminole, Largo, St. Petersburg, and in Tampa on North Dale Mabry Highway and in Westchase.

Education

University of South Florida St. Petersburg Regional Chancellor Sophia Wisniewska has appointed Allyson Leggett Watson as dean of the College of Education. In providing leadership for the college, Watson will oversee the faculty and work closely with the university's leadership team to develop strategies to achieve USFSP's academic goals and objectives. She will join USFSP this summer. Currently, Watson serves as assistant dean for the College of Education at Northeastern State University in Oklahoma. She is the founder/director of TURN, the Teaching & Urban Reform Network, and serves as professor of educational foundations and leadership and the Eddings Endowed Chair for Urban Education, Outreach & Research. Prior to her service in higher education, she was a department team leader for Tulsa Public Schools.

Health Care

Empath Partners in Care, a member of Empath Health, was formed by a recent merger of the AIDS Service Association of Pinellas and Francis House and has named new executives to its new leadership team:

David Franks has been named director of strategic business development and focuses on the development and expansion of EPIC services throughout Tampa Bay. Franks was the operations manager for ASAP since 2014.

Dave Konnerth has been named director of administrative services and is responsible for the billing and management of EPIC's grants and social service funding. He was community programs and contracts supervisor for ASAP.

Victoria Fortugno-Oliver has been named director of EPIC's Hillsborough County services and is responsible for direct supervisory support of case management and supportive services. Fortugno-Oliver was director of client services for the Francis House since 2009.

Sheryl Hoolsema has been named director of EPIC's Pinellas County services and is responsible for direct supervisory support of case management and supportive services. Hoolsema has been HIV services manager for ASAP since 2004.

Empath Partners in Care is a nonprofit serving those in Tampa Bay impacted by HIV.

Utilities

Zennergy, LLC announced the appointment of Robert Kantor as senior vice president for sales and corporate culture. Kantor, a graduate of the University of South Florida, started his career in Tampa Bay selling coffee to area businesses. His company, Suncoast Coffee Service and Vending, expanded to include everything from fresh fruit and healthy snacks to janitorial supplies, and was named one of USF's Fast 50.

Zennergy is a privately-held company based in Tampa that sells patented technology designed to reduce water consumption and lower water bills without impacting business operations. Their clients include large manufacturing facilities, airport authorities and national chain hotels.

The board of directors of Emera Inc. announced that Chris Huskilson plans to retire as CEO in 2018 and Scott Balfour, current COO and former CFO, has been appointed as CEO upon Huskilson's retirement. Balfour joined Emera as executive vice president and CFO in 2012, was appointed COO Northeast & Caribbean in March 2016 and chief operating officer for Emera in November 2016. Balfour has also assumed responsibility for leading corporate strategy and is the chair of the board for most of Emera's affiliates. Emera is the parent company of TECO Energy.

Finance

Tampa securities attorney Martin Traber and investment banker Roger Overby have joined with other investment professionals to establish Skyway Capital Markets to serve clients across the U.S. in a range of industries. Investment banking services Skyway Capital Markets provides services including corporate finance (private placements, public offerings, M&A advisory services and debt origination), restructuring, valuation, fairness opinions and debtor in possession financing (DIP).

Real Estate

Alana Crumbley recently joined Berkshire Hathaway Florida Properties Group Commercial Division. She is a sales executive specializing in office and retail sales and leasing as well as sales of investment properties. Her background also includes interior commercial architecture and design.

Kyle Masterson recently joined Berkshire Hathaway Florida Properties Group Commercial Division. He is a sales executive specializing in the retail, office and hospitality sectors. An FSU graduate, his background includes financial management.