Personnel File – People on the Move, November 13, 2014
By THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
WILLIAM A. VAN NORTWICK JR. will join the law firm Akerman LLP upon his retirement in January as a judge on the 1st District Court of Appeal. Van Nortwick, who will work in the firm's Jacksonville office, will be partner-in-charge of the firm's national pro bono program and a member of the firm's appellate practice.
ARLENE DIBENIGNO, KELSEY LEHTOMAA FROUGE AND SARAH BETH HOPTON have formed the communications firm Conversa. DiBenigno has worked for three Florida governors and has been part of presidential, gubernatorial and congressional campaigns. Frouge has worked in public relations and marketing, including serving as a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Education. Hopson is a doctoral candidate at the University of South Florida whose previous experience includes working as a writer for the Army Times Media Department at the Pentagon.
RODOLFO RUIZ II AND JASON BLOCH have been appointed by Gov. Rick Scott as judges in the 11th Judicial Circuit in Miami-Dade County. Ruiz has most recently worked as a Miami-Dade County judge and previously was an assistant county attorney. Bloch has served as an assistant county attorney in Miami-Dade since 1994.
ROBERT BRANNING has been appointed by Gov. Rick Scott as a judge in the 20th Judicial Circuit, which includes Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties. Branning has practiced with Rehak & Branning, LLC, since 2007.
SCOTT CUPP has been appointed as a Hendry County judge. Cupp has most recently been with the Law Office of Scott H. Cupp, LLC, and previously served as an assistant state attorney in the 20th Judicial Circuit.
DARRICK MCGHEE, CHRISTI GRAY AND RICK FIGLIO have been appointed by Gov. Rick Scott to the 2nd Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission. McGhee, of Tallahassee, is vice president of government relations for Johnson & Blanton Government Relations. Gray, of Tallahassee, is the founding partner of Gray Law. Figlio, of Tallahassee, is a shareholder of Ausley & McMullen, P.A.
STACY CARLSON has been named by Education Commissioner Pam Stewart as chairman of the board for the Florida Education Foundation. Carlson is vice president and program director, Florida transition years, for Helios Education Foundation.
FRED KARLINSKY AND RICHARD FIDEI have joined the law firm Greenberg Traurig. Karlinsky, who was named a co-chair of the firm's Insurance Regulatory &Transactions Practice Group, worked in the past for the firm formerly known as Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky, Abate & Webb. Fidei, who will be a shareholder with Greenberg Traurig, also previously worked with the firm now known as Colodny Fass.
HOWARD TALENFELD has founded the firm Talenfeld Law, which will focus on issues such as representing children who have been abused or have special needs. Talenfeld worked in the past with the firm formerly known as Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky, Abate & Webb. That firm is now known as Colodny Fass.
RICHARD ANDERSON has joined the lobbying firm Ballard Partners. Anderson, who most recently served as chief administrative officer for the city of Apopka, will work as co-chair of the firm's Local Government Practice and will be based in Central Florida.
WANSLEY WALTERS has been named co-chair of the TaxWatch Center for Smart Justice Advisory Board. Walters, a former secretary of the state Department of Juvenile Justice, works for the lobbying firm Ballard Partners.
STEVEN CHENOWETH has been appointed by Gov. Rick Scott to the Board of Physical Therapy Practice. Chenoweth, of Amelia Island, is a physical therapist with Advanced Rehabilitation Management Group.
RONALD BRISE has been appointed to the Federal-State Board on Universal Service by the Federal Communications Commission. Brise is a member of the Florida Public Service Commission and previously served in the Florida House.
