Movers & Shakers: August 2024
Paula Smith
Cornerstone Class 9
Northwest Region
Lifetime Member
Paula Smith was selected to receive the Lifetime Leadership Award from Leadership Tallahassee. The award recognizes an individual who has made significant, tangible leadership contributions to the Tallahassee community for more than 25 years. She will be honored at an awards ceremony in September.
Gary Hartfield
Cornerstone Class 37
West Central Region
Lifetime Member
Gary Hartfield launched his second book, "The Journey to Success: A Blueprint for Winning in Business and in Life." This book, which follows the release of his memoir, “Stand,” in 2015, is designed to serve as a guide to achieving personal and professional goals. Read more.
Six Leadership Florida members were among South Florida Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40 honorees for 2024 (pictured L-R above):
- Lara Bach (Connect Class 13, Southeast Region)
- Jamie Flynn (Connect Class 11, Southwest Region)
- Faequah Khan (Connect Class 7, Southeast Region)
- Danielle Mousseau (Connect Class 13, Gulfstream Region)
- Jonathan Osborne (Connect Class 11, Gold Coast Region)
- Dana Somerstein (Connect Class 10, Gold Coast Region)
The program recognizes prominent young professionals in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties for their leadership, business expertise and community involvement. Read more.
Michelle Diffenderfer
Cornerstone Class 33
Gulfstream Region
Lifetime Member
Michelle Diffenderfer was announced as the new Circle of Red chair for the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women in Palm Beach County. She currently serves as president of Lewis, Longman & Walker. Read more.
Mone Brown
Cornerstone Class 28
Northwest Region
Lifetime Member
Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Mone Brown to the Tallahassee College District Board of Trustees. Mone is the vice president of government relations for North Highland. Read more.
Jose Acosta
Cornerstone Class 37
Southeast Region
Lifetime Member
The Florida Engineering Society named Jose Acosta Florida’s 2024 Engineer of the Year. Jose is an executive vice president with Chen Moore & Associates. Read more.
Elisha González Bonnewitz
Cornerstone Class 30
East Central Region
Lifetime Member
Seann Graddy
Cornerstone Class 39
East Central Region
Elisha González Bonnewitz and Seann Graddy were named among Orlando's Most Influential Leaders by the Orlando Business Journal in recognition of their business's success, community involvement and industry leadership. Read more.
Lil Ewen
Connect Class 11
Gulfstream Region
Lil Ewen was appointed as a circuit judge in the 19th Judicial Circuit. She has been assigned to the family division in Indian River County. Read more.
Tiffany Garling
Cornerstone Class 41
Northwest Region
Lifetime Member
Tiffany Garling began a new position as the executive director of the Florida Airports Council. She previously served as the d