A list of some of Greater Gainesville’s most notable folks and their latest achievements
Dr. Karen Kearny
Buchholz High School science teacher, Dr. Karen Kearny won Alachua County Teacher of the Year.
Dr. Kearny has been teaching at Buchholz for 21 years. During her tenure she has taught chemistry, biology, physical science and anatomy. The die-hard bobcat will go on to represent her alma mater, Gainesville and Alachua County in the Florida Teacher of the Year program.
Christine Caven
Start GNV announced at Celebrate GNV the first Board Member of the Year Award, Christine Caven. She became vice president for the organization in December 2020. Before joining Start GNV, Caven also served on several other local Board of Directors promoting businesses and women in business.
Chritine Caven attended Palm Beach State College for Sociology before earning her bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and Leadership from the University of North Florida. In 2013, Caven joined PS27 Ventures helping founders with public relations, marketing, content management and event planning.
Rob Deese
Capital City Bank announced their new Gainesville President, Rob Deese. Effective March 1, Deese will replace outgoing President Kip Harrison. Deese has been with Capital City Bank since 2018 but has more than 20 years of experience prior to joining the team.
He was selected to attend Star Summit in 2020 and 2021, an annual recognition event held by Capital City to honor sales and services achievements. Deese serves on the board of the Childhood Advocacy Center of Gainesville and is a member of the Builders Association of North Central Florida.
Dan Zhu
The city of Gainesville announced Dr. Dan Zhu as the first ever Chief Climate Officer. This position was created to focus on finding ways to promote efficiency, sustainability and support for the city. Zhu began her new role at the end of February.
Prior to this new position, Zhu worked in the Department of Sustainable Development. She worked closely with the city’s lighting ordinance. Dr. Zhu earned her Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Florida. Her research was focused on environmental science and sustainability.
Chris Malphurs
Capital City Investment’s LPL advisor Chris Malphurs announced his inclusion in the LPL Freedom Club. LPL awards this distinction to select advisors based on their business success. Chris Malphurs has been with Capital City Investments since 2017 but has worked as a financial advisor since 2008.
Malphurs has been very active with the University of Florida. He works with his alma mater as a member of the University of Florida’s Advisory Network. Malphurs also received the Certified Financial Planner Practitioner designation.
Chanda Stebbins
The Santa Fe Women’s Basketball coach Chanda Stebbins just celebrated her 300th win. Stebbins began with the Saints 22 years ago as a volunteer coach. Since then, the team has had 15 All-State honors. Before her start in 2002, it was 13 years since the team made All-State.
Stebbins became the Saints all-time winningest coach back in 2016, with her 200th win. Not only has she led the team to win the Mid-Florida Conference six times, but she was also named Mid-Florida Coach of the Year six times.
Dr. Jennifer Bizon
The University of Florida’s McKnight Brain Institute has named Jennifer Bizon, Ph.D., as Director. Dr. Bizon served as Chair of the UF College of Medicine Department of Neuroscience. She has also served as Co-Chair of the MBI’s Education and Outreach Committee.
Dr. Bizon graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with her Bachelor’s of Science in Experimental Psychology. She earned her Ph.D. from UC Irvine in Neurobiology and Behavior and her Postdoctoral Fellow at Johns Hopkins University.
By Harper Warner.