By Breanna Gallo
Ken Cornell
Ken Cornell was recently selected to serve on the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) Finance and Audit Committee. Cornell was born and raised in Gainesville and has served on the Alachua County Commission since 2014. He received a Master’s degree with high honors from the Fisher School of Accounting at the University of Florida.
As a member of the Finance and Audit Committee, Cornell will be tasked with making decisions with the FAC board and evaluating the FAC’s financial standing through its budgets, allocations and audits. He is currently appointed to 11 different committees, boards and organizations.
Mike New
The City of Newberry has recognized City Manager, Mike New, as the 2023 Member of the Year by the Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA). He received this award in St. Petersburg, Florida at FMEA’s annual conference banquet. New has served as the City Manager since 2014 and served as FMEA’s president from 2015 to 2015.
As City Manager, New is responsible for ensuring reliable power delivery, orderly execution of emergency response measures and providing city lineworkers with proper training and resources. For the Member of the Year award, FMEA evaluates the demonstration of extraordinary service and dedication to the association and Florida’s public power industries, all qualities that New exhibits through his work as City Manager.
Jamie Jones
Jamie Jones has recently been awarded the Larry Hobart Seven Hats Award. This award honors managers of smaller utilities that serve fewer than 2,500 meters and recognizes leaders’ multi-role responsibilities.
Jones serves as Newberry’s Assistant City Manager for Public Works and Utilities. He is responsible for overseeing areas such as electric, water, wastewater utilities, public works, transportation and mosquito control. With over 30 years of experience in public works and utilities, Jones has been instrumental in contract negotiations, field and crew work, community communication and budget developments.
Francesca Enea
Former Gators softball outfielder Francesca Enea has been named the team’s newest assistant coach. Enea played for the Gators from 2007 to 2010, breaking many records throughout her collegiate career. Before this new position, she served as an analyst in the sport for broadcasts across the SEC, American, A10, ASUN, and Sunbelt conference as well as the NCAA Regional coverage.
During her time playing for the Gators, Enea was a three-time NFCA All-America, two-time All-SEC. She also set the SEC home run record with 61 as well as setting single-season program records in home runs, RBI, total bases and sacrifice flies. After graduating from UF with a degree in Family Youth and Community Science, Enea decided to play professionally with the USSSA Pride from 2010 until 2013 when she decided to retire from professional softball.
Hector Torres
Hector Torres has returned to the Celebrate Primary Care family as a nurse practitioner. He is currently accepting new patients. With over 8 years of experience, Torres is able to provide excellent care to patients and is even able to accommodate patients who speak Spanish.
Torres previously worked for Celebrate Primary Care from January 2020 to December 2021. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Doctor of Nursing Practice as a Family Nurse Practitioner all from the University of Florida. Since graduating from the University of Florida, he has gained healthcare experience in primary care, telemedicine and critical care.
Margaret “Peggy” Wallace
Margaret “Peggy” Wallace has received the Friedrich von Recklinghausen Award, from the Children’s Tumor Foundation, in recognition of her significant contributions to neurofibromatosis research. She has devoted 35 years to advancing the treatment of this rare condition, making groundbreaking discoveries through her research.
Wallace is a professor in the department of molecular genetics and microbiology at the College of Medicine at the University of Florida. She is a member of the UF Health Cancer Center’s Mechanisms of Oncogenesis research program and the UF Genetics Institute. Wallace has also co-chaired the Young Investigators program under the Children’s Tumor Foundation and was also selected as a Medical Humanitarian Honoree by the foundation in 2019, bringing in both, an abundance of researchers and patients.
Gia Arvin, Scott Arvin, Lisa Baltozer, Adam Gurske and Heather Swanson
Florida Realtors has recently endorsed Gia Arvin, Scott Arvin, Lisa Baltozer, Adam Gurske and Heather Swanson as Board Certified Professionals. These Gainesville realtors make up one-fourth of those from the state of Florida who received the certification. The Arvin’s and Gurske are all a part of Matchmaker Realty of Alachua County while Baltozer is a part of Keller Williams Gainesville Realty Partners and Swanson is a part of Campus To Coast Realty, Inc.
Gia Arvin, a University of Florida graduate and Gainesville native, has held the role of president and was honored as Realtor of the Year by several realtor groups. Scott Arvin, a Flagler College graduate, has served in president and vice president roles and has been awarded several honors including the Honor Society Award and Realtor of the Year. Baltozer, a University of Florida graduate, has been a part of numerous committees for GACAR, BNI and Florida Realtor Professional. Gurske, a University of Florida graduate, has served on the board of directors for Family Promise of Gainesville, has held president, vice president and treasurer roles and has been named as a Realtor of the Year. Swanson, whose background is in graphic design, holds several honors including Certified Residential Specialist and Certified International Property Specialist.
