A list of some of Greater Gainesville’s notable folks and their latest achievements
Local Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year Compete for State Titles
As recipients of the Alachua County Public Schools Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year award, Anyana Stokes and Jennifer Roberson are advancing to compete for the statewide award.
Stokes is the Principal of Williams Elementary School in Gainesville, and Roberson is the Assistant Principal. Stokes attended Williams Elementary as a child and returned as Principal in 2018. She has more than 20 years of experience in education under various roles.
The other half of Williams Elementary’s dynamic duo, Roberson is an experienced educator. She worked as a teacher and administrator. Before her move to Williams Elementary in 2021, she was the assistant principal at both Shell Elementary School and High Springs Community School.
With Stokes at the reins, Williams Elementary students had significant improvement in their performance. She created the Wildcat Pillars, an outline of the teachers’ and administration’s efforts to further the students’ achievements. The pillars highlight the year’s priorities, like avid equality and improving attendance.
“This is also recognition of the hard work and effort put in by the Williams teachers, staff, students, families and community partners,” Stokes said.
UF’s Warrington Collegeof Business Welcomes New Director of Employee Relations
The Business Career Services at the University of Florida, Warrington College of Business welcomes Veena Garib as the new Director of Employee Relations.
Garib comes to Gator Nation from the University of Central Florida. There, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Health Services Administration with a minor in Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration with a specialization in Human Resources. In 2011, Garib joined UCF’s Career Services as Associate Director of Employee Relations. In 2020, she earned a Doctorate in Higher Education Leadership.
Garib’s 18 years of experience creating and implementing employee relations strategies will serve her well as Director of Employee Relations. Her role at UF will focus on improving employer business relation plans. It will include on-campus recruiting, job and internship prospecting and building relationships with companies seeking talent from UF.
Andy Woodruff joins CHW
CHW welcomes new Vice President and Senior Ecologist Andy Woodruff.
Woodruff will manage the Ecological services department to help boost opportunities. He will help the company launch a new line of services and boost opportunities in the ecological services department. He will also be responsible for multiple contracts with both public and private clients.
Woodruff brings more than 30 years of experience in ecology, with environmental expertise in commercial, agricultural and wetlands. During his 30 years, Woodruff handled local, state and federal permitting. He earned a master’s degree in environmental sciences from UF and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Emory University.
Best Restoration welcomes Dianne Collett Gates
The Best Restoration recently announced their new Director of Business Development and Marketing, Dianne Collett Gates.
Gates joins Best Restoration with experience acquiring new businesses through networking construction and Realtor services to sell remodeling materials. Gates began her career in business development after graduating from the University of Florida in 1980.
Known as the “masters of disaster,” Best Restoration helps residential and commercial customers with damage from floods, fires and other emergencies.
By Harper Warner.