People & Business: Wednesday 2/6/19

Wednesday, April 3rd
THE SARASOTA SCENE
People & Business
To submit your news for consideration, please send press info to scenemagazine@scenesarasota.com.

Southeastern Guide Dogs Named One of “10 Best Dog Charities”

Charity Navigator has launched a new weekly blog series, “Top 10 Tuesday” to link the public with charities that meet their rigorous standards for excellence.

In the first such list of 2019, Southeastern Guide Dogs is included among the organizations with the “highest total rating points from Charity Navigator’s most recent evaluations of charities.”

“We are pleased to have Charity Navigator recognize our transformational dogs and the services they provide for those with vision loss and veterans with disabilities,” says Southeastern Guide Dogs CEO Titus Herman. “We are proud to be listed among the exceptional charities that reach their missions with integrity, accountability and transparency.”

The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art Announces Free Day 

The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art, the State Art Museum of Florida administered by Florida State University (FSU), announces a community Free Day on Saturday, April 6, 2019, to celebrate the completion of the $100 million The Ringling Inspires: Honoring the Legacy and Building for the Future campaign. The campaign will be officially complete in the spring and is an integral component of the recently completed Florida State University $1 Billion Raise the Torch campaign.

Through the comprehensive campaign, the permanent collection has nearly doubled through gifts of artwork and art acquisition funding. In addition, two curatorial positions have been endowed: The Shank Family Foundation endowed the position of curator of performance – named the Currie-Kohlmann Curator of Performance – and Keith and Linda Monda endowed the Keith D. and Linda L. Monda Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at The Ringling.

“This campaign has helped The Ringling create a long-term commitment to preserving the history on our campus, build the collection we care for and welcome a diverse audience representative of our Sarasota community,” said Steven High, executive director. “We extend our deepest thanks to our major donors and to our entire community.”

Major gifts from the campaign have led to the naming of multiple venues, including the Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Center for Asian Art, the David F. Bolger Campiello and Promenade, the David F. Bolger Playspace, the Kotler-Coville Glass Pavilion, the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation Grand Hall, the Charles and Charlotte Perret Family Performance Studio, the Nancy Ellis Tea House, the Keith D. and Linda L. Monda Gallery for Contemporary Art, the David W. and Mary S. Benfer Courtyard and the Willis Smith Ticket Booth.

The campaign supported significant restoration of the Ca’ d’Zan, including restoration of the glazed terra cotta on the mansion’s exterior, a project that was funded by the Florida Department of State’s Division of Historical Resources. Additional preservation projects funded by campaign supporters include the restoration of John Ringling’s balcony by J. Richard and Cornelia Matson and the newly restored Bolger Family Reflecting Pool in honor of Ron McCarty’s service to Ca’ d’Zan.

Support for performance and modern and contemporary art installations was provided by the Ellin Family Foundation with the naming of the Ellin Family Art of Our Time Endowment. Support for The Ringling circus collection was provided by Howard and Janice Tibbals. Support from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation and the Community Foundation of Sarasota County was integral to the success of the campaign.

            Additionally, the campaign provided a formal program for funding and sponsoring exhibitions, significant household membership and legacy society growth, new research for at-risk families, a community engagement and access initiative and more. This included creation of the Where Everyone Belongs program (WEB) with a grant from the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, and creation of a new position: the Barancik Community Engagement Fellow.

            On Saturday, April 6, The Ringling welcomes the community to celebrate with a special Free Day in recognition of meeting the historic $100 million comprehensive campaign goal. The community is invited for a day of family-friendly activities to see how support of this campaign has transformed The Ringling, making it a top cultural destination and preserving its ability to serve generations to come.

            “The Ringling is an integral part of the tradition of excellence in the arts at FSU,” said FSU President John Thrasher. “The Ringling Inspires campaign has helped create a farsighted plan for caring for, housing and building collections. It considers the rich history of the campus and looks to the future by serving the wide and diverse audience of the greater-Sarasota area.”

New College Named a ‘Best Value College’ by Princeton Review

New College of Florida is one of the nation’s best colleges for students seeking a superb education with great career preparation at an affordable price, according to The Princeton Review. The education services company profiles New College in the 2019 edition of its annual guide, The Best Value Colleges: 200 Schools with Exceptional ROI for Your Tuition Investment.

The Princeton Review crunched more than 40 data points to tally return on investment (ROI) ratings for more than 650 colleges before selecting the 200 it included in the book. The data come from surveys of administrators and current students that The Princeton Review conducted in 2017-18, as well as surveys of school alumni that PayScale.com fielded through April 2018.

In the book’s profile of New College, editors praise the school for its “unique collaborative curriculum [and] emphasis on independent learning.” The profile also quotes current New College students who described the college as a place of “deep and stimulating academics” with a “small, intimate atmosphere” that “has been tailored to us.” The Career Information section of the profile cites PayScale.com figures, which report that New College graduates with at least a bachelor’s degree have a median starting salary of $45,800 and median mid-career salary of $91,500.

“We salute New College and all of our Best Value Colleges. They stand out for their outstanding academics and their affordability via generous financial aid to students with need and/or comparatively low sticker prices,” said Robert Franek, The Princeton Review’s editor-in-chief. “Students at these colleges also have access to extraordinary career services from their freshman year on, plus a lifetime of valuable alumni support.”

As the State of Florida’s designated honors college, New College provides an exceptional education that transforms students’ intellectual curiosity into personal accomplishment. The Sarasota campus is home to more than 800 students and 80 full-time faculty engaged in interdisciplinary research and collaborative learning. New College offers nearly 40 areas of concentration for undergraduates and a master’s degree program in Data Science. 

Giving Voice to the Voiceless Local Partnership Creates Legal Lifeline for Teenagers in Foster Care 

Imagine you’re a teenager who has drifted between living out of cars and a dozen different foster care homes. You just want two things: a stable home and your independence. But after aging out of the system, you discover your own mom has stolen your social security number and ruined your credit. Just as you’re beginning your journey into adulthood, you are now struggling to qualify for housing, unable to take out college loans, and can’t even start a cellphone plan—all through no fault of your own.
 
This painful scenario is a reality many foster care children endure alone. 
 
In response, Legal Aid of Manasota recently launched a Legal Lifeline for Youth program to represent foster youth ages 14 and up in the 12th Judicial Circuit. 
 
There are more than 1,600 children in foster care in Sarasota and Manatee counties, and even more who have aged out. In the foster care system, the only party not entitled to an attorney is the child. The majority are left to juggle complex legal nightmares alone to claim their independence and fight back against fraud. 
 
“This program will be life-saving in many regards,” says Linda Harradine, Executive Director of Legal Aid of Manasota.  “Each child will receive a Legal Health Check-Up to address unmet legal needs such as accessing medical and educational benefits, obtaining important records, and mitigating fraud.  Furthermore, by our representing children in foster care, or aging out of the system, we will be providing a legal safety net, preventing homelessness and ensuring financial stability.”
 
This unique program will utilize two full-time attorneys to represent children at all stages of dependency proceedings; ensure judges have information to make decisions; engage in conflict resolution; and coordinate placement and transition plans which are the least disruptive to the child.
 
Funded by a three-year, $540,000 grant from the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, the pilot program will expand partnerships with organizations like Guardian Ad Litem, Harvest House, JFCS, the Sarasota County Bar Association, and others. 
 
“The stories of these children are heartbreaking,” says Teri A Hansen, President | CEO of the Barancik Foundation. “This program ensures children are not punished for the bad choices their parents and others made.” 
 
Foster children are more likely to become victims of identity theft, often by those closest to them. Foster children are less equipped to fix their credit problems because they do not have the safety net
that a family often provides. Unfortunately, children are also less likely to report family members to police, making it more difficult to remove the fraud from a credit report. “It’s an uneasy thought—our foster care system is overloaded,” says Erin Minor, Executive Director of Harvest House. “We’ve experienced some parents who, out of their own dysfunctional upbringing, have used their children to get ahead and ruined their credit by doing it. So, when kids enter the system they can have a multitude of legal issues. Attorneys who are knowledgeable and whose singular mission is to be the voice for the voiceless are what our children deserve.” Legal Lifeline for Youth is the first program Legal Aid has specifically designated to provide services to children. The pilot program will lay groundwork to establish a statewide model.  ####
 
About Legal Aid of Manasota For every low-income individual who receives legal assistance in Sarasota and Manatee counties, many more are turned away because of a severe lack of resources. Nationwide, only 20 percent of low-income people who need legal help get it. The need is huge, the demand is great, and the funding is dwindling every year. With your help, we increase access to justice for all. Legal Aid of Manasota provides legal services at no cost to those in need by partnering with local lawyers. To learn more, please visit https://legalaidofmanasota.org.
 
 

Community Foundation of Sarasota County Invites Non-Profit Organizations to Take Part in Compensation & Benefits Survey

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County is conducting a regional survey to measure the compensation and benefits offered to employees in the non-profit sector. The survey is open to all 501(c)3 public supported charities located in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties and runs through February 15.

The survey is free to participate in and confidential. The results will provide the region with a broad view of salary and benefits among non-profit agencies in the region with a goal of helping organizations set fair and competitive compensation structures. To take part in the survey, visit http://www.associationtrends.com/CFSarasota-Salary-Survey.

For questions, contact Abigail Oakes at aoakes@cfsarasota.org. Copies of previous survey results are available at www.CFSarasota.org.

In addition to the resources they provide the community, non-profit agencies in the four-county area generate more than $2 billion in annual revenue. According to the Florida Nonprofit Alliance, there are more than 4,250 agencies here that employ nearly 17,500 people with an annual payroll of nearly $675 million.

The Community Foundation previously conducted a similar survey in 2016 and 2010. The survey results are shared with all of the participants, as well as the greater community. This year’s survey is administered by Association TRENDS, which has 30 years of experience in the field of compensation reports specifically for non-profit agencies

Orioles to Host Sarasota Springfest as Spring Training Workouts Begin at Ed Smith Stadium
 
The Orioles invite fans of all ages to celebrate the start of Spring Training at Sarasota Springfest, a free family-friendly event at Ed Smith Stadium on Saturday, February 16. Along with watching Orioles pitchers and catchers practice on the back fields, fans can also enjoy games and interactive activities in the stadium from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET.
 
The fourth annual Sarasota Springfest event will feature a question and answer session with Orioles outfielder CEDRIC MULLIINS at approximately 12:30 p.m. Fans will once again have opportunities to play catch on the Ed Smith Stadium field, take a behind-the-scenes tour of the ballpark, and participate in a “Pitch for Charity” event to benefit Miracle League of Manasota.
 
“There’s no better way for fans to warm up for Spring Training than to attend our free Springfest,” said GREG BADER, Orioles Vice President, Communications & Marketing. “We’re excited to welcome fans for a day of fun, family-friendly activities at the ballpark with an opportunity to watch Orioles players practice on the back fields.”
 
Outfielder Cedric Mullins, a 13th round pick by the Orioles in the 2015 First-Year Player Draft, made his Major League debut in August of last season after successfully progressing through the minor league system. Throughout the minors and in Baltimore, Mullins participates in community events during the season and the offseason. MASNsports.com beat writer ROCH KUBATKO will emcee the Q&A session.
 
Field conditions permitting, two sessions of “Have A Catch” will be offered on the main field, at approximately 10:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Access is first-come, first-served, and participants must bring their own gloves and sign a liability waiver. 
 
“We encourage parents, children, and fans of all ages to have fun on the same field used by the Orioles during Spring Training games,” Bader said. “Being able to play catch on a Major League ballfield is a rare experience for fans, and we’re excited to provide that opportunity again this year.”
 
Orioles event staff will provide stadium tours every 20 minutes beginning at 10:00 a.m. Fans will see areas not usually open to the public, including the press box, World Series Suites, Home Plate Suite, Third Base Lounge, and visiting team’s clubhouse. 
 
“Pitch for Charity” is scheduled for approximately 12:00 p.m. at the Left Field Pavilion. Fans may purchase balls, ranging in price from $3-$10, at the event entrance and test their skill by pitching from the Pavilion into a target on the main field. All proceeds support Miracle League of Manasota, an organization dedicated to providing an opportunity for every person to play baseball, regardless of their ability. Fans can also earn Orioles-themed prizes based on their pitching accuracy.
 
Additional games will be set up to test fans’ skills at baseball and a variety of sports. Activities will also include corn hole, giant Connect Four, face painting, and free souvenir photos provided by TapSnap.
 
A day at the ballpark would not be complete without terrific food options for purchase, and Springfest will be no exception. Jimmy’s Famous Seafood will return with award-winning crab cakes inspired by Baltimore’s popular seafood restaurant. Culver’s and Chick-fil-A also will offer their own signature menu items, while ballpark fare will be offered at the concourse concession.
 
Access to Springfest will be through the Left Field Gate adjacent to the East Lot off of 12th Street and Tuttle Avenue, where free parking will be provided. Guests under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, fans may visit Orioles.com/Springfest.
 
Media planning to cover Springfest may apply for credentials online at credentials.mlb.com under the event named “Feb 16 BAL Camp”.
 
Fans are invited to watch Orioles workouts on the back fields at the complex each day from February 13 through February 22 from approximately 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The first full squad workout will be held on Monday, February 18. There is no charge to attend, and parking in the East Lot is free.
 
The Orioles will play their first of 17 home Spring Training games in 2019 at Ed Smith Stadium on Saturday, February 23, at 1:05 p.m. against the Minnesota Twins. Spring Training game tickets, as well as Orioles merchandise, will be available for purchase during Springfest.
 
ONLINE: Spring Training tickets can be purchased at the Orioles’ official website, Orioles.com/Spring. 
 
PHONE: Individual game tickets can be purchased by phone by calling 800-745-3000. Season, five-game flex-plans, group tickets, suites, and other specialty areas are available by calling 941-893-6312.
 
AT THE BALLPARK: Individual game tickets can be purchased in person at Ed Smith Stadium in the Left Field Ticket Office, located at 12th Street and Tuttle Avenue. The box office will be open through February 8 Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m. From February 11 to March 24, the box office will be open 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. seven days a week. Parking is available in the East Lot, located on 12th Street and Tuttle Avenue.
 

Goodwill Receives $40,000 Grant for ‘Bank On’ Program

Goodwill Manasota recently received a grant of $40,000 from the Cities for Financial Empowerment (CFE) Fund in order to implement the “Bank On” program integration for its more than 700 employees as well as veterans and Job Connection customers served by Goodwill. The Bank On program connects people who are unbanked and underbanked to safe and affordable checking accounts to help people get on the path to financial stability.

The Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund has developed national standards for bank accounts that are safe, affordable, and fully transactional. These accounts do not allow overdraft, cost $5 or less per month, and offer functionality features like free online bill pay. In support of the program, Bank On Suncoast will provide online training materials that help individuals learn why it’s good to have a bank account, how to choose a bank account, and how to use online bill pay services. 
   
 By using a reliable and affordable banking product, community members can save more, prepare for crisis, have an entry point for a path to savings, and know their money is safe and ensured. Additionally, they can build a credit score, open lines of credit and move toward life goals such as home ownership.
   
In 2008, The Brookings Institute reported that individuals without any bank accounts spend an average of $40,000 to manage their finances over the course of their lifetime. In its 2019 scorecard, Prosperity Now noted that 17.8 percent of households in Sarasota County are either unbanked or underbanked. And a multi-city CFE Fund evaluation of financial counseling clients found that those who were unbanked were less than half as likely to successfully save money, even working repeatedly with a professional financial counselor to do so, than those who were banked.
   
According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), reasons a household might be “unbanked” include not having enough money for the minimum balance, distrust or lack of knowledge about financial institutions, high or unpredictable fees, or ID, credit or banking history problems. Using check cashers, payday lenders or pawn shops can further slow financial progress. By being unbanked, people pay too much for basic transactions and have difficulty building savings and assets.
   
Financial institutions with certified accounts include Bank of America, Cadence Bank, Chase, Citibank (online only), Florida Community Bank, Iberia Bank, and Wells Fargo. Goodwill case managers will identify customers who are unbanked or underbanked, provide one-on-one training, and assist those who are ready to open a checking account by accompanying them to a bank that has an account which meets the Bank On National Account Standards.
   
“We are thrilled to be able to offer this powerful program to our team members and the community members we serve. Earning a paycheck is just the first step to financial stability; having access to safe, affordable banking is a crucial step in helping people to budget, establish credit and save for the future,” said Goodwill Manasota vice president Margie Genter. “We are so grateful to the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund for the generous grant and Bank On Suncoast – which is led by United Way Suncoast – for providing resources and training to help those in our community who are unbanked or underbanked.”
   
Bank On is a grassroots movement with the goal of ensuring everyone has access to safe and affordable banking products and services. United Way Suncoast is the local partner for Bank On, doing outreach and providing information to help engage local organizations, their employees and clients. Bank On Suncoast is a local coalition launched in 2018 and housed under United Way Suncoast. They are assisting with the opening of Bank On certified accounts and banking technical assistance, co-hosting FDIC Money Smart “Train the Trainer” sessions, and offering Bank On 101 training sessions.
   
For more information about Goodwill, go to experiencegoodwill.org or call 941-355-2721.

GRAMMY-Nominated Pop Superstar Kesha is Announced as the Firefly Gala’s Headliner

On Saturday, March 30th, 2019, GRAMMY-nominated pop superstar, Kesha will headline Forty Carrots Family Center’s Firefly Gala. In its 9th year, the award-winning signature event is presented by the Dart Foundation, at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Sarasota. This event will feature a fabulous dinner, exciting live auction, intimate concert and after-concert dance party.

Ariane Dart, nine-time chairwoman and Firefly Gala creator (seen here with some of her committee members) excitedly commented “Every year the Firefly Gala excels itself with an exclusive featured artist performing at a high energy event that benefits Forty Carrots’ extensive community parenting education, mental health and early childhood learning programs provided through the agency’s 17 non-profit partner agencies in 30 locations in Sarasota and Manatee Counties.”

Previous Firefly Gala headliners include KC & The Sunshine Band, Blondie, The Go-Go’s, Pat Benatar, Joan Jett, Bret Michaels, Flo Rida and Jason Derulo.

Kesha’s latest No.1 album ‘Rainbow’, was called “an artistic feat” by Entertainment Weekly and “the best music of her career” by Rolling Stone and “her defiant, unbridled best” (USA Today), boasting collaborators ranging from Ben Folds to Eagles of Death Metal to Dolly Parton. The album has garnered praise from the New York Times, Billboard, NPR Music and more, and earned her first ever GRAMMY nominations at the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards for “Best Pop Vocal Album” and “Best Pop Solo Performance” for “Praying”.

Kesha has had 9 Top 10 hits on The Billboard Hot 100, including four #1 singles at Top 40 Radio. She took home the MTV EMA for Best New Act in November 2010 and was nominated for 2 American Music Awards, 3 MTV VMA Awards, and 6 Billboard Awards.  She has performed on dozens of television programs all over the world, including MTV Europe Music Awards, Much Music Awards (Canada), Echo Awards (Germany), X Factor (Australia), American Music Awards, Billboard Awards, American Idol, Saturday Night Live, and The Today Show Summer Concert Series.

She has over 28 million Facebook followers, over 2 million Instagram followers, 3.74 million followers on Twitter, and over 1 billion views on VEVO. She has sold over 41 million tracks and streams in the U.S alone and over 87 million tracks and streams worldwide to date. As a songwriter she has penned her own music as well as songs for artists including Britney Spears, Ariana Grande, In 2016 she won Billboard’s Women in Music Trailblazer Award. She was named one of Time Magazine’s Time 100 in 2018, their annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Recently she co-penned and recorded the song “Here Comes The Change” her rallying cry for social justice that is featured in the Participant Media film “On the Basis of Sex”.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, Forty Carrots Family Center has provided children with Good Beginnings That Last a Lifetime through its expertise in parenting education, early childhood education and mental health services. Rated 4-Stars by Charity Navigator, Forty Carrots fundraises to provide these services to families from all walks of life.

New Director of Development to Lead Philanthropy Growth for Mote Science and Education Initiatives

Mote Marine Laboratory is pleased to announce that Andria Piekarz accepted the position of Director of Development, effective Feb. 1, 2019. Ms. Piekarz will apply her philanthropic leadership experience to Mote’s mission of marine science, conservation and public education.

Piekarz, most recently the Director of Philanthropy for the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, will lead major growth in fundraising efforts for Mote — an independent, nonprofit research institution — across its diverse array of more than 20 marine science programs, along with its education and outreach programs that translate scientific discoveries to benefit marine ecosystems and the public. Philanthropic giving is essential to Mote’s success, accounting for 40 percent of the funding for Mote’s Research Division in the past year and complementing the array of competitive government grants and agreements secured by Mote scientists.

Dan Vigne elected Board Chair of JoshProvides Epilepsy Assistance Foundation, Inc.

Dan Vigne, Senior Vice President, Senior Wealth Strategist & Wealth Management at Northern Trust Bank, was elected Board Chair at the Annual Meeting of JoshProvides Epilepsy Assistance Foundation, Inc.   Joining Dan on the Executive Committee are:  Michael Furen, Esq., Vice Chair; Merrill Wynne, Treasurer; Sandi Chapnick, Secretary; and Rose Chapman, LCSW, Immediate Past Chair. 

“I will strive to be a role model for the board and others so we can focus on our mission, vision, and strategic priorities.  It’s critical that we foster our mission while striving to eliminate the stigma, provide treatment, and ultimately eradicate epilepsy and other seizure disorders,” stated Vigne.

A board member since 2013, Dan has served in other Josh Provides volunteer capacities, including chairing the Strategic Planning Committee, first Celebrity Bartender Battle, and co-chairing the annual Interactive Dinner Committee.

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that will impact 1 in 26 people during their lifetime.  It is estimated that more than 400,000 individuals in Florida have been diagnosed with epilepsy.  Seizures are unpredictable and directly impact the health and safety of the individual.  In 2018, JoshProvides assisted 59 families by offering seizure detection & alert devices, assistance with transportation or medical services, and securing seizure response dogs.  JoshProvides also offers a monthly Epilepsy Support Group to provide resources and socialization to families. 

Williams Parker Enhances Fiduciary Services Capabilities

The law firm of Williams Parker is pleased to announce it has enhanced its ability to provide fiduciary services. The firm recently added Aubrey J. Lynch, a CPA, formerly a principal with CS&L CPAs, to its team as the Director of Fiduciary Tax Matters. Ms. Lynch joins Susan S. Park, the firm’s Director of Fiduciary Administration, to oversee the firm’s fiduciary services and provide support to the firm’s trusts and estates practice.

The firm’s objective is to support its clients’ needs, including clients who are serving as a fiduciary and may need assistance, and the firm’s partners who are asked to serve in the role of fiduciary on behalf of clients who do not intend to engage a corporate fiduciary. The firm will not be soliciting any new types of tax preparation work (e.g., preparing Forms 1040, 1065, 1120S, etc.) or providing any investment advisory services, other than to provide referrals to qualified organizations.

The firm’s fiduciary services department provides legal guidance, accounting and tax services, and estate and trust administrative services. The legal services provided in this area include reforming trusts, advising fiduciaries as to ongoing responsibilities during administration, preparing plans of distribution and corresponding release documents, and preparing and sending notice letters (Crummey) for certain trusts. The tax and accounting-related services provided include preparing, filing, and reviewing estate, gift, and certain fiduciary income tax returns; analyzing generation-skipping transfer-tax status of trusts; and preparing periodic and final accountings for estates and trusts. The fiduciary administration services include taking custody of certain assets, arranging for security and insurance of assets, arranging for sale or other disposition of assets, overseeing the selection of investment managers and placement of financial assets, and assisting with referrals to accounting firms for ongoing tax compliance needs.

Ms. Lynch oversees tax and accounting matters as they relate to the firm’s fiduciary services, facilitating fulfillment of trustee’s duties and responsibilities in coordination with legal counsel. Aubrey prepares, files, and reviews federal estate tax returns (Form 706), federal gift tax returns (Form 709), and fiduciary income tax returns (Form 1041); provides tax analysis and advice on income, estate, and gift tax matters during period of administration; and prepares periodic and final accountings and plans of distribution. She obtained an M.Acc and B.S.Acc. from the University of Florida.

Ms. Park oversees the probate administration process, which includes providing support to the firm’s trusts and estates practice and managing the firm’s probate paralegals and trust administration process. She previously worked with U.S. Trust, where she managed estate settlement for the South Florida region, and with Northern Trust and Bank of America N.A. She obtained an LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Alabama, a J.D. from the Florida State University College of Law, and a B.S. from the United States Naval Academy. Additionally, she is a certified financial planner (CFP®), which affords her additional insight to assist with fiduciary administration.