IN THIS ISSUEIN THIS ISSUE Alumni Visit Winter WonderlandAlumni Visit Winter Wonderland

From the Board From the Board ---- Janice Norman, PresidentJanice Norman, President

January 2012January 2012January 2012

LEADERlinesLEADERlinesLEADERlines

• CHRISTMAS PARTYCHRISTMAS PARTY 11

• FROM THE BOARDFROM THE BOARD 11

• NETWORKINGNETWORKING 22

• CARTER PROJECTCARTER PROJECT 22

• BUSINESS PERSONBUSINESS PERSON 33

• SENATOR NEGRONSENATOR NEGRON 33

• BARN THEATREBARN THEATRE 44

• ALUMNI BOARDALUMNI BOARD 55

• BULLETIN BOARDBULLETIN BOARD 55

• MISSIONMISSION 55

• ADDRESSADDRESS 55

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A special thank you to Suzy Hutchinson and her amazing elves at Helping People Succeed, for providing a magical wonderland for alumni to celebrate our Christmas Party. Kudos also to Robert Kilbride, our jolly Santa and Francine Beckstead, for doing Santa’s work and shopping for all the good girls and boys. Enjoying the party

are Debbie Banta (class 10), Marshall Skinner (class 2), Bob Quinn (class 2) and Bruce Hansbrough (class 20).

Happy 2012 LEADERship Martin County Alumni!! Happy 2012 LEADERship Martin County Alumni!! Kudos to an incredible Alumni Board who created lots of

excitement for the association in 2011. Thank You to our Alumni for their support during the year. Accomplishments

for 2011 started with an extremely successful fund raiser held at Carabba’s in October which raised approximately

$4000 for the Martin Youth Leadership Foundation Scholarship fund. Our email database has grown to 407 alumni

emails and continues to grow. If you have changed your email address or know someone in your class who has

changed their email, please let us know. The luncheons have been fun and a great venue for networking.

The excitement continues in 2012 with a brand new fund raiser scheduled in January. Get your tickets for “Biloxi

Blues” now. The Neil Simon play at the Barn Theatre is January 19 with a cocktail reception before the show. What a

great event to see your class members or bring friends to a great show and introduce them to LEADERship Martin

County. Stay tuned for more excitement in 2012.

As Alumni, now is the time to start thinking about the future of the organization. There are several ways to get involved. Volunteer to be on a com-

mittee or the board, attend Alumni events and talk to your friends and colleagues about the value of the program. If you want to know more about the

Alumni Association, please give me a call. Looking forward to an INCREDIBLE 2012!!

January 2012 LEADERship Alumni Newsletter Page 2

Networking at Christmas Luncheon Networking at Christmas Luncheon

Martin County Commissioners approved a collaborative effort between several organizations that will bring

affordable housing, a community center and park and a storm water treatment project known as Carter Park

to Indiantown. Habitat for Humanity signed on to the project to carve 40 affordable housing lots out of the

parcel and Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County will build a 22,000 square foot gymnasium and community

center that will serve as a hub for neighborhood activities.

Boys & Girls Clubs Director of Development, Renee Booth (class 16) said the organization hopes to begin

construction during the first quarter of the year. Michael Houston (class 7), Habitat for Humanity board

president, said he was skeptical at first when Kev Freeman came to them asking them to participate as there

were several issues out there that are difficult in a good economy and in a bad economy next to impossible.

Congratulations on getting the green light to make this project possible.

BB ooth and Houston Get Green Lightooth and Houston Get Green Light

Nicki van Vonno (14) Santa (19) and

Melissa Corbett (12)

Mike Scofield, Marj Jordon ( 7) Maria Wells

(14) and Susan Gaieske ( 21)

Janice Norman (14) Lisa Teetor (7) Francine

Beckstead (9) and Suzy Hutchinson (1) Cheryl Paul (12) Tara Biek (16) Debi Kuiper (19)

Phil Faherty (5) Jim

Vojesik (10)

Pictures courtesy of LC Campbell

January 2012 LEADERship Alumni Newsletter Page 3

Business Person of the Month Business Person of the Month - -- -

Maria Wells is a graduate of Class 14 and is the Broker/Owner of Life-

style Realty Group, which is celebrating over thirteen years on the

Treasure Coast. She is the only Realtor® to serve as President of both

the Martin and St. Lucie Realtor® Associations.

Maria is very involved at the state level with Florida Realtors®. She

is a member of various committees, including the Advisory Board for

the newly formed Research Department. In 2012 she will be the Vice

Chair for the National Association of Realtors® Research Committee.

An industry leader in understanding the housing numbers, Maria pro-

vides a monthly update on solid housing data to many community

leaders, clients and Realtor® to use in their daily business.

Maria recently received the 2011 Women of Distinction Business Pro-

fessional of the Year from Soroptimist International of Stuart for her

dedication and commitment to the real estate industry.

If you would like more information on the real estate market, or understanding housing trends,

please call Maria at: (772) 781-2345.

Senator Joe Negron Speaks Senator Joe Negron Speaks

The 2012 Session of the Florida Legislature will be dominated by two big is-

sues: the state budget and reapportionment.

The good news is that Florida's economy is slowly improving, with an in-

crease in tourism and a decrease in unemployment. However, it is likely that

in 2012 we will have to reduce overall state spending by about $2 billion, so

Florida can live within its means the same way families and businesses do.

Our priority will be putting dollars in our public schools and making our

universities even better and more competitive.

Due to population growth, Florida will get two new Members of Congress as

the once-a-decade redistricting takes place. We will be redrawing the bound-

aries of all legislative and congressional seats. Our hope is to keep the Treas-

ure Coast as a vibrant and robust political community, particularly as we

become known for biotech research and development.

In addition, the Legislature will address proposals to keep auto insurance

rates affordable by combating fraud, as well as decide whether or not destination gaming with casinos in South

Florida is good public policy. Senator Negron is running as a candidate for Florida District 28.

If you have any questions or comments about the upcoming legislative session, please feel free to contact Sen. Joe

Negron (class 4) at 772-219-1665 or negron.joe.web@flsenate.gov.

January 2012 LEADERship Alumni Newsletter Page 4

Alumni PurposeAlumni Purpose

The purpose of LEADERship Martin County Alumni

is to support the LEADERship Martin County Program;

to provide education and networking opportunities for

our members; and to enhance community awareness of

our members by providing opportunities to evaluate

and act on issues affecting the community.

January 2012 LEADERship Alumni Newsletter Page 5

LEADERship AlumniLEADERship Alumni P.O. Box 794P.O. Box 794

Stuart, FL 34995Stuart, FL 34995--794794

Note: Our monthly newsletter can

now be viewed on our website

www.LeadershipMCalumni.com

Bulletin Board POST YOUR NOTESPOST YOUR NOTESPOST YOUR NOTES

Reed Hartman (class

17) has opened Hart-

man Auction Group. He

is a member of the Na-

tional and Florida Auc-

tioneer’s Association

and has earned a desig-

nation as Certified Es-

tate Specialist offered by the NAA.

Chad Hastings (class 20) of Lesser, Lesser, Landy & Smith along with Renee Booth (class 16) of Boys & Girls Clubs were two of six winners to re-ceive the 2011-12 Employee Pillar of Character Award. The award exem-plifies the Six Pillars of Character, trustworthiness, respect, responsibil-ity, fairness, caring and citizenship.

Linda Weiksnar (class

17) of Crary Buchanan

has received the St.

Thomas More Award

for 2011 from the

Catholic Lawyers

Guide. It recognizes

someone who exempli-

fies the ideals of service and sacri-

fice in the pursuit of justice.

Sonia Synder (class 17) has joined

Habitat for Humanity as director

of family services. She will assist

residents with the partner family

application process, counsel fami-

lies throughout their journey to

homeownership, coordinate new

homeowner training classes and

other services.

LEADERship Alumni Board 2011– 2012

PresidentPresident

Janice Norman Lifestyle Realty Group

ViceVice--PresidentPresident

Lisa Teetor Forma Technology

TreasurerTreasurer

Greg Nuttall Hill, Barth & King, LLC

Recording SecretaryRecording Secretary

Jon Milton Milton Engineering Consultants

Corresponding SecretaryCorresponding Secretary

Jayme Uteshill Pop Culture

Past PresidentPast President

Mike Ewing Martin Co. Sheriff’s Office

DirectorsDirectors

Jason Berger Law Office Jason Berger

L.C. Campbell

Nettles Island Church

Susan Gaieski Lifestyle Realty Group

Ryan Grimsdale

Martin Co. Sheriff’s Office

Sue Hedgepeth Stuart/Martin County Chamber

Peter Kemp

Huston’s Office-Comm. Interiors

Teresa Lamar-Sarno City of Stuart

Carl Newton

Seacoast Wealth Management

Mary Palczer MC Convention & Bus Bureau

Catherine Winters

Prudential Florida Realty

ExEx--OfficioOfficio Adult Planning Chair

Marsha Ewing Clerk of Court

Youth Planning Chair

Diana Bruton Treasure Coast Realty

LEADERship “Mom”

Nancy Sailer Stuart/Martin County Chamber