Biz Buzz: David Alfin graduates Leadership Academy, among other local business news

Palm Coast Observer
Business

Alfin graduates Leadership Academy

David Alfin, a top producing sales associate with Watson Realty Corp., recently graduated from Florida Realtors Eighth Annual Leadership Academy, joining the graduating class of 2015.

“I consider it an honor to have been selected and to participate in the Leadership Academy,” Alfin said. “I feel that this experience enhances my commitment and dedication to continued service to consumers and the real estate profession.”

The program is designed to shape, train and inspire future leaders in their respective communities. It offered a unique opportunity for realtors to maximize their leadership and business potential and learn what it takes to be exceptional and the best in the business. Florida Realtors currently counts more than 142,000 active members in Florida.

Alfin can be reached at 585-0903 or email [email protected].

Flagler Chamber news

Heather Edwards has been promoted to Vice President of the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce. Edwards, who joined the Chamber in August 2008, will continue to oversee production of the chamber's print and multimedia products, while expanding her leadership role to supervise staff and some day-to-day operations.

The Chamber is seeking nominations for its second-annual Business Excellence Awards, which will be held Friday, Jan. 29, 2016. The deadline for submissions is January 8, 2016. Contact Rebecca DeLorenzo for more details at 437-0106.

Bank of America donates to Family Life Center

Bank of America recently donated a $5,000 grant to the Family Life Center at the center’s Board Facilitated Staff Appreciation Lunch a few weeks ago.

“We are so grateful to Bank of America for their support of the Family Life Center,” said Executive Director of the Family Life Center. “These types of donations from the business community allow us to keep providing services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Flagler County.”

The Family Life Center provides services such as 24-Hour Crisis Hotline, emergency shelter, individual crisis counseling, support groups, information and referrals, community awareness, legal advocacy accompaniment, youth services, service coordination, emotional support and more to women in need in Flagler County.

Family Life Center’s 24-hour hotline is 437-3505, the Rape hotline is 888-956-RAPE (7273) and the domestic violence hotline is 800-500-1119. The center can be reached online at www.FamilyLifeCenterFlagler.org.

Florida Hospital Flagler trains teachers in robotic surgery

Academic coaches from Rymfire Elementary School joined Florida Hospital Flagler gynecologist Dr. Steven Brown and his surgical team for a two-hour robotics surgery training on Friday, Nov. 18, at the hospital.

During the training, Rymfire Elementary School educators Donelle Evensen, Lashakia Moore and Janie Ruddy had the opportunity to manipulate the da Vinci Surgical System to better understand the advantages that robotics can bring to surgeons like Brown.

This training session provided teachers with lesson ideas for their students in K-6 in the Rymfire Elementary Flagship Medical Lab, the centerpiece for the elementary school’s flagship program that focuses on medical sciences, health and fitness. The Flagship Program is a part of a district-wide “Classroom to Careers” effort that encourages students to explore, discover and succeed through project-based learning and community partnerships.

“The robot was definitely impressive. But, even more impressive, for me, is the respect that each member of the surgical team had for each other’s opinions and ideas,” Moore said. “Collaboration is one of the core strengths that we want our students to develop in middle school. I could really see the power of collaboration in our visit today.”

For more information, call (386) 586-2000 or visit www.FloridaHospitalFlagler.com.

A book drive down reading lane

In honor of National Book Month, Kumon Math and Reading Center of Palm Coast held a children’s book drive and collected 443 to donate to the Kiwanis Club of Flagler County’s Just 1 Book program.

The number of books came from many of the students at Kumon. This is the sixth year Mita Tomerlin, Center Director of Kumon, has encouraged her students to participate in a charitable book drive. The first year, 150 were collected, and the students and families of Kumon have since tripled that number.

The students did have an incentive to donate the books - a $20 Amazon gift card was presented to the person that donated the most books. Ryan Sammelman was the winner with 125 donated books.

The books are later distributed to local organizations throughout Flagler County. The Kiwanis Club brought the Just 1 Book program to the area in 2012. This program was created by a young girl, Sarah DeWitz of Orlando, Florida in 2010 with the mentality that “Just 1 Book Would Make the Difference in the Life of a Child.” It is now a statewide organization, helping put books in the hands of children with help from the likes of Kumon.

For more information, call 597-2855 or go online at www.kumon.com/palm-coast.

Coldwell kudos

Monroe Gordon, a specialist in residential real estate and has been affiliated with Coldwell Banker Premier Properties, was named Top Sales Agent for the month of November. His working peer, Drea Schuster, was named the Top Listing Associate for the month.