FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 21, 2006
CONTACT: Vivian Myrtetus
850-410-0174
Vivian.Myrtetus@CristTransition.com
˜ Inaugural Committee Focuses on “Celebrating the People of Florida”˜
TALLAHASSEE — Governor-Elect Charlie Crist and Lieutenant Governor-Elect Jeff Kottkamp today announced the members of the Crist-Kottkamp Inaugural Committee. Meredith O’Rourke will serve as Executive Director of the Inaugural. Mr. and Mrs. Brian Ballard and Mr. and Mrs. Brent Sembler will Co-Chair the 2007 Florida Inaugural Committee and Marty Fiorentino will serve as Finance Chairman.
The group will plan the events surrounding the Inauguration of Florida’s 44th Governor and Lieutenant Governor which will officially be sworn into office on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 in Tallahassee. Honoring citizens across the state, the Inaugural theme will be “Celebrating the People of Florida” and will feature several events open to the public.
The tentative schedule is as follows:
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Inaugural Breakfast
Join Governor-Elect Crist as he kicks off his Inaugural events.
Miami
Ticketed Event
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Florida’s Youth Day
A special day for youth as an early holiday gift.
Walt Disney World, Orlando
By Invitation
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Inaugural “Kick-Off” Cookout
Get a chance to meet Governor-Elect Charlie Crist at a kickoff luncheon.
Tampa
Public Event
New York Yankees Youth Baseball Camp
The New York Yankees will host a mini baseball camp for Florida’s youth.
Tampa
By Invitation
Tuesday January 2, 2006
Inaugural Prayer Breakfast
Florida A & M University, Tallahassee
Public Event
The Official Swearing In Ceremony
The Old Capitol, Tallahassee
Public Event
Inaugural Parade
Line the streets of the Capital City to welcome Florida’s newest Governor.
Tallahassee
Public Event
Governor’s Mansion (The People’s House) Tour and Street Festival
Tour the People’s House and enjoy a family friendly street festival showcasing Florida’s diverse culture and regional delicacies.
The Governor’s Mansion
Tallahassee
Public Event
Inaugural Ball and Concert
Tallahassee Leon County Civic Center
Tallahassee
Ticketed Event – $100 per person
Additional details, including an inauguration website and ticket ordering instructions will be announced soon.
All proceeds from funds raised by the Inaugural Committee, after costs are covered, will be distributed to the Derrick Brooks Charities, the Jessica Marie Lunsford Foundation and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
The individuals named to 2007 Florida Inaugural Committee today are:
Meredith O’Rourke: O’Rourke will serve as the Executive Director for the 2007 Florida Inaugural Committee. She most recently served as the Finance Director for Charlie Crist’s campaign for Governor. Previously, O’Rourke served as a finance consultant with the Republican National Committee and United States Senators Mel Martinez and George Allen. She is a graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Kathryn and Brian Ballard: Kathryn Ballard has served on the Board of the Florida Special Olympics, and the Board of Florida State University’s College of Human Sciences, of which she is a graduate. Kathryn and Brian reside in Tallahassee. Brian Ballard is the managing partner of Smith & Ballard. He formerly served as Chief of Staff to Governor Bob Martinez and a graduate of the University Of Florida College Of Law.
Debbie and Brent Sembler: Debbie Sembler is a member of the University of South Florida Board of Trustees. She is a member of the Florida Commission on the Status of Women and a graduate of the University of Florida. Brent Sembler is the Vice Chairman of the Sembler Company, a shopping center development and management company. He is a graduate from Florida State University.
Marty Fiorentino: Marty Fiorentino is the President of Fiorentino and Hewett, a government relations and business development firm. He served a Chief of Staff of the Federal Railroad Administration under President George H.W. Bush, and as Chairman of the Board of the Jacksonville Port Authority under Governor Jeb Bush. He is a graduate of the University of Florida and Mercer University School of Law.
Corporate Officers:
Watson Haynes, Chairman: Watson Haynes is a member of the governing board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District. He formerly served as the Executive Director of the Tampa-Hillsborough Action Plan and the Executive Director of Bridges of America. He is a graduate of the Eckerd College and National Louis University.
John Rivera, President: John Rivera is the President of the Dade County Police Benevolent Association and incoming President of the statewide organization. He has served the Miami-Dade Police Department since 1976 and was appointed by Governor Bush to serve as a Commissioner on the Criminal Justice Standard of Living Training Commission.
Sharon Day, Vice President: Sharon Day is the Republican National Committeewoman for Florida and is Broward County’s State Committeewoman. She recently served on the 2008 Site Selection Committee for the Republican National Convention and was a Republican National Convention Delegate in 2000 and 2004.
Jenny Swindal, Vice President: Jenny Swindal is the Chairman of the Steinbrenner Family and Yankee Foundation. She is actively involved with the Red Cross Angels and serves on the Culver Educational Foundation Board of Directors. She is a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduate.
Bertica Morris, Secretary: Bertica Morris is the owner of Bertica Cabrera Consulting, a public relations firm in Orlando. She was appointed by Governor Jeb Bush to serve on the Central Florida Transit Authority in 2001, and is an active member of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She is a graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles.
Abby Dupree, Treasurer: Abby Dupree is a Certified Public Accountant and partner in Carroll & Company. She specializes in corporate tax planning and preparation, as well as retirement plan analysis design and administration.
Eric Buermann, General Counsel: Erin Buermann is an associate professor at the University of Miami, School of Law and a senior member on the Board of Directors of the Espirito Santo Bank. He served formerly as General Counsel to the Republican Party of Florida. Buermann serves Of Counsel for the law firm Squire, Sanders and Dempsey.
For more information please contact CristInaugural@CharlieCrist.com.