Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 8-8-17

Features
Representative Sean Shaw Recognized As A ‘2017 County Champion’
Recognizing his deep commitment to protecting home rule and dedication to working with local officials on their issues, the Florida Asso- ciation of Counties has named Representative Sean Shaw (D-Tampa) a “2017 County Champion.”
The 2017 Session saw many attacks on the inde- pendence of local govern- ments throughout Florida and Representative Shaw acted as a leader in protecting their ability to find the solu- tions that best fit an individ- ual community.
“I truly believe in the con- cept of the best government being that which is closest to the people,” explained Rep- resentative Sean Shaw. “Rather than more top-down edicts from Tallahassee that may not address the individ- ual needs of a certain com-
REP. SEAN SHAW
munity, we must listen to our local officials who are best positioned to have the strongest grasp of the issues facing their constituents. I am deeply grateful to receive this award and I look forward to continuing my commitment to home rule in the upcoming session.”
Director Of Special Projects Named At Port Tampa Bay
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
A popular Florida native has been chosen to fill a posi- tion at Port Tampa Bay. Jamal Sowell will serve as the Director of Special Proj- ects to the President & CEO of the Tampa Port Authority.
Paul Anderson, Presi- dent and CEO at Port Tampa Bay said, “We are thrilled to welcome Jamal to Port Tampa Bay. His diverse back- ground will not only benefit the Port, but the entire Tampa Bay region.”
Jamal Sowell said, “Port Tampa Bay’s accomplish- ments and reputation rever- berate across this country. I am honored to return home to Florida and work with an outstanding organization like the Port.”
Sowell graduated from the University of Gainesville, where he served as student body president. In 2004, he was elected Vice Chairman of the Florida Students Associa- tion and advocated for policy and legislation benefiting more than 300,000 students.
JAMAL SOWELL Director of Special Proj- ects to the President & CEO of
the Tampa Port Authority.
The following year, he was chosen as the 77th Grand Con- clave of Kappa Alpha Psi Fra- ternity, Inc.
He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Religion with a minor in Family, Youth and Community Sciences from the University of Florida.
Sowell then enrolled in graduate school at the Uni- versity of Massachusetts Amherst. Sowell earned his Master’s of Education degree in Higher Education Admin- istration and Policy Research.
He also enlisted as a Pri- vate First Class in the Marine Corps. He trained at Parris Is- land, in South Carolina. In 2007, he graduated with a Master’s Degree and began active duty in the Marines, in- cluding combat operations in Afghanistan.
Sowell is a 2017 graduate of Indiana University Bloom- ington Maurer School of Law. He focused on National Secu- rity Law, obtaining his juris doctorate and graduate cer- tificate in the Rule of Law and Constitutional Design.
Sowell brings to the posi- tion a variety of experience on local, state, and national lev- els.
As he pursued his educa- tion, he also worked in vari- ous capacities, gaining valuable experience along the way.
He is the son of Vietnam Veteran, U. S. Army Lt. Col. James M. Sowell and the late Mrs. Lutricia Sowell. He is active in the Church of God in Christ, a member of the American Legion, and a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Deputies Need Help To Locate Missing Men
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is currently in- vestigating two reports of missing adults. One of the men has been missing for more than two weeks.
According to police, 37- year-old Gift Bless Smith, of Riverview, was last seen on July 13th at the group home where he resides. He left the facility between 6:30 p.m., and 10 p.m., and has not re- turned. Smith has been com- municating through text messages, but will not reveal his location.
Smith is described as 5’5” tall and weighs about 167 pounds. He has black hair, brown eyes, and a visible scar on the back of his head.
In the second missing per- son’s report, police are at- tempting to locate Derrick Boyd. He was last seen shortly after 6:30 p.m., Tues- day, August 1st.
Boyd, 37, got out of his daughter’s car in front of 12512 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., and walked in a southern di- rection. Police said Boyd is
GIFT BLESS SMITH ... Missing since July 13th
new to the area and has med- ical issues.
Boyd is described as a Black man, about 5’7” tall and weighs about 130 pounds. He has black hair, brown eyes, and he walks with a limp be- cause all of his toes are miss- ing on his right foot.
He was last seen wearing a plaid shirt and blue jeans. Police did not have a photo- graph of Boyd.
Police are asking anyone with information on either of the men to contact the Hills- borough County Sheriff’s Of- fice at (813) 247-8200.
Connecting Business With Opportunity Conference For Minority Business Owners ~ A Blueprint For Success
St. Petersburg, FL - August 07, 2017 - The Minority Enter- prise Development (MED) Planning Committee was pre- sented with a Proclamation from the Board of County Commissioner, Les Miller, at its board meeting on August 2, 2017. The Proclamation declared August 14 – 18, 2017 as MED Week in Hillsborough County.
The 25th Annual Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Conference Connect- ing Business with Opportu- nity: A Blueprint for Success will be held August 15-18, 2017 at the Hilton Carillon Park in St. Petersburg. The Keynote Speaker will be Gladys Ed- munds, Author, Columnist for USA Today, Business Consultant, & Advisor.
National & local MED Conferences are the country’s largest federally sponsored event by the U. S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Busi- ness Development Agency and the U. S. Small Business Ad- ministration.
The purpose of the confer- ence is to enhance business
The Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Planning Commit- tee presents a proclamation to Commissioner Les Miller (far right) to declare August 14-18, 2017 MED Week in Hillsborough County
opportunities while strategi- cally developing the necessary tools for business growth.
This joint public-private sector event also highlights the significant contributions made by minority-owned businesses in Tampa Bay and surrounding areas and focuses on “empowering minority business leaders” to be key stakeholders in diversifying the economy and helping to continuously grow businesses in and around the state of
Florida.
Business owners will re-
ceive valuable tools from ex- perts in the field through the various seminars, workshops, lunch sessions and business matchmaker.
The conference will be held August 15-18, 2017 at the Hilton Carillon Park in St. Pe- tersburg, Florida.
For more information about the conference visit the website at www.medcorp- tb.org.
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