Additional COVID-19 Funds to Local Area Agencies on Aging Will Provide More Meals and Meal Services

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., — The Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) distributed more than 16 million home-delivered meals last year following the onset of COVID-19. That number represents an increased distribution of over 200 percent for nearly five months, compared to the number of meals served during periods of non-emergency. As DOEA and the Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) increased the number of home-delivered meals, the Aging Network simultaneously partnered with the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association in launching the Feeding Older Floridians Restaurant Meal Initiative that contributed over 3.5 million meals to Florida seniors during the same time period.

Now, DOEA is reinforcing the successful home-delivered meal programs. An additional $12.7 million in federal funding has been distributed to the 11 AAAs throughout the state to address the needs of older Floridians who remain affected by COVID-19.

“The state of Florida remains focused on the Seniors First initiative and that includes ensuring older adults have safe access to food through home-delivered meals,” said Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. “We’ve already been a model for the nation in making sure older individuals are prioritized for receiving vaccinations. The innovative meal programs launched by DOEA further our efforts to keep seniors first. The State of Florida and DOEA have afforded providers unprecedented program flexibility in service delivery, and the advancement of these programs helps us continue to meet those critical needs.”

“Florida’s Aging Network has shown extraordinary resourcefulness in response to COVID-19,” said DOEA Secretary Richard Prudom. “The launch of the Feeding Older Floridians Restaurant Meal Initiative and the tremendous expansion of home-delivered meals by the AAAs allowed seniors to continue to receive nutritious meals and provided a reduction in social isolation. We’re grateful to be continuing these hallmark programs established as new solutions to new demands. The Aging Network’s development of these new business models is a commitment to effective and efficient programs that support Florida’s senior population.”

“The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) and restaurants across our great state have been proud to participate in this important meal initiative to meet the needs of Florida seniors,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. “Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our restaurants have stepped up to help fill the critical need for senior meals, and the extension of this program will continue to allow seniors to have increased access to hot, nutritious meals from the safety of their home while simultaneously helping to support Florida’s restaurants.”

The additional funding will allow extension of various meal delivery projects including the Feeding Older Floridians Restaurant Meal Initiative, drive-through meals, and grab-and-go meals for older adults who remain homebound.  The continuation of these programs allows DOEA and the Aging Network to provide real-time responses to meet the needs of Florida’s elders.

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About the Florida Department of Elder Affairs

The Florida Department of Elder Affairs, the State Unit on Aging, helps Florida’s elders to remain healthy, safe, and independent. The Department provides most direct services through its Division of Statewide Community-Based Services, the state’s eleven Area Agencies on Aging, and local service providers to deliver essential services to a vital segment of the population. For more information, please visit www.elderaffairs.org.

Florida’s food supply chain industries asked to share how they fared in 2020

Highlights
• Responses are sought from anyone who contributes to the food supply chain. Specifically, this is a call for responses from Florida businesses, but other responses are welcomed and will be assessed as part of a nationwide glimpse of COVID-19 effects.
• “Lessons from COVID-19: Positioning Regional Food Supply Chains for Future Pandemics, Natural Disasters and Human-made Crises” is a multi-region, multi-institution project funded by the USDA.
• Survey is open now at tinyurl.com/afri-covid-survey-FL.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — As the United States nears the one-year anniversary of the first lockdown related to the COVID-19 pandemic, many in the nation’s food supply chain are still feeling its effects.

A new multi-region, multi-institution research team aims to assess the impact of the pandemic on food and agricultural systems and to develop strategies for coping with future crises. The project, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (USDA-AFRI), will involve University of Florida researchers working with scientists from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the University of California-Irvine, and Kansas State University.

The project, titled “Lessons from COVID-19: Positioning Regional Food Supply Chains for Future Pandemics, Natural Disasters and Human-made Crises,” includes multiple components. One of the earliest efforts will capture impacts to food supply chain businesses via surveys. The survey created for Florida industries is now open.

“We’re seeking food supply chain respondents, from producers to retail distributors, and everything in between,” said Christa Court, UF/IFAS assistant professor of food and resource economics and lead investigator of the food supply chain survey component of the project.

The UF/IFAS Economic Impact Analysis program, which Court directs, last year conducted similar, short-term surveys of Florida businesses as impacts evolved along with the pandemic. Information from these efforts can be found on the program’s Disaster Impact Analysis webpage and will continue to be updated.

This survey, rather, asks for respondents to reflect on the entirety of 2020 and, along with the partnering institutions’ surveys, will allow for comparisons to other regions of the United States. Specifically, the partner institutions aim to capture impacts in the Midwest and Southern California. The three regions together represent not only diverse commodities but also diverse socioeconomic groups, with the goal to obtain a broader look at the national impacts of the pandemic.

“Here in Florida, we produce an estimated 200-300 different agriculture and food commodities and have a significant number of businesses involved in aggregating, processing and distributing food products to the final consumer. Even if we get 1,000 responses, we might have a small sample from some of these groups or miss others entirely,” Court said. “It’s important to not only get responses, but to get a wide variety of them. Positive, negative or no change, and even in the event of a complete closure, we want to hear what happened to your business in 2020.”

Court added that individual operations will remain unidentifiable and be consolidated into broader categories, should the response rate necessitate.

Individuals from outside Florida are not barred from participation, she said, but such responses might only be reflected among the national overview, depending on response rates for different regions.

The survey for Florida industries can be accessed at tinyurl.com/afri-covid-survey-FL. The current plan is for it to remain open until the end of February, Court said, but will depend on the response rate.

Separately, related to the UF/IFAS Economic Impact Analysis program’s earlier efforts, interview subjects are still being sought for an ongoing qualitative study involving collaboration between UF/IFAS, Florida Gulf Coast University, and Florida A&M University. Florida industry professionals in agriculture or food-related sectors who are interested in sharing additional information about their COVID-19 experiences in this format should contact David Outerbridge, UF/IFAS Extension Lee County director, at [email protected] or (239) 533-7512.

The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.

USDA, FDA Underscore Current Epidemiologic and Scientific Information Indicating No Transmission of COVID-19 Through Food or Food Packaging

The following is attributed to Acting USDA Secretary Kevin Shea and Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, M.D.

After more than a year since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak was declared a global health emergency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue to underscore that there is no credible evidence of food or food packaging associated with or as a likely source of viral transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus causing COVID-19.

Our confidence in the safety of the U.S. food supply remains steadfast. Consumers should be reassured that we continue to believe, based on our understanding of currently available reliable scientific information, and supported by overwhelming international scientific consensus, that the foods they eat and food packaging they touch are highly unlikely to spread SARS-CoV-2.

It’s particularly important to note that COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that is spread from person to person, unlike foodborne or gastrointestinal viruses, such as norovirus and hepatitis A that often make people ill through contaminated food. While there are relatively few reports of the virus being detected on food and packaging, most studies focus primarily on the detection of the virus’ genetic fingerprint rather than evidence of transmission of virus resulting in human infection. Given that the number of virus particles that could be theoretically picked up by touching a surface would be very small and the amount needed for infection via oral inhalation would be very high, the chances of infection by touching the surface of food packaging or eating food is considered to be extremely low.

The USDA and the FDA are sharing this update based upon the best available information from scientific bodies across the globe, including a continued international consensus that the risk is exceedingly low for transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to humans via food and food packaging. For example, a recent opinion from the International Commission on Microbiological Specifications for Foods (ICMSF)External Link Disclaimer, stated: “Despite the billions of meals and food packages handled since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, to date there has not been any evidence that food, food packaging or food handling is a source or important transmission route for SARS-CoV-2 resulting in COVID-19.” Additional literature reviewsExternal Link Disclaimer and analysesExternal Link Disclaimer from other countries agree.

In addition, considering the more than 100 million cases of COVID-19, we have not seen epidemiological evidence of food or food packaging as the source of SARS-CoV-2 transmission to humans. Furthermore, transmission has not been attributed to food products or packaging through national and international surveillance systems. Food business operations continue to produce a steady supply of safe food following current Good Manufacturing Practices and preventive controls, focusing on good hygiene practices and keeping workers safe.

Based on the scientific information that continues to be made available over the course of the pandemic, the USDA and FDA continue to be confident in the safety of the food available to American consumers and exported to international customers.

The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.

Inquiries

Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced his appointment of Julie Imanuel Brown as Secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). The appointment is effective Monday, February 22, 2021.

“I’m pleased to appoint Julie Imanuel Brown as Secretary of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Julie brings a unique blend of experience in the private and public sectors, as well as the legal field, including over 10 years of service on the Florida Public Service Commission and various corporate positions. I’m confident she will do a great job in our continued fight to cut red tape and ease regulation on our businesses and hard-working Floridians.”

“I’m honored to be appointed by Governor DeSantis to this important position, which impacts millions of Floridians,” said Julie Imanuel Brown. “As Secretary, I will work to build on the Governor’s foundation to implement meaningful occupational licensing reform, as well with business leaders and business owners during Florida’s economic recovery.”

Julie Brown

Secretary, Department of Business and Professional Regulation

Julie Imanuel Brown has served on Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) since 2011 and served as Commission Chairman from January 2016-January 2018. In this role, she has served as one of five Commissioners responsible for ensuring Floridians receive electric, natural gas, telephone, water, and wastewater in a safe, reasonable, and reliable manner.

During her 2-year chairmanship on the PSC, the state of Florida experienced massive impacts for the first time in over a decade from multiple catastrophic hurricanes. In addition to serving as chief administrative officer and presiding over all technical hearings as chief judge, Chair Brown led the PSC’s review and recommendation for future action to bolster Florida’s electric utility storm hardening efforts for years to come. In addition, Chair Brown presided and led all agenda conferences, service hearings and other administrative proceedings, while also being responsible for oversight of a $25,000,000 budget and a technical staff of approximately 280 employees.

Before serving on the PSC, Brown was Associate Legal Counsel of First American Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, where she handled a variety of legal issues in the Eastern, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic Regions, including corporate compliance with regulatory authorities. She previously worked as a corporate attorney at Shumaker, Loop and Kendrick, LLP in Tampa; Director of Franchise Sales & Development for Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc.; and as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Tampa.

Brown is very active in her community and dedicated to public service. In 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Commissioner Brown to serve as one of 11 on the Florida Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission to ensure the statewide observance of the centennial of women’s suffrage and she has previously served on the City of Tampa’s Architectural Review Commission. Additionally, Brown serves on the Board of Directors and is a member of the National Association of Regulatory Commissioners (NARUC) and previously served as Chairman of the Florida Legislature’s Study Committee on Investor-Owned Water & Wastewater Utility Systems.

Commissioner Brown graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Florida, where she was the recipient of the Outstanding Female Leader award, President of Florida Blue Key, inducted into the Hall of Fame, and received the Dean’s Cup for the College of Journalism and Communications. She earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, is a member of the Florida Bar, and a member of Leadership Florida, Class XXXIII.

Commissioner Brown is a member of the Florida Bar and hold’s a Florida Real Estate Broker’s License. She and her husband have two children.

For Immediate Release: February 18, 2021

Contact: Governor’s Press Office, (850) 717-9282, [email protected]

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Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) released the following statement in response to reports that the White House is considering travel restrictions, including the restriction of travel to Florida, amid the spread of the latest COVID strain.

“The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association represents 10,000 members across the state who are trying to rebuild following a devastating 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. While we believe public safety is paramount, our members have done everything in their power to go above and beyond sanitation and safety procedures to keep guests and employees safe during this unprecedented time. We echo concerns raised by Governor DeSantis and Senator Rubio about the harmful consequences of potential travel bans. Instituting travel restrictions to Florida is not only bad policy but would erase the small steps towards recovery that Florida hotels and restaurants have made. Our state relies on visitors to keep people employed, fund state and local government, and remain state income tax free. We are still significantly down because of conference and business travel being down. To restrict individuals and their families from coming to Florida would absolutely kill the economic progress we have made in recent months. As more vaccines are distributed, we are confident that even more people will want to travel to Florida, and we are more than ready and eager to welcome them.”

TALLAHASSEE – Today, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) announced its recently installed 2021 Board of Directors Executive Committee. FRLA is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality trade association that has provided excellent service to the industry and its members for 75 years. Among the most influential trade associations in Florida, FRLA represents restaurants, lodging establishments, and industry suppliers with 10,000 members from small businesses to the largest businesses in the industry.

The mission of FRLA is to protect, educate, and promote Florida’s hospitality industry, which was a nearly $112 billion industry with 1.5 million employees before the COVID-19 pandemic. The association continues to advocate for hospitality and tourism businesses in Florida as they rebuild from the devasting impacts of the pandemic.

“FRLA is incredibly proud to have such exceptional leadership on our FRLA Executive Committee,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA). “As Florida hotels and restaurants fight to survive and recover from devastating COVID-19 pandemic impacts, it is critical that we have engaged and passionate people helping our efforts. This year we face new challenges with COVID-19 liability protections, vacation rental regulation, alcohol-to-go, and a proposed federal minimum wage that may eliminate the tip credit for restaurants. This Executive Committee brings more than 200 years of combined experience to build on as we implement innovative and lasting solutions to improve and rebuild our hospitality industry.”

“My main goal as Chairman of the FRLA is keeping our brothers and sisters in business,” said Chef Jim Shirley, 2021 FRLA Chairman of the Board and owner of Chef Jim Shirley Enterprises. “Working with the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, we will provide hotels and restaurants with the tools they need to keep their doors open. Our successful advocacy at the state and national levels is critical to the survival of our businesses, and I look forward to making great strides this year.”

Full bios and photos for the Executive Committee are found here.

FRLA’s Executive Committee is comprised of the following:

Chairman: Chef Jim Shirley, Owner of Chef Jim Shirley Enterprises, Santa Rosa Beach

Jim Shirley is a chef and restaurateur in South Walton, Florida, owning Great Southern Café, 45 Central Wine and Sushi Bar, and b.f.f. in Seaside, Florida, as well as The Bay Restaurant and Farm & Fire Southern Pizzeria in South Walton. He is also co-owner of Meltdown on 30A in Seaside. Jim was previously the president of the Northwest Florida FRLA chapter and president of the Escambia County chapter. He is currently the treasurer of FRLA’s Educational Foundation. Jim sits on the board of the Children’s Home Society and was formerly on the Seaside Neighborhood School board for three years. Jim represented Florida in the 2015 Great American Seafood Cook-Off. In addition, Jim has been invited to cook at the James Beard House in New York City four times. He is the author of the cookbook, “Good Grits! Southern Boy Cooks,” a compilation of his best recipes along with entertaining stories. Jim is the 2020 Van Ness Butler Jr. Award recipient. In 2020, Jim was appointed as The Chairman of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA).

Vice Chair: Olivia Hoblit, Regional Manager for Innisfree Hotels, Amelia Island

Olivia Hoblit has more than 22 years of experience in the hospitality industry and is a Regional Manager with Innisfree Hotels, where she oversees Seaside Amelia Inn and the new dual-Marriott brand Courtyard/Springhill Suites in Amelia Island. She rejoined Innisfree Hotels after spending a year as Assistant Rooms Executive at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, a 446-room, AAA Five-Diamond luxury resort. While there, Hoblit served as a member of the team that successfully reopened The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas in 2019. She was nominated as “Marriott Ops Star” for going above and beyond operational expectations. During her previous tenure with Innisfree Hotels, she served for five years was the general manager of the Seaside Amelia Inn.

Prior to her position at Seaside Amelia Inn, Olivia spent seven years as the general manager of the highly acclaimed Elizabeth Pointe Lodge. Under her leadership the lodge received numerous awards for the property, including Travel+Leisure’s 2013 World’s Best Awards where it ranked No. 25 on its list of Top 100 World’s Best Hotel, No. 3 Top Resort in Florida in 2012, and No. 2 Best Hotel in the Continental U.S. in 2008 Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Award. She also received a “Sharky Award from TravelShark in 2012 for Best Guest- Service General Manager.

She also serves as a board member on the Amelia Island Tourist Development Council, Nassau County Chamber of Commerce, and is an Advisory Council member for the University of West Florida Global Hospitality and Tourism Management program. In 2018, she was named one of Florida’s leading women in lodging by Florida Restaurant & Lodging Magazine.

In 2016, Olivia and her husband Phil founded the Trinity Love Hoblit Foundation in honor of their daughter, Trinity, who passed away in 2015 from a brain aneurysm. Olivia serves as President of the foundation, which supports and funds neurological research, training, and treatment for brain aneurysms, strokes, and other cerebrovascular conditions.

Secretary-Treasurer & Restaurant Director 2021-2022: John Horne, Owner of Anna Maria Oyster Bars, Bradenton

A 40-year veteran of the hospitality industry, Horne began his career as a busboy on Anna Maria Island working for a small chain of restaurants. In 1995, he opened the first of his four restaurants. At the Anna Maria Oyster Bars, you will find a fun, friendly place with great staff serving the freshest food at a great value in a family-friendly atmosphere. Horne and his 325 co-workers have received many accolades over the years, including Small Business of the Year awards from the Manatee, Sarasota, and Longboat Key Chambers, over 85 People’s Choice Favorites, as well as community, volunteer, and tourism awards – many related to their Grade-Level Reading program “Dive Into Reading,” which was recognized as the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation’s 2018 National Restaurant Neighbor Award and the US Senate’s Small Business Committee’s Small Business of the Week. Horne has testified before the US House of Representative Ways & Means Committee on the tax effects on small businesses. He and his wife Amanda are passionate about education and travel…and each other!

Restaurant Director 2020-2021: Carlos Gazitua, President & CEO of Sergio’s Family Restaurants, Miami

Carlos Gazitua is CEO of Sergio’s Restaurants and creator of Sergio’s Cuban in South Florida. Gazitua has been a leader in the hospitality for 13 years and is third generation running his family-owned business. Mr. Gazitua was included in Florida’s 500 most influential Business and Hospitality Leaders by Florida Trend Magazine. As CEO of Sergio’s, Gazitua has shared his small business insight as a guest on national news programs and in print publications.

Under his leadership, Sergio’s was awarded “best sit-down restaurant” by South Florida Independent Retailer awards and South Florida’s Tourism Professional Restaurant of the Year Award. In addition, Sergio’s has been featured on prominent national cooking shows. Recently, Gazitua lead Sergio’s to become the first Cuban Restaurant to sell their homemade Cuban food on QVC.

During the Covid-19 crisis, The New York Times featured Sergio’s in its “24 Hours in Pandemic Nation” article and featured Gazitua’s role on the Dade County Re-opening Task Force. Senator Marco Rubio named Sergio’s Restaurants as the Senate Small Business of the Week in recognition of supporting their community and donating thousands of meals to first responders and health care workers. Sergio’s also initiated a grassroot effort with FRLA to provide over 1 million free masks to Florida’s hospitality industry. In 2021, Job Creators Network announced Carlos Gazitua as the Small Business Owner of the Year for advocating on behalf of Main Street and his actions to help his community during the pandemic.

Carlos earned his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University and his MBA and Law Degree from Stetson College of Law. He resides in Miami with his wife, Liana Gazitua, and their two young boys.

Lodging Director 2021-2022: Barbara Bowden, Area Managing Director for Loews Hotels at Universal Orlando

Barbara Bowden is the Area Managing Director for Loews Hotels at Universal Orlando, overseeing the operation of the destination’s premier and preferred hotels, including Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, Loews Royal Pacific Resort, and Loews Sapphire Falls Resort.

Previously, she served as the Complex Managing Director for Loews Sapphire Falls Resort and Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando, overseeing the operation of these two resort hotels, comprising 2,000 guest rooms and 250,000 square feet of meeting space.

Prior to joining Loews Hotels, Bowden served as general manager of the Orange County Convention Center. Before that, she spent 27 years with The Peabody Orlando, working her way through the ranks to become Vice President/General Manager.

In addition to her role on the FRLA Board, she also serves on the Visit Orlando Board of Directors, the Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association Board of Directors and Governmental Affairs Committee, the Rosen College Dean’s Advisory Board, and the HSMAI Foundation Board. Previously, Bowden served as Chair of the HSMAI Americas Board and was a member of the AHLA Women in Lodging Executive Board.

Lodging Director 2020-2021: Roger Amidon, General Manager for Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa

As GM since 2012, Roger Amidon is responsible for the operation of Palm Beach County’s only AAA Four-Diamond all-suite beachfront hotel. Under Amidon’s expert leadership, in 2015, Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island was named one of Marriott International’s “Full-Service Hotels of the Year” in its Eastern Region, and he was named “Franchised General Manager of the Year” for its Eastern Region Full-Service Hotels/Resorts.

A longtime Palm Beach resident, Amidon has worked in the hospitality sector since 1983. Joining Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island marked his return to the Marriott brand after serving three years as Executive Director of the Tourist Development Council of Palm Beach County. Prior to that, he served Marriott in roles including Area General Manager for Marriott Palm Beach Gardens, Boca Raton Renaissance and Fort Lauderdale Marriott North. His regional tenure included General Manager positions for the Delray Beach Marriott and Sheraton at CityPlace.

His industry and community relations positions include Chairman of Discover the Palm Beaches; President of the Palm Beach County Hotel & Lodging Association; President of FRLA’s Palm Beach Chapter and board memberships with FRLA State Board, Singer Island Civic Association and Loggerhead Marine Life Center, Riviera Beach Business Council, Coalitions to Senior Leaders and Interns, SunFest, South Florida Fair, and Palm Beach Gardens High School Five Star Magnet Advisory Council.

Immediate Past Chairman of the Board: Sheldon Suga, Vice President & Managing Director of Hawks Cay Resort, Duck Key

Sheldon Suga is a seasoned hospitality executive with more than 35 years of industry experience. He started his career as a room clerk in Niagara Falls Canada for summer employment, which led him to pursue a degree in Hospitality Management at Ryerson University in Toronto. Suga was then accepted into ITT Sheraton’s General Management Training program. During his time with ITT Sheraton, he attained the ITT Ring of Quality Worldwide Team Award and served as general manager at properties in West Hartford, New York City, Halifax, La Jolla, and Los Angeles. He also worked in Tokyo and was country manager for ITT Sheraton. He has worked for Wyndham hotels and resorts as an area director in Atlanta and Puerto Rico. He worked in Orlando at the Gaylord Palms as the VP Hotel Manager and was the opening Senior VP and general manager of the Gaylord National Resort.

Mr. Suga has served as Chapter President of the FRLA Monroe County Chapter and past chair of the District III Advisory Committee of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council. He has also served on the board of Tourism Halifax, the Maryland Hotel and Motel Association and as a member of the Maryland Tourism Development Council.

Each Regional Chapter of FRLA also has a local board. For more information on local boards, please contact FRLA. For more information, visit https://frla.org/.

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WASHINGTON, D.C.–  Last week, the Job Creators Network (JCN) announced Carlos Gazitua, owner of Sergio’s Family Restaurants in Florida and Restaurant Director at the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, Small Business Owner of the Year.

Sergio’s, a family-owned business that has served high quality Cuban-American food since 1975 and has grown to thirteen locations. Alfredo Ortiz, JCN President and CEO, released the following statement:

“I’m so pleased to recognize Carlos Gazitua as the Job Creators Network Small Business Owner of the Year. The past year has been tough for small businesses and Carlos stepped-up to help the community and advocate on behalf of Main Street. After utilizing the Paycheck Protection Program, Sergio’s Family Restaurant was able to adapt to keep patrons and staff safe, as well as provide thousands of free meals to first responders, healthcare workers and others in need. Carlos and his actions during the pandemic deserve our admiration.”

“We are honored to be recognized as Small Business of the Year in 2020 by JCN. Last year was all about change. Our leadership team didn’t focus our energy on fighting to maintain the old, but challenged ourselves to build the new,” said Gazitua, owner of Sergio’s Family Restaurants and Restaurant Director at the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. “Our focus went to vertical channels like selling our product digitally and on non-traditional streams. Our employees deserve this award for coming to work every day with a positive attitude to move forward and take care of our community and first responders. They were never afraid to fail as we developed new product lines during this crisis, and in return we were able to keep our doors open for our guest.”

Job Creators Network is a nonpartisan organization whose mission is to educate employees of Main Street America, so we can protect the 85 million people who depend on the success of small businesses.

Job Creators Network provides business leaders and entrepreneurs with the tools to become the voice of free enterprise in the media, in Congress, in state capitals, in their communities, and their workplaces—allowing them to hold politicians accountable to job creators and their employees. Learn more here: https://www.jobcreatorsnetwork.com/

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TALLAHASSEE –The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is proud to announce its Director of Membership, Dannette Lynch, has been appointed Second Vice Chair of the International Society of Hotel Associations (ISHA). ISHA represents the unified voice of state lodging associations in collaboration with national industry partners and provides professional development and networking opportunities for lodging association executives.

Dannette Lynch has been involved with ISHA for the past eight years and has served on the board for the past four years as Member-at-Large. Throughout her membership, Lynch has continued her involvement as a conference host, a co-chair of programming for two annual conferences, and a conference presenter at several events. Lynch also maintains an extensive career in the Florida hospitality and tourism industry. In addition to her position as the Director of Membership for FRLA, Lynch is also the Regional Director for the Pinellas, Hillsborough, Suncoast, Space Coast, and Volusia chapters.

“I am honored that FRLA has provided me this opportunity to represent our association on a national level, working with other partner states, hotel brands, and industry partners across the country,” said Lynch. “I am able to provide information that benefits our Association and share FRLA’s efforts nationwide. This partnership greatly benefits our industry as we work together to strengthen hospitality and tourism in Florida and across the U.S.”

Others serving on the ISHA Board of Directors include:

• Chair of Board of Directors: Paul Sacco, President & CEO, Massachusetts Lodging Association
• 1st Vice Chair: Lynn Minges, President & CEO, North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association
• Secretary/Treasurer: John Longstreet, President & CEO, Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Assn.
• Immediate Past Chair: Mindy Hanan, President & CEO, Alabama Restaurant & Hospitality Assn.

Members at Large include:

• Scott Joslove, President, Texas Hotel & Lodging Association
• Alicia Maltby, Executive Director, Alaska Hotel and Lodging Association
• Chris Hardman, Director of Government Affairs & Membership, Georgia Hotel & Lodging Assn.
• Heather Singleton, Chief Operating Officer, Rhode Island Hospitality Association.

For more information on ISHA, visit http://www.isha.biz. To learn more about FRLA and how to get involved with networking events, please visit https://frla.org/.

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Industry Association and Licensing Leader Partner on Copyright Education

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. and LOS ANGELES, Jan. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (FRLA) and MPLC today jointly announced that they have entered into a strategic partnership to educate association member restaurants and hotels about the benefits of an audiovisual strategy and the importance of audiovisual copyright compliance.

The partnership establishes a framework by which MPLC and FRLA will work together to teach members strategies for using movies and TV to increase business, and also to advise members of the risks of failing to comply with copyright laws. Ideas and information will be shared via an MPLC educational strategy that will include direct marketing and online outreach. In addition, MPLC has committed to providing a special member rate on its Umbrella License^® for association members.

“As Florida’s premier hospitality trade association, it is our pleasure to assist our members in compliance with rules and regulations across every aspect of their business as they work to create memorable entertainment and experiences for their guests,” said Carol Dover, President & CEO of the FRLA. “We look forward to partnering with MPLC to provide yet another service that helps our members to operate their businesses efficiently, legally, and profitably.”

Since its founding in 1986, MPLC has taken an educational approach to the licensing of movies, TV and other audiovisual content, forging partnerships with industry associations in a variety of verticals to educate businesses about copyright compliance.

“We are excited to be working with the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association,” said Dave Davis, President of the Americas at MPLC. “FRLA is again demonstrating their commitment to ensuring the success of Florida’s hospitality and restaurant industries by helping their members find creative ways to bring the magic of movies and TV to their establishments in a cost-effective way, while being compliant with US copyright law.”

According to the US Copyright Act, Title 17 of the United States Code, copyrighted movies, television, and other audiovisual content that is legally available for personal, private use (such as via, broadcast, cable or satellite television, DVDs, downloads, or streaming services) require a public performance license when exhibited in public. Showing audiovisual content in restaurants and bars requires a public performance license.

About the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association: The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) is Florida’s premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Founded in 1946 as the Florida Restaurant Association, FRLA merged with the Florida Hotel and Motel Association in 2006. FRLA’s more than 10,000 members include independent hoteliers and restaurateurs, household name franchises, theme parks and suppliers. The association’s mission is to protect, educate and promote Florida’s $111.7 billion hospitality industry which represents 1.5 million employees. Dedicated to safeguarding the needs of the membership, FRLA provides legislative advocacy to ensure the voices of its members are heard and their interests are protected. The association offers regulatory compliance and food safety training through SafeStaff^® and FRLA’s subsidiary, RCS Training. The FRLA Educational Foundation provides industry-developed, career-building high school programs throughout the state.

About MPLC: MPLC is the global leader in public exhibition licensing, supporting legal access to movies, TV, and other audiovisual content in more than 40 countries. Through its Umbrella License^®, a blanket license for public exhibition, MPLC represents a variety of rights holders, ranging from Hollywood studios to independent producers. MPLC licensees include government, corporations, and non-profit organizations. Hundreds of thousands of locations around the world publicly exhibit content legally with the Umbrella License. In January 2020, MPLC joined forces with Tenzing Private Equity Capital to drive growth opportunities and fuel its charge to become the most professional non-theatrical licensing company in the world.

The Community-First Program is Partnering with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation and Force Blue for Small Business and Environmental Initiatives

Pepsi has announced new giveback initiatives it is rolling out in Super Bowl LV host city Tampa, and across Florida, as part of its Pepsi Stronger Together platform – a tailored grassroots-based program giving back to communities across the nation.

“When we launched Pepsi Stronger Together, we aimed to give back to communities around the country while inspiring people in those communities to take action,” said Derek Lewis, President, South Division, PepsiCo Beverages North America. “We have seen an incredible response in cities from Miami to Memphis, Louisville to Washington, D.C. – from a charitable food drive, a community basketball court refurbishment, to mentorship programs with local universities – and we are thrilled to be able to give back to the Tampa Bay community during a time of such cultural importance, the Super Bowl.”

Beginning now and continuing through Super Bowl LV, Pepsi will partner with community leaders, customers and organizations to deploy initiatives centered around key pillars of Pepsi Stronger Together: community and the environment.

In Tampa, Pepsi Stronger Together is partnering with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) to donate $100,000 in grants and support to help struggling bay-area restaurants. Through the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA), Pepsi and the NRAEF will award $10,000 grants to Tampa restaurants – recipients of which will be announced live during Shaquille O’Neal’s “Shaq Bowl” restaurant challenge on Super Bowl Sunday. Qualifying restaurants will also be offered membership in the FRLA and National Restaurant Association.

“We are honored to work with Pepsi and FRLA to support these Tampa area restaurants and their employees,” said Rob Gifford, president, NRAEF. “They have faced tremendous challenges due to the pandemic and were hoping the Super Bowl would be a way to make up for lost business. With Pepsi, one of the Foundation’s largest donors, we are working together to help them get back on their feet.” Super Bowl fans across the country can help restaurant workers rebuild their futures by donating to the NRAEF at www.chooserestaurants.org/strongertogether.

Pepsi Stronger Together will also support the timely issue of coral reef and marine habitat conservation with nonprofit Force Blue by hosting Dive55, a beach and ocean clean-up day in Anna Maria, Florida on January 25. Running in conjunction with NFL Green Week, Dive55 will feature Force Blue Special Operations veterans leading 55 volunteer divers from multiple local organizations in an operation to remove marine debris and abandoned fishing gear from Spanish Rocks Reef, a rare gem of marine life that includes sponges, soft corals and a variety of reef fish.

“Force Blue is proud to be able to work with the NFL, Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee and Pepsi leading up to Super Bowl LV to bring attention to, and take action for, one of the biggest problems our oceans face today – the rapidly declining health of our coral reefs and coastal habitats,” said Jim Ritterhoff, Force Blue’s Executive Director and Co-Founder.

As an added surprise and delight for fans across Tampa, Pepsi drones will be dropping in to select lucky fans’ homes with VIP swag and merch – helping make their homegating experience an unforgettable one. Learn more at pepsistrongertogether.com/gamedays.

About Pepsi Stronger Together

Pepsi Stronger Together is a national initiative to empower and engage communities around the country by providing tailored programming and resources that bring people together. It was conceived with the idea that now, more than ever, we must foster a sense of connection and belonging, starting by investing locally. Launched in May of 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic – engaging its network of partners in the South to shine a spotlight on essential front-line workers in a variety of industries – Pepsi Stronger Together was expanded in October of 2020 by partnering with NBA teams and charitable organizations to foster, among other things, community and police relations.

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Convenient Foods and Beverages by Winning with Purpose. Under this vision, Pepsi Stronger Together is continually evolving the program to respond to the cultural moment and meet the needs of communities across the United States. Stay up to date at pepsistrongertogether.com, where visitors can engage in conversation and learn about the latest community initiatives and how to give back. Follow the conversation on social media at @pepsistrongertogether.