The board of directors of Catholic Health Services announced that its CEO, Joseph M. Catania, is retiring from the organization after leading its growth and development over the past 30 years. From his appointment to the position, Catania has continually advanced the Mission of CHS, built a focused and cohesive team, nurtured community partnerships, and focused on serving the most vulnerable within the south Florida community.

After decades of guiding the organization through difficult times into fiscal stability and then to remarkable growth, Joe Catania, the only chief executive officer Catholic Health Services has ever had will retire effective September 30, 2021.
 
With a style of full commitment and ownership, Catania always accepted personal responsibility, not only for the 6,000 people in the daily care of CHS, but also over 2,500 staff members and their families. His holistic approach to ensuring the security and sustainability of the organization was his overarching goal.
 
“Having served over three decades as CEO, I feel this is the right time for a leadership change. It has been my honor and privilege to serve the community, the Archdiocese of Miami, and lead the great team at Catholic Health Services. I am proud of the people of CHS and the organization we have built,” said Joe Catania.
 
“On behalf of the board, I want to thank Mr. Catania for his professional and personal commitment and dedication to Catholic Health Services. His remarkable contributions and leadership have been immeasurable. He has led this organization with courage and confidence through a transformative journey and CHS is a strong market leader thanks to Joe. Given the extended timeline before Mr. Catania retires, the board of directors will begin a thorough and deliberate CEO selection process,” shared Ralph E Lawson, Chairman of the Board, CHS.


March 29 2021 – Miami Lighthouse for the Blind will celebrate the “topping-out” of its expanded facility with a ceremony on March 31st at 12PM unveiling its school’s new name, Miami Lighthouse Academy. In a multifaceted educational approach to serving students who are blind, the school which contains pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, first and second grades, is one component within the Miami Lighthouse’s Children’s Programs. Other Children’s Programs include Early Intervention for Blind Babies and services for elementary and middle school children during the summer, school holidays and Saturdays.
 
The “topping-out” ceremony pays homage to a long-held construction tradition marking the installation of the highest piece of structural steel on the new building’s fifth floor roof. Construction is expected to be completed in time to begin the new school year in August 2021.
 
Miami Lighthouse, located for nearly 90 years at what would become known as “Little Havana”, at 601 Southwest 8th Avenue on the Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Campus, will host the “topping-out” ceremony in collaboration with Miller Construction Company and Wolfberg Alvarez Architects. The 30,000 sq. ft. expansion to the current 115,000 sq. ft. facility was made possible by private donations in response to challenge grants from local philanthropists. 
 
This classroom expansion will enable Miami Lighthouse Academy to have the capacity to teach blind kindergarten, first and second grade students in a highly accessible learning environment separate from their early learning Pre-school/Pre-kindergarten early learners. 
 
 
Blind and visually impaired children from communities throughout Miami-Dade learn side-by-side with their sighted classmates from the surrounding neighborhood, ages one through four enrolled in our 50/50 inclusive learning environment that has been recognized as a national model for inclusive learning. This unique learning initiative, in partnership with Miami-Dade County Public Schools, The Children’s Trust and the Early Learning Coalition of Miami Dade/Monroe, addresses a need identified by the U.S. Department of Education to support inclusion of children with disabilities and school readiness in a high quality learning environment. The Miami Lighthouse Academy has been designed as a safe, family centered program with a wide array of tactile experiences through which early learners explore the world around them in an accessible, engaging and fun way. 
 
Established in 1930 by Dolly Gamble with the aid of Helen Keller and support from the Miami Lions and Miami Rotary Clubs, Miami Lighthouse is the oldest and largest private agency in Florida assisting persons of all ages who are blind and visually impaired. Today, Miami Lighthouse annually transforms the lives of 90,000 blind and visually impaired people, babies to seniors, and their families. The impact of programs is statewide, national, and international. For more information about Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, visit MiamiLighthouse.org, or call 305-856-2288.


Trulieve Cannabis Corp announces the promotion of Eric Powers to Chief Legal Officer, and the appointments of Ronda Sheffield to Chief Human Resources Officer, Zachary Kobrin to General Counsel, and Aaron Lopez to Director Government Affairs.

For the last two years, Eric Powers has served as Trulieve’s General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. He has more than 25 years of broad legal experience through his work in corporate and tax law, both in-house and private practice. Prior to joining Trulieve, Powers served as Vice President and Corporate Secretary for a >$1 billion revenue publicly-traded insurance company.
 
As a human resources executive for more than 20 years, Ronda Sheffield brings extensive experience leading organizational transformations. Most recently the Chief Human Resources Officer for ModWash, Sheffield has held HR leadership positions for top corporations including Lowe’s Home Improvement, Sprint Wireless, Starbucks Coffee Company, and Walmart Stores.
 
Zack Kobrin was a partner with Akerman LLP, where he was a leader in the firm’s nationally recognized cannabis practice group. Prior to Akerman, Zack was the General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for a multi-state cannabis company. In his prior capacity, Kobrin advised a number of entities on corporate, business development and formation, as well as, legal, regulatory, and compliance matters in the cannabis and hemp industry throughout the United States and emerging international markets.
 
Aaron Lopez joins as Trulieve’s first Director of Government Affairs. Prior to joining Trulieve, Lopez was the founder of Political Capital LLC. He has served as head of government affairs across various industries including pharmaceutical, hospitality, oil and gas, and financial services. For the past five years, Lopez has worked with state agencies and legislators in Virginia and West Virginia on the creation of medical cannabis laws.
 
 


Florida and the rest of the nation are hopefully turning the corner on the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. However, while case rates continue to drop and the state’s economy continues to improve, many people still face economic uncertainty and the prospect of lapsing health insurance.

Today, with the rollout of three safe and highly effective COVID-19 vaccines, Florida is well positioned for a strong economic recovery. But, it will take time. Amy Baker, coordinator of the Legislature’s Office of Economic & Demographic Research, told lawmakers last month that despite improved tax-revenue numbers for December and an improved outlook for the hospitality and leisure industries, it may be 2024 until those industries return to pre-pandemic levels of activity and revenue.
 
For Floridians who lost their job or are in between jobs, figuring out how to get health insurance for themselves and their families can be a challenge and a significant worry. Having affordable and reliable health insurance can be the difference between successfully managing an illness and having to rely on hospital emergency departments when a condition worsens or becomes potentially life-threatening.
 
In response to the pandemic’s impact on the national economy and job market, the federal government temporarily re-opened the health insurance exchange, HealthCare.gov, where individuals can compare available health insurance plans, potentially qualify for substantial premium subsidies and cost-sharing help, and purchase coverage. Normally open for enrollment only in the fall or upon a life event (like losing a job and employer-provided coverage, getting married or having a baby), the exchange is now available until August 15 for people who previously did not enroll so they can find and purchase affordable private health insurance.
 
Florida has an estimated 1.6 million residents eligible to purchase coverage through the exchange, according to data analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation. Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of these residents also qualify for full or partial subsidies that reduce the monthly premium required. In the first two weeks of the special enrollment period, nearly 62,000 Floridians – more than any other state — purchased private coverage on the exchange.
 
Without health insurance, people who get sick, need medicine, suffer a traumatic accident or injury, or require medical treatment of any kind either forego care or rely on hospitals to provide that care. While health insurance does not guarantee access to care, it is an important determinant in access to timely and appropriate care. Numerous studies have shown that people without health insurance are more likely to delay health care or, tragically, forgo it altogether. The health consequences can be severe, particularly when preventable conditions, such as coronary heart disease, or chronic diseases, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, go undetected.
 
Being uninsured takes a heavy toll on individuals and families. It has a cost for our health care system as well. Florida’s hospitals have an ethical and legal obligation to treat everyone who comes to them, regardless of their ability to pay. The cost of that duty is more than $1.8 billion in charity care.
 
For Florida’s hospitals, your health matters. And so does having an affordable and reliable source of health insurance and access to timely health care. The health insurance exchange is open for business until August 15. Let’s get Florida covered.


Trulieve Cannabis Corp announces the promotion of Eric Powers to Chief Legal Officer, and the appointments of Ronda Sheffield to Chief Human Resources Officer, Zachary Kobrin to General Counsel, and Aaron Lopez to Director Government Affairs.

For the last two years, Eric Powers has served as Trulieve’s General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. He has more than 25 years of broad legal experience through his work in corporate and tax law, both in-house and private practice. Prior to joining Trulieve, Powers served as Vice President and Corporate Secretary for a >$1 billion revenue publicly-traded insurance company.
 
As a human resources executive for more than 20 years, Ronda Sheffield brings extensive experience leading organizational transformations. Most recently the Chief Human Resources Officer for ModWash, Sheffield has held HR leadership positions for top corporations including Lowe’s Home Improvement, Sprint Wireless, Starbucks Coffee Company, and Walmart Stores.
 
Zack Kobrin was a partner with Akerman LLP, where he was a leader in the firm’s nationally recognized cannabis practice group. Prior to Akerman, Zack was the General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for a multi-state cannabis company. In his prior capacity, Kobrin advised a number of entities on corporate, business development and formation, as well as, legal, regulatory, and compliance matters in the cannabis and hemp industry throughout the United States and emerging international markets.
 
Aaron Lopez joins as Trulieve’s first Director of Government Affairs. Prior to joining Trulieve, Lopez was the founder of Political Capital LLC. He has served as head of government affairs across various industries including pharmaceutical, hospitality, oil and gas, and financial services. For the past five years, Lopez has worked with state agencies and legislators in Virginia and West Virginia on the creation of medical cannabis laws.