On the Town

5 businesswomen join Pinellas hall of fame

Colleen Barrett, president and chief executive officer of Southwest Airlines, was the keynote speaker Thursday at the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce's inaugural induction into the Pinellas County Business Women's Hall of Fame.

The first names in that prestigious group are Shirley Coletti of Operation PAR Inc.; Pamela Jo Davis, ITC-Pride Enterprises; Dr. Akiko Tanaka, Tampa Bay Research Institute; Sylvia Walbolt, Carlton Fields; and Jean Giles Wittner, Wittner & Co.

Barrett's work requires her to be organized, although she said she favors spontaneity when speaking.

She praised each of the honorees and said each would be a good candidate for employment at the airline she heads.

Southwest stresses "hiring for attitude and training for skills," she said. "We love mavericks and people who do things differently," those who can laugh at themselves and those who provide excellent customer service.

Chamber officers Russ Sloan, president, and Leroy Sullivan, chairman, presented the awards.

Judges were Elizabeth Bell of Wachovia Bank, which presented the luncheon; Nancy Howe, Maddux Report, a founding sponsor; Nancy Loehr, Progress Energy, a founding sponsor; Peggy Sanchez Mills, YWCA of Tampa Bay; Sandra Contreras, Contreras Consulting, a contributing sponsor; and Cynthia Spearman, Pinellas County Economic Development, a contributing sponsor.

Other contributing sponsors were Bayfront Health System; the Sharon Simms Team, RE/MAX Affiliates; and Tampa International Airport.

Also attending the event, held in the Palm Court Ballroom of the Renaissance Vinoy Resort, were St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker, Bayfront Medical Center chief executive Sue Brody, Progress Energy executive Bill Habermeyer, Hillsborough County Aviation Authority executive director Louis Miller, Bill Coletti, Ted Wittner, Connie Kone, Sylvia and Ed Ameen, Dave Punzak, Noel Sams, Curt Thomas, Marty Petty, Susan Leath, Robbie Parham, Ginger Watters, Shirlynn Brown, Cheryl Sanchez, Hugh Ann Cason-Kelly, Cam Van Noord and Barbara Lane.

Shirley and Bill Coletti were much in evidence at Poetic Justice, the annual gala to benefit Operation PAR, held April 11 at the Feather Sound Country Club in Clearwater. Mrs. Coletti, who founded the organization, introduced their son Bill Coletti Jr., who was visiting from Orlando.

It's the eighth year for the clever fundraiser, the brainchild of Mary Critchfield.

Law enforcement agencies donate seized assets and sell them at auction, and the money goes to fight substance abuse.

This year's offerings were less abundant than those in years past; part of the reason is that other charitable groups have adopted the idea.

Still, there was much to choose from, including a 36-inch television and lots of jewelry. Designer Owen Sweet helps to clean and polish the forfeited baubles.

Cheryl LaMar chaired the event committee, which included Jackie Baynard, Anje Bogott, Karol Bullard, Mrs. Critchfield, Kay Dillinger, Lisa Faller, Onnie Hastings, Susan Latvala, Carole Merritt, Melissa Pollock and Donna Tyler.

Patrons attending included Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Linda Allen, Pinellas-Pasco public defender Bob Dillinger, Nancy Hamilton, George and Pam Campbell, Dick and Helen Minck, Paul and Kathleen Matecki, Ted and Jean Wittner, Sue Piatt, Dr. Lawrence Merritt, Jack Critchfield, Dave and Carol Pilkington, Bob Hastings, Tom and Darlene Grayson, Fred Bullard, Emily LaMar and Dr. David and Loretta Cimino.

Organizers of the the Pinellas County Heart Ball took a risk for the American Heart Association event: They planned the 45th annual gala outdoors, with tables and chairs surrounding the pool at the Don CeSar Beach Resort & Spa.

The gamble paid off, with patrons dining under the stars. In fact, the air was chilly enough to encourage wraps on bare shoulders; outdoor heaters substituted for cooling equipment that originally had been ordered for the evening.

Ken and Becky Coppedge were co-chairs for the fundraiser. Members of the executive committee were Brent and Debbie Sembler, Sue Brody, Bill Heller, Marcus Greene, Bill Protz, Lee Martino, Stephanie Goforth, Catherine McGarry and Lindsay Huckstep.

Dick Fletcher, chief meteorologist at WTSP-TV Ch. 10, was master of ceremonies, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Shelton Quarles was a celebrity guest for the American Heart Heroes program.

Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist was among those attending, along with Lenne Nicklaus-Ball and Ronnie Ball, G.W. and Sharon Clayton Keller, Del Goforth, Marsha Spindler and Carlos Urena.

LOOKING AHEAD

Wednesday

NEW BEGINNINGS BREAKFAST: Annual benefit for Florida Resurrection House features Hats Off to You! theme; attendees encouraged to wear hats. 7:30-8:45 a.m. Coliseum, 535 Fourth Ave. N, St. Petersburg. $50. 823-4742.

SALUTE TO PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANTS: 11th annual event sponsored by St. Anthony's Hospital Auxiliary Inc. Luncheon, presentation of Professional Assistant of the Year award. Noon-1:30 p.m. Sunset Ballroom, Renaissance Vinoy Resort, 600 Snell Isle Blvd., St. Petersburg. $60 includes employer, assistant. 392-5391.

ACADEMY PREP: Cocktails, hors d'oeuvres. 6:30-8:30 p.m., private home. 322-0800.

Thursday

COLLECTORS CHOICE II: Collectors Circle of the Museum of Fine Arts features cocktail reception, art viewing, dinner, selection of art for the museum. Black tie optional. 6:30 p.m. Marly Room, Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg. $150. 896-2667.

Friday

BATTLE OF THE MINDS 2003: Benefit for St. Petersburg Free Clinic features quiz-show competition, cocktails, dinner, silent auction. Dressy casual. 6:30 p.m. Hilton St. Petersburg, 333 First St. S. $125. 821-1200, ext. 108.

Saturday

MEDALLION GALA 2003: Benefit for the new cardiac care center at St. Anthony's Health Care. Cocktails, dinner, dancing, silent auction. Black tie. 6:30 p.m. Palm Court Ballroom, Renaissance Vinoy Resort, 501 Fifth Ave. NE, St. Petersburg. $150. 825-1629.

-- Mary Jane Park can be reached at (727) 893-8267; fax (727) 893-8675; e-mail park@sptimes.com; P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731.

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