The Transition Team invites interested members of the public to send them their ideas or qualifications and resumes to  mayorelect@stpete.org to join the incoming administration.

Dr. Yvonne Scruggs-Leftwich – co-chair

Mr. Andrew M. Hayes, AIA – co-chair

Askia Muhammed Aquil Is the former Executive Director of St. Petersburg Neighborhood Housing Services and the former Deputy Director of the St. Petersburg Housing Authority as well as a native of St Petersburg.

Michael J. Babboni, Esq. Is a partner at Shapiro, Goldman, Babboni & Walsh. He was a charter member of the St Petersburg Nuisance Abatement Commission and is a registered Player Representative by the NFL in Pinellas County.

Johnny J. Bardine, Esq. Is a practicing attorney and member of the Pier Advisory Task Force. He has worked for the Magistrate’s Court in Camberwell Green, London, United Kingdom and after Law School a law clerk in Prague, Czech Republic.

Terry Bryant Is a long term resident of St Petersburg that is active in various community organizations.

Louis Brown III, Esq. Is a member of the Florida Bar and currently the Assistant Director of Legal Affairs for Minor League Baseball. In the community he serves as the President of St. Pete Together, and Co-Chair of Agenda 2010 & Beyond.

Vince Cocks Is the Vice President of Operations at Faith House and an avid user of public transportation.

Michael J. Connors, P.E . Is Administrator for Public Works with the City of St Petersburg and the City’s Sustainability Officer.

Leslie Curran Is owner of Interior Motives and has been active in cultural affairs for the City for many years. She is currently a member of the St Petersburg City Council, representing District 4, that will step down January 1, 2014 due to term limits.

Ben Diamond, Esq. Is a partner at the law firm Williamson, Diamond & Caton in St. Petersburg, Florida. He worked for four years as a lawyer for the State of Florida in Tallahassee, serving as General Counsel to the Chief Financial Officer of the State of Florida and the Florida Department of Financial Services.

Bob Devin Jones Is Artistic Director and Co-Founder of Studio 620 in St Petersburg. He has been a resident of St. Petersburg since 1997, participating in many educational and cultural organizations.

Mike Dove Served the City of St. Petersburg for over 26 years in various positions culminating in Deputy Mayor for Neighborhood Services. Mike is currently a member of St Petersburg Neighborhood Home Solutions, a non-profit that focuses on affordable housing.

Winnie Foster Is CEO of the Sojourner Truth Center and a community activist who has lived in St. Petersburg for more than 40 years. She has served on countless boards and committees and been a champion for civil rights and the environment, among other issues.

Gypsy Gallardo Is Lead Designer of the 2020 Plan to reduce poverty by 30 percent in South St. Petersburg by the 2020 Census, and Publisher of the Power Broker Magazine.

Nikki Gaskin-Capehart Is Director of Communications and External Affairs for the Pinellas County Urban League of Tampa Bay. She is the former Deputy Director for U.S. Congresswoman Kathy Castor.

Joel B. Giles, Esq. Is an attorney with Carlton Fields and practices in the areas of complex real estate and commercial transactions. He represents the developers of large mixed-use, commercial, and residential projects.

Cedric Gordon Is a former Assistant Chief of the St Petersburg Police Department where he completed over 31 years of distinguished service.

William ‘Bill’ Heller, Ph.D. Is Dean of the College of Education at USF-St Petersburg. He is a former member of the Florida House of Representatives and Army Paratrooper.

Bob Jeffrey Is a historic preservationist and former City of St. Petersburg employee who led the revisions to St Petersburg’s Land Use Ordinance.

Deborah Kelly Is Executive Director of the St. Petersburg Little Theatre and a member of the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance.

Carl R. Lavender, Jr Is a retired executive with forty years’ experience in the non-profit industry. Carl served the majority of his professional career with Boys & Girls Clubs of America advancing professionally from youth leader to Executive Director.

Lorraine Margeson Created and built a successful small business, Donlo Communications, Inc. along with her husband Don. She is a noted community and environmental activist and former candidate for the St. Petersburg City Council.

Brad Miller Is Chief Executive Officer at Suncoast Pinellas Transit Authority and former Director of Operations at the Charlotte Area Transit System.

Ed Montanari Is a pilot for American Airlines and has served with multiple community boards and organizations. He is a former Air Force officer and Vice Chair of the Pier Advisory Task Force.

Brother John Muhammad Is a community organizer with a Certificate in grassroots Leadership from USF-St Petersburg and President of the Childs Park Neighborhood Association in St Petersburg.

Mary Anna Murphy Is President of MAM Exhibit Design and Chair of the City of St Petersburg Public Arts Commission.

Rev. Louis M. Murphy, Sr. Was installed as the Senior Pastor of Mt. Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist Church in St Petersburg in May 1999. He is one-time Drum Major for the Florida A&M Marching 100, previous, former non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Marine Corps and District Executive for the West Central Florida Council of Boy Scouts of America.

Rick Mussett Is Senior Administrator for City Development with the City of St Petersburg where he began his employment in 1980.

James G. Newman, CPA Is a shareholder and Managing Partner in the certified public accounting firm of Gregory, Sharer & Stuart. He was one of the founding members of the Heroes of the St Petersburg Policy, a non-profit that assists the families of St Petersburg Police Officers in times of need.

Winthrop “Will” Newton Is the Florida Professional Firefighters 2nd District Vice President and former President of the St. Petersburg Chapter of the International Association of Firefighters.

Karl Nurse Is Chair of the St Petersburg City Council, representing District 6, focusing on innovation and sustainability issues across departments. He is Co-Owner of Bay Tech Label and rehabilitates single family residences.

Ross D. Preville, WMS Is Vice President of Investments with the Wealth Management Group of Raymond James. He currently chairs the Downtown Waterfront Master Plan Task Force for the St Petersburg Chamber of Commerce.

Dan Ray Is former President and Senior Fellow of the Institute at Biltmore, and former President & CEO of the American Craft Council.

Angela Rouson Is President of the National Council of Negro Women and Board member of the Pinellas County Juvenile Welfare Board. She is a former Vice Chair of the Pinellas County Housing Authority.

Joey Saunders Is a college student at USF St. pete and lifelong Rays fan, who attended 90 games this past season. He played four years of Varsity Baseball at Saint Petersburg Catholic High School, including a state Final Four appearance, and is currently an assistant baseball coach at SPC.

Craig Sher Is Executive Chairman of the Sembler Company of St Petersburg. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of All Children’s Hospital and former member of the ABC Commission that looked at potential new sites for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Rick Smith Is currently Chief of Staff for the Florida Public Services Union which represents 25,000 workers in the state including the City of St Petersburg where he has been the Chief Negotiator for the last 4 agreements.

Herb Snitzer Is a nationally renowned photographer that has been featured in many periodicals including the Saturday Evening Post, Fortune, Time and the New York Times. His career spans over 50 years of provocative image-making.

Sophia Sorolis Is Co-Director of the Greenhouse, a new business development collaboration between the City of St Petersburg and the St Petersburg Chamber of Commerce.

Chris Steinocher Is President and CEO of the St Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and former Chief Operating Officer of the Tampa Bay Partnership.

Rev. Dr. Manuel L. Sykes Is Pastor of Bethel Community Baptist Church in St. Petersburg, Florida. He holds two Doctoral degrees and is a key member of the ecumenical organization FAST; Faith and Action for Strength Together.

Rev. John G. Tapp Is Pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church in St Petersburg and a key member of the ecumenical organization FAST; Faith and Action for Strength Together.

Rabbi Michael Torop Has been serving as the Rabbi of Temple Beth-El, a diverse Reform congregation of approximately 450 families in St. Petersburg, Florida since 2001. He is also a key member of the ecumenical organization FAST; Faith and Action for Strength Together.

Katee Tully Is a former University professor and administrator as well as former Executive Director of the Morean Arts Center.

Donna Welch Is the Program Coordinator for the James B. Sanderlin Neighborhood Family Center.

Frank Wells Is the Chief Executive at World Power & Water and former President of Leadership Tampa Bay.

Lisa Wheeler-Brown Currently serves as the President of Wildwood Neighborhood Association, Chair of the Public Safety Committee for the Council of Neighborhood Associations, and the Honorary Chair of the Holocaust Museum community project “Speak Up, Speak Now.” She is also a U.S. Army veteran.

Father Robin Whitlock Is the Priest in Charge, St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church

Tonjua Williams, Ph.D. Is the Senior Vice President of Student Services at St. Petersburg College. Tonjua has held various positions throughout her 26 years of experience in higher education. She was recognized as the 2011 Jr. Achievement Educator of the Year for Pinellas County.

Ann Wykell Is former Manager of Cultural Affairs and International Relations for the City of St. Petersburg.