FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TBBCA appoints executive officers, adds four leaders to its Board of Directors
New Directors bring business expertise and passion for arts and culture to the Board
TAMPA, Fla. (January 5, 2017) – Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts (TBBCA) is pleased to announce the Board of Directors’ 2017 Board of Directors Officers and the election of four new Directors.
Damien Bertucelli, Vantage Point Advisors of Raymond James, will serve as the 2017 President of TBBCA Board of Directors. Stephen Gay, of Gay & Associates with Smith & Associates, is Vice-President; Sharon Britton, attorney at Phelps Dunbar, is Secretary; and Lisa Carver, CFO of The Wilson Company, is Treasurer.
TBBCA elected new Board Directors: Christopher Cavaliere, attorney with Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick; Nicole Duga, attorney with Hill Ward Henderson; Victor Langford, founder & CEO of Ya La’ford International; and advertising executive Adam Unger.
Each Director brings diverse experience and expertise to TBBCA, a non-profit organization that has united Tampa Bay area businesses to champion arts and culture for a prosperous community over the past 27 years. Directors serve a three-year term.
“Nicole, Chris, Adam and Victor each bring unique expertise,” said incoming TBBCA Board President Damien Bertucelli. “We are delighted to have leaders with such diverse professional backgrounds join TBBCA’s Board.”
“TBBCA is pleased to count on the commitment and support of these new Board Directors,” said Susana Weymouth, TBBCA executive director. “They will help TBBCA fulfill our mission and help maximize our impact in the Tampa Bay area community.”
Christopher Cavaliere, associate with Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, is a commercial litigator representing international corporations, large and small businesses, and insurers in all aspects of their business and in a variety of legal disputes. Cavaliere began his legal career as a criminal prosecutor. He is a graduate of Stetson University and Stetson Law, where he was awarded for excellence in trial advocacy, served as a Senior Associate on the Stetson Law Review, and interned for the Honorable Susan C. Bucklew, Senior U.S. District Court Judge. Cavaliere is also a member of Phi Beta Kappa. His professional affiliations include the American Bar Association, The Florida Bar, Hillsborough County and St. Petersburg Bar Associations. Cavaliere is a cultural enthusiast, with special interest in the visual and performing arts.
Nicole Duga is an associate in Hill Ward Henderson’s Litigation Group. Her practice includes the defense of product liability and tort claims, along with a diverse array of construction and design claims and employment and labor law claims. Duga graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Florida Levin College of Law where she served as an Articles Editor for the Florida Law Review and a member of the Order of the Coif for her scholastic achievements. Duga’s artistic passions include dance and music.
Victor Langford is the Founder & CEO of Ya La’ford International, a visual and experiential based art practice. He has held positions specializing in government, regulatory, business, public affairs and real estate facilitation, including as Advisor to the Secretary, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and Lead Legislative Analyst, U.S. Office of Congressional Relations, Office of Personnel Management, D.C. A graduate of Hampton University, he has trained at Stanford University, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and Regent University. Affiliations include National Endowment for the Arts, Americans for the Arts, and AffectArt Worldwide Artists Association.
Adam Unger has over 15 years of experience as a business executive within the advertising industry. He has guided both creative strategy and business development while serving as a liaison between clients and the agency’s art direction and copywriting teams in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. Unger has first-hand knowledge of and is a strong advocate for a thriving arts scene and its impact on the business community. He and his husband recently transferred to the Tampa Bay area from Washington, D.C., where they were active supporters of arts and culture, including Studio Theatre and the Washington Project for the Arts. Unger’s artistic interests include film, literature, visual and performing arts.
About TBBCA
TBBCA is a non-profit organization founded in 1989, and one of 11 national “Business Committees for the Arts,” part of the Private Sector Network and pARTnership Movement of Americans for the Arts. TBBCA’s mission is “to unite area businesses to champion arts and culture for a prosperous community” with the philosophy that “the arts are good for business and business is good for the arts.” Through innovative pARTnerships and sustainable programs including The Charlie Hounchell Art Stars Scholarships, Chalk Walks, Call to Artists, Cultural Encounters, Arts in Lobbies, and others, TBBCA provides advocacy, valuable funding resources and support for arts education, artists, and arts and cultural organizations, and builds awareness of arts and culture as important economic drivers in our community and essential contributors to our quality of life.
TBBCA programs are generously supported by donations and sponsorships, including Chair’s Circle pARTners: Premier Eye Care; Strategic Property Partners; The Tampa Bay Lightning; Stephen Gay & Associates, Realtors; The Beaux-Arts Group; Linda and Michael Connelly; Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP; Greenberg Traurig; DeBartolo Family Foundation; B2 Communications; Bruck Family Foundation/SoHo Capital; The Wilson Company; The Tampa Bay Times/tbt*; Tampa Bay Magazine; Alex McKnight Archival Images; Chappell Roberts; Savoir Faire Creative and Cox Media Group, and other pARTners.
For more information on TBBCA, or to join the pARTnership movement, contact Executive Director susanaweymouth@tbbca.org or call 813-221-2787 or www.tbbca.org.