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Press Releases
For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Sam Gil
Camillus House
305-374-1065 ext. 328 (office)
samgil@camillus.org • www.camillus.org
CAMILLUS HOUSE WELCOMES NINE NEW BOARD MEMBERS
MIAMI – The Brothers of the Good Shepherd, the founders and sponsors of Camillus House, appointed nine individuals to serve on Camillus' Board of Directors. The new members include Nelly Y. Farra, Paul J. DiMare, Sr., Robert F. Cotter, Maria C. Alonso, Jorge Luis Lopez, John T. Mestepey, Rayfield M. McGhee, Jr., Kimberly Palmer, and William H. Parker.
Nelly Y. Farra, formerly with the firm of Touche Ross, CPA, has exclusively devoted over two decades to serve various organizations dedicated to health, children and families. Ms. Farra currently serves on the Founders Board of the University of Miami’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Parents Medical Association of the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine, and Board of Trustees of the Informed Families of Miami-Dade County. In addition, she has chaired fundraising committees of Children’s Home Society on various occasions and is a fellow of the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens,
Paul J. DiMare, Sr., of DiMare Brothers, Inc., one of the nation’s largest importers and distributors of fresh produce, was named a 2007 American Red Cross Humanitarian of the Year and was elected to the Florida Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2005. Among his many important affiliations, Mr. DiMare is chairman and Co-Founder of Florida Farmers, Inc., a director of the American Red Cross of Greater Miami and the Keys, a trustee of the University of Miami, founder of the Paul J. DiMare Foundation, and a member of the Board of Directors of Community Partnership for Homeless.
Robert F. Cotter, retired president of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc., is among the most prominent hotel executives in the world with an impressive 33-year career. In 1992, and again in 2003, Business Travel News named Mr. Cotter one of the 25 most influential executives in the travel industry. For four consecutive years, Irish America Magazine has named Mr. Cotter one of the top Irish-American executives in corporate America. In addition, he is a trustee of the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation and Boston College.
Maria C. Alonso is a market development manager for Bank of America, working closely with community organizations and the market’s leadership team to implement the banks’ local charitable-giving strategy and sponsorships. Ms. Alonso is a member of the Executive Committee of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, chairs its Regional Business Development Group and co-chairs the United Way Economic Independence Impact Council.
Jorge Luis Lopez, principal of his own firm Jorge Luis Lopez, Esq, Government Affairs Counsel, has served as Miami-Dade County’s director of the Intergovernmental Affairs Division in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew. He also served as the county’s refugee affairs liaison during the Guantanamo Cuban and Haitian refugee exodus. He chairs the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Interlocal Agreement, Citizens’ Oversight Committee, The Parks Foundation, Inc., and the Carlos Albizu University Foundation.
John T. Mestepey is managing director of the Miami office of Edward W. Kelly & Partners and a veteran in the executive-search recruitment industry worldwide. A native of Southern California, Mr. Mestepey was commissioned a lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in 1968, and served a tour of duty in Vietnam, where he was wounded in action and released from active duty in 1971. On the community side, he is a member of the Board of Directors of the Orange Bowl Committee and the Beacon Council. He is the former president of the Board of Directors of the Haven Center and was a trustee of the Ransom Everglades School. Mr. Mestepey is also a member of the Association of Executive Search Consultants.
Rayfield M. McGhee, Jr., a founding partner in the law firm of McGhee & McGhee, previously served an assistant public defender for Miami-Dade County. His practice is devoted to litigating civil and criminal matters in both the state and federal court systems. Mr. McGhee was appointed by the Florida Bar Board of Governors to the Third District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Committee where he served as chair for 1995-1996. He also served on the Dade County Housing and Urban Development Advisory Board and the Florida Bar Grievance Committee. In March of 1995, McGhee was appointed by the Florida Bar Board of Governors to serve on the 11th Circuit Fee Arbitration Committee. He is a prominent member of the Miami-Dade County Black Lawyers Association where he has served as president and a member of the Executive Board.
Kimberly Palmer is the regional managing director of Merrill Lynch South Florida and oversees 21 offices from Vero Beach to the Keys, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. She has worked in the private-client business for 29 years and her career has taken her to Latin America, Asia and Europe. Ms. Palmer sat on Merrill Lynch’s regional Diversity Leadership Committee in London and is a member of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and the Beacon Council.
William H. Parker is co-founder of Washington Cable Supply, Inc. and has held several positions within the company, including CEO and president. Under his leadership, Washington Cable Supply, Inc. grew to become the nation’s seventh largest African-American owned company. Mr. Parker supports and mentors those who wish to achieve their educational and professional goals through corporate outreach programs such as the Summer College Tour and Capitol Commitment. He also donates his free time to several community activities and is a board member of the Miami Art Museum.
Camillus House has provided humanitarian services to the poor and homeless populations of Miami-Dade County, Florida for more than 47 years. Established by the Brothers of the Good Shepherd in 1960, Camillus House has grown steadily over the years from a small soup kitchen into a full service center offering a comprehensive “continuum of care” for persons who are poor and homeless.
