Restaurants, stores opening soon at Downtown Palm Beach Gardens
Construction at Downtown Palm Beach Gardens is set to finish up by the end of September. Here are the exciting new stores, restaurants opening soon.
In our weekly list of business people on the move, we highlight Palm Beach County professionals who are making a difference. These are people from across the spectrum of public and private endeavors, those working in charities, court houses, private practices and beyond. They are moving up within their industry, advancing their careers and standing out for their services within our community.
Here are this week’s professional standouts:
West Palm Beach Community Events Division wins 20 awards
The Florida Festivals & Events Association recently honored the City of West Palm Beach with an impressive collection of awards. During FFEA’s annual Sunsational Awards, the city received a total of 20 accolades for a variety of events, including Fourth on Flagler, Holiday in Paradise, and their new Vintage Vibes event that took place in May. The city’s community events division, under the leadership of marketing and community events manager Angela Poco, earned eight first-place awards, eight second-place awards, and four third-place awards.
U.S. Sugar names GM for railroad operations
South Central Florida Express, a leading Class III rail service provider in central Florida, and U.S. Sugar, a South Florida-based sugarcane and vegetable farming and processing business, recently announced the promotion of Bob Lawson to vice president of South Central Florida Express and general manager of U.S. Sugar railroad operations. U.S. Sugar’s railroad operations have been a cornerstone of the company’s history and overall success, and Lawson’s affinity for agriculture and trains made him a perfect fit. U.S. Sugar sustainably grows sugarcane, citrus, sweet corn and other vegetables.
Palm Beach Dramaworks names familiar face executive director
Rudina Toro has been named excecutive director of Palm Beach Dramaworks. Toro became PBD’s first chief financial operating officer in March 2023, but her association with the company dates back to its early years, when she was an audit manager with Nowlen, Holt & Miner, P.A. She collaborated on PBD’s inaugural audit, and remained audit manager for the next 12 years. “Rudina knows PBD from the inside out, loves the company, and is committed to its mission,” said former managing director Sue Ellen Beryl. “We knew she was the right person to step into this job.”
ONA Coastal Cuisine on Singer Island makes executive chef change
ONA Coastal Cuisine at the Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa has appointed a new executive chef to debut an elevated, coastal-focused menu. Executive chef Velmary Irizarry now leads the ONA kitchen with a variety of new, bold, and sophisticated flavors with Mediterranean influences, including the freshest seafood and house-made pastas. Irizarry has more than 16 years of professional culinary expertise and brings her skills and creative passion to ONA Coastal Cuisine.
Local American Red Cross chapter’s addition boosts fundraising power
The American Red Cross South Florida Region has appointed Amy McKie-Billing as its new regional philanthropy officer to lead fundraising efforts and deepen donor engagement across Indian River, Martin, Palm Beach, and St. Lucie Counties. With roots in Texas, New York, and Florida, McKie-Billing brings nearly 30 years of leadership experience in the technology sector, where she supported thousands of clients, including Fortune 500 companies. Throughout her career, she has specialized in strategic growth, relationship development, and community engagement.
Interim chief of police takes reins in Jupiter
Don Hennessy, who has been with the Jupiter Police Department for 23 years, was named the interim chief of police, effective Oct. 3. Hennessy has served as JPD’s deputy chief since November 2024, overseeing all major bureaus of the department. In this role, he has led strategic initiatives and served as deputy incident commander within the town’s Emergency Incident Command System.
Nine lawyers from Gardens firm Comiter Singer garner accolades
The Palm Beach Gardens law firm Comiter Singer recently announced that partner Andrew Comiter has been recognized by his peers as the 2026 “Lawyer of the Year” in corporate law for the West Palm Beach area by Best Lawyers. In addition, Comiter was also recognized in The Best Lawyers in America as were eight other lawyers from the firm. These include Patricia Lebow for commercial litigation; Alan H. Baseman for corporate law, tax law and trusts and estates; Keith B. Braun for trusts and estates; Richard B. Comiter for tax law, trusts and estates; Frank Owen Evans III for tax law; Lisa Z. Hauser for trusts and estates; Antonio P. Romano for litigation, trusts and estates; and Michael S. Singer for litigation, trusts and estates.
Firm Coffey Modica opens Palm Beach Gardens office, names leader
Coffey Modica LLP, a leading defense litigation firm representing businesses and insurance companies in liability claims, excess property and casualty, medical malpractice, nursing, and other professional industries, is pleased to announce the opening of a new office in Palm Beach Gardens led by veteran litigator Richard Jarolem, who is joining the firm as its Florida managing partner.
Law firm bolsters team with recent addition
Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa, a leading Florida personal injury law firm with more than four decades of experience, recently announced the addition of attorney Owen S. Tendrich to its team. A West Palm Beach native, Tendrich is committed to representing individuals injured in motor vehicle collisions, slip-and-fall accidents, defective product cases, and other negligence matters. Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa has offices in West Palm Beach and Port St. Lucie.
If you are looking for more insight into the movers and shakers operating in the Palm Beaches, subscribe to our real estate newsletter, The Dirt, keep an eye out for stories and perspective from veteran reporters Kimberly Miller and Alexandra Clough. If you have an announcement for Business People on the Move, please send it to Pbbusiness@pbpost.com.
Eddie Ritz is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at eritz@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
