Senior-level hires and promotions for the week of Nov. 19, 2018
BANKS
Liudmila Esquerdo has been named vice president, SBA Business Development Officer in South Florida at Valley, also known as Valley National Bank. Most recently, she was vice president, senior SBA administrator at Professional Bank. Esquerdo has a bachelor’s in economics and finance from Barry University.
HEALTH
Jason Vanatta has been named surgical director of abdominal transplantation at Cleveland Clinic Florida in Weston. He was director of liver transplantation at the Methodist University Transplant Institute in Memphis, Tenn. He graduated from MCP Hahnemann University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, and completed his surgery residency at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.,
Design
Luis Escudero has been named creative director at Rene Ruiz Collection, whose corporate office is in Hialeah. He has been senior designer with the company since 2008. Escudero graduated from International Fine Arts College (IFAC), now known as Miami International University of Art & Design, with a degree in fashion design.
HOSPITALITY
Caitlan Etchevers has been named director of sales and marketing at Costa Hollywood Beach Resort. Previously, she was director of domestic sales at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.
RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
Mary Scott Russell has been named director of marketing for East Ridge at Cutler Bay, a not-for-profit life plan retirement community. Russell, who was mayor of the City of South Miami, was most recently president and CEO of ChamberSOUTH chamber of commerce.
REAL ESTATE
Rose Harris has been named a vice president at EWM Realty International. She most recently worked with Douglas Elliman and One Sotheby’s. Harris, who heads the Rose Harris Group, had established her career with EWM.
SOCIAL SERVICES
Jessica Lerner was promoted to president and chief executive of Community Care Plan, based in Sunrise. She previously was the company’s executive vice president and chief operating officer and is a co-founder of the company. Lerner has a bachelor’s in marketing and management from Florida International University and a master’s of healthcare administration from Florida Atlantic University.
TECHNOLOGY
Suzzi Morrison has been promoted to chief technology officer of Nordis Technologies. She was previously vice president of technology at the customer communication management and payments company.
This space lists promotions of executives at the director level and above who are based in Broward, Miami-Dade or Monroe counties. Announcements, also at miamiherald.com, are for full-time, paid positions — not for board or volunteer positions. Send items, with jpeg of a head shot, to movers@miamiherald.com. Please use the word ‘Movers’ in the subject field of the email.
Mover’s spotlight
Name: Leonard Pounds
New position: Vice president of clinical operations at Nova Southeastern University.
From: Deputy chief information officer.
Responsibilities: He’ll oversee all clinic operations, including the revenue cycle. Pounds will work to enhance the patient experience at NSU’s 39 centers where 220,000 patients visit annually. He’ll also work closely with NSU’s deans to strengthen academic programs. Pounds joined NSU in 2007.
Also: Pounds was in the U.S. Navy as an information systems technician, Second-Class Petty Officer (ESWS). His active duty deployments included Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, and he received several medals.
Education: Bachelor’s in information technology from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania; master’s from NSU, where he’s also pursuing a Ph.D. in information systems.
Best advice: I think one of the best bits of advice is that I was told to surround myself with experts. Find the people that are great in areas that aren’t your strongest, and don’t feel threatened by them.
See past senior-level hires and promotions in South Florida for 2017-2018:▪ Jan. 2, 2017▪ Jan. 9, 2017▪ Jan. 16, 2017▪ Jan. 23, 2017▪ Jan. 30, 2017▪ Feb. 6, 2017▪ Feb. 13, 2017▪ Feb. 20, 2017▪ Feb. 27, 2017▪ March 6, 2017▪ March 13, 2017▪ March 20, 2017▪ March 27, 2017▪ April 3, 2017▪ April 10, 2017▪ April 17, 2017▪ April 24, 2017▪ May 1, 2017▪ May 8, 2017▪ May 15, 2017▪ May 22, 2017▪ May 29, 2017▪ June 5, 2017▪ June 12, 2017▪ June 19, 2017▪ June 26, 2017▪ July 3, 2017▪ July 10, 2017▪ July 17, 2017▪ July 24, 2017▪ July 31, 2017▪ Aug. 7, 2017▪ Aug. 14, 2017▪ Aug. 21, 2017▪ Aug. 28, 2017▪ Sept. 4, 2017▪ Sept. 11, 2017(No Movers ran on Sept. 18, 2017)▪ Sept. 25, 2017▪ Oct. 3, 2017▪ Oct. 9, 2017▪ Oct. 16, 2017▪ Oct. 23, 2017▪ Oct. 31, 2017▪ Nov. 5, 2017▪ Nov. 13, 2017▪ Nov. 20, 2017(No Movers ran on Nov. 27, 2017)▪ Dec. 4, 2017▪ Dec. 11, 2017▪ Dec. 18, 2017(No Movers ran on Jan. 1, 2018)▪ Jan. 8, 2018▪ Jan. 15, 2018▪ Jan. 22, 2018▪ Jan. 29, 2018▪ Feb. 5, 2018▪ Feb. 12, 2018▪ Feb. 19, 2018▪ Feb. 26, 2018▪ March 5, 2018▪ March 12, 2018▪ March 19, 2018▪ March 26 )(No Movers ran on April 2, 2018)▪ April 9, 2018▪ April 16, 2018▪ April 23, 2018▪ April 30, 2018▪ May 7, 2018 May 14, 2018 May 21, 2018 May 28, 2018 June 4, 2018 June 11, 2018June 18, 2018June 25, 2018 (No Movers ran on July 9) July 16, 2018 July 23, 2018 July 30, 2018 Aug. 6, 2018Aug. 13, 2018 Aug. 20, 2018 Aug. 27, 2018 Sept. 3, 2018Sept. 10, 2018 Sept. 17, 2018 Sept. 24, 2018 Oct. 1, 2018 Oct. 8, 2018 Oct. 15, 2018 (No Movers ran on Oct. 22, 2018) Oct. 29, 2018 Nov. 5, 2018 Nov. 12, 2018
This story was originally published November 17, 2018 at 4:37 AM with the headline "Senior-level hires and promotions for the week of Nov. 19, 2018."