New hires, professional achievements in Volusia, Flagler

DAYTONA BEACH

Cobb Cole attorney Mark Watts was recently named the Daytona Beach-based law firm’s president and managing partner. He succeeded attorney Heather Vargas who completed her four-year stint. The law firm has offices in both Daytona Beach and DeLand. Watts is a veteran land-use attorney who lives in DeLand and will split his time at both offices. The law firm also announced that three of their attorneys have been named Florida Super Lawyers: Vargas, Sara Glover and Michael Sznapstajler. 

Marsha Evans Cooksey, a Realtor with Realty Pros Assured in Ormond Beach, was recently installed as the 2022 board president of the Daytona Beach Area Association of Realtors.

Carter Electric owner Roy Gailey recently announced several staff promotions at his Daytona Beach company. Matthew Wittwer, a 16-year veteran with the business, will assume the role of president. Gailey who has been with the company 58 years will assume the newly created role of CEO. Gailey’s younger brother Henry “Wake” Gailey, a 39-year veteran with the company, will become senior vice president. Rhonda Salsman is the new treasurer. Maria Lundberg is the new company secretary, a role she will hold along with serving as office manager and head of human resources. Ron Dzuris and Bobby Wiech both have been promoted to vice president.  

Dr. Carrie Vey, residency program director and designated institutional official at the Halifax Health Family Medicine Residency Program in Daytona Beach, was recently elected as the 2022 president of the Florida Academy of Family Physicians.

DELAND

City of DeLand employees Christopher Jackson and Mariellen Calabro recently earned certificates from the University of Florida for completing the UF Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences’ Florida-Friendly Landscaping Program. Jackson is an arborist technician. Calabro is a city forester. 

FLAGLER BEACH

Sal Passalaqua, area manager for Craig Flagler Palms Funeral Home, Memorial Gardens & Crematory in Flagler Beach, was recently honored as the 2021 recipient of the Award for Outstanding Philanthropist from the Association of Nonprofit Professionals. He was nominated for the award by The Early Learning Coalition of Flagler and Volusia Counties Inc. for his contributions to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Flagler County.

FLAGLER COUNTY

Percy Sayles has been hired as the new deputy chief for Fire Rescue for Flagler County. He most recently worked for the City of Tamarac in Broward County where the roles he held included fire chief as well as a two-month stint as interim assistant city manager. He is a native of Eustis.

Jarrod Shupe, Flagler County chief information officer, was recently appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to serve on the state’s E911 Board. Shupe also serves as Flagler County’s 911 coordinator. The E911 Board’s role is to monitor the state’s collectionm of E911 fees and oversee the distribution of fee revenues to counties each month.

ORMOND BEACH

Veteran Realtor Alisa Rogers has joined Lifestyle Realty Group in Ormond Beach were she will become a partner along with the realty firm’s founders Rick Durgin, Jami Gallegos and Jaime and Susan Barkley. Rogers will also become a managing broker. She recently completed a one-year term as the 2021 board president for the Daytona Beach Area Association of Realtors.

PALM COAST

Marsha Corby, the broker/owner of Palm Coast Shores Realty, was recently installed as the 2022 board president of the Flagler County Association of Realtors. This is her second time holding that role. She previously served as president of FCAR in 2014.

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