Governor Rick Scott today highlighted the following Floridians in his annual State of the State address.
Lauren and Michael Davis, Jacksonville
Lauren and Michael both serve in the Florida National Guard, and were deployed along with thousands of our brave National Guard members during Hurricane Irma. However, their wedding in Jacksonville Beach was planned for the same week. Lauren and Michael exchanged vows in full uniform in front of their fellow guardsmen at the Orange County Convention Center as they prepared for post-storm response.
Governor Rick Scott with Lauren and Michael Davis
Sarah Sheppard, Daytona Beach
Sarah is a Parent Partner at Healthy Start, a non-profit organization in Daytona Beach and state partner in the fight against the opioid epidemic. After overcoming her own addiction seven years ago, Sarah now helps parents during the recovery process so that they can be reunited with their children.
Erica Ford, Tallahassee
Erica is a Child Protective Investigator with the Department of Children and Families and foster parent. In 2015, she began fostering a baby boy named Adam, and in 2016, began fostering his newborn brother Avery before ultimately deciding to officially adopt the two young brothers as a proud single mother. Erica’s children are two of the 20,000 children in foster care have been adopted since 2011.
Paul Huszar, Tampa
Paul is a small business owner at VetCor, a restoration company in Tampa that has created more than 20 new jobs in just five years. As a veteran with more than 20 years of military service, Paul has received both the Governor’s Business Ambassador Award and the Governor’s Veterans Service Award for his service to Florida families. Since 2013, Governor Scott has awarded nearly 13,000 Florida veterans with the Governor’s Veterans Service Award.
Governor Rick Scott and Paul Huszar
Sebastian Ghiragossian and Mariana Cortez, Miami
In 2011, Sebastian escaped the crisis in Venezuela by moving to Miami, where he met his wife Mariana. Together, they opened Bunnie Cakes, a vegan bakery that employs more than 20 Floridians. Bunnie Cakes has been recognized by the Governor with a Business Ambassador Award for their efforts creating new opportunities in South Florida. Sebastian is one of the many people who have had to flee their home in Venezuela for freedom and opportunity, and Governor Scott has committed to continuing to stand with the people of Venezuela against the Maduro dictatorship.
