Tallahassee - Tuesday June 27, 2022: Governor Ron DeSantis Tuesday named Pedro Allende Secretary of the Florida Department of Management Services and he appointed seven others to the CareerSource Florida Board of Directors.
Allende id an attorney who has been a member of Florida’s Cybersecurity Advisory Council since September 2021. Allende served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure, Risk, and Resilience Policy at the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) where he led policy development to protect U.S. critical infrastructure against cyber, physical, and natural threats while overseeing policy efforts to increase federal, state, and local preparedness, response, and recovery capabilities.
“I am pleased to appoint Pedro Allende as Secretary of the Department of Management Services,” said Governor DeSantis. “His knowledge and experience protecting critical infrastructure against cybersecurity threats will bolster our efforts to protect Floridians’ data and keep our communities safe.”
Prior to his time at DHS, Allende was the Senior Advisor and Director of Strategic Initiatives at the United States Department of Energy and a Counselor to the Secretary and White House Liaison at the United States Department of Labor. Allende earned his bachelor’s degree in economics, master’s degree in decision and information science, and juris doctorate from the University of Florida.
Seven appointed to the CareerSource Florida Board of Directors
Abraham “Abe” Alangaden - Alangaden is a Senior Project Portfolio Manager at Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. He is a board member and Chair of the First Coast Manufacturing Association and Secretary of FloridaMakes. Alangaden earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Bangalore University and his master’s degree in environmental health from Temple University.
Erik Arroyo - Arroyo is a City Commissioner and the current Mayor for the City of Sarasota. He is also a practicing attorney with Band, Gates, and Dramis. Arroyo is a board member of the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County and the Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness. Arroyo earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and communications from the University of Florida and juris doctorate from Florida A&M University.
Bayne Beecher - Beecher is a Senior Manager of Supply Chain at PGT Innovations. He is President of the Sarasota-Manatee Manufacturers Association, Treasurer of FloridaMakes, and a member of the University of West Florida’s Hass Center’s Economic Advisory Board. Beecher earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois and his master’s degree in business administration from Webster University.
Melvin “Mel” Ponder - Ponder is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Business Empowered, Inc. He is also a County Commissioner of Okaloosa County and the Government Affairs Director of Emerald Coast Association of Realtors. Ponder is a member of the Destin, Fort Walton Beach, and Crestview Chambers of Commerce. Ponder earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from Florida State University.
Brian Sartain - Sartain is the Senior Vice President of Aerospace Repair and Overhaul at AAR Corporation. He was previously the General Manager of United Technologies Corporation. Sartain earned his bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering and his master’s degree in business from the University of Minnesota.
Meredith Stanfield - Stanfield is the Legislative Policy Director for Florida Professional Firefighters and Paramedics. She was previously the Director of Legislative and Cabinet Affairs for the Florida Department of Financial Services and the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Department of Management Services and the Department of Juvenile Justice. Stanfield earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Georgia.
Representative Dana Trabulsy = Trabulsy is a Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Treasure Coast Business Summit and All Things Treasure Coast. She currently represents District 84 in the Florida House of Representatives. Trabulsy currently attends Indian River State College to further her education and is a council member for the Florida Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys as well as a member of the Place of Hope Advisory Board.