Florida Banking November 2022

Pete, I wish you the most joyful and fulfilling days to come. May they be filled with health, happiness, fun, lots of grandchildren, and many lawns to mow. May you enjoy every moment of this new journey of your life. And may no one ever have to move your cheese again! — Lesley Jordan, Senior Vice President and CFO I have had the utmost respect for Pete’s professionalism and friendship over the more than 20 years I have worked with him. He is a great asset to the banking industry, the FBA, and to me. I will miss him and it won’t be the same at the FBA without him. Pete, we hope you enjoy your well deserved retirement. — Anthony DiMarco, Executive Vice President, Government Affairs When I think of Pete, what immediately comes to mind is that he is one of the most genuine and authentic people I know. Whether it’s the serious business of setting up an educational event, or wearing snaggle-toothed dentures in a funny Chairman’s video, he’s going to do it with humility, integrity, and a humorous attitude. I wish you and Vicki nothing but the best. — Kenneth Pratt, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs Pete, saying it has been a pleasure working alongside you is an understatement! I cannot thank you enough for being such a wonderful mentor and boss over the past four years. Your guidance and support have been instrumental in helping me achieve so much personal and professional growth during this time. Congratulations on your retirement. You will be missed! — Andrea Williams, Professional Development & Products Coordinator Pete has been an important part of the FBA for such a long time that it is hard to imagine him not being on the association’s staff. After 34 years of developing and facilitating FBA’s educational events, his presence will be missed by both bankers and staff, but we all wish him well for a very happy retirement. — Letty Newton, Director of Florida Bankers Educational Foundation (FBEF) Pete is well-known for many things, including (but not limited to) his humility, hard work, devotion to family and deep faith. But not everyone knows that Pete also has a beautiful singing voice and has sung at his church for many years. In a wonderful example of the FBA’s family-like culture, Pete served as Cantor at the funeral Masses for both my father and mother, an act of charity for which I will be forever grateful. To say it has been a joy to know and work with Pete is great understatement. He knows I will miss him terribly, but I hope he also knows that I pray God will bless Pete tremendously in retirement and reward him with all that is good. — Pamela Ricco, Executive Vice President & COO

Happy retirement, Pete! You deserve the best. I sure will miss you (and your Werther’s)! It’s been a pleasure working with you. — Cheryl Tucker, Executive Assistant, Government Affairs

WWW.FLORIDABANKERS.COM NOVEMBER 2022 — 23