Government

Ippolito Chief Natale J. Ippolito of San Carlos Park Fire Protection and Rescue Service District was presented with the "First Responder Award" at the 22nd Annual Governor's Hurricane Conference on May 14 for his outstanding leadership and contributions to improving Lee County's efforts to become better prepared for hurricane events. The conference honored contributions towards hurricane preparedness and response efforts during 2007, at both the state and local level.

Jeffrey C. Gray, senior contract manager for the Lee County Port Authority, has been elected to the board of directors of the Southeast Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives. He earned his accreditation from AAAE in 2004, and has served as chair of the Southeast Chapter's Scholarship Committee for the last two years. Gray joined the Lee County Port Authority 19 years ago as an operations agent. He later served as manager of Page Field General Aviation Airport and as aeronautical/technical services manager, responsible for the Port Authority's noise and environmental programs. He currently oversees service and maintenance contracts for the Lee County Port Authority. The Southeast Chapter is the largest of six regional chapters of AAAE, a professional organization representing thousands of airport executives at public use airports nationwide.