For immediate release, January 28, 2002

Contact Hal Howland, 305-295-4369

At its January 24 meeting the Florida Keys Council of the Arts elected three new officers:

Former vice-chair Bill Shaw has been a resident of Marathon for over twelve years. He and his wife Judy own Shaw's Home Maintenance and Landscaping, and he has been owner and president of two construction companies. Mr. Shaw is a member and former chair of the Monroe County Mosquito Control Board. Mr. Shaw flew DC-3 aircraft for Mosquito Control beginning in 1988. He is president of the Aviation Personnel Association and received the Distinguished Graduate Award from Wilson's Flight Training Academy in Kansas City, Kansas. Mr. Shaw studied chemistry and business at Central Missouri State College and is a past member of the American Chemical Society.

Former secretary June Girard, who holds a master's degree in international relations, graduated cum laude from Mundelein College (now Loyola), Chicago. Ms. Girard earned a B.A. in community studies and attended John Marshall Law School in Chicago. She served as executive director/consultant to the Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce. She was a columnist for the Key West Observer and the Island Navigator. Ms. Girard was president of the Monroe County League of Women Voters and secretary for the state board of the League of Women Voters of Florida. She was president of the Tennessee Williams Fine Arts Center Founders Society and of the Red Barn Theatre Band of Angels. She is on the board of directors of the Lower Keys Medical Center and is its representative to the Society of Arts and Healthcare. Ms. Girard coordinates the Arts Council's Art in the Hospital program at LKMC. She lives on Sugarloaf Key.

Board member and Chicago native David M. Cohn has a liberal arts degree and Bachelor of Science in Commerce degree from Roosevelt University and was involved in graphic arts, direct mail advertising, and printing paper distribution for thirty-seven years. A Keys resident for over twenty years, Mr. Cohn created Art Lovers Gallery in 1992 in Islamorada and moved it to its current location at 82245 Overseas Highway in 2001. Affiliations include the Islamorada and Key Largo Chambers of Commerce, Chicago Art Institute, and the South Florida Center for the Arts. He is a board member of the Rural Health Network and is chair of the board of Key Players. He is the District Advisory Committee IV board member of the Tourist Development Council and the DAC IV member of the Cultural Umbrella. Mr. Cohn is a member of the Upper Keys Rotary Club and a candidate for the Islamorada, Village of Islands Citizens' Advisory Committee. He supports the performing and the visual arts and looks forward to the building of an auditorium in the Upper Keys; he also supports the Village of Islamorada in its plans for Plantation Yacht Harbor property.

Dave Zirilli, a Keys resident since 1996, continues as treasurer. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in accounting. After achieving his CPA designation at age twenty-three, he entered public practice in auditing as well as corporate and individual taxation. He gained experience as a senior auditor and has taught as an adjunct professor of accounting. Since opening a Key Largo branch of the family CPA firm, he has served as treasurer of Citizens for Island Government, Key Largo Community Council, and the regional American Youth Soccer Organization. Mr. Zirilli is a Rotarian and sits on the board of directors of Keys Academy of Marine Science. He is an alumnus of Leadership Monroe County.

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