TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Three Vie For Citizen Of Year Award

ADVERTISEMENT

By JOYCE McKENZIE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 20, 2008

TEMPLE TERRACE - Although diverse in their areas of interests and expertise, the three finalists for the Greater Temple Terrace Chamber of Commerce's 2008 Citizen of the Year share a common bond: They all do good deeds in their community.

Each will be celebrated Thursday evening during the chamber's 45th annual installation and awards dinner at the Museum of Science & Industry.

Michael Cichon, Mel Jurado and Barbara Sparks-McGlinchy are in the running for the chamber's most prestigious award.

Cichon, a Temple Terrace physician who specializes in internal medical and infectious diseases, is also founder of the Clinic of Angels. The nonprofit organization helps chronically ill people pay for extensive medical treatments that are not covered by insurance plans and often drain families' financial resources.

"As Mike's pastor, I hear a lot about Mike from his patients and peers in the profession who almost universally recognize him as an excellent clinician who knows his medical science inside and out," wrote the Rev. Joseph Waters of Corpus Christi Catholic Church in one of the three letters of nomination required and submitted for Cichon.

"Mike is also an excellent member of the Temple Terrace Community and has worked diligently over the years to help people who lack resources obtain good medical care. Mike goes above and beyond the call of duty in serving the community and donating to local charities from his time and treasure."

In their nomination letter, Sharon and Michael Kovac wrote that Cichon has been the "go-to" physician in the Tampa Bay area for patients with the most difficult-to-treat medical issues.

"He has served on several multi-county AIDS task forces, on the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Task Force and on other volunteer humanitarian efforts," they wrote.

Cichon's professional honors include being named among the Best Doctors in America in 1995-96, selected among the Best Doctors in the Southeast Region in 1996-97, and recognized in the National Register's Who's Who in Executives and Professionals in 2000.

Jurado, who holds a doctorate in psychology and is a certified work force professional, is president of The Profitable Group, a consulting firm that trains organizations how to improve their work performance.

In 2005, Gov. Jeb Bush appointed her chairwoman of the Early Learning Coalition in Hillsborough County. In March of this year, Gov. Charlie Crist named her one of four people to serve on the state's boxing commission.

Jurado is first vice president of the Temple Terrace Woman's Club, serves as its legislative chairwoman and was chosen as the 2008 Members Choice Member of the Year. She also chaired the 2008 Temple Terrace Relay for Life to benefit the American Cancer Society.

"Mel is a resolute champion and spokesperson for Temple Terrace," wrote Mayor Joe Affronti in his nomination letter for Jurado. "Whether it's as a keynote presenter at the League of Cities, working with other municipalities and counties around the state, or when she's visiting with our legislators in Tallahassee or Washington, D.C., all who meet Mel know she is from Temple Terrace and she loves her city."

Ralph Lupton, founder of Lupton's Buffet on Busch Boulevard, concurred with the mayor in statements written about Jurado on his nomination form.

"Mel Jurado is a tremendous ambassador for our city," he wrote. "Others find her enthusiasm and passion for bettering our community and the lives of our citizens infectious."

Sparks-McGlinchy recently retired as senior associate athletic director at the University of South Florida. She is a past president of the Greater Temple Terrace Chamber of Commerce. She has served on its board of directors and is a past recipient of the organization's President's Award.

She is a member of the Police Athletic League Board of Directors, and she serves on the Hillsborough County Tourist Development Council's Strategic Planning Leadership Commission. She is in her fifth year as president of St. Vincent de Paul, an organization that provides food through its food bank, financial aid to needy residents and shoes to underprivileged children.

"It is with great honor that I recommend Barbara Sparks-McGlinchy for Temple Terrace Citizen of the Year," wrote Phil Lentsch, former chamber president. "Barbara has built a successful relationship between USF and the Temple Terrace Chamber of Commerce with her influence and dedicated spirit."

In addition, Cindy Kocher, also a past president of the Temple Terrace chamber, recommended Sparks-McGlinchy for the award.

"She is simply a class act and very deserving of being named Citizen of the Year," Kocher wrote.

Reporter Joyce McKenzie can be reached at (813) 865-4849 or jmckenzie@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT