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Szabo returns to Florida Southern

LAKELAND, Fla. (Sept. 21, 2001) — Shari Szabo is returning to Florida Southern College as director of alumni relations after a year of serving as Polk County film commissioner with the Central Florida Visitors and Convention Bureau. Szabo previously worked with Florida Southern from 1990 to 2000. Her new position is effective Oct. 1.

"We are thrilled to have Shari back as part of the team," said Robert H. Tate, FSC vice president for advancement. "Having literally grown up on campus, Shari knows the college implicitly and has strong relationships with many members of the college community. Her years of experience both within and beyond the campus will serve her well as she leads our alumni program."

As alumni director, Szabo is responsible for the coordination and implementation of all activities relating to alumni, and assisting with projects in the advancement office and with Frank Lloyd Wright programming. An alumna herself, Szabo graduated from Florida Southern in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in broadcast communications.

Szabo brings a wealth of knowledge to the position. As film commissioner, she marketed and promoted the area for the continued growth and retention of the film industry in Polk County by responding to location leads, representing the area at marketing opportunities, implementing a marketing plan and communicating the importance of the industry to community and government leaders.

Before joining the CFVCB, Szabo was the director of public relations at Florida Southern College from 1992 to 2000. In this position, she served as the college's media liaison, handled internal and crisis communications, and represented the college in the community. Prior to that, she was the director of annual funds for the college.

Szabo also served as news director for WONN/WPCV for seven years, during which time she covered a variety of events from covering national beauty pageants to witnessing executions and reporting them for the NBC national radio network.

About Florida Southern College
Florida Southern is a four-year, private, co-educational liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The college offers more than 40 undergraduate majors and a master of business administration degree accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Located in Lakeland, Fla., the college is home to the largest, single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in the world.

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