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Florida Heath Care Association Recognizes Joe Mello with 2011 Willis J. Gregson Award

Florida Power & Light Executive Recognized for Outstanding Service to Florida’s Long Term Care Community

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - August 15, 2011
Contact: Kristen Knapp, APR
(850) 701-3530 or kknapp@fhca.org

Tallahassee, FL - More than 600 long term care professionals from across Florida were on hand to applaud Joe Mello of Florida Power & Light Company (FPL Plantation), as he was honored by the Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) as the 2011 Willis J. Gregson Associate Member of the Year. The award was presented by FHCA Executive Director J. Emmett Reed during the Association’s Annual Conference in Orlando and is the pinnacle of recognition for associate members who support Florida’s long term care community.

Joe Mello is a 25 year veteran of FPL and has dedicated most of his career to helping businesses and has been a long-time member of the FHCA Quality Foundation’s Emergency Preparedness Council, rarely missing an opportunity to lend a hand professionally. His ongoing support has led to a strong partnership between Florida Power & Light Company and FHCA on addressing emergency preparedness and response issues for the long-term care community. Mello never hesitates to take part in mobilization efforts to support local nursing homes when a natural disaster strikes. As a result of his active involvement with FHCA, for the last three years, FPL has funded a number of discussion-based emergency preparedness exercises for FHCA members, training over 160 long term care professionals in the south Florida area.

“FHCA is pleased to honor Joe Mello with this prestigious award,” said FHCA Executive Director Emmett Reed. “His leadership and dedication to the long term care community makes him an excellent role model for others who serve the profession across the state.”

The Willis J. Gregson Award was created to honor the memory and contributions of an outstanding FHCA associate member, the late Willis J. Gregson. It is presented each year to a Florida Health Care Association associate member who demonstrates a commitment level of service to FHCA members which goes “above and beyond.” FHCA associate members are businesses, firms, organizations, corporations and other groups that provide services to the long term care profession. Associate members also include individuals and organizations that support quality long term care and are dedicated to the profession’s success.

ABOUT THE FLORIDA HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION
The Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) is a federation which serves nearly 1,000 members and represents over 500 long term care facilities that provide skilled nursing, post-acute and sub-acute care, short-term rehab, assisted living and other services to the frail elderly and individuals with disabilities in Florida. The mission of FHCA is to advance the quality of services, image, professional development and financial stability of its members. As Florida's first and largest advocacy organization for long term care providers and the elderly they serve, the Association has worked diligently since 1954 to assist its members with continuously improving quality of care and quality of life for the state’s growing elder care population. For more information about the Florida Health Care Association, visit http://www.fhca.org.

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