St. Thomas U. honors three local leaders

By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic

MIAMI | Three South Florida leaders � a woman religious, a former mayor and a businessman � will be honored this Saturday, May 11, at St. Thomas University�s graduation ceremonies, which will begin at 9 a.m. with the School of Law graduation, followed by the general graduation at 1 p.m.

Msgr. Franklyn M. Casale, the university�s president, will be presenting honorary doctorate degrees to three individuals who have reflected the university mission of �Developing Leaders for Life� and who have significantly contributed to South Florida through their proven leadership in business, healthcare, religious and public service.

Gregory T. Swienton is the newly retired executive chairman of Ryder System, Inc., a Fortune 500 transportation and supply chain management solutions company. He chaired Ryder�s board of directors since May 2002 and has been a member of the board since June 1999. Swienton led a transformational change in Ryder�s business model, which resulted in significantly improved operational and financial performance, with a $3.5 billion turnaround in free cash flow. Under his leadership, Ryder also achieved a 230 percent increase in stock value, delivered eight dividend increases and completed more than a dozen successful, immediately accretive acquisitions. Prior to joining the company, he held senior executive positions in global organizations and was the first transportation industry executive to be awarded the National Safety Council�s highest honor, The Green Cross for Safety medal. His personal service to the Catholic Church includes being the chair of St. Thomas University�s Board of Trustees, and in 2008 he was named to the Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great, one of five orders of knighthood that are conferred by the pope.

Sister Elizabeth Worley is a Sister of St. Joseph of St. Augustine who serves as chancellor for administration and chief operating officer for the Archdiocese of Miami. She is known for her extraordinary work as chair of the Board of Directors of Mercy Hospital (1986-2004), chief executive officer of Catholic Hospice (2005-2007), and chancellor for administration and chief operating officer for the Diocese of Orlando (2007-2010). Now celebrating her golden jubilee as a Sister of St. Joseph, she is the first woman to hold the title of chancellor in the Archdiocese of Miami, and she has brought the business experience of Catholic healthcare to her new role. She received the Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice, awarded by Pope John Paul II, in recognition of a lifetime of faithful service to the Catholic Church.

Shirley Gibson, former mayor of Miami Gardens, is a St. Thomas University alumna. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice and a Master of Arts in pastoral ministry at St. Thomas. She successfully led a dedicated group of neighbors in creating the first predominantly African-American municipality in the state of Florida � the City of Miami Gardens, which is the third largest city in Miami-Dade County. Her diligence, community board leadership, entrepreneurship skills and exemplary community service have earned her numerous awards and honors as well as international recognition in mayors� circles.

�We are proud to honor these outstanding figures as we graduate the Class of 2013,� said Msgr. Casale. �Their  spirit of compassion, business ethics and service make them role models and reinforce our vision of graduating ethical and compassionate future leaders.�

The commencement ceremonies will be held at the Fernandez Family Center for Leadership and Wellness, named for business leader Mike Fernandez. The 62,000 square-foot multipurpose sports arena houses the school�s renowned sports administration programs, sports teams, and a state-of-the art fitness and wellness center.