Three Women Finalists for Chamber's 2013 ‘Citizen of the Year’

It's safe to say that a woman will be the Greater Temple Terrace Chamber of Commerce's 2013 "Citizen of the Year."

All three finalists are women who make a difference in the community.

• Cindy Kocher is a founder of Northside Mental Health Auxiliary.
• Maryrose Owens has served the GFWC Temple Terrace Woman's Club, the Friendship Club, the Woodmont Clubhouse Association and the Temple Terrace Garden Club.
• Sherrill Tomasino is president of the Sherwood Forest Center.

--Cindy Kocher has been employed at Northside Mental Health Center for 29 years and is their Director of Human Resources.

She was one of the founders of the Northside Mental Health Auxiliary, a group of individuals dedicated to raising funds for the “Phone Friend” program. This program provides individual telephone contact for children who are home by themselves after school.

Cindy has co-chaired the Temple Terrace Relay for Life and was an honorary chair as a cancer survivor.

She is active in the Temple Terrace United Methodist Church having chaired the Staff Parish Relations committee twice and is currently the chairperson for the Executive Leadership Council.

Cindy is President of the Board of Directors of the Life Center of the Suncoast Inc., an organization that provides assistance to those suffering the death of a loved one, victims of traumatic crime and those suffering with a serious illness.

She served on the Chamber’s Board of Directors for 12 years and was recently reelected to the Board. Cindy chaired the Temple Terrace 4 of the chamber in 2000-01. She has received the Chamber’s President’s Award, the Bob Woodard Award and, in March, she was recognized as the 2013 Public Citizen of the Year by the Florida Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers for outstanding service to the community.

--Maryrose Owens is a retired registered nurse who has served as president of the Temple Terrace Woman’s Club, president of the Friendship Club, was on the Board of the Woodmont Clubhouse Association and a member of the Temple Terrace Garden Club.

Maryrose has volunteered with Meals on Wheels for 38 years and was one of the first volunteers to assist when their doors opened in 1975.

As a member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church, she has served as the president of the Ladies Guild and is a dedicated supporter of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, an organization that assists those in need.

Through the Temple Terrace Woman’s Club, Maryrose has organized food drives for the St. Vincent de Paul Pantry and toy drives for children in need at Christmas.  During the holidays she personally donates bicycles for the children.

Maryrose has volunteered with the students at Riverhills Elementary School, spending one-on-one time with them, and providing snacks and treats for the eachers each month.

She organized and conducted a fundraiser for Support the Troops to help defray the cost of mailing packages to the military overseas.

She coordinates and makes meals for those who have lost loved ones.

Maryrose was named the Florida Women’s Club District 8 Volunteer of the Year.

She is a former Temple Terrace Citizen of the Year and was a Meals on Wheels Volunteer of the Year.

--Sherrill Tomasino is the president of the Sherwood Forest Center Inc., a shopping center in Temple Terrace, which she has co-owned for nearly 29 years. She is known for actively promoting her tenants.

Sherrill served on the USF Board of Trustees for six years and was the liaison to the USF Polytechnic (Lakeland) Campus.

Sherrill is the Board Chair for the USF Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute and Research Center. Previously, she served as their treasurer, and on the Management and HR Committee as well as the Executive Committee.

She is an active member of the First Baptist Church of Temple Terrace and has served on their Finance Committee and Property Grounds Committee.

Sherrill supports a number of non-profit organizations.

She led the effort to re-charter the Temple Terrace Area Republican Club and served as its president in 2012-13.

Sherrill has served as a board member for the chamber and as the chair of the chamber’s Legislative Committee for 10 years. As Legislative Committee chair, she organized the chamber’s Candidates Forums and obtained letters from the governor for the students receiving recognition at the annual Student Citizenship Awards luncheon.

She has been an active member of the National Federation of Independent Businesses for more than 30 years, championing small business.

Sherrill received the Distinguished Service Award from USF Polytechnic Campus in 2008.

See also:

• Renee Blain Named ‘Citizen of the Year’ (2012)
• Chamber Presents Awards, Installs New Leadership (2012)
• Chamber Announces ‘Citizen of the Year’ Finalists (2012)