CHRIS DZADOVSKY
Chris Dzadovsky grew up in the Pittsburgh area and got his firstjob at the age of 10 to help support his six siblings. His career experience includes work as the owner of a carpet-cleaning and maintenance company, dive instructor and dive shop owner, volunteer firefighter, and 23 years as an airline safety professional for US Airways. In his later years with the airline, he became the Communications Director, Legislative Affairs Chair, and worked as a lobbyist for the Association of Flight Attendants - CWA.

He first visited the Treasure Coast area in 1994, and was a frequent visitor to St. Lucie County until 2003, when he made the area his permanent home after surviving serious injuries suffered during an emergency call as a volunteer firefighter.

He attended IRCC, earning an Associate Degree in Applied Science in Business, and is currently two classes away from a second degree in Political Science. He earned placement on the Dean's List for most of his academic career. Additionally, Chris represented IRCC at the Delta Epsilon Chi State and International Career Development Conferences as the second-place winner in the Florida Delta Epsilon Chi presentation in an entrepreneurship competition, and placed in the Top 10 in the nation at the international conference. Following that competition, he earned third place in the State advertising/marketing competition, and again represented IRCC at the International Conference.

As the former president of the Fort Pierce Hibiscus Park Crime Watch & Neighborhood Association, Chris developed the Hibiscus Park National Night Out event for the neighborhood, which was attended by hundreds of residents. His efforts with the organization led to a major revitalization of the neighborhood, and resulted in Chris being asked to participate in the "Stem the Violence" conference in Lincoln Park, where he presented his experiences in, and successful plans for, stopping crime in the area.

Seeing a need, Chris, along with volunteers, developed the Hibiscus Park Neighborhood Enhancement Action Team (N.E.A.T.) to work with and coordinate with a city-sponsored effort to ensure neighborhood participation and success. With the help of the N.E.A.T. membership, they successfully worked to clean up the neighborhood and help those who needed assistance -- from pressure-washing sidewalks and homes, to cutting grass and helping clean up abandoned houses, to repainting and renovating homes.

In 2005, Chris organized volunteers to raise burial and funeral funds for a young Hibiscus Park teen who died from injuries suffered in an accidental fire. Having mentored the teen, Chris' dedication and caring to the cause motivated friends and neighbors to raise over $4800 to cover those expenses for the teen's bereaved family.

One of his finest achievements was gaining a commitment from the City of Fort Pierce for capital improvements of $350,000 for the Hibiscus Park Neighborhood. Through a charrette process Chris organized, neighbors asked for street lighting, sidewalks and streetscape improvements, which included drainage, and underground utilities, all of which will enhance the area and increase property values. This achievement shows Chris' ability to negotiate and work within the political process to achieve results.

Outside his immediate neighborhood, Chris assisted the Lincoln Park Business Association in redeveloping the organization by volunteering and acting in a parliamentarian position, as well as helping to initialize the development of Lincoln Park Main Street committee.

Chris' other County activities include working with the SLC Cultural Affairs Council on the Zora Neale Hurston documentary, the Fort Pierce Exchange Club CASTLE for the last four years (including participation in many of the Chili Cook-Off events and his recent honor as Exchangite Of The Year for 2007), and as Interim Director of the Fort Pierce Jazz & Blues Society, Chris reorganized and saved the non-profit organization from dissolution. In less than a year through his leadership, the society was able to retire debt and increase income sources, which brought the organization to its best financial position in its 11 years of existence; most recently, the Society seated 15 directors, including five new officers to meet the challenges of a recession. The Fort Pierce Jazz & Blues Society provides entertainment and educational scholarships for deserving students countywide.

Chris is the former President, Vice President, and Dock Committee Chair of the Mariner Bay Homeowners' Association, representing residents of that community on many issues, including working to lower taxes. In an effort to bring area resident and city officials together he chaired a meeting between both groups to discuss concerns about issues facing people living at the beach. He is a member of both the Fort Pierce Beach Association and the Fort Pierce South Beach Association.

In addition to serving on the Fort Pierce Code Enforcement Board, Chris was also appointed by St. Lucie County Commissioner Doug Coward to serve on the St. Lucie County Skate Park Committee and, more recently, the St. Lucie County Citizens Budget Committee.