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We’re excited to announce that Kristina Lavallee, Founder and CEO of The Cake Girl, has been selected for a prestigious role as an Honorary Commander at MacDill Air Force Base. This honor reflects Kristina’s dedication to the Tampa Bay community, her commitment to supporting the U.S. military, and her inspiring leadership.
MacDill Air Force Base, home to the 6th Air Refueling Wing, has chosen Kristina for this program under the command of Colonel Edward Szczepanik, Base Commander. As an honorary commander, Kristina will work alongside military leaders to bridge connections between MacDill Air Force Base and the greater Tampa Bay community. The goal of the honorary commander program is to foster public awareness of military service, promote an open exchange of ideas, and encourage service members to engage with the Tampa Bay community.
This two-year term represents a significant milestone for Kristina and for The Cake Girl brand, which has become a beloved name in Tampa Bay for high-quality, custom cakes and community involvement. As a business owner with a passion for giving back, Kristina’s work reflects the values of community engagement and support for local organizations and charities.
We also want to congratulate the distinguished leaders joining Kristina in this term as honorary commanders. Together, they’ll work to build meaningful connections between the military and our community:
Jim Martin, Partner Emeritus, Caxton Associates
Bob Rohrlak, CEO, Tampa Chamber of Commerce
Hon. Thomas Palermo, Circuit Judge, 13th Judicial Circuit
Smitha Radhakrishnan, Executive Vice President, Tampa International Airport
Drew Locher, Vice President, MPH Hotels
Paul Anderson, CEO, Tampa Port Authority
Ned Hill, CEO, HCA Florida
Jose Bello, Vice President, Encore Bank
Robert Hessel, CEO, Source 1
Dr. Jim Norman, Founder, Norman Parathyroid Center
Greg McLeod, President, Pepin Distributing Company
Kevin Preast, Chief Venue Officer, Amalie Arena
Kanard Robinson, Founder & CEO, Empowering Creative
Elizabeth Connely, Chief Outreach, FBI Tampa
Joshua Zimmerman, Eaton Financial, Corporate Benefits
Marcel Blythe, USAA
Opal Hudson, ACFA, Hillsborough County Property Appraiser
Joel Brown, Regional Manager, TECO
Joanne Sullivan, Assistant VP, USF Health
Scott Arnold, Vice President, TGH
Dr. Vernon Sondak, Chair, Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt
Hon. Daniel Sleet, Chief Judge, Second District Court
Clay Keel, President, Keel Farms
This milestone wouldn’t be possible without the commitment of the MacDill Support Council—an incredible team of men and women who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make programs like the honorary commander program possible. Their dedication ensures that community partnerships remain a priority, bringing positive impacts for the brave men and women stationed at MacDill.
Our heartfelt thanks go out to:
Kelly Flannery
Rebekah Nault
Shay Romine
John Robinson
George Howell
Tom Burkett
Teresa Foss
Stephen Mitchell
Chase Stockon
Through their efforts, the MacDill Support Council ensures that MacDill’s mission and the values of Tampa Bay align, supporting our service members and their families in meaningful ways.
This is a milestone moment for Kristina Lavallee and The Cake Girl. Her role as an honorary commander reflects her commitment to supporting the U.S. military and contributing positively to Tampa Bay. We’re looking forward to seeing how Kristina and her fellow honorary commanders will work with MacDill Air Force Base to foster stronger relationships and create impactful community programs.
Congratulations to Kristina and all of the new honorary commanders—your leadership and dedication truly make a difference!