Latest news with #BryanGriffin
CBS News
4 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
DeSantis aide Bryan Griffin to lead Visit Florida, state's tourism marketing corporation
Bryan Griffin, who has served as a spokesman for Gov. Ron DeSantis, is set to take over as leader of Florida's tourism-marketing efforts. The Visit Florida Board of Directors on Friday approved appointing Griffin to succeed former President and CEO Dana Young, who stepped down in February. The approval came after DeSantis earlier Friday endorsed Griffin, the governor's communications director, for the tourism post. "Florida is everything to me," Griffin said. "I was born and raised in Tampa, got my education at the University of Florida. I've started businesses here. Met my wife here. And I've spent the past several years articulating the policies and priorities of Florida from the governor's office." Visit Florida is a public-private agency that is receiving $80 million in state money this fiscal year to promote tourism in the state. Griffin must still negotiate a start date and salary with Visit Florida Chairman Eric Marshall, senior vice president of destination sales for Universal Parks and Resorts. The salary will not exceed $215,000; Griffin earns $183,600 a year in his current position. Visit Florida board member Carol Dover, president and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, said she hoped the contract could be worked out before the Governor's Conference on Tourism, which begins Aug. 27 at the Omni Orlando Resort in ChampionsGate. "His ability to communicate both publicly and in print will be well utilized by Visit Florida," Dover said. Young, a former member of the Florida House and Senate, led Visit Florida through a period that included the COVID-19 pandemic largely shutting down the tourism industry during part of 2020. Also, the agency grappled in recent years with fallout from a series of hurricanes. Visit Florida worked to draw back tourists, and overall visitor numbers grew from 131.07 million in 2019 to 142.997 million last year. Since Young's departure, Craig Thomas, Visit Florida's chief operating officer, has served as interim leader. Griffin has worked in the governor's office since March 2022, starting as a deputy press secretary. He exited briefly in 2023 to work on DeSantis' unsuccessful presidential campaign. In a statement before Friday's meeting, DeSantis said Griffin has "led the charge in communicating the message of the free state of Florida for the past three years from my office." According to his LinkedIn profile, Griffin has a law degree from the University of Florida and worked toward a master's degree in international affairs, economics and political development at Columbia University.
Fox Sports
4 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025 Heartfire TBT Roster
Heartfire, the 2023 TBT champions, are back in the quarterfinals in 2025. Check out the full roster for Heartfire. Heartfire Roster Walt Ellis – Shooting Guard (Grand Canyon University) Bryan Griffin – Power Forward (Xavier) Eric Griffin – Power Forward (Hiwassee, Garden City Community College and Campbell) Marcus Hall – Point Guard (Colorado) D.J. Kennedy – Small Forward (St. John's) Tevin Mack – Small Forward (Clemson) Tai Odiase – Center (University of Illinois – Chicago) Larry Owens – Small Forward (Oral Roberts University) Raphiael Putney – Power Forward (UMass) Craig Sword – Shooting Guard (Mississippi State) Jordan Stevens – Point Guard (Duquesne and Midwestern State) Eric Washington – Point Guard (Miami) Nick Wright, Chris Broussard, and Kevin Wildes discuaa Joel Embiid's cautious return from knee surgery and his ongoing battle with injuries, which limited him to just 19 games in the 2024-25 season. The panel debates how Embiid's chronic health issues impact the Philadelphia 76ers' championship aspirations and if "The Process" can ever truly achieve its potential with their star consistently sidelined. How to watch Heartfire in the TBT Quarterfinals Heartfire will face off against Aftershocks. Here's how to catch the game: Date: Sunday, July 27, 2025 Time: 9 p.m. ET Location: Wichita TV: FS1 Path to the Quarterfinals (1) Heartfire 71, (2) JHX Hoops (Kansas Alumni) 68 (1) Heartfire 89, (4) Sheffield Sharks 70 recommended Item 1 of 2 Get more from the The Basketball Tournament Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
BBC News
19-07-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Sinclair C5 'still brings joy' 40 years on, says inventor's son
Forty years after British entrepreneur Sir Clive Sinclair invented the Sinclair C5 his son said it was "brilliant to see people are still enjoying them".The tricycle-like vehicle, which has a pedal-assisted electric motor, was invented by Sir Clive in 1985.A group of enthusiasts rode their C5s in a rally from Histon to Cambridge on Sunday, finishing at the Sinclair Building on Willis Road, which was the former headquarters of the Griffin, 57, from Northampton, who arranged the rally with fellow C5 fans, said: "People love them, and the younger generation asks if they can hire them - they don't realise they're 40 years old." The enduring appeal of the C5 is perhaps best summed up by Sir Clive's son, Crispin Sinclair, 59."It was probably a bit early for its time, but a beautiful design," he said."When you look at them, they haven't dated." Modern-day C5 enthusiasts regularly meet up, and Sunday's rally to Cambridge, which was first posted on Facebook group Odd Things Around Cambridge, attracted 10 C5 owners who travelled from Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Lincolnshire, Suffolk and Oxfordshire. "We all have a mutual love for the C5," organiser Mr Griffin said."We try not to do journeys that are too long, but this was about 12 miles there and back - so we all made it."With newer, lighter batteries they have a much better range than they did."The C5's size means it was fairly easy to transport for meetings such as this."One chap can get his [C5] into his Nissan Micra," he Griffin bought his C5 in 2022 and paid £850 for it."It needed a few bits and pieces but it was useable," he takes it "to the pub and to Tesco as it's very easy to park"."People who see it love to come over and talk and the younger generation often asks where they can hire them - they don't realise these things are 40 years old because they're used to e-bikes and scooters."But people just seem to love the C5," he added. What is the Sinclair C5? The C5 was launched on 10 January 1985 at Alexandra Palace in London and was designed to revolutionise road transport The electric tricycle was built in Merthyr Tydfil in Wales and was available by mail order, priced at £399Its battery provided a range of 18.7 miles (30km) and could reach a top speed of about 15mph (24k/ph)It failed to sell in large numbers - out of 14,000 made, 5,000 were sold before production was wound upBuyers were reportedly disappointed with its limited range, slow speed and inability to climb hills C5 owner Neil Cubitt brought his model from Brandon, Suffolk, for the bought his first broken one in 2009 and has been restoring them ever since."I taught myself how to repair it and I've done about 100 since then."When I first got my C5 my wife thought I was mad," Mr Cubitt with the rise in electric vehicles, interest in C5s was also rising."You can buy a basket case from £600 and and a fully restored one at about £2,000."I think Clive Sinclair - in his day - was a very great entrepreneur, way ahead of his time. He was more ahead than the technology." Crispin Sinclair recalled having one of his father's C5s at sixth form college and taking it into Cambridge."I got chased by a bunch of yobbo's but fortunately my friends were there and the others ran off.""I think the idea of a little electric vehicle was absolutely spot on and very early - but probably a different format would have been more successful - perhaps a little electric bike or maybe a little said, he admitted the C5 was a "lovey thing to zip along in and there's a look about them as well - I think the designer did a great job on the aesthetics of the vehicle"."Even though it's 40 years old it still looks modern." Asked if his father was disappointed the C5 did not take off, he said: "I don't think so - if it doesn't work, it doesn't work and he'd move on to the next project."As he used to say, 'never look back'." Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
