Class of 1980: Scott Dennis and Mary Tomlinson Mills
Scott Dennis
Scott is a proud Riverview High School graduate (class of 1980) where he played trumpet in the Kiltie Band and lettered in golf. After graduating from the University of Florida, Scott began a 34 year broadcasting career at ABC7 in Sarasota. During his first dozen years at the TV station, Scott covered local sports, including countless RHS games! In 1998, Scott moved to the news department, where he traveled to Cuba for a special weeklong report, flew with the Navy’s Blue Angels, and anchored ABC7’s non-stop coverage of the busy 2004 hurricane season, and Hurricane Irma in 2017.
Scott is a member of the Riverview High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame and the Riverview H.S. Athletic Hall of Fame. Over the years, he has mentored Riverview students, narrated RHS Planetarium’s “Stars to Starfish” program, and emceed dozens of events, including Mr. Riverview, Lady Ram, Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, and the school’s 60th anniversary celebration. He currently serves on the Riverview Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame Board.
Having grown up in Sarasota, Scott embraced the opportunity to give back to a community that has provided so many opportunities to him. He is a former Big Brother, volunteer of the year at Fruitville Elementary School, and offered his time to the Sarasota County School District’s volunteer program, the American Heart Association, Sarasota Coalition on Substance Abuse and Easter Seals Southwest Florida.
Scott lives in Sarasota with his wife Gilda. Their daughter Reese is a 2021 Riverview IB graduate.
Mary Tomlinson Mills
Mary Tomlinson Mills is a graduate of the class of 1980. During her years at Riverview, Mary was an important member of the Ram Page staff. First, she served as a reporter and then became the Ram Page Editor. She was an active member of the Speech Club and Inter-Club Council. Mary was also a track statistician. She was on the senior board and was the Senior Speaker of her class.
Mary continued her education at the University of Florida and graduated in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Broadcasting and Communications. Her career began in West Palm Beach as a broadcast journalist. This is where she gained experience in television as a news reporter, anchor, producer, host, and news director. Her management of this multi-million-dollar news operating budget was the launching pad for her future endeavors.
Mary has received many awards including the Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in News Producing, and in 2019 the South Florida Business Journal named her an Influential Business Woman.
She is passionate about empowering young people to embrace their inner talents as well as empowering women to succeed in business. Her leadership skills and community involvement are impressive.
Mary now lives in Tampa where she is Vice President of Marketing at College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving. Her work skills and success clearly demonstrate her persistence, hard work, strong professional ethics, and determination.
Accomplishments / Awards / Accolades
Winner South Florida Business Journal Influential Business Women 2019
Winner of Stevie Award for Women in Business, Bronze 2018
Winner of United Franchise Group CEO Award 2018
Featured Speaker at the International Franchise Association Convention 2018
Strategic Branding That Drives Profits
Featured Speaker Consumer Marketing Conference 2015
Online Marketing Strategies that -Deliver a Powerful Punch
Speaker & Organizer, Women in Business, United Franchise Group Global Expo
2008-1018
Winner Edward R Murrow Award, Excellence in News Producing
Academic
While at Riverview High School, Mary was the Senior Speaker and 1980 Speaker of the Class. She continued her education at the University of Florida and graduated in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science in Broadcasting & Communications degree.
Professional
Mary’s skills are demonstrated in two major areas. She began her career as a broadcast journalist and currently works in the competitive field of brand marketing.
Mary was a news executive in the highly competitive West Palm Beach, FL news market. As a Broadcast Journalist, she has experience in television as a news reporter, anchor, producer, host and news director. She was responsible for all aspects of daily news coverage and managed a multi million-dollar news operating budget while leading a team of over 50 reporters, producers and editors.
In 1999, Mary launched a daily business television show and nationally recognized internet start-up, MoneyWatchTV.com. She was responsible for direct response projects from conception to completion from Home Shopping Network to retail companies such as WalMart, Target, Sears, CVS and Walgreens.
From 2008 to 2011, Mary created, lead and developed marketing strategies for the world’s largest sign franchise with 1,000 locations in more than 60 countries. She was the Signarama Marketing Manager with the United Franchise Group. During this tenure, she developed online marketing strategies, including the launch of a website and ongoing online lead generation programs. She led the creation of a promotional calendar to drive all PR & social media print.
From 2011-2019, Mary was the United Franchise Group Brand Marketing Director. This work experience involved her creating, leading and developing marketing strategies for nine international franchise brands. Specific management skills included online lead generation, brand building across multiple channels and platforms, video production, email marketing campaigns, corporate and franchise level PR, team building and managing and developing impactful Mentor programs.
In 2019, Mary relocated to Tampa. Based on her work experience as a broadcast journalism, executive, and brand marketing, she is the Vice President of Marketing at College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving.
Personal
Mary’s work skills clearly demonstrate her persistence, hard work, strong professional ethnics and determination, personally and professionally. She is the proud mother of two adult children. She is a mentor and best friend to her daughter who also selected journalism as her profession and has worked on a national presidential campaign. Mary encourages her son in his career choices. He began his work in finance and now works with major businesses.
Mary’s work life in the 1990s to 2019 was spent in the Palm Beach area. In the last year, just prior to the outbreak of COVID, she relocated to Tampa, Florida.
Charitable
Mary’s community efforts largely focused in two main areas. Her leadership skills and community involvement are evident in both. She is extremely passionate about empowering young people to embrace their inner talents as well as empowering women to succeed in business. She served on the Board of Directors for Junior Achievement of the Palm Beaches as well as volunteering in local schools to teach basic economic skills. Mary also served on the Board for Young Singers of the Palm Beaches and volunteered many hours weekly. She volunteered at StarStuck Performing Arts and other musical and theatre related organizations. Simultaneously, she established “Women in Business” track for ongoing educational sessions in the yearly conferences of the International Franchise Association. Ultimately this led to Mary receiving the Stevie Award and being recognized as a South Florida Influential Business Woman in 2019.