Suzanne McCormick in September will take over as president and CEO of the United Way Suncoast. McCormick comes to Southwest Florida by way of Maine, where she served 13 years in the United Way of Greater Portland, most recently as CEO. 

"I have come to realize that I have a deep personal commitment to helping improve people’s lives," McCormick said. "I am excited to bring that passion to the growing and vibrant Suncoast community, which offers me a wonderful opportunity to build on my commitment and help make an even larger positive impact." 

United Way Suncoast Board Chairman William W. Merrill, III, a Sarasota attorney and shareholder at Icard Merrill, said McCormick would prove a sound leader for the organization, which serves Sarasota, Hillsborough, Pinellas and DeSoto counties. "McCormick’s passion and experience are a perfect complement to our strategic plan to break the cycle of poverty through educational and financial stability programs,” Merrill said. "She has a proven record facilitating change and building relationships that will continue the tradition of outstanding community work the United Way Suncoast leads across the region.”

An executive search committee headed by Carlton Fields Jorden Burt president Gary Sasso has been reviewing candidates for the post since the spring. He said it was McCormick's work establishing solid community partnerships that set her apart. 

Current United Way Suncoast CEO Diana Baker, who announced in January that she would retire from her post after 35 years in the organization, will continue in her post through September and be available to McCormick afterward during the power transition. Baker was first named CEO of the United Way Suncoast in April 2003. Before running the regional organization, she oversaw the consolidation of the United Way organizations in Hillsborough and Pinellas county into the United Way Suncoast, serving as the new organization's first chief operating officer. 

When someone corners me and forces me to split hairs on food genres, my fallback response is usually Cajun. I love that bread and rice serve as pallets for heavily spiced etouffees and bold proteins, and I love the poignantly cultural pairings of pidgin French-style food with the likes of gator and crawfish. I heard Michael’s on East was rolling out their N’Orleans  menu as an “epicurean adventure,” which pretty much left me no choice on my first lunch spot this week, and taking my post up at the bar to watch the World Cup, I figure a nice po’boy would complement the occasion perfectly.

Chef Jamil Piñeda utilizes the currently in-season soft shell crab as the base protein for the sandwich, and he fries it light with buttermilk to give an almost tempura feel to the batter while maintaining softness inside. He couples that with Cuban bread baked crispy on the exterior but moist inside. The po’boy is layered with shredded letteuce, pickled onions and okra and chef’s remoulade. He starts the sauce with his homemade mayo mixed from olive oil, eggs and garlic and pairs it with more eggs, ketchup, caramelized onions for a touch of sweet flavor and his mix of spices that include paprika, cumin, nutmeg, oregano and a few extra Creole staples. I can’t help but ask for a side dish of the stuff for extra dipping. Piñeda finishes off the plate with a pile of micro pomme frites (fries) to send you on your way happy.

Michael's on East, 1212 SE Ave, Sarasota, FL 34239, (941) 366-0007

Realtor Helen Jaquith has joined the Lakewood Ranch office of RE/MAX Platinum Realty. Previously with RE/MAX Advantage Realty, she specializes in single-family homes, condominiums, second homes, investment property, new construction and farms. Originally from Lexington, Kentucky, Jaquith moved to Florida in 2001 and has 27 years of real estate experience. 

RE/MAX Platinum Realty

Kerkering, Barberio and Co., Certified Public Accountants, has been selected as one of the Best Public Accounting Firms for Leadership Equity as determined by the 2014 Accounting MOVE Project, which recognizes the Best Public Accounting Firms for Women. Firms were ranked on the range, depth and success of programs and workplace culture proven to remove barriers to women’s success. Kerkering, Barberio & Co. is one of the largest independent certified public accounting firms in Southwest Florida. 

Kerkering, Barberio and Co.

Richard R. Gans, a shareholder in the law firm of Fergeson, Skipper, Shaw, Keyser, Baron and Tirabassi, has been selected by his peers for inclusion in Florida Trend magazine’s Florida Legal Elite. The 2014 list of 1,165 Legal Elite attorneys represents less than 2% of the active Florida Bar members who practice in Florida. Gans is certified by The Florida Bar as a specialist in wills, trusts and estates and is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. 

Fergeson, Skipper, Shaw, Keyser, Baron and Tirabassi

Sarasota Pediatrician Robert Weiss, MD, was recognized as one of America’s top doctors in 2014 by the New York research firm Castle Connolly Medical. The doctors are chosen using a peer-review survey, and doctors cannot nominate themselves or pay to be listed. With more than 38 years of experience, Dr. Weiss specializes in the full continuum of care for children and has been in private practice in Sarasota for 35 years. 

Weiss Pediatric Care

Join SRQ at the next SB2 on Thursday, July 17 from 7:30am-9am at The Francis. Leaders in the regional giving and giving back industries, John Annis, Vice President of Community Investment, Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Veronica Brady, Senior Vice President for Philanthropy, Gulf Coast Community, Sandra Frank, Chief Executive Officer, All Faiths Food Bank Foundation, and Bob Rosinsky, President and CEO of Goodwill Manasota will share their insights on the philanthropic dynamics of the community, resource development to meet new needs, and trends in the non-profit sector. 

Get Tickets

This Wednesday The Nilon Report will have Non-Partisan District 4 County Commissioner Candidate John Minder on the program to discuss his campaign. John Minder’s main focus is the homeless population in Sarasota and how to address the issue. 

WSRQ