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SRQ DAILY Jul 21, 2014

Monday Business Edition

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Monday Business Edition

"These are 100-year decisions to be made that will affect the community for a long time."

- Michael Klauber, Sarasota Bayfront 20:20
 

[Workforce]  County Business Patterns

The U.S. Census in May released its county-by-county job patterns breakdown and showed the lead employment sectors fro Sarasota and Manatee counties. The numbers reflect employment based on one week in March of 2012. Sarasota County at that time posted 125,345 paid employees in all sectors, while Manatee reported 85,473. 

[Development]  Bayfront Visions Move Ahead
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

The Bayfront by Downtown Sarasota has long frustrated planners and business leaders alike. While a few institutions, most notably the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, make solid use of the Bayfront, the fact much of the space is dominated by parking lot stings for those who have dreamed of a cultural district in the place.

Now the drive to bring the Bayfront to life has once again picked up in terms of enthusiasm, but the final results of what gets built there remain an open question. The Sarasota Bayfront 20:20 plan has moved forward with a City Hall-sanctioned visioning effort to master plan the area, and a group called Sarasota Tomorrow has started forwarding its own vision, hosting an event Friday to showcase its hope for a hotel development there. Others, of course, note that a who cultural district master plan remains on the shelf, stifled by the Great Recession but a product of significant effort and cost nonetheless.

At a city meeting today, Michael Klauber, chairman of Visit Sarasota County, hopes commissioners will adopt a process for visioning. Klauber has been a central force behind the Sarasota Bayfront 20:20 plan. "The commission sees the community gathering around this," he said. "It's a grassroots effort to tune into what the community is looking for." Since the city owns more than 40 acres of the Bayfront, their involvement is critical, Klauber said. In Klauber's eyes, the next step should be a community workshop on how major organizations should use the property, and such institutions as More Marine Aquarium and the Van Wezel Foundation are engaged in the effort as well.

At the same time, a Bayfront Now group hosted an event at the Francis on Friday to push a plan to "create, and fund, a world class bayfront promenade, amphitheatre, aquarium, and education and meeting center—along with the parking to support new arts and entertainment venues." Chris Cogan, of Seven Holdings, expressed frustration at a recent City Commission meeting that one plan had already been made public by being anonymously given to commissioners, but that the early draft should not be misinterpreted as a final plan. The plan includes a place for Mote overlooking the Bayfront and a conference center closer to U.S. 41.

City Commissioner Susan Chapman said she felt the 20:20 plan was more transparent, but also noted some frustration that the city has never moved ahead with a $400,000 master plan. "It's fascination now that we could end up with three different Bayfront plans."

The City Commission meets today at 2:30pm. 

[Arts Administration]  Jane Buckman, Longboat Key Center for the Arts
Philip Lederer, Phil.Lederer@srqme.com

A veteran of the scene, Jane Buckman has been involved in the art world near all her life. Leaving academia with a master’s degree, Buckman served as artist in residence for the city of Chicago, showing her work in galleries before shifting her focus to the world of arts education and administration. Having worked across the country at such schools as the Art Institute in Chicago, Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles and Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, Buckman brings a wealth of experience and perspective to Ringling College’s Longboat Key Center for the Arts as its director.

What do you feel the Longboat Key Center for the Arts adds to the community? Being a division of Ringling College of Art and Design, we strive to parallel the quality arts education and programming to the communities of Sarasota and Manatee counties. Being located on the north end of Longboat Key, we understand that we are a destination business appealing to individuals who will take the drive along the beautiful Gulf Coast and end up here where the environment is relaxing, beautiful (you even might see a few peacocks!), and where your creative mind can flourish as you are exposed to a variety of educational and cultural programs to delight all of your senses. We are unique because very few private arts colleges around the world have facilities like we have on Longboat Key, where our mission is to provide quality cultural and creative programming to the residents and guests of our region.

What's the best part about running a gallery? Of course, the opening reception of a new exhibit! That is when the hard work of your labor is seen and appreciated. Very few people realize the amount of planning that goes into a gallery exhibit from concept through to the execution of name-tags for your guests. I especially love the time when “a plan comes together.” At our facility, along with gallery exhibitions, we offer classes, workshops, concerts and lectures focused on the arts and creativity. From program development to hiring and contracting the roster of talented artists we engage, it’s a very satisfying and creative field to be engaged in. 

[Recognition]  Goodwill Manasota CEO Honored

Goodwill Manasota President and CEO Bob Rosinsky was honored by Goodwill Industries International (GII) with the Robert E. and Charlotte Watkins Award for Excellence in Mission Advancement due to the development of the Mission Development Services (MDS) program, which provides education, training and mentoring services to Goodwill retail stores around the country. 

Goodwill Manasota

[Dining]  Eat Here Sarasota To Be World of Beer

Sean Murphy, the owner of the Eat Here restaurant family and Beach Bistro, has announced the transition of Eat Here's Sarasota location to World of Beer. Murphy explained the change to World of Beer as a perfect fit for the location. World of Beer will also co-sponsor the Beach Bistro Culinary Winter Carnival in January of next year, featuring top chefs, winemakers, chef bartenders and now, beer craftsmen, at a culinary celebration on Anna Maria Island in aid of children's hospitals. 

Eat Here Sarasota

[Synergy]  Sarasota Orchestra Expands

The Sarasota Orchestra has announced the formation of a new volunteer entity called the Sarasota Orchestra Friends.  This new organization is the result of a merger of the previously separate Manatee and Sarasota auxiliaries. The auxiliaries merged to achieve efficiencies and eliminate duplicate efforts on newsletters, directories and other functions. Boards of the auxiliaries both voted unanimously in early April to suspend their bylaws and merge into the Sarasota Orchestra Friends.   The Friends will officially commence operations on May 1, 2014. 

Sarasota Orchestra

[Community]  Manatee Y Tech Contract Not Renewed

Following a thorough and deliberate examination of the issues involved and the options available, the School District of Manatee County will not renew the contract with Manatee Y Technological High School. The approximate 200 students who previously attended the school will be successfully served by a variety of other educational options including returning to their zoned schools, attending a new program at Horizon’s Academy, entering adult GED programs or participating in Florida Virtual School’s online courses. The decision is expected to save the school district in excess of $800,000 a year.  

Manatee Y Tech

[Recognition]  Bar Association Selects New Board

Jonathan H. Bernhardt, Amanda C. Smith and Ann K. Breitinger, attorneys at Blalock Walters, P.A., have been elected to the Board of Directors of the Manatee County Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division.  Breitinger will serve as Secretary after having served on the board since 2013. Bernhardt is in the firm’s real estate services group, Breitinger is a business and health care law attorney, and Smith is in the Business Litigation Services group at Blalock Walters. 

Manatee Bar Association



[SB2 LUNCH SYMPOSIUM]  Education And Business Partnerships
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On Wednesday, August 6, from 11:30am-1pm at the world-renowned IMG Academy Golf Club in Bradenton, join SRQ | The Magazine and leaders in local education, Allen Carlson, President and CEO of Sun Hydraulics, Mary Glass, Executive Director of the Manatee Education Foundation, Jeff Hazelton, President and Chief Technology Officer of BioLucid, Jan Pullen, Saint Stephen’s Head of School, and Susan Scott, Executive Director of the Education Foundation of Sarasota County, for a dynamic panel discussion as they share their insights on the private and public challenges associated with the region’s business community. Symposium tickets are $35/person and include plated lunch.  

Get Tickets

SRQ Media Group

SRQ DAILY is produced by SRQ | The Magazine. Note: The views and opinions expressed in the Saturday Perspectives Edition and in the Letters department of SRQ DAILY are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by SRQ Media. Senior Editor Jacob Ogles edits the Saturday Perspective Edition, Letters and Guest Contributor columns.In the CocoTele department, SRQ DAILY is providing excerpts from news releases as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SRQ DAILY. The views expressed by individuals are their own and their appearance in this section does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. For rates on SRQ DAILY banner advertising and sponsored content opportunities, please contact Ashley Ryan Cannon at 941-365-7702 x211 or via email

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