The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce on Thursday held its annual Salute to Business luncheon, where Hoyt Architects partner Chris Gallagher was handed the chairman's gavel by outgoing chairman Lisl Liang, president and CEO of SRQ Media Group. "Together we will continue to make Sarasota an extraordinary place to live, work and play," Gallagher said. 

Liang noted accomplishments for the Chamber for the past year, including the launch of programs like Talent 4 Tomorrow and policy efforts that led to just-passed revisions to the Sarasota County 2050 Plan. "We will experience the benefits for years to come," she said.

Of course, the event also included the showcase of major awards to businesses that made major investments in the region, expanded their workforces and achieved major milestones in their own histories.

In the Hiring Our Neighbors honors, the Chamber celebrated PGT Industries, which expanded its workforce from around 1,260 to 1,630, as well as Wentzel's, which boasted local job growth, and Clare Control, which saw growth in high-quality jobs.

For the Investing in our Future awards, major efforts were noted including the opening if a $250-million bed tower at Sarasota Memorial Health System, the grand opening of the $315-million commercial development The Mall at University Town Center, and some $800 million in capital investment at Ringling College of Art and Design, which just announced it would open a soundstage in Newtown soon.

As for Milestone honors, the Chamber recognized FCCI, which just celebrated 55 years, Mixon Farms, which just passed its 75th year anniversary, and The Players Theater, which has been open for 85 years.