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SRQ DAILY May 16, 2016

Monday Business Edition

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Monday Business Edition

"There is a pool of talented kids that have the ability to go to engineering school and would if they knew a little more about it."

- Al Carlson, UF Innovation Station
 

[Wages]  CEO Compensation Lower in 2015

Brooke Chase Associates, a Sarasota-based executive search firm, released its 2015 Wage and Salary Survey Report last week, including summaries of base salary, commissions earned, bonuses earned, stock options and total compensation levels. The survey found that in 2015, the president/CEO/general manager’s total compensation had a 5 percent decrease from 2014, but the vice president of operations increased 42 percent, vice president of sales increased 5 percent and regional sales managers decreased 0.5 percent in total compensation over 2014. The chart shows the spread for President/CEO/General Manager total compensation. 

Source: Brooke Chase Associates

[Workforce]  Carlson to Lead Innovation Station
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

Al Carlson for the last 16 years led Sun Hydraulics, one of Florida’s most prominent tech manufacturers. Now, he has been hired as the director of the University of Florida Innovation Station, the first extension campus for the university’s College of Engineering. The high-profile gig doesn’t seem like much of a retirement, but it gives Carlson the chance to boost an entire industry in the Sarasota-Bradenton area. “When this came along, I felt my background would really help make this successful,” Carlson said. “It lined up with my interests. It became a natural fit for what I like to do and what they need to do.”

University officials announced the Innovation Station to wide fanfare in March. UF President Kent Fuchs came to Sarasota from Gainesville for a launch event at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota and dubbed the satellite effort “critical for the community.” Carlson spoke at that event as well—he was engaged in talks about the education effort over the last two years—and now will commit his full professional energy to ensuring the station’s success. UF has yet to find a site for Carlson and administrative staff to headquarter, but plans are in place to start offering classes in Fall 2017 at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota’s campus in Venice.

The top priority for the school, according to Carlson, will be increasing the number of trained engineers in the region and the quality of education they receive. While a part of a higher education institution, Carlson said there will be a strong focus on improving engineering classes for middle and high school students in the Sarasota area. Carlson during his time as CEO of Sun Hydraulics and since his retirement has been involved in education programs like Talent4Tomorrow and Junior Achievement. The high-quality grade schools here make it the perfect place to have an extension of an engineering college, he said. “Whether they are at Pine View or Riverview or Booker or Sarasota High, there is a pool of talented kids that have the ability to go to engineering school and would if they knew a little more about it,” he said. By offering classes for students before they enroll at UF, it also provides a gateway to higher education at an affordable cost, he said.

And with business incubators like the HuB always seeking out trained engineers, Carlson has no doubt jobs will be available to anyone who takes advantage of the resources to be offered by the Innovation Station. “We have so many startup companies, but they are crying for more engineers,” he said. 

[Opening]  Kelly Forms New Hive

After a dozen years working at the office of Guy Peterson, Sarasota architect Joe Kelly breaks out on his own with the launch of Hive Architects. The opportunity for Kelly to start his own firm comes partly thanks to the strength of the economy, but the company founder also wants to run his office in a distinct fashion. 

What will set Hive Architects apart from other firms?  We want to focus on concept-driven design. It will be based on analysis of regional and environmental assets of the site and the crafted selection of materials and building systems. We will let the building unfold with that and will start with no preconceived notion of what the form will be. Through investigation and distillation of the project assets, that will influence and inspire our design process and our decisions.

What’s the significance of the name ‘Hive’?  The idea of the hive in general is about collaborative effort and not about one person. As the firm grows and we have more staff, the goal is that we work as a team. Some offices are based on one person’s vision. We want to be open to a collective of the office. It is currently just myself, but we do plan to grow in the near future. 

Conceptual renderings courtesy Hive Architects

Hive Architects

[Exec Moves]  Del Castillo to Lead Venice Elementary

Erin del Castillo has been hired as the new principal of Venice Elementary School effective June 14. She will succeed Theresa Baus, who retired in December. Del Castillo has an extensive background in instruction and administration. She currently serves as the assistant principal for the elementary-school grades at Pine View School. She taught English and reading at North Port High School from 2007-2010, where her duties included advising the yearbook staff and serving as an adjunct instructor in the dual-enrollment program. From 2010-15, she was an assistant principal at Riverview High School with supervisory responsibility for the teen parent program and the English and Reading Department. 

Sarasota County Schools

[Opening]  Loveland to Open Detert Center

Loveland Center, a nonprofit that provides educational programs and vocational training for individuals with developmental disabilities, will celebrate the grand opening of the Nancy Detert Residences at Loveland Village with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The grand opening will be today from 10am until noon. The 42-apartment complex will provide a naturally therapeutic community of peers and support services for up to 94 adults with developmental disabilities. Residents will have access to social and recreational opportunities and employment services. Senator Nancy Detert, who was instrumental in advocating for housing funding for adults with developmental disabilities, will cut the ribbon at the ceremony, marking the opening of the facility. 

Loveland Center

[Exec Moves]  Gollub Takes Washington Director Job

Norm Gollub, Sarasota downtown economic development director, has been hired as the executive director of the Foss Waterway Development Authority in Tacoma, Washington. An informal farewell event will be held for Gollub by The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce on Thursday. 

Foss Waterway Development Authority

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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