After a months-long leadership transition, Erin Silk has taken the leadership reins for the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County.

The EDC board formally voted to hire Silk on Thursday. Silk first came on with the EDC in 2019 as director of business development services and rose to the post of chief operations officer in November. She has worked closely with Lisa Krouse, who has served as CEO since 2021.

“It’s been inspiring to work with so many people who have given so much to Sarasota County,” Krouse said. “To be in a position and to work with remarkable people has been such a wonderful experience. We have transformed the organization and Erin will be hitting the ground running.”

Silk promised to continue a focus on economic diversification in the community. The region has continued to make strides in that direction, growing its manufacturing sector. She stressed the bulk of that is clean, desirable manufacturing that’s not dotting the county with smokestacks.

The new CEO has been with the organization through sometimes fractious periods with the county. But she said public-private partnerships remain the key to the organization’s success. And she noted the region remains a desirable one where CEOs often move even before considering relocating businesses or launching new ones.

On that front, Silk said she will continue to build on the legacy of EDC founders before her.

“Our region is undergoing transformation, and we are at a pivotal point when it is more important than ever to focus on workforce retention, foster an entrepreneurial ecosystem, and support diverse job creation while sustaining the environment that makes our County such a special place to live, work and play,” she said. “With a thoughtful eye on our history, I am excited to bring an innovative approach to our future.”

Meanwhile, EDC board leadership expressed confidence.

“The EDC team is strong, our Board of Directors is committed to the success of our organization, we have strong partnerships with all our municipalities, over 100 private investors who believe deeply in our mission, and we thank our County Commissioners who voted for full funding of our 2024 Strategic Plan,” wrote EDC Board Chair Mark Irwin in an email to EDC supporters. 

ESTABLISHED IN 1924, THE OUT-OF-DOOR ACADEMY is home to more than 800 students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. The school offers an innovative program focused on educating the whole child in a caring, supportive community. Out-of-Door continually implements new programs and strategies to meet the emerging educational needs of the next generation. Through its evolution, ODA has honored the legacy of its visionary founders who established a school where important lessons would be learned “out-of-door,” or outside the classroom. Central to that vision was a belief that education should integrate hands-on learning experiences, physical activity, and the arts. Two campuses boast space for visual and performing arts opportunities, as well as 12 interscholastic team sports. More than 50 student-run clubs and activities, including cultural, arts, and service organizations are offered. The Out-of-Door Academy remains dedicated to its longstanding commitment to the development of self-confident, well-rounded graduates who become responsible, contributing members of the global society.

School's Mission

The Out-of-Door Academy is an independent, college preparatory school with campuses in Siesta Key and Lakewood Ranch. Students in preschool - grade 12 achieve high academic goals and build character through a balanced program of academics, athletics, and the arts. Using a student-centered educational philosophy, ODA prepares students for college and for life. 

LOWER SCHOOL HISTORIC SIESTA KEY CAMPUS444 REID STREET, SARASOTA941-554-3439 | PRE-K – GRADE 5MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOL UIHLEIN CAMPUS IN LAKEWOOD RANCH5950 DEER DRIVE, SARASOTA941-554-5950 | GRADES 6-12

Check out more on this feature!

The Sarasota Memorial Research Institute and Florida State University College of Medicine held their first joint Interprofessional Research Conference at Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s Sarasota campus in May. The event, along with the groundbreaking of SMH’s new Research & Education Institute later this month, reflects the local health system’s national reputation as a teaching hospital and expanding commitment to clinical research. More than 150 healthcare professionals gathered to learn about innovative research projects and clinical studies led by multi-disciplinary specialists from across the region. The event featured dozens of individual and group poster, panel and podium presentations by physicians, pharmacists, nurses and other clinicians and a keynote address by National Institutes of Health award-winning researcher Irshad Chaudry, PhD. SMH and FSU leaders also presented nine research and innovation awards at the event, which was supported by the Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation. The 2023 award recipients are: SMH Distinguished Physician Research & Innovation Award – Beverly Long, MD. SMH Distinguished Nurse Research & Innovation Award – Bridget Drafahl, PhD, C-ONQS, CNS, RN; SMH Research & Innovation Excellence Award – Colleen Lindner, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC; SMH Distinguished Pharmacy Research & Innovation Award – Pamela Lewis, RPh; SMH Pharmacy New Investigator Research Award – Jonathan Summerlin, PharmD; FSU Emergency Medicine Resident Research Award – Emily Wheeler, MD; FSU Emergency Medicine Distinguished Faculty Research Scholar Award – Sagar Galwankar, MBBS, MBA, MPH; FSU Internal Medicine Resident Research Award – Stephanie Williams, MD; FSU Internal Medicine Distinguished Faculty Research Scholar Award – Robert Smith, PhD. Thanks to support from donors and the Sarasota County Public Hospital Board, Sarasota Memorial is slated to break ground on a new, $75 million Research & Education Institute on the SMH-Sarasota campus later this month. Designed to promote collaboration, discovery and innovation in medical education and research, the 5-story facility will house Sarasota Memorial’s clinical research division, nursing and clinical education, and graduate medical education programs, medical library and a new, state-of-the-art simulation center designed for hands-on training.

Pictured: Sarasota Memorial Chief Medical Officer James Fiorica, MD, presents the 2023 Distinguished Physician & Innovation Award to GYN Oncologist Beverly Long, MD. The award recognizes a physician that goes above and beyond the duties of serving as a pr

PGT Innovations (NYSE: PGTI) recently expanded its presence in Texas through its NewSouth Window Solutions brand, which is now selling in five major metro areas in the state: Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio. The company also broadened its product offerings in all five markets to include garage doors from Martin Door, PGTI's most recently acquired brand, in addition to the wide selection of NewSouth windows and doors. Retail showrooms in Dallas, Fort Worth, and San Antonio are slated to open this month, with another showroom in Austin opening later this year. Customers can explore the possibilities available for their homes now through an in-home consultation with a NewSouth representative. Customers in the Houston area can also request an in-home consultation or visit the retail showroom located at 15120 Northwest Freeway, Suite 140 that has been serving the market since 2020. To request an in-home consultation, visit newsouthwindow.com. NewSouth Window Solutions offers energy-efficient and impact resistant windows, entry doors, and patio doors, among other products, and operates 11 other retail showroom locations across Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Georgia. 

Fresh Harvest, Downtown Wellen’s newly launched weekly farmers market, welcomed thousands of visitors during its debut event and following weekends. Fresh Harvest offers a selection of local goods from nearly 40 local vendors. Fresh Harvest takes place every Sunday in Downtown Wellen from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Attendees can peruse nearly 40 different vendor booths and stock up on a variety of goods. Vendors will offer a wide variety of locally grown and produced food, including herbs, spices, cut flowers, teas, canned and preserved fruits and vegetables, syrups, baked goods, pickled foods, fresh seafood, meats, poultry, eggs, milk and prepared food and beverages. A limited selection of craft vendors also participate in the farmers market. For a listing of participating vendors and more information on Fresh Harvest Farmers Market, visit wellenpark.com/events/fresh-harvest-farmers-market. Applications are also available online for interested vendors. 

Pictured: Vendors offer a wide variety of locally grown and produced food.

Pulte Homes, one of the nation’s most recognized and trusted brands in homebuilding for 70 years, is offering homebuyers the opportunity to save on several quick move-in homes currently available at Magnolia Ranch in Bradenton. As Magnolia Ranch’s intimate community of 72 single-family homes nears sell-out, homebuyers can find savings of up to $50,000 on remaining new construction homes in the gated community’s final phase. Pulte also offers additional savings to be used toward closing costs as well as rate lock options for homebuyers financing through Pulte’s affiliated lender, Pulte Mortgage. Quick move-in opportunities represent several of the home designs offered at Magnolia Ranch, including the popular Whitestone and Mystique, both of which are featured as decorated models that are open for touring daily. The two-story Whitestone home design offers four-to-five bedrooms with a first-floor owner’s suite, two-and-a-half to four bathrooms, a two-car garage, and nearly 2,900 square feet of living space. The Mystique, offering up to three bedrooms, has two baths, a den, and lanai, with well-appointed finishes including quartz countertops and stainless-steel appliances. It spans nearly 1,900 square feet to over 2,100 square feet and has a two-car garage. Quick move-in opportunities are offered as well for the Highgate, a four-bedroom, two-bath floor plan, and the Cedar, a three-bedroom, two-bath floor plan, with more information available online at www.Pulte.com/MagnoliaRanch. Pulte’s exclusive single-family home designs in Magnolia Ranch offer flexible layouts, stylish kitchens with islands, spacious owner’s suites with walk-in closets and well-appointed baths, and versatile living spaces designed for everyday living and entertaining. Homebuyers can take advantage of the simple and streamlined buying process offered by Pulte, and the convenience of a quick move-in home with professionally designed interiors already in place. Homes in Magnolia Ranch are available from the upper $400,000s. A private, gated community with no CDD, Magnolia Ranch offers convenient proximity to Interstate 75 and S.R. 64 and easy access to local amenities like Publix, Lakewood Ranch Premier Sports Campus, University Town Center, and top-rated schools. Homebuyers can also shop their favorite model home looks through Pulte’s national partnership with MINE. The online interior design service features furniture and accessories showcased in Magnolia Ranch models and in Pulte communities throughout Florida and the country. Most furnishings are available at discounted prices by visiting www.AllMine.com/MagnoliaRanch. For more information about Magnolia Ranch and quick move-in single-family homes, visit www.Pulte.com/MagnoliaRanch or call or text (941) 253-5658 to schedule an appointment. Model homes are open daily. 

The EDC of Sarasota County Board of Directors recently voted to appoint Erin Silk, CEcD as the new President & CEO.  A group of about 40 community stakeholders and partners convened in the Fall of 2022 to interview Erin for the President & CEO role. Since that time, the Board of Directors has been engaged in a vigorous executive and leadership transition plan for Erin. The transition was well-planned and thoughtful.  While Erin is new to this position, she is no stranger to the EDC. Erin joined the organization in April 2019 as the Director of Business Development Services and was promoted to Vice President of Business Development Services in July 2021 and then Chief Operations Officer in November 2022.  The EDC team is strong, the Board of Directors is committed to the success of the organization, they have strong partnerships with all our municipalities, over 100 private investors who believe deeply in their mission, and they thank our County Commissioners who voted for full funding of the 2024 Strategic Plan. The future is bright for the EDC and our thriving community! 

Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman is pleased to announce that Crime Analyst Molly Suplee graduated from the Florida Law Enforcement Analyst Academy on Friday, June 16. The 30 graduates serve crime intelligence analyst roles and represent 19 criminal justice agencies throughout the state.