Beating even optimistic predictions, a record number of real estate transactions closed in the Sarasota County market for the 2014 calender year. According to the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manateem, a total of 11,550 sales closed, topping the previous record of 11,482 tallied in 2004. That included 929 clsoed sales in December alone, including 659 single-family homes and 270 condominium units. 

Manufacturing plants in Southwest Florida may soon become classrooms—for teachers. The Sarasota and Manatee Manufacturers Association right now is recruiting manufacturers in the area to open facilities so school teachers may enroll in internships, all in hopes of creating a better skilled workforce. “There is a need in all of manufacturing for better baseline skills,” said Peter Straw, SAMA executive director.

By partnering with the Sarasota County School District and other business organizations, SAMA hopes to embed more Manufacturing Skills Standards Council certifications being issued to students coming out of high school. “If that can be taught while taking credits in high-school in an engineering focused program, we all benefit,” Straw said.

The goal isn’t to dissuade individuals from a college education, Straw said, but to make sure the science and engineering programs on the rise in public schools are offering high-quality training in skills valuable in the job market. The MSSC program is a national set of standards, so students who complete it can take certifications from state to state, and those who want to go to college instead of the workforce can start off with 15 college credits toward an engineering-type degree that will be accepted at most of Florida’s two-year community colleges. “This raises the bar for everyone employed, from entry-level skills up, in trades like precision engineering or computer assisted drafting,” Straw said. “There is a need for all of that in manufacturing, and the value of MSSC certification is it sets a higher baseline.”

Manufacturers in this area interested in helping can allow school teachers to sign up for internships, where the teachers will spend much of the summer working in plants alongside workers and learn the true demands of modern manufacturing jobs. Interested employers may contact Straw at 941-376-4272. 

Sarasota City Commission: The board meets today to discuss a proposed comprehensive plan amendment for an 11-acre property at the corner of Fruitville and Beneva roads, where the city has entered into a purchase-and-sale agreement with Benderson Property Development. The amendment would change the designation of the site from community-institutional and open space-recreation to community commercial on the city's future land-use map. The evening session begins at 6pm at City Hall.

Manatee County Commission: The board meets Tuesday for a work session and will get an update on economic development within the county during 2014, and will also discuss a millennial housing initiative. The workshop begins at 9am at the Manatee County Government Administrative Center in Bradenton. 

Sarasota City Commission

Doctors Hospital of Sarasota announced former Sarasota County Commissioner Shannon Staub’s addition to the hospital’s Board of Trustees. During her 14-year tenure as county commissioner, she chaired the county commission several times, as well as the Peace River Water Authority, Sarasota-Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization, Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council, Community Health Improvement Program and Tourism and Economic Development Board. Staub is a graduate of Leadership Florida and served as an appointee of Gov. Jeb Bush to the Legislative Committee on Intergovernmental Relations.  

Doctors Hospital of Sarasota

CS&L CPAs, a certified accounting firm, announced it hired Jennifer A. Messal to join the team as tax supervisor. Messal is originally from North Lauderdale and received a bachelor’s degree of Science Degree in Accounting from the University of Florida and a master’s degree in Taxation from Florida Atlantic University. 

CS&L CPAs

After a half-year search for qualified candidates, the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority board named Ramond Chiaramonte as its next executive director. Chiaramonte recently served as executive director at both the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission. The TBARTA Board was guided by a selection committee and an executive search firm in its decision process. Chiaramonte and Jim Ley, former Sarasota County Administrator, were the final two candidates. 

Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority