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SRQ DAILY May 18, 2015

Monday Business Edition

Monday Business Edition

"People should be very concerned with what has been going on in the district in recent months."

- Rick Mills, former Manatee County Superintendent
 

[Manufacturing]  U.S. Sales/Inventory Ratio

The U.S. Census Bureau announced last week that the combined value of distributive trade sales and manufacturers’ shipments for March, adjusted for seasonal and trading-day differences but not for price changes, was estimated at $1.31 trillion, up 0.4 percent from February but down 2.1 percent from March 2014.Manufacturers’ and trade inventories, adjusted for seasonal variations but not for price changes, were estimated at an end-of-month level of $1.79 trillion, up 0.1 percent from February and up 2.9 percent from March 2014. 

[Education]  Rick Mills, Former Manatee County Superintendent
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

When the Manatee County School Board last week bought out the remainder of Superintendent of Schools Rick Mills’ contract, the parties parted on hostile terms. Before heading out, Mills spoke with SRQ about his experience in the district.

What led you to tell the School Board you wanted to leave before your contract was out?  First of all, I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished in the last two years. We’ve turned the school district around academically and financially. I’m very proud of this team and what we’ve accomplished in a short period. I’d even go as far as to say it’s been an extraordinary thing one might not be able to find replicated anywhere else in the country. The true legacy of a good leader is to leave behind a highly competent and capable team of people to continue the work of that organization. Whether or not they stay will really depend on the ability of the School Board to give direction and leadership, and to focus on the kids.

How did the election, which changed the make-up of the board that hired you substantially, impact the course of events here?  The reality is that a superintendent’s longevity depends on the dynamics of School Board elections. I had a supportive School Board but obviously that all changed last fall. I as superintendent made some recommendations in January and February that I thought were not only right but were legally supported by the School Board attorney and the School Board chose to make decisions otherwise. I became disillusioned with those decisions. Then a series of events have shown I don’t have the support of three School Board members. I felt they were moving in a direction, and I submitted for retirement in July.

What would you have done differently?  Good leaders are always retrospective and can always look back and say, ‘I should have handled this different.’ What I can tell you is every decision I've made has been with the best interest of students and this district’s employees, and I made no decisions that were not aligned with that. However, people didn’t like my decisions for reasons different than that. It’s even possible it was because of political dynamics and personal agendas contrary to those reasons. I think people should be very concerned with what has been going on in the district in recent months.

Some districts in Florida have elected superintendents. Do you wish Manatee had one? It would have been better for me. When I came to Florida I thought it odd to have elected superintendents here, but seeing the politics, I see it can be a better system, in this county particularly. If I were CEO of a company and I produced the realities and outcomes that I have as superintendent, what is the outcome of that? The School Board needs to stay in governance and stay out of management.

What can the next superintendent do to stay successful and keep the district on track?  I don’t know if that’s even possible. As a superintendent, you work with the board you have, and I’ve worked hard to do that. 

[Nonprofit]  Helping Good Charities Become 'Incredible'
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

The efforts of nonprofits draw the hard-working and good-hearted to many a mission. Sometimes, however, attracting a sound business mind to a cause can be tougher. That’s where the Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s Invest in Incredible efforts play a critical role. The foundation partners with BoardSource, the national expert in board governance, to create a standing group of available experts in the region to help nonprofits on issues on matters of governance, management and operational effectiveness.

Consultant Betsy Steiner, who has worked with the Foundation for around eight years herself, said the effort provides a great opportunity to connect with nonprofits and ensure their effectiveness matches up with their highest intentions. “Organizations are often good at the programatic things that are part of their mission, but they are also often lean-and-mean with staffing, and they don't necessarily have the ability to be investing in those things that improve impact and efficiency,” Steiner said. “As a consultant, I love that I can go in for a brief period of time for an assignment and help them in that capacity.” For example, if an organization exists to feed the hungry or provide housing to the poor, then full-time staff usually have skills in food distribution or real estate, but not always in best practices for financing the organization itself. Steiner has helped organizations fine-tune board composition or identify needed financial training. 

In the past two-and-a-half years alone, 122 local charitable organizations have received services through Invest In Incredible, according to Kelly Romanoff, strategic engagement officer for Gulf Coast. Just this month, 15 consultants completed a three-day training offering from BoardSource. “The best investment we can make into nonprofit organizations is to help them strengthen their board governance and internal capacity,” said Teri A. Hansen, Gulf Coast president and CEO. The Invest in Incredible effort has been in place here since 2004. 

[Recognition]  Lansky Receives National Honor

Manatee High School Football Strength and Conditioning Coach Rich Lansky has become one of Samson Equipment’s Strength and Conditioning Coaches of the Year. Lansky is one of three high school coaches to earn the award nationally. The award also honors one NFL coach and a coach from each college division. Lansky has served as strength and conditioning coach for Manatee High for five years and has helped the football program gain national recognition. 

Manatee High School

[Opening]  NaviMed Advocates Launches in SWFL

NaviMed Advocates, a private health care advocacy firm dedicated to helping health care consumers navigate and best utilize their benefits in our complex health care system, announced its launch into the Sarasota-Bradenton-Lakewood Ranch area. Founded by Mitzi Roca, CCP, a 20-plus-year Human Resources professional with an advanced certification in benefits, NaviMed Advocates’ mission is to educate, consult with and advocate for the health care consumer through a variety of personalized services. 

NaviMed Advocates

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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