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SRQ DAILY Aug 7, 2017

Monday Business Edition

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Monday Business Edition

"This company was founded with the intent of serving Florida patients"

- Todd Beckwith, AltMed Enterprises
 

[Health]  AltMed to Plant Florida Market Seeds
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

A Sarasota-based company that professionally cultivates marijuana will finally have growing operations in its home state. AltMed Enterprises has teamed up with Hillsborough County-based Plants of Ruskin, a company that already has growing facilities ready to use in Apollo Beach. Company leaders expect to soon open dispensaries throughout the state, including on the Gulf Coast, in early 2018.

“This company was founded with the intent of serving Florida patients,” says Todd Beckwith, marketing director for AltMed. “To be one of the first entries to this market, we believe we have a competitive advantage.”

AltMed was founded in anticipation of voters in 2014 passing a constitutional amendment legalizing marijuana for medicinal use, but a ballot measure that year earned just 57.6 percent of the vote, short of the 60-percent threshold needed to amend Florida’s constitution. The Sarasota company responded by moving its planned operations to Arizona, where voters approved medical marijuana in 2010, and became one of the lead providers of the drug in that state. When Florida voters in 2016 approved a new medical marijuana referendum with 71.3 percent level of support, the company turned its eye on business in its home state.

As Florida lawmakers and health administration officials prepared new rules, AltMed tailored its business strategy here accordingly. Florida this year will issue a total of 17 licenses initially to companies, who each must be able to cultivate, manufacture and dispense product. AltMed is one of nine medical marijuana treatment center licensees in the state thus far.

The drug, still classified as an illegal narcotic under federal law, cannot be shipped across state lines, so Arizona cultivation centers cannot provide products to dispensaries here. AltMed’s partnership with Plants of Ruskin allows the company to quickly get into cultivation at an existing 150,000-square-foot facility already zoned for the proper use. Plants of Ruskin has operated as a nursery since 1979. “We plan to rapidly begin production and distribution of a comprehensive portfolio of medical cannabis products to meet the needs of Florida patients,” says John Tipton, Plants of Ruskin CEO.

AltMed Enterprises and Plants of Ruskin will operate the Florida cultivation center as AltMed Florida.

“Through years of research and the diligent efforts of our experts we have developed a pipeline of next-generation medical cannabis products to meet the unique needs of each patient,” says AltMed Enterprises CEO Michael Smullen. In Arizona, the company earned awards for its extraction process, an important distinction as Florida law doesn’t allow for medical marijuana to be smoked. Beck with says the MüV product line of cannabis-infused products will be one of the chief assets in the Sunshine state.

Plants of Ruskin secured its cultivating license on Aug. 1 and awaits an inspection to start doing business sometime this month. Meanwhile, AltMed will have to ability to open 25 dispensaries in the state of Florida, and has started scouting locations.  Since no wholesaling deals will be allowed between companies, only products cultivated and manufactured at the Apollo Beach facility will be initially available. 

Screencap from AltMed Enterprises promotional video for Arizona cultivation center.

[Opening]  Title Alliance Opens Office in Bradenton

Title Alliance, a RESPA-compliant ESOP company that specializes in joint ventured title insurance agencies, has announced its newest partnership with Keller Williams On the Water and Keller Williams On the Water Sarasota. This partnership will mark the company’s fifth Florida operation, the second on the West Coast of Florida and will service both Manatee and Sarasota Counties. The Bradenton Market Center, which opened in 2006, currently has 115 agents. Since opening in 2014, the Sarasota Market Center has 153 agents. Distinct to Keller Williams, the Market Centers have profit shared $70,000 and $110,000 respectively year to date. Both Market Centers are in the Top 10 in market share for their respective counties. Both offices are among the fastest growing brokerages in our board in agent count, units and volume.Title Alliance of the Gulf Coast’s office is located at 1301 6th Ave. West, Suite 104, Bradenton. 

Title Alliance

[Expansion]  J.E. Charlotte Breaks Ground on Bayside Pet Resort

J.E. Charlotte Construction Corp., a commercial construction company that offers a full range of construction management services, has broken ground on the Lakewood Ranch location of Bayside Pet Resort, a luxury pet resort offering five-star amenities to its canine and feline guests.The 14,600-square-foot building, located at the northeast corner of Lorraine Road in Lakewood Ranch, will offer a full-service, state-of-the-art luxury facility with quality services, including overnight lodging, daycare, grooming and training. The Lakewood Ranch location will continue to provide the same quality care offered at all Bayside locations. Drawing on its expertise in building high-quality pet facilities, the Venice-based construction company built two other Bayside Pet Resort locations and will shepherd the new project as well. 

Bayside Pet Resort



[TODAY]  MUSEUM: Posed: Portrait Photography from the Permanent Collection , June 30 – October 29

Featured are works by many preeminent 20th century artists such as Richard Avedon, Cindy Sherman, Diane Arbus, Edward Weston and Andy Warhol. Several recent acquisitions will also be on view, including a collection of works by Mike Disfarmer, chronicling the small town of Heber Springs, Arkansas during the early to mid-1900s, and images from “The Artists” section of August Sander’s “People of the 20th Century” series, documenting a cross-section of life during the Weimar Republic.

John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota

[TODAY]  GALLERY: Eternal Offerings: Chinese Ritual Bronzes from the Minneapolis Institute of Art , June 9 – September 10

Demonstrating The Ringling’s continuing commitment to the study of Asian art, Eternal Offerings showcases nearly 100 Chinese bronze objects from the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Its collection of this material is generally considered to be one of the most important in the United States. The works span millennia, revealing the evolution of the use of bronzes in Chinese society. The exhibition highlights how these objects were employed to conduct religious rituals, record significant events and represent elite status from the Shang through Han dynasties (1600 BCE to 220 CE). This exhibit is free with admission. For more information please visit www.ringling.org

The Ringling, 5401 Bayshore Rd., Sarasota

[SOON]  GRAB BAG: Power Hour Lunch , August 9, 11:45 AM - 1:00 pm

A Chamber of Commerce networking opportunity, at this event each guest is invited to make an introduction to the group and pitch an elevator speech about their business. Please RSVP at least 24-hours prior to the event to save your spot. Depending on availability, member walk-ins will be charged $25.

Hotel Indigo , 1223 Blvd. of the Arts, Sarasota

[SOON]  THEATER: Arsenic and Old Lace , August 9 – August 20, 7:30pm and 2pm

Directed by Joseph Kesselring, Arsenic and Old Lace is about two charming and innocent old ladies running a boarding house for "acceptable" gentlemen roomers. Single tickets are $18.

The Players Centre for Performing Arts, 838 N Tamiami Tr.

[SOON]  MUSEUM: Gallery Walk & Talk - Portraits , August 10

The Ringling photography collection is rich in portraits by artists such as Cindy Sherman and Richard Avedon. Join museum staff as they introduce viewers to both artists and their subjects in these “bite size” programs that focus on issues and ideas.

John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art  , 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota

[SOON]  THEATER: Don’t Quit Your Day Job , August 10 – August 11

Venice Theatre’s multi-talented employees get the chance to strut their stuff on stage. From the box office and marketing to production and development, representatives from just about every department are pitching in to put on a great show. Enjoy performances from Allan Kollar, also the MC, Barbara Mullen, Brad Wages, Cara Herman, Dorian Boyd, Eric Watters, Kelly Duyn, Kim Gaesser, Kim Kollar, Laurie Colton, Lynne Buhle, Tay Tufenkjian and Tim Wisgerhoff.

Pinkerton, 140 Tampa Ave. W., Venice

[SOON]  THEATER: Alana Opie presents Classic Country Cabaret , August 12 – August 13

Hot off her Venice Theatre performance in Blood Brothers, Alana presents something totally different – her “Classic Country Cabaret.” Employing her strong country vocals, her witty stories, and perhaps a few over-sized wigs and fringed dresses, she will perform songs like “Walking After Midnight,” “Stand By Your Man,” “Jolene” and “Don’t Come Home a’Drinkin,” all made famous by all the classic female country artists of the ’60s and ’70s – including Patsy Cline, Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton, and Loretta Lynn.

Pinkerton, 140 Tampa Ave. W., Venice

[SOON]  GRAB BAG: SAF Milam House Tour , August 12, 2 to 3 PM

Join SAF for an exclusive tour of architect Paul Rudolph's Milam House, a true modernist masterpiece in Ponte Vedra, Florida. Built in 1961, this was Rudolph's last Florida residence and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.
The iconic house is built on a 200-foot oceanfront lot, on a high bluff near Jacksonville, Florida. Architectural Record's 1963 "House of the Year", the Milam House is a legendary example of the celebrated architect’s expansive vision of architecture and served as an important segue in his career. The Sarasota Bus Group will also have the opportunity to visit the William Morgan House in Atlantic Beach after the Milam tour. Internationally known modernist architect William Morgan, studied under Walter Gropius, graduated from Harvard University, worked with Paul Rudolph and was one of the best-known and most influential Jacksonville architects of all time. 

Milam House, 1033 Ponte Vedra Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach

[SOON]  SPORTS: The Second Annual Candy’s Circus Run , August 12

The Second Annual Candy’s Circus Run will be held on Saturday, August 12, 2017 at the Nathan Benderson Park. Gates will open at 7:00 am for packet pick-up and limited In-Person Registration. Opening ceremonies will begin at 7:30 and races will promptly begin at 8:00 am. All of the donations go to the organization CureSearch for Children’s Cancer which is a non - profit focused on raising awareness and funds for pediatric cancer.

Nathan Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota

[SOON]  THEATER: Ann Morrison presents Ann’s Furniture Set , August 13, 8 pm

54 Below, Broadway, and West End star Ann Morrison brings her amazing vocal talent to the VT Summer Cabaret Festival!

Pinkerton, 140 Tampa Ave. W., Venice

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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