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SRQ DAILY May 23, 2022

Monday Business Edition

Monday Business Edition

"If you are an employer or president of a company, you need to be waking up and being incredibly intentional about the culture at your place of employment."

- Heather Kasten, Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce
 

[Workforce]  Great Resignation Reaches Sarasota Region
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

A new survey from WalletHub shows Florida has the second highest resignation rates of every state in the union. Has the “Great Resignation” struck the greater Sarasota area? Business leaders say it has, and that companies will have to grow increasingly nimble to deal with the change.

“The EDC is talking with businesses every day who tell us that the lack of and loss of talent is a significant risk for their company,” said Lisa Krouse, president and CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a large or small organization.”

The topic was highlighted at an Economic Outlook Luncheon in Sarasota on Friday, largely in response to demand from companies for help finding creative solutions to business challenges. Krouse said in many ways, the problems facing long-time employers are a biproduct of the region’s successes.

“There is no shortage of business interest in our community,” she said. “With the influx of new businesses coming into our state, there are more opportunities for workers. People are quitting for better jobs.”

Heather Kasten, president of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, said every single employer she knows has at least one significant job opening on their payroll. “You see businesses making modifications to the business model because of a shortage of staff,” she said.

The WalletHub survey looked at data about how many individuals voluntarily leave their places of employment each month and found Florida trails only Alaska in terms of places with the most quitting.

At the same time, the region and entire state continue to see lower unemployment rates than the nation as a whole. The North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton area, according to information released Friday by Florida's Department of Economic Opportunity, has an unemployment rate of just 2.1% compared to a statewide rate of 2.4% and a national rate of 3%.

Kasten encourages employers to do what they can to make workers feel valued— even those finding their ways to the exits. “If a good employee leaves, make sure (employers) leave the door open for if and when they want to return to the company,” Kasten said. “Make sure you do it in best possible, honorable way.

“Now is a great time to examine your corporate culture. Things have drastically changed since March 2019. Check the environment at work what your culture is everyday. If you are an employer or president of a company, you need to be waking up and being incredibly intentional about the culture at your place of employment.”

Kasten said a number of factors contribute to the current environment, from inflation to a growth in remote work in the pandemic. 

Krouse said there’s no doubt the environment has changed, as have the expectations of employees.

“The pandemic has caused many to rethink balance in their lives and we are seeing a large entry of entrepreneurs enter the market,” Krouse said.

“This can be highlighted by State College of Florida’s establishment of 26 West an Entrepreneurship Academy. The ability to work remote is also exacerbating the problem. The EDC and Visit Sarasota County have had a very successful social media campaign called ‘live where you want to work.’ We are targeting the remote worker and offering them a place like Sarasota County so as to build the talent pipeline for our local companies.” 

Graphic courtesy WalletHub

[Redesign]  DutchCrafters Unveils Redesign of Sarasota Showroom

DutchCrafters, the largest online retailer of Amish furniture and home décor and daughter company of JMX Brands, has completed the redesign of its Sarasota Showroom. It is celebrating with a grand reveal open house and store-wide sale, along with a $500 gift certificate giveaway, on May 28 and 29, 2022.  DutchCrafters partnered with Ponton Interiors to redesign its showroom experience that will become a standard as it expands to new store locations. The redesign includes an updated layout, representation of different woods and styles, visual elements and displays, and a dedicated design center.  Selling online since 2003 at www.dutchcrafters.com, DutchCrafters opened its first brick-and-mortar store in Sarasota, Fla. in 2016. With the success of the Sarasota location, DutchCrafters has since opened an outlet store in LaGrange, Ind. and plans to open its next showroom in Alpharetta, Ga. this summer. Along with the grand reveal open house and store-wide sale, the Sarasota Showroom is extending its hours to be open on Sundays as well. The showroom will be open May 28, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and May 29, noon to 5 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres and a limited bar. 

[Ribbon Cuttings]  Two New Coastal Orthopedics Facilities Opening in Manatee

Coastal Orthopedics, a full-service provider of comprehensive orthopedic surgery, sports medicine, spine care, pain management and physical therapy services, is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening event on May 24, 2022 from 5:30-7:30pm to celebrate the opening of its two newest facilities in West Bradenton and East Manatee. The ribbon-cutting and grand opening event is invite-only-- it is not a public event. The 34,000-square-foot West Bradenton facility is located on 17th Avenue West, just north of Blake Medical Center in Bradenton and opened on May 16, taking the place of the previous West Bradenton space located at 6015 Pointe West Boulevard. The new location will house physician office space, fluoroscopy suites, a physical therapy gymnasium and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suite, plus room for future expansion. The 88,000-square-foot East Manatee facility is located at 8000 State Road 64 and opens today. The facility will serve as Coastal Orthopedics’ new headquarters, taking the place of the previous space at 5101 4th Avenue Circle East, and will house clinical services, an ambulatory surgery center, physical therapy department, administrative offices and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), among other services. 

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[Recognition Given]  Local Seasidebank/UCB Team Honored at Chairman's Circle Awards Event

This past weekend United Community Bank held its annual 2022 Chairman's Circle Awards in Charleston, SC to recognize team members from across the company for their hard work and commitment to United and their communities. Every year, awards are handed out in two categories. The Chairman's Circle Sales Awards are given to the team members who 'move the needle,' and motivate team members to work hard. The Chairman's Circle Culture Awards are given to those whose co-workers feel they model the values that United Community Bank stands for. Steve Altier, Client Advisor, Sarasota, FL,was recognized as a one of the 2022 Sales Award Winners. Steve was. the Top Commercial Loan producer in the State of Florida last year for Seaside Bank/UCB, and 3rd overall for the entire United Community Bank.Patty Krzyzanowski, Sarasota Branch Manager, was recognized for having the top operational banking office in the Coastal Region for Seaside Bank (Naples, Sarasota, Gainesville, Tampa, and Ponte Vedra) in the 1st Quarter of 2022. 

[Opening]  Lincoln Aquatic Park Gets Ready to Open

Fun is on-tap this summer at the Lincoln Aquatic Center. Nearly 150 thousand gallons of it. And it’s clear that this facility is already a hit. It took less than eight hours for all the test-splash slots to be filled for the soft-opening Memorial Day Weekend at the brand new swim-and-slide facility at Lincoln Park, located at 715 17th St E., in Palmetto. Those who were able to sign up will have the chance to whoosh down a 30 MPH enclosed water slide, get drenched with 350 gallons of water from the iconic big bucket in the new splash area and swim some laps in the Competition pool during two-hour sessions Memorial Day Weekend. Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources staff will review and revise their operations after the reduced-capacity opening to determine best practices and provisions for a world-class experience as the facility fully opens for the full summer season.And a timely reminder—if you love the water—Manatee County is still looking for lifeguards. Lifeguarding jobs offer competitive pay and experience and can help you move forward in many career paths. There also is a lot of room to grow in the aquatics field by becoming a swim instructor, trainer or coach. Free lifeguard certifications are offered to applicants who are able to commit to three or more months with Manatee County Aquatics. Applicants can register for a class as soon as they interview. 

[Giving]  80,000 Pounds of Food for Collected by Mal Carriers

Each year, the National Association of Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive occurs on the second Saturday in May, benefiting local food banks. The effort is the country’s largest single-day food drive, providing residents with an easy way to donate food to their neighbors in need. In the 30 years since it began, the national food drive has collected about 1.82 billion pounds of food for those struggling to put food on the table. On Saturday, May 14, while on their mail routes, this area’s approximately 150 city carriers and 50 rural carriers collected donations of food that residents placed near their mailboxes. In the afternoon, All Faiths Food Bank staff and volunteers were based at 10 different letter carrier drop-off locations, at the ready to load trucks to take these food donations back to the food bank. At the food bank (8171 Blaikie Ct., Sarasota), additional volunteers and staff sorted and arranged food in the warehouse to help prepare for future distribution. This year, thanks to generous community members and the area’s letter carriers, a gratifying total of 80,210 of food was collected. “Time and time again, we have been heartened by this community’s response when their friends and neighbors are in need,” said All Faiths Food Bank CEO Sandra Frank. “As the pandemic and worsening economic conditions continue to impact those who were already at-risk for hunger – as well as families new to food insecurity – we would like to extend our gratitude to those who donated bags of food as well as our community’s letter carriers, who cheerfully went above and beyond to collect the food this year.” 



[SOON]  GRAB BAG: Selby Gardens: Seeing the Invisible , September 25 – August 31, 10am-5pm

The most ambitious and expansive exhibition to date of contemporary artworks created with augmented reality (AR) technology will premiere at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, opening on September 25, 2021 and ongoing through August 31 2022, as one of 12 participating gardens across six countries. Seeing the Invisible features works by more than a dozen international artists such as Ai Weiwei, Refik Anadol, El Anatsui, Isaac Julien CBE, Mohammed Kazem, Sigalit Landau, Sarah Meyohas, Pamela Rosenkranz, and Timur Si-Qin—including several artists’ first work in AR. Visitors will engage with Seeing the Invisible via an app designed for the exhibition downloadable to smartphones and tablets. Forging new links between botanical gardens located in diverse biomes around the globe, the exhibition fosters collaboration between institutions, artists, and audiences, highlighting the power of art to connect people around the world.

[SOON]  GRAB BAG: Farmers' Market at Lakewood Ranch , January 2 – December 25, 10am-2pm

The Farmers’ Market at Lakewood Ranch is home to more than 90 curated vendors of the region’s best food and flavors, located at Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch. It takes place every Sunday from 10am to 2pm at Waterside Place. It’s your weekend destination for organic produce, meat, poultry, seafood, bread, pasta, juices and prepared foods. Stay up to date on vendors and events by visiting TheMarketLWR.com.

[SOON]  MUSIC: Sarasota Art Museum: Jazz Thursdays , January 13 – January 12, 5:30pm-8:30pm

Jazz Thursdays at Sarasota Art Museum will runs through January 12, 2023 from 5:30pm to 8:30pm. FREE for Members, $20 for Not-Yet Members. Sarasota Art Museum invites you to be our guest at our first Jazz Thursday at SAM, featuring Hot Club of SRQ. Sarasota Art Museum is partnering with the Jazz Club of Sarasota for Jazz Thursdays. Join us for our special late-night performances on the Marcy & Michael Klein Plaza. Jazz Thursdays will occur on the second Thursday of each month until January 12, 2023. Galleries + Bistro + Shop will be open.

[SOON]  PERFORMANCE: Florida Studio Theatre: Laughing Matters , February 9 – June 19, Varies.

Laughing Matters, FST’s hit musical sketch comedy show, is back for round six! And this time, nothing and no one is safe from a good-spirited roast. From never-ending Sarasota construction and the perpetual hunt for downtown parking to Mother Nature’s increasingly wild mood swings and our endless quest to stay young, Laughing Matters delivers fast-paced comedy inspired by the culture and politics of today. Laughing Matters, by head writer Rebecca Hopkins with contributing writers Kevin Allen, Sarah Durham, Stephan deGhelder, and Jim Prosser, will play beginning February 9, 2022 through June 19, 2022 in FST's Court Cabaret.

[SOON]  GALLERY: The Ringling: Eleanor Merritt: Remembrance , February 18 – August 21, Museum hours.

The Ringling is pleased to present an exhibition that celebrates the life and artwork of Eleanor Merritt from February 18, 2022 to August 21, 2022. Eleanor was a dedicated volunteer at The Ringling for many years as a docent and Board member. She also served as president of the Venice Art Center and was active in other arts organizations as well. Eleanor passed away in 2019 leaving a legacy of art and public service. This exhibition is dedicated to her spirit and creativity and represents a small sample of a significant body of work the artist created over her long career. Beginning with an early work from the 1950s Untitled (Seated Figure) and concluding with her last painting Blue Embrace of 2018, the exhibition highlights her creative use of materials, movement between figuration and abstraction, and her commitment to women’s rights. The works in the exhibition come from the artist’s estate and from a few prestigious private collections. The artist’s daughter, Lisa, and artist Mike Solomon were critical guides in the development of this exhibition. 

[SOON]  PERFORMANCE: FST Improv: Comedy Freestyle , April 2 – May 28, 7:30pm

FST Improv Presents Comedy Freestyle Beginning on April 2 and through May 28, 2022 at 7:30pm. What happens when you take some of your favorite improv games…and remove all the rules? Anything goes at Comedy Freestyle, an off-the-wall improvisation potpourri. Featuring a mashup of both short-form and long-form styles, audiences get the best of the art form when styles and techniques collide! We’ll set our performers free from all of the traditional dos and don’ts of improv, and you get to watch them figure out what comes next, completely on the spot. Tickets are $15 per person and the performance will take place in FST's Bowne's Lab.

[SOON]  BUSINESS: The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime: Limelight Market , April 23 – December 17, 10am-3pm

Every 3rd Saturday from 10-3 The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime opens their outdoor space for guest vendors, dog rescues, and live music. Check out the 40 local creators and curators inside The Bazaar every Thursday - Saturday. Enjoy a delicious lunch and support local. Free, until you buy something amazing! 

[SOON]  GALLERY: M A R A Art Studio + Gallery Presents "black+white" Monochrome Expression by 9 Artists , May 1 – May 31, Varies.

M A R A Art Studio + Gallery presents “black+white,” featuring monochromatic works by nine artists: Grace Howl, Jack Shapiro, Jana Millstone, Ralph Berger, Lisa DiFranza, Craig Palmer, Dan Wilkerson, Sam Wuerfel, and MARA Torres, May 1-31. The opening reception is Friday, May 6, 5:30-7 p.m. The gallery is at 1421 5th Street, Rosemary District, Sarasota. For more information, call (941) 914-8110 or visit MaraStudioGallery.com

[SOON]  PERFORMANCE: Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe: From Birmingham to Broadway and Float Like a Butterfly , May 4 – May 29

This season, WBTT is also thrilled to present two world premiere one-act plays under the auspices of its New Playwrights Series. Tarra Conner jones has written and stars in an ode to Nell Carter, titled “From Birmingham to Broadway.” Nate Jacobs and his brother, Michael, have written a play about Muhammad Ali, titled “Float Like a Butterfly”; staring Darius Autry. These plays will be presented together from May 4 to 29, 2022. Ticket sales are scheduled to begin in the late summer. Call the Box Office at 941-366-1505 or visit westcoastblacktheatre.org.

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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