John Cannon Homes, a luxury custom homebuilder based in Lakewood Ranch, recently announced a collaboration with Wayne Visbeen of Visbeen Architects, a firm specializing in custom residential and commercial design. Together, the two aim to enhance design efficiency, streamline construction and expand their portfolio of custom waterfront homes across Florida’s west coast.

John Cannon Homes sets itself apart with an in-house team of residential and interior designers, allowing them to streamline the building and design process. Visbeen will collaborate with this team on floor plans and exterior designs to create exactly what clients imagine for their future homes.

John Cannon, chief executive officer and president of John Cannon Homes, says his firm has formed long-term relationships with vendors, allowing them to purchase materials in bulk and provide clients with fixed pricing. The partnership with Visbeen brings further cost savings by consolidating design and architecture into one integrated process. “We're saving people a substantial amount compared to what they would pay with a typical architectural firm and the process of hiring an architect to do drawings,” Cannon says.

Visbeen, whose career began designing lakefront homes in Michigan, was impressed by Cannon’s extensive waterfront experience. “I saw John Cannon Homes as a Lakewood Ranch custom homebuilder. What I didn't know was that they were, and have been, the largest custom homebuilder in Sarasota, and have done over 250 waterfront homes,” he says. That realization sparked the idea for a partnership—one that extends beyond efficiency to shared ambition. The two now hope to expand their firms’ work on waterfront homes, spanning from St. Petersburg down to Punta Gorda.

Following a particularly challenging 2024 hurricane season, Cannon notes that all of their homes are built to be hurricane-resistant. He noticed last year that homes his firm had built sustained little to no damage, regardless of location. However, Cannon and Visbeen see an opportunity to rebuild in areas that suffered significant damage. “A lot of people’s homes, unfortunately, didn't come through. It's sad, but now we're seeing a tremendous opportunity for people who want to get on the water, because a lot of former residents are choosing not to rebuild or can't afford it,” Cannon says.

Looking ahead, Visbeen is optimistic. “We'll be able to take the homes in Florida, in Sarasota especially, to the next level, and certainly for less money,” Visbeen says. “If clients can get more for less and still have all the quality of my design and Cannon’s incredible quality of building, there's not going to be a team like us. We're going to be unstoppable.”

Pictured: Together, John Cannon and Wayne Visbeen hope to expand their work on waterfront homes across the Gulf Coast of Florida. Photo courtesy of John Cannon Homes

As pickleball continues its rapid rise in popularity across the country, Dill Dinkers is ready to welcome players of all skill levels. This new indoor pickleball club, located on Tallevast Road in Sarasota, opened earlier this year and has quickly become more than just a place to play—it's a lively center for fitness, fun and connection.

The facility features 12 indoor courts with outdoor-style surfaces and fencing, including nine regulation courts, two championship courts, an Erne ball machine and a designated dinking court for practicing finesse shots. It’s built to cater to everyone from newcomers to pros.

“Dill Dinkers’ mission is to spread the joy of pickleball by creating community amongst our members and visitors,” says Director of Operations and Sales, Heather Dull. “We do this by providing appropriate engaging programming to distinct groups from beginners to touring pros. We host round robins, skill and open play and court reservations. Visitors and guests are always welcome. Both our membership and usage fees are low—you only pay when you play.”

As summer heat drives players indoors, Dill Dinkers offers a cool, climate-controlled option to stay active. But more than just a comfortable venue, the club fosters meaningful connections. Staff match players by skill level and offer coaching designed to make the game fun and accessible.

The club also connects with local businesses and nonprofits through customized programming aimed at building trust and camaraderie in a unique, energetic environment. Lightly competitive play encourages teamwork and strengthens workplace relationships.

Dill Dinkers offers daily visitor-friendly open play from 8–11 a.m. for $10 and beginner clinics every Sunday. The club sees a steady stream of new players each week. “So many people are looking to learn to play pickleball but often have no idea where to start. My husband, Tim, and I (the founders of this club) often teach the beginners ourselves because we have so much fun meeting new players and hearing their stories of why they want to learn to play,” Dull shares. “Sometimes the stories originate in some pain or loss, but so often they include a search for friendship and community. This is the new third place for so many—after home and work, this is where the people come to enjoy themselves and de-stress.”

“We are often exhausted by building this startup but we are so gratified by how appreciated our club is by our pickleball community," adds Dull. "We love our pickleball family in Sarasota!”

Dill Dinkers, 500 Tallevast Road, Suite 110, Sarasota, 941-367-3465.  

Pictured: (l-r) Lance Martin (director of membership), Erica Love (captain of Sarasota Manatees), Heather Dull, Collin Johns. MLP pro player and Timothy Dull. Photo by Jola Bremer, Evoke Studios.

 Halfacre Construction Company, a Lakewood Ranch-based commercial construction company, recently celebrated the groundbreaking for The Dann Bouwer Community Pavilion for The Salvation Army of Manatee County. The new outdoor pavilion building will include an open-air sports court with large overhead fans, restrooms and storage facilities. The building will be used for kids’ camps, church gatherings and luncheons, sports activities and more.Bouwer was a longtime supporter of The Salvation Army’s mission, and he recently passed away. 

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Summer can be a vulnerable time for families with young children—especially when resources are limited. But thanks to a $17,280 grant from United Way Suncoast, eight children will enjoy a season of growth, stability, and support at The Florida Center for Early Childhood’s Starfish Academy. The grant provides full scholarships for children enrolled in summer programs at the Sarasota campus, ensuring continued access to high-quality early education, inclusive classrooms, and on-site therapeutic services. 

For the fifth consecutive year, the Office of Angelina “Angel” Colonneso, Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller for Manatee County, has received recognition in all ten categories of the Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers (FCCC) Best Practices Excellence Program. This milestone achievement was celebrated at the FCCC’s summer conference.The Manatee Clerk’s Office was one of only 33 out of 59 participating offices to earn recognition in every category this year. It also was among 39 Clerk offices that have participated in the program each year since its inception, earning special milestone recognition from the FCCC Best Practices Committee. FCCC established the Best Practices Program to support Clerks in evaluating and applying consistent standards across Florida. The program promotes guidance, legal consistency, and operational excellence through a series of self-assessments and peer-reviewed evaluations. 

SMH and Dr. Stolarksi are pioneering a new mixed reality surgical system that overlays 3D holograms of a patient's pelvis onto the hip during surgery. Cleared by the FDA in 2024, HipInsight’s 2.0 is the latest intra-operative guidance system developed to help orthopedic surgeons customize hip implant placement, verify accuracy during surgery, and anticipate and safeguard against potential complications.  

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As President and CEO of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, I am beyond proud to share a historic milestone in our organization’s 100+ year legacy — for the first time in our history, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has awarded us 5-Star Accreditation, the highest level of distinction a local chamber can achieve. This elite honor places us among the top 2% of chambers nationwide, recognizing organizations that demonstrate excellence in leadership, sound governance, impactful programming, and visionary planning. Out of nearly 7,000 chambers across the country, only 149 hold this prestigious designation — and now, your Sarasota Chamber is one of them.

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BayCare Health System announced today that C. Todd Jones, chief ambulatory services officer, is stepping into an expanded role. Starting immediately, Jones will also lead the not-for-profit’s strategic efforts and have the dual title of chief strategy officer and chief ambulatory services officer.  In his expanded role, Jones will be instrumental in shaping BayCare’s long-term strategic direction to ensure it remains strong and vibrant to serve the communities of West Central Florida. He will drive the assessment, development and execution of business strategies to ensure BayCare delivers the highest-quality academic care in existing and new markets.   Simultaneously, Jones will remain BayCare’s chief ambulatory services officer, ensuring alignment across ambulatory services and broader organizational goals including enhancing patient access and optimizing care delivery. Ambulatory services include the health system’s laboratory, home care, imaging, ambulatory surgery, telehealth, including BayCare Virtual Hospital, and urgent care services. 

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Reserve your space in SRQ Magazines' September publication, featuring three opportunities to spotlight your business: Living Lakewood, connecting Lakewood Ranch businesses with the community; Elite Top Attorneys, spotlighting the region’s most trusted legal professionals; and In Conversation: Career-Based Education, a dialogue on workforce development and training. Secure your space and connect with our readers. Contact us!  

Join us for the inspiring 10th Annual SRQ Women Who Roar Leadership and Awards Luncheon, celebrating local women leaders who significantly impact our community. Enjoy a dynamic program featuring the introduction of the esteemed 2025 Leadership Circle inductees, engaging PopUp Boutiques, and opportunities to network during our post-event reception. 

Get ready to be inspired at the Annual Giving Coast Luncheon: Philanthropic Agenda & Good Hero Awards, recognizing local changemakers. Join us in bringing the philanthropic community together on Wednesday, December 10, 2025 at Michael's On East and help celebrate the nonprofit spirit of our area. Featuring a panel of distinguished philanthropic leaders discussing giving trends, the honorable Good Hero Awards, and the interactive Giving Tree Program, this event will be nothing short of spectacular. Also highlighting the acclaimed SRQ Lifetime Good Hero Achievement Award, the program will uplift attendees and spark meaningful change.