941CEO June/July 2016

JUNE / JULY 2016

941CEO.COM

CARLOS BERUFF’S BOLD RUN FOR U.S. SENATE

an d a An X ? some o m o Y ch r d we l u o Yw ? that d e e n

Y R A D BOUN KING BREA EN WOMR, LIFE

E W O P S ON S E C C U S D N A PLUS BUSINESS LEADERS REVEAL THEIR BEST FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS

T H E J. L . BA I N B R I D G E

LOCAL. NATIONAL. INVESTMENT ADVISORS MAIN STREET, SARASOTA, MAY BE OUR HOME BASE, BUT OUR CLIENTS ARE COAST TO COAST. With 35 years of professional portfolio management experience, we deliver a highly disciplined, long-term investment approach to help you achieve your financial goals.

We don’t sell products. Instead, we use our decades of experience, our integrity and our commitment to quality

and risk minimization to build investment portfolios that help our clients finance their children’s education, build and preserve the resources for an enhanced retirement, and achieve a meaningful higher standard of living.

We don’t get paid unless you’re satisfied. Please call for a free investment review.

Married for 53 happy years, our founders Jerry and Fay Ellen Bainbridge are proud of their beautiful family and the highly successful career as financial advisors that they have built together.

Since they founded it in 1981, J.L. Bainbridge & Co. Inc. has focused on providing a service to clients that reduces risk and achieves a return in excess of the S&P 500. The company has grown to a staff of eight, managing more than $600 million in assets.

INVESTMENT PHILOSOPHY O

ur investment philosophy is to minimize risk by using a time-tested discipline and investment criteria, while at the same time provide a superior return to a market benchmark such as the S&P 500. We do not, and have not, ever invested in banks, insurance companies or commodities.

We do not use calls, puts or shorting. We have the same philosophy for everyone we work with, but build a portfolio for each individual client based on market conditions and valuation of each individual company that makes up a portfolio of 15 to 20 stocks.

We look for businesses with very little debt, excess cash flow, strong products or services with dominant market positions, and direct participation in a national and or world situation that creates a continuous longterm trend independent of the economy. Examples of a trend are urbanization or the rising standard of living through the Americas, eastern Europe and Asia.

At J.L. Bainbridge & Co., Inc., we believe that building a portfolio of some of the finest American growth companies, which are run by highly competent CEOs and their teams—and are involved in trends on a global scale—is always the best path for our clients to achieve growth above the norm with minimum risk.

From left to right, Robyn E. Messer, Fay E. Bainbridge, Kip D. Schoonover, Jerry L. Bainbridge, John B. Leeming, Jeanmarie Giambra, Joel G. Oldham and Jennifer B. Chauvel.

1582 Main Street, Sarasota, FL 34236 (941) 365-3435, (800) 899-5171

Jlbainbridge.com

ALEXANDER McQUEEN

The Mall at University Town Center SARASOTA, 120 UNIVERSITY TOWN CENTER DR. 941.364.5300

LORI SAX

June / July 2016

CONTENTS

THE INSIDE OUTSIDER I8

18

THE EARNINGS GAP

6

Talk

Stuff you need to know, from bringing your own device to work to the smartest career moves.

70

MANATEE HOMEBUILDER CARLOS BERUFF HAS A RAGS-TO-RICHES STORY AND POWERFUL FRIENDS. ARE THEY ENOUGH TO WIN MARCO RUBIO’S U.S. SENATE SEAT?

HR Corner

How to develop female leaders.

72

What I’ve Learned

Brock Leach on moving from CEO of a national brand to the ministry.

24 28

THE BEST INVESTMENT I EVER MADE

Business leaders spill the beans on the investment that made the most impact.

UNPLUGGED

We invited eight high-powered women to tackle the question: What do working women really want?

ADVERTISING SECTION Women of Influence

Fast Track

Movers, shakers and headline makers.

76

Tech Beat

Three new innovations for business and for pleasure.

77

The Seen

39

941CEO.com Check out our website, featuring new and archived articles, and sign up for our e-newsletter, Biz(941) Daily.

J U N E / J U LY 2 0 1 6

74

People and events in pictures.

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OUR JUNE JULY ISSUE focuses on women in the workplace, and many of our stories—such as “Unplugged” on page 28, a series of conversations with eight female newsmakers—feature strong, tenacious women who have started businesses, risen to positions of authority and overcome challenges.

Unfortunately, just being a woman has been one of those challenges.

Sexism remains ingrained in the workplace, and women are still breaking through barriers. In the 16th Congressional District that covers Sarasota and part of Manatee, women still make only 85 cents for every dollar a man makes, which is identical to the overall pay gap in Florida. (The national average is 79 cents, which places Florida sixth best out of all states. Part of that is due, however, to the state’s low wages.) What’s even more disheartening is the motherhood penalty. After accounting for hours worked and marital status, a woman’s earnings fall to 73 percent of what a man makes once she has a child. After fatherhood, men’s earnings go up 6 percent. The presumption is that a mother can’t hold a demanding job or will be a liability while she bears and raises children while a father becomes more responsible and committed.

Perhaps that’s why women are starting their own businesses. The State of Women-Owned Businesses Report by Amex OPEN reports that Florida ranks No. 1 in growth of women-owned firms over the past nine years with 971,000 womenowned firms, employing 500,000 with an estimated $96,207,600 in sales. The women we feature in this issue, many of them mothers and many in male-dominated professions, couldn’t be more committed, skilled and driven. Isn’t it time the pay gap disappear?

Off the Clock FCCI chief risk manager Cina Welch on living life to its fullest.

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5.20.2016 WWW.BBBSSUN.ORG/CTO

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

ONE DAY. TWO EVENTS. LIVES CHANGED. Join leading businesses and fellow golf enthusiasts for a special day at the prestigious Arthur Hill designed golf course at The Oaks Club in Osprey

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

GROUP PUBLISHER Kelley Lavin SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Kim Davis ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Debra Clark Maradiaga, Keith Magnuson, Sandy Moore, Dan Starostecki

Leading businesswomen and philanthropists enjoy an afternoon golf clinic featuring lessons from top PGA and WPGA players

Visit our website www.bbbssun.org

or call Eva at 941-488-4009 to register your team!

“A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.” 100% of each contribution is received by BBBS (Registration #CH-15494)

SALES AND MARKETING TEAM LEADER

Regina Walters MARKETING MANAGER Amy Overbay SALES AND MARKETING ASSISTANT

Bobbilynn Hollifield EDITORIAL EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Pam Daniel EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 941CEO Susan Burns MANAGING EDITOR Ilene Denton SENIOR EDITOR Kay Kipling ASSOCIATE EDITORS Cooper Levey-Baker, Hannah Wallace WEB EDITOR Megan McDonald

ART CREATIVE DIRECTOR Gigi Ortwein ART DIRECTORS Pepe Nieto,

Mark Howell

DESIGNER Amy Hoffarth

PRODUCTION

BOB’S WINDOW BOB’S WINDOW BOB’S WINDOW BOB’S WINDOW CLEANING CLEANING CLEANING CLEANING “Clearly the the Best” “Clearly Best” “Clearly the Best” “Clearly the Best” (941) 955-4607 955-4607 (941) (941) 955-4607 955-4607 (941) • Commercial buildings

• Commercial buildings • Commercial buildings Residential properties • Commercial buildings Residential properties • Residential properties Window cleaning •• Residential properties Window cleaning Window cleaning Pressure cleaning Gutter cleaning •• Window cleaning Pressure cleaning Gutter Pressure cleaning All workcleaning guaranteed •• Pressure cleaning All work guaranteed All workthe guaranteed Serving area since 1972 •• All workthe guaranteed Serving the areasince since1972 1972 Serving area •bobswindowcleaning@gmail.com Serving the area since 1972 www.bobswindowcleaning.BIZ bobswindowcleaning@gmail.com bobswindowcleaning@gmail.com www.bobswindowcleaning.BIZ www.bobswindowcleaning.BIZ bobswindowcleaning@gmail.com www.bobswindowcleaning.BIZ

4

PRODUCTION MANAGER Norma Machado ADVERTISING SERVICES MANAGER

Katherine Orenic BUSINESS STAFF ACCOUNTANT Diana Clenney DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Tim Scott CIRCULATION COORDINATOR Joy Quici IT SPECIALIST Shawn Lamb

FOUNDER EMERITUS Dan Denton CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Kevin Allen, David Ball, Brad Edmondson, Tony D'Souza, Lori Johnston, Kim Hackett, Rich Rescigno, Jackie Rogers, Anu Varma, Johannes Werner, Sylvia Whitman CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS & ARTISTS Barbara Banks, Salvatore Brancifort, Chad Spencer, Robert Castro, Alex Stafford, Lori Sax, Jenny Acheson, Everet Dennison, Evan Sigmund, Matthew Holler, Chris Lake, Gene Pollux, Fred Lopez

330 S. Pineapple Ave., Suite 205 Sarasota, FL 34236 Phone: (941) 487-1100 Fax: (941) 365-7272 941CEO.com | SarasotaMagazine.com

941CEO

GULF SHORE MEDIA, LLC A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF SAGACITY MEDIA, INC. CEO & COFOUNDER Nicole Vogel VICE PRESIDENT, CONTENT & COFOUNDER

Scott Vogel SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, EDITORIAL & OPERATIONS Bill Hutfilz VICE PRESIDENT, CREATIVE Kate Madden VICE PRESIDENT, DIGITAL CONTENT

Rachel Ritchie VICE PRESIDENT, MARKETING & EVENTS

Emily Wyant DIRECTOR, DIGITAL & PRINT PUBLISHING

Claire McNally AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Dana Such DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL OPERATIONS & DEVELOPMENT Dan Derozier

We supply businesses with everything from the boardroom to the breakroom, locally and nationally. The "big box" stores may not always give you the attention you deserve. We take the time to understand your needs and analyze your purchases to help you run a more cost effective office - because we've been doing this since 1951.

DIRECTOR, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Jimmy Fecteau CONTROLLER Simba Rusike Gulf Shore Media is a member of the City and Regional Magazine Association, Florida Magazine Association, the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, Manatee Chamber of Commerce and The St. Armands Circle Association. All contents of this magazine are copyrighted ©2016. Unsolicited photographs and manuscripts are welcome, but return cannot be guaranteed.

Circulation audited by U.S. Postal Service.

Advertisements in this publication do not constitute an offer for sale in states where prohibited or restricted by law.

941CEO adheres to American Society of Magazine Editors guidelines, which require a clear distinction between editorial content and paid advertising or marketing messages.

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5

TALK

PEOPLE, COMPANIES AND ISSUES YOU NEED TO KNOW.

INNOVATOR

Kim Martinez

im Martinez does not like boring fashion accessories. More than a decade ago, she and sisterin-law Lisa Harrington, a pediatric nurse, formed Bonitas International to sell their stylish lanyards for dull hospital ID badges under the name BooJee Beads. From there they created new lines that dress up everything from eyeglasses to dog collars.

Martinez’s latest opportunity came with fitness trackers. “One in ALEX STAFFORD

Adorns Fitness Trackers

K

Kim Martinez with her fitness tracker bracelets.

6

eight Americans has a fitness tracker,” she says. “It’s a $3.5 billion industry.”

Martinez has capitalized on that fitness tracker trend, which includes Apple FitBits and other wearable devices, with Fit & Fab, the latest line of functional accessories. Her fitness tracker jewelry embellishes the plain fitness tracker band with colorful beads, jewels and broaches.

The consumer market is there for these products, she says. Her BooJee Bead accessories are available in more than 4,000 retailers nationwide, including Walmart.

In 2006, the company logged nearly $2 million in sales.

Bonitas International has appeared on the Inc. 5,000 list three years running. With $5 million in revenues in 2015, Martinez’s plan is to reach $25 million in the next five years.

Launched last summer, Fit & Fab, like all of the company’s lines, sprang from Martinez’s market diligence. “We watch the emerging trends and find the right ones to go after,” she says. “If you wait too long, you’re lost in the herd.”

While the utilitarian look of fitness trackers is fine for the gym, Martinez notes, Fit & Fab elevates them to accessories appropriate for both professional and social occasions. Even the style itself is carefully researched to appeal to a target audience of working women, ages 22 to 60. “We succeed when we look through the lens of our customer,” she says. “At the end of the day, it’s all about the market research.”—Hannah Wallace 941CEO

BIZ RULES

To BYOD or not to BYOD Bringing your own device to work requires strong company policy. ● BY KEVIN ALLEN

L

et’s face it: Our smartphones have become appendages—so much so that the same phone we use to play “Candy Crush” is also tempting us to check work email during family time.

This is all due to the bring-your-owndevice (BYOD) tech trend.

A 2015 Tech Pro Research study found that 74 percent of organizations currently allow or plan to eventually allow BYOD. It’s great news for device makers, but it presents a potential legal hazard.

Sarasota attorney Jennifer Compton of the law firm Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, who specializes in

J U N E / J U LY 2 0 1 6

employment law, says once a business allows BYOD, it triggers a variety of employment issues.

Compton lists “everything from working hours being expanded to network security concerns to conveying confidential or proprietary information, as well as what happens when the employees leave.”

“On the employee side,” Compton says, “they want to make sure their personal email and other information aren’t something the employer will be able to access. They also want to make sure at the end of employment that their phone isn’t going to be scrubbed.”

The solution? Setting a strong BYOD policy.

Sarasota-based IT provider SouthTech makes its BYOD policy part of its employee handbook, and employees are required to acknowledge that they have reviewed the policy. The firm also advises its clients to do the same.

“Because of the power of the mobile devices to connect to and access company data, it’s critical that businesses outline proper use of mobile devices (both company owned and personal) that will connect to corporate networks and/or access company information,” SouthTech vice president of operations Nathan Bailey says.

While some states have BYOD laws on the books, Florida does not—and Compton says there’s not much on the federal side either. “There’s not a specific statute I can point you to because it doesn’t exist,” she says.

For now, that means any BYODrelated legal matters are covered by case law, and the first thing the court will consider in its ruling is the company’s policy.

OVERHEARD “IS IT TIME TO TALK RECESSION? YEAH. MY RECESSION ANTENNAE ARE UP. THE REST OF THE WORLD IS A DRAG, AND IT’S THE GREATEST THREAT TO OUR ECONOMY.” –Economist S E A N S N A I T H at the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County’s Economic Outlook 2016.

METRIC

20

The number of female CEOs in the S&P 500.

(That’s 4 percent, folks.)

SOURCE: CATALYST, FEBRUARY 2016 CATALYST.ORG/KNOWLEDGE/WOMEN-SP500-COMPANIES

7

TALK BUSINESS CLASS ● BY JACKIE ROGERS

COMPACT TRAVELER If compact, precision performance is more your speed, you will love these titanium foldable glasses from Porsche Design.

They’re perfect for travel or storing in small compartments when you are on the go.

Made in Italy, gray-tinted glass, 100 percent UV protection, $600, Soto Optical.

HAND-FINISHED VERSATILITY If you are the business executive who likes simple things made well, look no further than SALT eyewear. This California-based company uses custom materials and Japanese craftsmanship to create its sleek designs. Each pair is hand finished by third-generation Japanese artisans.

Originally designed with side vents for motorcycle enthusiasts, these sunglasses are versatile enough to wear with a tailored suit, or with shorts and a tee for a weekend on the boat. Titanium/beta titanium frame with photochromatic polarized lenses to reduce glare, $720, IOptics.

Made in the Shade Today’s coolest sunglasses.

SPORTY RETRO STYLE Named after a vintage eyewear collector, Oliver Peoples sunglasses have remained true to their roots of superior craftsmanship, authentic design and handmade details. Polarized green mineral glass lenses make these great for any outdoor activity. Sport these on a business weekend for a casual but sophisticated vibe. Spelman by Oliver Peoples, $435 at saksfifthavenue.com.

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941CEO

SHADES WITH ATTITUDE Designed with a bold vintage vibe, these Thierry Lasry sunglasses keep the fashionconscious businesswoman ahead of the crowd.

Wear them with your basic black suit for an unexpected splash of color. The beautiful blue acetate frame is accented with tortoise interior and gold temples, entirely handmade in France. $488, The Spectacle Gallery.

CAT-EYE CREATIVE Make a bold statement with Linda Farrow sunglasses in pastel rose. These cat-eye-shaped glasses will shake up your 9-to-5 workday look and fit those laid-back weekends, too. They’re made of Italian acetate with 22K gold-plated titanium, hand-soldered cage detail. Finished with blue anti-reflective and hard coating that offers 100 percent UV protection. Want to go more mainstream? These frames also come in black, tortoise and milky white finish. $1,015 at lindafarrow.com.

THE ROYAL TREATMENT Made for the lady who loves glamour, couture style and exquisite design. Fred (Samuels), the official jeweler to the Royal Family of Monaco, is known for superior jewelry design and impeccably high standards. Using elements from the sea for inspiration, Fred designs are artful conversation pieces as well as comfy eyewear. $750, Sunglass Express Optical.

J U N E / J U LY 2 0 1 6

9

TALK ASK THE BOSS

What was your smartest career move?

Trudy Moon

Owner, Air & Energy “LEAVING a highpaying executive position to purchase a failing company in an industry I knew nothing about. I sold commercial real estate in Toronto, and my husband and I said, ‘Let’s do it.

Let’s move to Florida.’ We were looking to purchase a business, but we didn’t know what. Then our air conditioning broke, and the guy came and fixed it and we asked if the company was for sale.

That was 27 years ago and we still have those same employees. I’m now mentoring my son who has come into the company. We’re seeing a family business grow.”

● BY HANNAH WALLACE

Lill Denham

President, Sarasota Title Services “STARTING my own business. The mortgage company came first, and then the title company came out of necessity because I couldn’t find a title company to service my mortgage company. I was dating this guy who was a waiter and a salesman, and he got his license. I said, ‘I’m going to help you for three months, and then I’m going to get a real job.’ And it’s been 20 years.”

Patricia Courtois

President/CEO, C-Suite Communications “WHEN I switched from the client side to the agency side. I’d been on the client side with big companies like Beatrice Foods, Sara Lee and Tropicana. I’d hired an agency to work with for a product launch for Tropicana, and I had so much fun working with the agency, they offered me a job. It allowed me the upward growth that I may not have been allowed to have, and it eventually gave me the opportunity to be an entrepreneur.”

CAREER PATH 1

(1976-1979) ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE, J.H. DIETZ ADVERTISING, PROVIDENCE, R.I.

“I really started to become enthralled by the complexities of business— competition, positioning, pricing and figuring out the path forward, whether it’s for a ricotta cheese producer or a jewelry manufacturer.”

2

(1979 -1980) MEDIA PLANNER, DELLA FEMINA, TRAVISANO & PARTNERS, L.A.

“I landed in L.A. over the weekend, applied to this position on Monday, got an interview that week and started the following day. It was like Mad Men. It was just fun doing great work with big clients like TSA Airlines, Carte Blanche.”

3

(1980 -1982) MEDIA PLANNER, J. WALTER THOMPSON (JWT) ENTERTAINMENT, L.A.

“I was working directly with 20th Century Fox. What could be more exciting than having to watch movies as part of your job?”

4

(1982-1985) MEDIA DIRECTOR, JWT, L.A.

“The first time the position was offered to me, I turned it down. I didn’t think I was ready. Now I tell people, ‘Go for the promotion the first time, even if it’s scary.’”

10

Kim Macalister FORMER PRESIDENT OF J. WALTER THOMPSON SINGAPORE, ONE OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST MARKETING COMMUNICATION AGENCIES; NOW CO-FOUNDER AND PARTNER OF MACALISTER-QUINBY & ASSOCIATES.

5

● BY HANNAH WALLACE (1985-1990) SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, THOMPSON RECRUITMENT ADVERTISING, L.A.

“People thought I was absolutely crazy to leave what I was doing. But the CEO was looking to retire. He said, ‘No guarantees, but you could end up potentially as the CEO.’ That was a real incentive.”

6

(1990 -1997) CEO, JWT SPECIALIZED COMMUNICATIONS (NÉE THOMPSON RECRUITMENT ADVERTISING), L.A.

“The company was built on various areas of niche communications that appeared to be underserved at that time.

Ultimately, it became one of the top five units of JWT overall.”

7

(1997-1999) CEO, JWT SINGAPORE

8

(1999 -2001) EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, TOTAL COMMUNICATIONS, JWT, NEW YORK CITY

“One morning I received a fax that said Citibank, which represented about 60 percent of the division’s revenue base, was resigning. We wound up recruiting an old established financial institution [as a replacement client], but that was probably the most exhausting two years of my life.”

“It was essentially going back to my media roots, but in a wholly different era.”

9

(2001-PRE SENT) PARTNER, MACALISTER-QUINBY & ASSOCIATES, CHARLESTON, NOW SARASOTA

“My husband and I formed our own little consulting business focused on smaller, entrepreneurial sorts of companies. For many people, owning their own business is a dream, and it’s hugely rewarding to contribute to their goals.”

941CEO

june

Fireworks at Marina Jack, downtown Sarasota, and the historic Green Bridge Fishing Pier Palmetto RAWPIXEL.COM / SHUTTERSTOCK

june

ROBERT KNESCHKE / SHUTTERSTOCK

23

Venice Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Five, 5-7:30 p.m. at the Powel Crosley Estate, 8374 N. Tamiami Trail, Bradenton. $25 for chamber members until May 1; $30 for public/all ticket sales begin May 2.

To purchase tickets, visit sarasotachamber.com/ events/Blues-by-the-Bay2016-(with-ManateeChamber)-3100/details.

4

july

june

13

Manasota SCORE presents a “Web Marketing/Social Media for Business” workshop, 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Argosy University, 5250 17th St., Sarasota. $25. To register, visit manasota.score.org/localworkshops.

Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance luncheon, “Leadership, Pirate Style” with Pittsburgh Pirates senior director of Florida operations Trevor Gooby, 11:30-1 p.m. at Fete Ballroom at Polo Grill, 10670 Boardwalk Loop, Lakewood Ranch. $25 for members; $35 for nonmembers. To register, visit lwrba.org/events.

12

Manatee Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours networking event, 5-7 p.m. at Blake Medical Center, 2020 59th St. W., Bradenton. Free for members; $10 for nonmembers. For details, visit manateechamber.com. july

3

The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Frank G. Berlin Sr. Small Business Awards, 11:30-1 p.m. at Hyatt Regency Sarasota, 1000 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota. $50. To register, visit sarasotachamber.com.

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june

JUNE−JULY

LUMEN PHOTOS / SHUTTERSTOCK

TALK AGENDA

Form-based Code--Sarasotans will be hearing more about FBC in the coming months as the city’s Urban Design Studio finishes revamping the city’s zoning code. FBC will serve as our blueprint for growth, and it will shift how planners make their decisions. Instead of looking at uses like office and retail, the code considers how the size and form of buildings and types of streets relate to one another. It might sound dry, but it affects everyone who lives and does business in the city. Sarasota City Commissioners could be voting on it this fall. For more information: sarasotagov. org/UrbanDesignStudio.cfm J U N E / J U LY 2 0 1 6

HOLBOX / SHUTTERSTOCK

BUZZWORDS

TRENDSPOTTER

ORANGE YOU SAD?

Citrus greening was first detected in Florida in 2005. Since 2007, Florida agriculture has lost $7.8 billion in revenue, 162,200 citrus acres and 7,513 jobs to citrus greening, according to a 2015 survey

by UF/IFAS researchers. Ninety percent of growers’ acreage in Florida’s Central/Southwest region is infected, according to the survey.

11

TALK

VITAL STATS

EMPTY LOTS

More Rosemary Rentals ● BY KEVIN ALLEN Sarasota Flats

Prosper and Live Long How long should you expect to live in the 941?

The answer is tied to how much you earn. ● BY COOPER LEVEY-BAKER

I

f you’re wealthy in Sarasota and Manatee, you’ll live longer than your less financially fortunate peers, according to a study published in the April issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association. A team of researchers from Stanford, MIT, Harvard and other institutions ranked counties around the country in the Health Inequality Project.

A

dusty old sign for Wayne Hibbs Farm & Garden Supply was all that remained of the lot’s former life before construction kicked off at 1401 Fruitville Road this spring. The project: Sarasota Flats, a 228-unit apartment complex in downtown Sarasota’s rental desert.

Sarasota Rosemary Apartments LLC purchased the nearly three vacant acres in August 2015 for $5.77 million. The developer, Tampa-based Framework Group, LLC, received its construction permit in April, and started moving dirt on the site in May. The project will include studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, and is the latest residential addition to the Rosemary Overlay District, where at least three major rental projects are slated to begin construction this year.

SARASOTA FLATS by the numbers

228 5 $1,700 2.8 1 12

rental apartment units stories average rent per month acres block to Whole Foods

Downtown Sarasota hasn’t been known in recent years as a haven for renters. So what makes this project the best use for the location? Framework president Phillip Smith says the decision was twofold: the lack of rental options and nearby amenities.

“There’s a real paucity of comparable projects [in downtown Sarasota],” he says. “There really hasn’t been a new, large-scale, highend, for-rent project in downtown Sarasota in a long time.”

Smith says his company has been eyeing downtown Sarasota for a while.

“The quality of life down there, the proximity to beaches, the incredible restaurants, the cultural aspect of downtown living— those things appeal to a very broad demographic,” Smith says. He expects millennials and “a more mature market” to find the lifestyle equally desirable.

Smith forecasts the first unit of the three-building complex to open in April or May 2017. He expects the project, which a “well-known, national” property company will manage, to be complete near the end of summer 2017.

Curious about the future of an empty lot? Contact Kevin Allen at kevinjosephallen@gmail.com.

They found that between 2001 and 2014, rich men in Sarasota—those in the top income quartile, making $105,000 or more—live 8.9 years longer, to age 86.4, than Sarasota men in the lowest quartile, who make less than $32,000. In Manatee County the gap is 9.8 years, with wealthy men living to be 85.5. What’s more troubling: The life expectancy for men and women in the bottom quartile actually decreased by .08 years annually since 2001. The Sarasota region came in 95th out of 100 in a ranking based on annual change in life expectancy for the poor.

Nationally, the wealthiest Americans gained roughly three years in average life expectancy between 2001 and 2014, while the life expectancy for poor Americans stayed the same. “The richest American men live 15 years longer than the poorest men, while the richest American women live 10 years longer than the poorest women,” the authors wrote.

Poor American men “have life expectancies comparable to men in Sudan and Pakistan,” the study reported, while America’s rich live longer than anyone else on the planet.

Why the disparity? According to the Inequality Project, life expectancy is closely correlated to rates of smoking, obesity and exercise. According to Florida Department of Health data, in Sarasota County, just 13.8 percent of those who earn $25,000 or less consume five servings of fruit and vegetables a day, below the state average, and just 17 percent meet recommendations for “vigorous physical activity,” also below the Florida average. And 29 percent of poor Sarasota County residents smoke, well above the state rate of 22.3 percent.

941CEO

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Do you want to try to tackle the questions about these employment issues before government agencies or courts impose their answers on you? To learn more about the legal tests used to classify service providers as independent contractors or employees and other wage and hour-related concerns, scan this QR code or visit WilliamsParker.com/RRR.

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Gail E. Farb is an attorney with Williams Parker. She focuses on labor and employment law, advising management clients regarding preventive measures in a wide variety of employment-related matters. Gail has significant experience defending singleplaintiff cases and collective actions in administrative, state, and federal court proceedings. She is a graduate of Emory University School of Law and Duke University.

Contact Gail at (941) 552-2557 or gfarb@williamsparker.com.

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TALK YOU DO WHAT? ● BY ILENE DENTON

BEAVER SHRIVER markets fly-fishing lodges all over the world. Shriver moved his

family and his marketing company to Sarasota three years ago. The Shriver Group represents fly-fishing lodges and companies that coordinate fly-fishing trips “in the Bahamas, Mexico, South America, Christmas Island in the Pacific,” he says.

“Wherever the best fishing is on the planet, that’s where I go.”

LIFELONG PURSUIT

THE JOB

“I do everything from building [my clients’] websites to managing social media and general consulting on lodge operations.

If you’re way up in the Russian tundra, like the Ponoi River [a salmon fishing lodge on the Kola peninsula, a client] and you need equipment or uniforms for the guides, I help with all the logistics.”

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Beaver and his wife, Erin Shriver, fly fishing in the Seychelles.

COURTESY PHOTO

“I’ve fly fished my whole life. My grandparents taught me. I had a fly-fishing shop for 17 years in Hot Springs, Va., at the Omni Homestead Resort; there’s a beautiful trout stream there, which I also managed. Then I did the marketing for an international travel company that specialized in high-end fly-fishing trips around the world.”

GOOD CATCH

“Fishing in the U.S. is a big market. [According to Statista, The Statistics Portal, it’s a $41.77 billion industry.] Once you narrow it down to fly fishing it gets small, and once you narrow it down further to the people who want to fish the best places on the planet it gets even smaller. [Most of these people are] very wealthy and go on these trips every year, some of them many times a year. It’s their passion.” (Shriver says these trips range from $3,700 per person for a six-night stay in the American West to $15,500 per person for a peak season week on the Ponoi River in Russia. Airfare is extra.)

MY FAVORITES

“It’s a great excuse to get outside, and there’s a meditative quality to it. I’ll be out fishing and I’ll suddenly realize it’s four o’clock and I haven’t had lunch. My favorite places are Kamalame Cay in the Bahamas, where we have a home and where I host annual fishing trips, and the Seychelles, another saltwater destination off the east coast of Africa. There’s amazing fishing, like being in an aquarium.”

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BY THE NUMBERS

Medical Dress Rehearsal at CAE Healthcare

TOP FIVE COUNTRIES IN NUMBERS OF HEALTH CARE SIMULATORS PURCHASED

United States, Canada, United Kingdom, China, Japan

P

racticing medical procedures on lifelike patient simulators is a staple in health care training today.

And one of the global manufacturers of these eerily realistic robots—they breathe, cough, moan and talk—is CAE Healthcare [formerly METI] in Sarasota.

A division of CAE (best known for its full-flight simulators and training centers for commercial and military pilots), CAE Healthcare builds simulators NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN THE that train nurses, doctors, SARASOTA CAE emergency medical technicians FACILITY and military personnel around the world. —Susan Burns

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NUMBER OF COUNTRIES WHERE HEALTH CARE SIMULATORS HAVE BEEN SOLD

NUMBER OF PARTS IN A LUCINA CHILDBIRTH SIMULATOR

2,500 NUMBER OF SOUNDS AND PHRASES THE LUCINA CHILDBIRTH SIMULATOR MAKES

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WEIGHT OF AN ADULT SIMULATOR

100-111 POUNDS

HEIGHT OF AN ADULT SIMULATOR

5’9” (FEMALE)

6’2” (MALE)

NAMES OF THE THREE NEWEST SIMULATORS

Apollo, Athena and Lucina TWO OF THE EXPRESSIONS THE LUCINA CHILDBIRTH SIMULATOR MAKES

“Don't touch me” AND “Give me an epidural”

IT TAKES A TEAM OF

9 PEOPLE 2 DAYS

TO BUILD AN ATHENA OR LUCINA SIMULATOR

4 TYPES OF SIMULATORS ASSEMBLED AND TESTED AT SARASOTA FACILITY

Adult and pediatric patient simulators, ultrasound simulators for cardiac and ob-gyn practice, surgical simulators for minimally invasive surgery PRICE OF A SIMULATOR

$30,000

BEST PLACE TO SHOP FOR PATIENT SIMULATOR OUTFITS

to $250,000 Goodwill

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Ask the Originals

TALK BIZ BITES ● BY HANNAH WALLACE

Mediterraneo We want toes-in-the-sand dining–and great food.

Any suggestions?

(941) 779-2222 | groupersandwich.com

Classic Italian fare and an elegant setting make this a primo business lunch spot. the place A classy sanctuary on bustling upper Main Street, Mediterraneo’s twopart space features a sunlit front room overlooking the sidewalk, as well as a stylish, spacious dining room hidden behind a glassencased wine rack, with white linen on the tables and art on the walls. the people Real estate moguls lunching with friends;

tie-wearing attorneys and financial advisers meeting with clients. time factor The professional staff churns out beautiful plates before the bread basket is empty, so you can enjoy an efficient meal if you need to get back to the office.

But this is also a lunch destination when time is not an issue. the food The Mediterranean-

inspired menu, with items listed in Italian first, spans the full lunch gamut, starting with salads, including a real Caesar, of course, as well as the Tropicale with arugula, hearts of palm, avocado and shaved Parmesan.

There are also several sandwiches, all served on focaccia with side salad, a slew of pizzas and some entrées for the heartier appetites.

mediterraneo > 1970 Main St., Sarasota. (941) 365-4122. mediterraneorest.com

(941) 778-1919 | gulfdrivetiki.com

(941) 778-0444 | groupersandwich.com

CHAD SPENCER

(941) 488-1456 | sharkysonthepier.com

www.DineOriginal.com 16

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A D VER TI SEMENT

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Bowden’s determination to get the job done as well as her ability to remain focused regardless of the circumstances, along with her talent for orchestrating the many components of even the most complex deals while maintaining a demeanor of utmost poise keeps her in high demand among real estate investors and property owners alike.

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Gail Bowden - Senior Investment Advisor 1626 Ringling Blvd., Suite 500 Sarasota, FL 34236 (941) 223-1525 GailBowden.com

All Sperry Van Ness® Offices are Independently Owned and Operated

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FREE STANDING MEDICAL BUILDING Class “A” Medical Property. Vacant third floor is built out and ready for immediate occupancy. Venice, Florida.

3 INVESTMENT WAREHOUSE IN LWR Unique building with 16,200 sq. ft. on the ground floor, plus 2,224 sq. ft. of finished and load-bearing mezzanine space. A first-class building in a great location for long-term value. NNN. 17

CAN WELL-HEELED, WELL-CONNECTED MANATEE HOMEBUILDER CARLOS BERUFF PLAY THE BUSINESS CARD TO WIN MARCO RUBIO’S U.S. SENATE SEAT?

by Tony D’Souza

Photography by Salvatore Brancifort

THE INSIDE OUTSIDER

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CARLOS BERUFF FORMALLY LAUNCHED HIS CAMPAIGN FOR U.S. SENATE AT A POPULAR MIAMI BAKERY ON FEB. 29.

He was f lanked by his attractive blonde wife, Janelle, and his two sons—one, 18, from a previous marriage, and the second, 3 years old. He and Janelle are expecting their third son this month.

His announcement that he was entering Florida’s high-profile race for the seat of failed Presidential candidate Marco Rubio came only five months before the primary. His opponents—most of them experienced in running for office—had been trying to build up name recognition, raise money and win endorsements for up to a year.

Carlos Beruff at his Medallion headquarters.

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By contrast, Beruff, 58, has never run for office and is unknown to most Florida voters. A self-made man with an engaging, tough-guy personality who’s accustomed to calling the shots, he’s made his fortune as a Manatee County homebuilder and CEO of his own company, Medallion Home. He also brings along baggage from controversies that have dogged his business and service on state boards. But in a sign of just how potent Beruff’s candidacy is, the attacks against him began instantly.

Congressman Patrick Murphy, running for Rubio’s seat on the Democratic side, warned that Beruff is a far-right-wing Republican who supports Presidential candidate Donald Trump and would block President Obama’s nominees to the Supreme Court and cut funds for Planned Parenthood.

From his own party, Beruff was attacked by Congressman Ron DeSantis, also running for the seat.

DeSantis’s campaign tied Beruff to former Florida governor and Republican-turned-Democrat Charlie Crist, berating Beruff as a “crony capitalist,” a “shady businessman” and not conservative enough to represent the Republican Party.

“I think it’s hilarious,” Beruff said in April from behind the polished granite desk at his Medallion Home headquarters in Bradenton. “I’m the hardworking Cuban kid and these career politicians are attacking me.”

And that, in a nutshell, is his campaign message. Beruff plans to stress his rags-to-riches story, likely to resonate with many voters, and his self-declared outsider status from politicians and the Washington establishment.

Opponents may object to Beruff, who has close ties to Gov. Rick Scott and has served on major state boards, calling himself an outsider, but his business background and promises to cut government waste could be powerful assets in the Republican primary.

Florida is a huge state with more than 20 million people and a diverse electorate, from Cuban exiles to conservative retirees to younger service and construction workers feeling left behind. The state can sway the presidential election, and, with five toss-up Senate seats, it can also determine party control of Congress. The race for Rubio’s seat will capture national attention and outside dollars.

“Beruff is going to have to get a million people to vote for him. That’s tough,” says Tom Nolan, president of the Nolan Group, a Bradenton political consulting firm. “But a plus for Beruff is that nobody in the race has any [statewide] name recognition,” Also in his favor, Beruff has powerful friends, abundant confidence and is reported to have a personal war chest to help finance a campaign that could run into the tens of millions. Is it true about the war chest? “So they tell me,” he says with a grin. His friend and mentor, developer Pat Neal, says Beruff has the liquidity to finance his campaign, and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reports a source close to Beruff saying he plans to spend at least $10 million.

His campaign says his business interests are worth approximately $150 million to $200 million.

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Beruff wouldn’t be the first politician to enter late and self-finance. Scott entered the governor’s race with less than five months to the 2010 primary and funded his campaign with $75 million of his own money, defeating Democrat Alex Sink by a little more than 1 percent. A super PAC, “Let’s Clean Up Washington,” was registered with the Federal Election Commission on March 1, less than two days after Beruff announced his candidacy. Financials for the PAC have not yet been disclosed.

“Spending money is going to be a lot of what this race is, buying name recognition,” says Nolan.

Beruff has already shown he’s an aggressive campaigner. In May, at a GOP meeting in St. Johns, Fla., Beruff called President Obama “an animal.” The remark received widespread coverage and was denounced by his Republican and Democratic opponents as offensive and even racist, but Beruff refused to apologize. He’s also hired the Washington, D.C.-based conservative political consulting firm, OnMessage Inc., the same team that steered Scott to victory in 2010.

In April, Beruff unleashed a series of TV spots with $1.5 million of his campaign money, the first major buy of any candidate in the race. His ads are filled with a swagger Trump could admire.

“I’m Carlos Beruff,” he starts out. “I’m not a politician. The experts want me to read a bunch of political crap off this teleprompter. Here’s what I have to say. Obama’s a disaster and Washington politicians are worthless. They waste our money, they make America weaker and they refuse to secure our border. It’s ridiculous. Let’s get rid of them. I’m Carlos Beruff. How about we take our country back and put America first?”

D

espite calling himself “the hardworking Cuban kid,” Beruff was born in Miami in 1958. He grew up in South Florida and New York, the son of a Cuban refugee single mother who had been part of a failed attack in Cuba on Batista’s presidential palace before the Cuban Revolution. She escaped to the United States, returned to Cuba after the Revolution and, after becoming disillusioned with Castro, finally f led Cuba and communism for good in 1961. That same year, one of his uncles who had participated in the Bay of Pigs invasion was forced into a tractor-trailer with other detainees and suffocated by the Castro regime.

Beruff grew up poor, living for a time with a number of relatives in a converted carport while his mother worked at menial labor. He says his 941CEO

“I'M THE HARD-WORKING CUBAN KID.”

attitude towards life was shaped by his maternal grandmother, “Tita,” who cared for him while his mother was working.

“My grandmother told me you can do anything in this country as long as you work really hard,” Beruff says. “I’m old school because of her. If I shake your hand and say that something is going to happen, then that’s what's going to happen."

The young Beruff mowed lawns, delivered dry cleaning and sold fireworks.

In 1970, when he was 12, his mother married Carlos Tepedino, a Cuban jeweler with alleged ties to both the CIA and the mob, and the family moved to New York. Tepedino raised Beruff as his own son, Beruff says. Beruff returned to Florida to attend a private boarding high school, Howey Academy near Orlando, now defunct, and Stetson University and the University of South Florida, but never earned a degree.

While living in Tampa in 1980, he answered a newspaper ad to sell real estate for U.S. Homes. He says he managed to make a sale on his first day on the job. Developer Neal remembers Beruff back then. “I ran into Carlos the first time when he was a sales professional at Bayshore Village, a property owned by U.S. Homes,” Neal says. “He was a young, squarely built man, dressed in a [f lashily] tailored brown suit. He was not the typical guy you’d see in Bayshore Gardens. He looked like a guy who landed here from Miami.

It could have been off-putting, but as soon as he opened his mouth you knew you were going to like him, and I knew I wanted to keep track of him.” The two are close today. Neal calls Beruff, “the most engaging, relating individual I’ve ever known in my life,” someone with “the best people skills of anyone I’ve done business with.”

In 1982, when Beruff was just 24, he incorporated Banner Home Corp., a homebuilding company, with partner Ken Keating. Tepedino cosigned on the $120,000 loan that began his stepson’s first real foray into real estate development, his purchase of 22 lots near Tallevast Road and Tuttle Avenue. Beruff says he paid the loan back in eight months.

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By 1984, Beruff, now 26, had also founded Medallion, slowly growing his companies and barely avoiding bankruptcy with Banner in the savings and loan crisis of the early ’90s. (Banner no longer operates.) His experiences as a young Florida businessman inform his conservative political platform of small government.

“When I did my first subdivision in 1985-86,” Beruff says, “I did 20 acres with 107 homes. That whole permitting process was about $25,000 then. Today, the same process is $250,000. It’s a tenfold increase and all of that increase is due to government regulation.”

Blaming government regulations for all problems is conservative Republican stock-in-trade, and Beruff definitely has a penchant for such sweeping statements.

A month into the campaign he’d already flunked one of Politifact’s fact-checking tests for his comments about the Iran

BERUFF AND HIS LLCS HAVE GIVEN MORE THAN $1 MILLION TO PACS, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND CANDIDATES.

nuclear deal. But however much opponents might challenge some of his political declarations, there is no question that Beruff is an experienced, successful entrepreneur, one of the largest homebuilders in Southwest Florida. Since that first subdivision, he has built roughly 2,500 homes in Southwest Florida under his Medallion brand, and his company employs 70 and reported more than $83 million in revenues in 2015. Today he is building or has plans to build homes and communities from Anna Maria Island to Casey Key in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

B

eruff’s business has hit some speed bumps along the way.

Medallion used illness-inducing Chinese drywall in six homes about 10 years ago. In a class-action suit, thousands of homeowners from multiple states sued various homebuilders, including Medallion, who had used the drywall. The Medallion homeowners were told by a company attorney in 2010 that Medallion would go bankrupt if it had to pay for repairs, even though at the time Medallion was spending millions to purchase land. Medallion was ultimately ordered to offer remediation. And during the recession, companies Beruff co-managed defaulted on $40 million in multiple loans, contributing to the failure of Orion Bank, according to the Herald-Tribune.

But he also made some canny moves during the recession. Over an 18-month period before the housing market collapsed Medallion unloaded about 90 percent of its holdings, getting out almost at the top of the market, then later bought large tracts of other land at fire sale prices.

He was less successful with another real estate effort. In 2013, Beruff and partner Larry Lieberman announced plans to develop Long Bar Pointe, a 3,600-home community with a 300-slip marina, hotel and conference center on 500 acres along Sarasota Bay in southwest Manatee County. Such intense shoreline development is prohibited by Manatee’s comprehensive plan, and the project required a commission hearing and rezoning. Environmental groups and citizens created an organization, Save Our Bay, to fight the project, and more than 1,000 people, many vocal in their opposition, attended a 12-hour Manatee County Commission hearing. The commissioners did not approve the marina and a planned channel, and Beruff and Lieberman responded by suing the county for $18 million. In January, a judge ruled in the county’s favor. The developers are appealing the decision.

B

eruff has deep connections to prominent Florida Republicans.

Since the early 2000s, according to the Tampa Bay Times and Miami Herald, Beruff and his 20-plus LLCs have given more than $1 million to PACs, the Republican party, and local, state and national candidates. Among those he gave to were thenRepublican Charlie Crist, Gov. Rick Scott, Jeb Bush, Vern Buchanan and Miami’s Carlos Curbelo, elected to Congress in 2014.

In 2008, Crist appointed Beruff to the State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota governing board, the Southwest Florida Water Management District Board (Swiftmud, which oversees and protects water in 16 counties) and the Sarasota-Manatee Airport Authority

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Board. After Scott was elected, Beruff served on his transition team.

Scott reappointed Beruff to all three governing boards. In 2016, Scott, who was smarting from the outcry about his refusal to support Medicaid funding in Florida and, as a former executive in for-profit hospitals, had long been a critic of public hospitals, formed the Commission on Health Care and Hospital Funding to investigate the funding of the state’s taxpayer-supported hospitals. The governor named Beruff chair, despite a chorus of complaints that Beruff had no experience in medicine or hospital finance.

At Swiftmud and SCF, Beruff made a name for himself by scrutinizing and cutting budgets and sticking to conservative, pro-business positions, despite sometimes withering criticism.

At Swiftmud, he slashed budgets and staff, declaring the agency was bloated and had unreasonably large cash reserves. Critics charged the cuts reduced the agency’s ability to manage and protect Florida’s most important resource. “Carlos Beruff is not a friend of the public interest,” says Glenn Compton, chair of ManaSota 88. “He is more concerned with economic development over the environment every single time.”

In 2015, Beruff, along with nine other Swiftmud directors, voted to approve a Pat Neal project called Harbor Sound on Anna Maria’s Perico Island. Neal wanted to build a family compound on a 3.5-acre parcel, which included about an acre of wetlands. Beruff resigned from the board the following day. His vote was decried by environmentalists as a personal favor to Neal, and environmental groups sued, alleging the agency ignored its own environmental directives to grant the permit. Mediation failed, and at press time, the case seemed headed for court.

In 2012, as board chair of State College of Florida, Beruff stirred up community controversy when he ousted president Lars Hafner. Beruff had clashed with Hafner, a former Democratic state legislator who was accused of extravagance when he tried to use school funds to purchase a $70,000 Cadillac Escalade. Beruff spent $9,000 of his own money to hire an attorney to see what he could dig up on the college president. Beruff’s investigation revealed that Hafner had signed the name of SCF’s former board chair, Steven Harner, on a grant application.

Although Harner said he had given Hafner permission to sign the document and Hafner was cleared of wrongdoing, he eventually agreed to resign. Two board members resigned in protest, and another, who had questioned some of Beruff’s decisions, was not reappointed by the governor.

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(The irony was not lost on some of Beruff ´s detractors this spring, when it was revealed that Beruff’s 2004 voter registration form in Manatee County erroneously stated he was born in Cuba rather than Miami. Beruff, who signed the form, said “my assistant” must have filled it out incorrectly; “that is not my writing at all.”)

Three years later, in 2015, Beruff spearheaded the elimination of tenure at SCF, persisting through student protests, critical editorials in local newspapers and a 118 out of 120 noconfidence vote against the decision on the part of SCF faculty.

“It was not very popular,” Beruff says. “Some people hate me for that, but I’m OK with it. It wasn’t meant to hurt people who were doing their jobs. It was the only way we were going to fix academia because we couldn't continue to spend money for tenured professors who weren’t doing their jobs.”

“What failure was he fixing?” asks former Democratic state representative and New College political science professor Keith Fitzgerald. “We had talented people who could make a lot of money in the job market [choosing] to make $60,000 teaching at the community college. Now it’s going to be a lot harder to recruit people to teach chemistry at State College. He says [cutting tenure] is a success because he shoved it down people’s throats, but Beruff’s record at SCF will turn out to be a disaster.”

Beruff shrugs off such criticism, saying he used his budgetary and business experience to make the college accountable and cut needless spending. For example, he derailed the $42 million new SCF library by arguing that students no longer needed such a large facility. In its place is a $17-million building.

Beruff has affirmed his support for Trump’s proposed wall on the Mexican border, and has extended the New York billionaire’s threat to close the United States to Muslims, saying he wouldn’t allow anyone from the Middle East, with the exception of Israelis, to enter the country. So far, he seems to be avoiding alienating Spanish-speaking voters; a Spanish-language ad running in the Miami area makes no mention of immigration reform, unlike his Englishlanguage ads, which accuse President Obama of failing to secure the nation’s borders.

Beruff’s website says he is pro-life and pro-Second Amendment, but he has not yet spoken out on these hotbutton social issues. Instead, he highlights his outsider appeal as a successful businessman and concerned citizen who is getting into politics because he wants to serve. “The politicians running against me are all worried about what their next step up the ladder is,” says Beruff. “I am in the position that I have taken care of the people most important to me. When you have accomplished that, the next most important thing for you to do is to serve the country.”

A recent poll of Republican activists shows Beruff’s message and money may be working. He is leading his Republicans rivals. “Never lose sight of your goal,” he says.

“Never lose sight of where you want to get.” π 23

“THE BEST INVESTMENT I EVER MADE” TOP EXECUTIVES REVEAL THEIR FINEST FINANCIAL BETS. BY ILENE DENTON

The best investment you ever made? If you happened to buy stock in a little Ohama, Neb.based company called Berkshire Hathaway when it started 60 years ago, we’ll excuse your crowing. But successful investments are measured in many different ways, as you can see from the business leaders to whom we posted the question, “What’s the best financial investment you ever made?”

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JESSE BITER Founder of Biter Enterprises and The HuB “Dropping out of college and investing in myself by starting a business [HomeNet Automotive, selling inventory software to car dealerships; he sold it to AutoTrader in 2010]. That was the difference from working for somebody else the rest of my life. I was 19, just starting my junior year studying entrepreneurship and business at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania. As a 19-year-old college dropout, I thought I knew everything. It took me four or five years to know I didn’t know anything. So I also invest a lot of time in books. My goal is to read three books a month. I’m consistently studying other people’s thoughts and business practices; that’s helped me grow. It made me realize there’s a place for education, maybe not a structured education with a piece of paper.”

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JOHN HARSHMAN

TR ACY SEIDER

Owner, Harshman & Company, Inc., Commercial Real Estate Broker

Broker-associate, RE/MAX Alliance Group

“The white building [called the Harshman Building] at Main Street and Orange Avenue where my office is. I bought it in 1998. Downtown was coming out of the doldrums of the 1986 tax law and recession and was starting to look better. I bought it list price for $1.265 million and I was able to move some tenants out and replace with other tenants so I instantly increased cash flow. From then on, it was a series of putting the right tenants in the right place. It’s been a great location for my business, too. It’s a 13,300-square-foot Sarasota School of Architecture building, built in 1977 and designed by Tim Seibert; Al Conyers was the engineer, so it’s built like a fortress. We’ve investigated painting it a different color, but Tim says it’s meant to be white. The value has increased significantly over time, but I don’t want to sell it.”

“The investment of time— devoting time to my real estate clients, to my three children, and to the community. My business is about buildings, but it really has to do with people.

I’m active in numerous organizations. It’s a joy to give back because the community gives us so much. After all, people move here because of the community, not because we have nice houses. Every place in the country can sell you a nice building, but what makes us incredible are the people who are willing to make an investment in giving back to others. I do believe that through my efforts in the community I’m helping build real estate values in Sarasota.”

AMANDA STIFF Investment adviser and owner Access Advisors, LLC “Equities and real estate. Longterm blue chips are my absolute best investment. When you want to invest, you have to look at the whole picture and have a plan for your stage of life. I’ve found it in investments in blue chip equities—technological companies, drugs and drug manufacturing companies.

They’ve been fantastic, but it all depends on your timeframe.

I’ve held them for some 30 years. The home where I’ve lived in the last 20 years has also been a good investment for me. I am not a flipper. In my own investments, I’m pretty conservative and boring.”

“Every place in the country can sell you a nice building, but what makes us incredible are the people who are willing to make an investment in giving back to others.” —T R ACY SEIDER MICHAEL LOMBARDO Owner, Ideal Classic Cars “I bought my first toy, a VW dune buggy, for $1,800 in 1980 when I was 18. I grew up fairly poor in south New Jersey, in a somewhat rural area, and I worked odd jobs to save for it; it was the first time I could accumulate enough to buy a toy. It motivated me to work hard; it’s part of why I’m in the car business today, and classic cars especially.

A few years ago I bought myself a Ford GT for $200,000. I had to have one. But I still have the dune buggy. I’ll never let go of it; it reminds me of where I came from and what motivated me to be successful.”

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“I’ve always invested in dishwashers who turned into cooks who turn into chefs.”

BE TSY K ANE-HARTNE T T

BE VERLY BARTNER Theater producer “Getting involved in producing Broadway plays.

[My husband] Bob was in the publishing business with a specialty in music. I imported country antiques from England, Ireland, Denmark, primarily. Bob was on the boards of the New York Philharmonic and Jazz at Lincoln Center, and I was on the advisory and artistic excellence committee of the Metropolitan Opera. We attended hundreds of plays, concerts, operas and ballets in New York, London and elsewhere. But it actually began when Bob was on the board of the Long Wharf Theater in New Haven, Conn., in 1997 when the play, Wit, was trying to be presented.

Bob caught the bug and it has stayed with both of us until this very moment. I am headed to one of our openings in London, Funny Girl, directed by Michael Mayer.

Plays that we’ve co-produced, including Book of Mormon, Sweeney Todd and Boeing Boeing, have won nine Tony Awards and 13 Olivier Awards, and most have made money.”

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— SE A N MUR PH Y

Co-founder, Forty Carrots Family Center, winery owner

SE AN MURPHY Owner of the award-winning Beach Bistro, eat here, and Beach Bistro Hospitality Consulting “It sounds hokey, but it’s really people. I’ve always invested in dishwashers who turn into cooks who turned into chefs. I probably have $15,000 to $25,000 in every person we teach to cook a piece of fish. And $100,000 in someone who can run a kitchen. It’s an investment to teach someone to cook.

“We also pay more than anybody else [in this region] right across the board.

And from the beginning, I’ve invested in integrity and authenticity. We make our own bread. We make our own soups. Farm-totable is rife with half-truths and fable. Nothing grows in Florida in August and September except skin cancer and barnacles. So we try to find the best sources for the best product, whether it’s in Florida, California or Alaska.”

“I have three best-ever investments. The first was in 1993 when I convinced my parents to buy the property at 1500 S. Tuttle for Forty Carrots [Family Center]. My dad, Stanley Kane, made an offer, it was refused and he was ready to walk away. I cried and changed his mind. It was a very smart investment for the community.

“Then in 2000 my husband and I bought a vacation home on an acre of land in Calistoga, Napa Valley, where we planted 300 vines in our back yard. We now produce over 600 cases of wine a year for our business, 2880 Wines.

We’re not making money. [But] we have a family business that’s bringing us tremendous joy.

“My third best investment is yet to see. In 2012, I stepped down as executive director of Forty Carrots to work with my father to take over the Kane Miller Corp.

I am now CEO and chairman of the board.

It started off as grocery distributorship and now consists of a stock portfolio, an edible rendering plant in Indiana and a national staff leasing company in New Jersey. It’s the source of income for the extended Stanley Kane family. I’m actively developing a parcel of land on the North Trail [along with Jim Bridges of Jebco Ventures] into a gated condo community called The Strand. I spent the first 60 years of my life working to make the world a better place. I’m focusing the next 60 on trying to make a dollar with my own money.” π

941CEO

Partners Michael Harkins and William L. Mehserle, Jr. congratulate Scott G. Pinkerton, CFP, CIMA on being named to the Barron’s Top 1,200 Advisors Jr. list.

Partners Michael Harkins and William L. Mehserle,

congratulate Scott G. Pinkerton, CFP, CIMA on being named to the Barron’s Top 1,200 Advisors list.

Pictured from Left to Right: Michael Harkins, Vice President -- Investment Officer, Scott Pinkerton, Managing Director -- Investment Officer, William L. Mehserle, Jr., Financial Advisor

Pictured from Left to Right: Michael Harkins, Vice President -- Investment Officer,

Scott Pinkerton, Managing Officer, William Mehserle, Jr., Financial Advisor This is the 7thDirector year-- Investment that Scott has L.received this distinction This is the 7th year that Scott received this which is widely regarded as has a benchmark fordistinction putting the needs which is widely regarded benchmark for putting thefirm. needs of clients first -one of as thea core foundations of our

of clients first -- one of the core foundations of our firm.

PINKERTON WEALTH MANAGEMENT GROUP OF WELLS FARGO ADVISORS

4242 S. TAMIAMI TRAIL, VENICE, FLGROUP 34293 OF WELLS FARGO ADVISORS PINKERTON WEALTH MANAGEMENT 4242 S. TAMIAMI TRAIL, VENICE, FL 34293 PHONE: 9411 40888557 PHONE: 9411 40888557 TOLL8FREE: 8661 20988557 TOLL8FREE: 8661 20988557 WWW.PINKERTONWMG.COM WWW.PINKERTONWMG.COM

Barron’s Top 1,200 Advisors (2014 & 2015) Prior to 2014 the Barron’s Top 1,200 was recognized as the Barron’s Top 1,000 Advisors.

Barron’s Top 1,200 Advisors (2014provided & 2015) Prior to 2014 the 1,200 was recognized the Barron’s 1,000 Advisors.

The rankings are based on data by thousands of Barron’s advisors.Top Factors included in theasrankings wereTop assets under management, revenue The rankings data provided by thousands advisors.and Factors included in the rankings were performance assets under management, revenue produced forare thebased firm,on regulatory record, quality ofofpractice, philanthropic work.

Investment isn’t an explicit component. produced for the firm, regulatory record, quality of practice, and philanthropic work. Investment performance isn’t an explicit component.

Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Member SIPC, a non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.

Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Member SIPC, a non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.

CAR 0316-05528 CAR 0316-05528

Interviews by

Sylvia Whitman and Susan Burns Photography

Matt Holler

RETROCLIPART / SHUTTERSTOCK

Unplug Photos shot on location at the HuB Sarasota and Home Resource 28

941CEO

ged

Eight high-powered women put down their smartphones and pair up for candid conversations.

What do [working] women really want? To find out, we invited eight high achievers who’ve made headlines this year to pair up with each other and talk about what drives them, challenges them and matters most. Read on.

J U N E / J U LY 2 0 1 6

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Sigrid Olsen & Karen Bell

A

rtist Sigrid Olsen, 62, started out in the ’70s handprinting fabric with colorful designs and selling it at craft fairs. She went on to become creative director of her own sportswear line for Liz Claiborne, Inc., but in 2008 was laid off in a major downsizing. She regrouped and re-emerged in Sarasota, running a small art/yoga retreat/design business. In 2015, she launched a new fashion collection with HSN. Third-generation fish broker Karen Bell, 52, entered the family business in the 1980s, eventually assuming ownership of A.J. Bell Fish Company and then diversifying into a restaurant and retail market after buying the next-door Star Fish Company in 1996. In 2012, Travel & Leisure magazine put Star Fish Company on a short list (31) of the country’s top seafood restaurants, and last year celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse stopped by with his Cooking Channel TV crew.

Sigrid Olsen

Olsen: I didn’t study fashion design. I thought if I did prints on fabric, it would be for home furnishings. You know how life is. It goes in a direction, and 30 years later, your head pops up: “Oh, I guess I’m a fashion designer.” Did you know what you were getting into?

Bell: I was working at IBM in college, interning in marketing. Although IBM was phenomenal to work for, it was so regimented. It was a suit every day, and someone constantly telling you what to do. I said, “Dad, I want to come home and work in the company business.” And he said, “It’s a man’s world, and the regulatory issues are getting worse and worse.” Of course, dealing with these fishermen—you almost have to be a psychiatrist to do it. I don’t think he wanted his children to have that tough kind of life. But I came home, and I love it.

Olsen: It fits you. I went through some of those same cycles, but it was different because I was a designer, so I got to be a little more offbeat and creative. But there were still stringent ways that corporations have to do things. Now I’m just back to me and two female partners.

I never thought that I could live where I wanted to and have a business.

Bell: You can. Seafood is a man’s industry, but being a woman for me has been an advantage.

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941CEO

Karen Bell

J U N E / J U LY 2 0 1 6

Once my uncle came in all mad because he had told the fishermen to stop drinking. He came and got me. I was maybe 30. I said, “Either this is going to stop, or I’m going to call the police.”

They stopped. And it drove my uncle crazy because they listened to me. Our dock is one of the most family-oriented, professionally run. In so many of the ports, from Galveston down to the Keys, there’s so much drug abuse. I’m not saying we don’t have any issues—there are bad boys at times—but all in all, they toe the line. They know I’m hardcore. If they break a federal law, they are out the door.

I’ve had grown men cry, which is grueling.

Olsen: You sound pretty badass!

Bell: But I’m not. I rarely raise my voice.

Olsen: I just believe if you’re a hard worker and honest and focused and kind—all the good stuff it means to be human—it does pay off. I think sometimes women go in with this feeling that they’re going to be discriminated against, and I just did not feel that way.

Bell: When I got out of school, my dad gave me guiding principles. Keep your word. Pay the fishermen a good price.

Give them good weights. Pay for your fish before you pay for anything else. Just common sense. It’s shocking when I look around at people in the industry—many of whom have left it or are out of business— and they don’t do that. Treat people how you want them to treat you.

Olsen: Then your interactions are pleasant. People smile, and they thank you, and you thank them.

Bell: How people deal with adversity— that’s a real indicator of how successful someone tends to be. I’ve seen people where boats have sunk, they’ve lost crew members, and they pick themselves up. When I was in my 20s, we sent a container product to Taiwan, and it was stolen. $100,000. We couldn’t pay our credit line off, and the bank was mad. It ate at me. Then one day I was driving, and I got T-boned. It made me think, “What does this really matter?” A week after that, the insurance paid. I had made myself sick for months over something— not that it didn’t matter, but it wasn’t something to work yourself up over.

Olsen: People have said to me, “You’re amazing, the obstacles that you’ve overcome—breast cancer, your husband dying, your business closing.” But what other choice do you have? You have to just move on. Life is such a gift.

Bell: See, that’s the personality that I think makes you successful. Somebody told me: “Don’t worry about the competition. Focus on your business.”

I live and breathe the business. But it’s fun. I don’t consider it work.

Olsen: I have a three-step process.

One is to set an intention, just have a vision. The second is do the work.

Every day get up and work toward your goal.

And have faith.

Because sometimes you’re working your ass off, and you see no result. But once all that comes together—the vision, your work, and your faith in it—then I feel I’m doing everything to create a life that’s compatible with my most authentic self.

Then I’m like you: It’s not work.

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Barbara Zdravecky & Dr. Karen Hamad Barbara Zdravecky

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Dr. Karen Hamad

941CEO

Dr.

Karen Hamad, 47, was named chief of staff of Sarasota Memorial Hospital last year, only the fourth female to be named to this position in the hospital’s 96-year history. She is certified in internal medicine and pediatrics and practices with First Physicians Group. Barbara Zdravecky, 64, is CEO of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, an affiliate that expanded last year to cover 22 counties and serve 39,000 patients. She’s been a vocal advocate for women’s reproductive rights and her organization in a year that has seen myriad state and national challenges.

Hamad: My family was ArabAmerican, and my life was like My Big Fat Egyptian Wedding. I was expected to be home with my parents.

I was shy and wore big glasses. But I always wanted to be a doctor. I was a world literature major at Middlebury College as well as pre-med. I chose world lit because being a doctor is about taking care of people. We all learn the science, but the microscope won’t tell me what’s wrong with you.

Ninety percent of all diagnoses are made with history and a physical. All you have to do is listen. Women are inherently better at [relationships]. I don’t think it always occurs to men how their choices affect society.

Zdravecky: You’ve developed those skills of empathy. I never thought I’d be a CEO. I had a bachelor’s in social work and was thinking about going into a master’s program, and one of my mentors said, “Go into nursing, it has so many more opportunities.” I was invited to be head nurse of psychiatry at Manatee Hospital and then I was recruited by Planned Parenthood as CEO 22 years ago. Looking back, I see a path of leadership I wasn’t aware of [then]. I always wanted to help the underdog, the mentally ill, women who were downtrodden, vulnerable children.

Hamad: I’m five months and 15 days into being chief of staff. I can feel myself having gotten stronger, [but] I still find myself thinking when I get a call from someone in power over me, “Oh, God, did I do something wrong?” I had a big obligation to show the medical staff J U N E / J U LY 2 0 1 6

I was not just a “yes” woman. I’ve had to have serious conversations.

Having some doctors come back to me and say, “Your voice changed the hospital’s mind”—that’s given me confidence.

Zdravecky: I’ve gotten over a lot of my fears. I guess what scares me the most is someone getting hurt on my watch, like what happened in Colorado last year. We have people who threaten to kill me, to hurt my staff, who stand outside our fences every day and hurl insults.

Hamad: It used to be easier to be a doctor. With social media and cellphones, you would not believe the texts and Facebook messages I get, even at 11 p.m. When I’m not on call I put my phone in another room.

Zdravecky: I’m trying to eliminate that, too. Our work is exhausting. I need to have quality sleep and that’s one of the gifts I can give myself. I still have a landline. I put my phone in the other room.

Hamad: As soon as someone calls me, I feel guilty. What if something should happen and I’m being selfish?

Zdravecky: I have a private trainer, a massage therapist, a chiropractor, an acupuncturist and a psychiatrist who help me get through my life.

Two weeks ago I rented a cabin on the Suwannee River, and I went by myself. I hiked and watched the spring come to North Florida. I was in my soft clothes, didn’t have to talk to anyone. Nature is my big healer.

Hamad: I try to make dinner three days a week. I go to the ocean if it’s been a bad day. I exercise. I get my

hair done every three weeks. I get my nails done every week. I get a massage when I can. My mom taught me that if you look good you feel better.

Zdravecky: You know what really annoys me? Men don’t have to do that. The money we have to spend so we can look a certain way so we are appealing in our jobs. It’s unfair.

Hamad: When I walk into a meeting, you know how many men comment on what I look like? Almost all of them. Women’s opportunities have changed, though. When I was applying for jobs here, there were five male doctors. I felt obligated— they did not make me feel this way— to let them know I would complete my childbearing before I joined their practice in a year and a half. Society had made me feel that if I was going to be a successful doctor I had to be a successful male doctor. Damn if I didn’t do it. I had my two kids, maternity leave was over, and I came back to work. Never missed a day.

We hired a female doctor last July.

She has a 1-year-old and now she’s pregnant again. We’re all fine with that. I didn’t think I could do that 15 years ago.

Zdravecky: Women look out for one another, especially because we are healers. I bought a car a couple of weeks ago. I’m in the finance office, this beautiful young woman, who is the finance officer, draws me aside and said thank you for your service.

This happens to me five times a week.

I get tearful. I’ve been so blessed to lead this charge.

Hamad: When you walk through your gates every day, stand up and show your staff and patients that you are there for them, you make everyone around you brave.

Zdravecky: I just turned 64 this week. To watch a younger professional and your commitment to doing the right thing makes me so grateful to have someone to pass the torch to.

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G

ail Bowden of SVN’s Commercial Advisory Group of Sarasota and Bradenton was named the No. 1 SVN commercial real estate broker in Florida in 2016 and ranked No. 3 in the world.

With more than $50 million in 2015 sales, she specializes in medical and industrial property sales. Last fall, engineer and former Longboat Key Town Manager Anne Ross, 43, was named executive director of the Lakewood Ranch Inter-district Authority, where she manages the dayto-day government operations and four district homeowner associations of one of the 10 best-selling communities in the country.

Bowden: I grew up in Vernal, Utah, a very small town drenched in oil and gas, one of seven kids. I’m the baby.

I started my career in the oil and gas industry as a facilities VP and did real estate for them as well, so I traveled all over the western U.S. It was a male-oriented industry.

Ross: Seven kids? I’m one of four girls. I have a sister who’s a doctor, one who’s a teacher and another who’s an actor. My parents told us we could be whatever we wanted to be. By training I’m an engineer. I started in consulting engineering and then moved into local government. Some of my skillset is probably more female, getting collaboration, managing projects and keeping track of multiple things and finding compromises.

Bowden: As females we do better at managing the emotions, the project from start to finish, and bringing knowledge to everyone. I have strong parents and family, too.

They said, “Go out and do what you want to do.”

So I had a goal six years ago when SVN took over the franchise in Sarasota. I wanted

34

to rise to the top, not only locally, but nationally. I made my goal.

Ross: I also had mentors who really pushed me, both male and female. You can’t do it all yourself.

Bowden: I agree. There’s always somebody, in any stage of your life and work. When we go back five years ago, Jerry Anderson, who was over SVN in the state of Florida, came into my office and said, “Bowden, I want you to be No. 1 in Florida.”

Ross: Competition is a little different for me. It’s

Gail Bowden & Anne Ross

Gail Bowden

941CEO

not beating someone at a sale, but finding the compromise or a unique solution to problems. That gives me my thrill.

Bowden: Competition is my drug.

I tell everybody, “Bring it on.”

Ross: Before the downturn, the engineering firm I worked for here in Sarasota closed, and I was eight months pregnant. I thought, “Now what am I going to do?” Luckily I found the job over on Longboat Key. For me, there are 10 ways to skin a cat. If I have to flip burgers at McDonalds, I’ll make it work.

Anne Ross

J U N E / J U LY 2 0 1 6

Bowden: That’s what I always say, too. The downturn in real estate was tough. People were afraid to invest.

But I give myself 24 hours to feel bad and that’s it. I always have a goal.

People always say, “In the box, out of the box.” I don’t have a box.

Ross: That’s great. My goal is to look at the community out east and try to help everyone figure out how they’re going to grow and keep the nice community that they came for.

Bowden: I’m interested in empowering women, and I’m trying to learn about the millennials—what they want and how that affects my business. People say, “Oh, those millennials. They’re a pain.” But our company is really involved in the younger generation coming up. We know millennials are technology oriented. They are perfectly happy with a text. I flew out to California to meet a REIT. The

[principals] are my daughter’s age.

What was shocking was they said, “You are the first person who has ever made an effort to meet us in person.”

Ross: The world is changing. I’m the breadwinner. My husband has his own business and he’s more flexible.

So when I’m at evening meetings he’ll take over the kids, and the kids aren’t losing out.

Bowden: I came from a world that was men in upper management. I focused on being who I wanted to be—of course I wanted to be paid for it—and to succeed. There’s a book, Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway.

People would be surprised, but I’m an introvert. When I’d go places, I’d be so scared. I thought I was the only person in the room that was so frightened. I read this book and it said everybody in the room is frightened. That fear pushes you.

Ross: Mine is getting up in front of a board and not knowing the answer.

I’ve done all this work and they’re going to ask me something I don’t know and I’m going to look stupid.

I push through it. Nobody can know all the answers. That goes back to the team effort. Your team can help.

Bowden: Probably the biggest thing is to empower other women. We focus on our own journey and moving to the top. Let’s go to the top together and become a cohesive team.

Ross: Nobody’s perfect in everything.

Don’t be afraid to match up.

35

Susie Bowie

Luz Corcuera

Susie Bowie & Luz Corcuera 36

941CEO

S

usie Bowie and Luz Corcuera go back a way. They met when Corcuera, a Peruvian-born community health activist at the time, was serving as board president of Project Light, an all-volunteer Manatee ESOL literacy organization. Needing help in transferring leadership, Corcuera approached the Community Foundation of Sarasota, where VP of philanthropic engagement and marketing Susie Bowie had a reputation for “always making time for everyone,” Corcuera says. It was professional love at first sight. Fast forward to 2016: In January, Corcuera assumed the helm of Manatee’s UnidosNow, a Latino empowerment organization with an education focus, and in April, Bowie became executive director of the Manatee Community Foundation.

Bowie: What I love most about Luz is that she uses all of her gifts and talents from the heart. She’s very passionate about that. That motivates me when I find that in a donor or someone who is working for a nonprofit. Both you and I have taken risks right now by accepting these new positions.

Corcuera: Giving up my benefits.

Bowie: But neither one of us could say no, because we felt that without question it was the right thing for us to do.

Corcuera: The timing called.

Bowie: Women leaders need to recognize what their gifts are, and then they need to rise up and say, “What’s the most I can do with my gift?” Many times it’s taking that leadership role, or making ourselves a little vulnerable so we can get the experience that we need to become leaders. We need to encourage some measured risk-taking.

Corcuera: I don’t have fears. My mother was a very strong role model.

She was not afraid to say what she felt. And she was not afraid to do and to serve. We have an obligation to serve the people. It’s not what I think.

It’s important what they need, what they want, what they are willing to give as well.

Bowie: I want to honor history and find creative and new ways to take our organization into the future. Which means not disappointing people.

J U N E / J U LY 2 0 1 6

That’s probably my biggest fear: disappointing people. As a woman that can be a very difficult thing to get over because I want people to be happy and pleased, not just with our work but with our organization.

And as I’ve learned in philanthropy, you can’t please everyone. It’s less about pleasing people and more about making an impact. You make an impact by including everyone in the conversation.

Corcuera: I always had, luckily, the ability to find a safe place within. Even if it’s the most stressful job, the most stressful time—and being the mother of two children, being an immigrant woman to begin with. When my husband and I decided to emigrate to Canada, we didn’t know anybody.

I thought I spoke English, but I had to take classes. But that helped me become stronger, helped me find that place that I needed to go in frequently so I could re-energize myself, refocus.

Bowie: I have to have my time outside. I get centered when I’m out in nature. I love to pull my kayak out. I feel so fortunate that Manatee County has these wonderful preserves where you can be in nature and just be.

Corcuera: If we are thinking about transforming the life of the community, we must be transforming our own lives. And

transformational leadership means being first, before doing.

Bowie: My parents have always modeled conviction and building selfesteem in others. And kindness. You can’t be successful unless you’re kind to others. I think sometimes women go in the opposite direction because they fear that their kindness will make them appear soft.

Corcuera: I try to be in the moment, be in the here and now. It’s extremely important that we don’t allow ourselves to think about the next meeting that we have to run, the next thing that we have to do.

Because, one, you don’t enjoy, and second, you can lose focus.

Bowie: We have a huge opportunity in both our communities with millennials. We hear a lot with millennials either getting frustrated with the housing situation or not being able to find a voice within their organizations. Millennials may not have the money right now to open up big funds, but these are activists. We want to harvest that.

Corcuera: We should not let go of that talent. In my previous two jobs, I hired young people. Every time we went to give a presentation, people asked me, “It seems like you have the youngest team.” And I do.

I like to work with young people. I am sad when some of them say they don’t want to stay here, in Florida, including my own children.

Bowie: Your point about encouraging young leaders to come forward is important. My counterpoint is, we need to encourage other people to give them a chance.

Corcuera: Absolutely. I would love to see in the next 20 years younger senators, representatives, commissioners, presidents. It’s the time for them to shine. So if you decide to enter into the political arena and run for office, I will volunteer to manage your campaign! π 37

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941CEO is delighted to present Sarasota-Manatee’s most inspirational Women of Influence—leaders and professional businesswomen who motivate and encourage others throughout the community. 941CEO’s 2016 Women of Influence section highlights these women, focusing on what inspires and encourages them to move forward and work together to build and strengthen our ever-growing business community.

J U N E / J U LY 2 0 1 6

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LWRBA WOMEN LEADERS

Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance

SALLY ULLMAN

LANA WALSH

SALLY ULLMAN PHOTOGRAPHY

MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT REPRESENTATIVE-WEST REGION

8016 SPRING MARSH DR. UNIVERSITY PARK, FL 34201 (941) 301-8926

GROW FINANCIAL FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

SALLYULLMANPHOTOGRAPHY @GMAIL.COM

11008 ARCADE PLACE LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL 34211 (727) 798-8846

LORI DEVINE LOAN OFFICER

T

he Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance is committed to connecting, educating and strengthening the business community in the Lakewood Ranch region. The LWRBA’s 500-plus member businesses reflect a wide variety of small and large businesses across all industries in the Lakewood Ranch region.

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FAIRWAY FUNDING GROUP 7319 MERCHANT COURT SARASOTA, FL 34240 LORI@ FAIRWAYFUNDINGGROUP.COM HEATHER KASTEN LAKEWOOD RANCH BUSINESS ALLIANCE

LANA.WALSH@ GROWFINANCIAL.ORG MARINA WOLF-SCHMIDT OWNER KIDDIE ACADEMY OF LAKEWOOD RANCH 4225 CONCEPT COURT LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL 34211 (941) 727-9072 KIDDIEACADEMYFL@AOL.COM

8430 ENTERPRISE CIRCLE, SUITE 140 LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL 34202 (941) 757-1664 HEATHERKASTEN@LWRBA.ORG

941CEO

PHOTOGRAPHY: SALLY ANN ULLMAN

WOMEN OF INFLUENCE 2016

PHOTOGRAPHY: SALLY ANN ULLMAN

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LWRBA WOMEN LEADERS

KATHY COLLUMS

W

ith over 50 events and programs each year, the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance provides opportunity to connect with over 1,700 member professionals to help you grow your business. When asked, 95 percent of members said they would recommend membership in the Lakewood Business Alliance to others.

SARASOTA CITY EXECUTIVE

JANICE SORENSON, MBA,CMPE

SABAL PALM BANK

MARKET MANAGER

5101 FRUITVILLE ROAD, SUITE 100 SARASOTA, FL 34232 (941) 806-0427 KCOLLUMS@ SABALPALMBANK.COM

MANATEE PHYSICIAN ALLIANCE 101 RIVERFRONT BLVD., SUITE 500 BRADENTON, FL 34205 (941) 708-8131 JANICE.SORENSON@ UHSINC.COM

LAURA COLE VP OF MARKETING

HEATHER WILLIAMS

SCHROEDER-MANATEE RANCH, INC.

SHAREHOLDER, CPA/CFP®

14400 COVENANT WAY LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL 34202

1990 MAIN ST., SUITE 801 SARASOTA, FL 34236

(941) 757-1524

(941) 365-4617

LAKEWOODRANCH.COM

HWILLIAMS@KBGRP.COM

KERKERING, BARBERIO & CO.

JONI RAMETTA, CFP® WEALTH PLANNING AND DESIGN LLC 6230 UNIVERSITY PARKWAY, UNIT 305 SARASOTA, FL 34240

8430 ENTERPRISE CIRCLE, STE 140 LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL 34202 (941) 757-1664 / lwrba.org

J U N E / J U LY 2 0 1 6

(941) 361-1484 JONI@WEALTHPLANNING ANDDESIGN.COM

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LWRBA WOMEN LEADERS

Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance

T

he Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance’s educational programs equip professionals with the knowledge and tools needed to take their careers and businesses to the next level.

Our featured speakers present timely and relevant topics you can apply to your business right away.

DIANNE KOPCZYNSKI, CPA, CIA

AMANDA ZIPPERER

MAULDIN & JENKINS, LLC

MAIN STREET PROPERTY MANAGER

THE BRADENTON FINANCIAL CENTER

LAKEWOOD RANCH COMMERCIAL

1401 MANATEE AVE. W., SUITE 1200 BRADENTON, FL 34205

14400 COVENANT WAY LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL 34202

(941) 747-4483 DKOPCZYNSKI@MJCPA.COM

AZIPPERER@ LWRCOMMERCIAL.COM

MARIBETH PHILLIPS

LISA KIRKLAND

CEO

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING

MEALS ON WHEELS PLUS OF MANATEE

LAKEWOOD RANCH MEDICAL CENTER

1816 NINTH ST. W. BRADENTON, FL 34205

8330 LAKEWOOD RANCH BLVD. BRADENTON, FL 34202

(941) 749-0100 EXT. 2111

(941) 782-2128

MPHILLIPS@ MEALSONWHEELSPLUS.ORG

LISA.KIRKLAND2@ UHSINC.COM

(941) 757-1678

JENNIFER R. LEE MODERN-WEALTH, LLC 6710 PROFESSIONAL PKWY. W., SUITE 201B SARASOTA, FL 34240 (941) 251-0510 JENNIFER@ MODERN-WEALTH.COM

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941CEO

PHOTOGRAPHY: SALLY ANN ULLMAN

WOMEN OF INFLUENCE 2016

PHOTOGRAPHY: SALLY ANN ULLMAN

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LWRBA WOMEN LEADERS

T

he LWRBA’s focus is to strengthen the business community in Lakewood Ranch region by promoting business growth and advocating on behalf of member businesses.

We are a driving force behind economic advancement in the region.

MICHELLE BIANCHI PINGEL

LEE KOTWICKI

MANAGING DIRECTOR/CEO

DIRECTOR, WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS

PLAYERS CENTRE FOR PERFORMING ARTS 838 N. TAMIAMI TRAIL SARASOTA, FL 34228

STATE COLLEGE OF FLORIDA, MANATEE-SARASOTA

(941) 365-2494

7131 PROFESSIONAL PKWY. E. SARASOTA, FL 34240

INFO@THEPLAYERS.ORG

(941) 363-7218 KOTWICL@SCF.EDU

JANNON PIERCE VICE PRESIDENT OF RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT EASTER SEALS – SWFL (941) 355-7637 EXT 404 EASTERSEALS-SWFL.ORG PEGGY KRONUS PUBLIC RELATIONS COORDINATOR

SUSAN GOLDSTEIN MICHAEL SAUNDERS & COMPANY/COMMERCIAL DIVISION 8325 LAKEWOOD RANCH BLVD. LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL 34202 (941) 907-9595 SUSAN@SRQGOLD.COM

WILLIS A. SMITH CONSTRUCTION, INC. 5001 LAKEWOOD RANCH BLVD. N. SARASOTA, FL 34240

8430 ENTERPRISE CIRCLE, STE 140 LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL 34202 (941) 757-1664 / lwrba.org

J U N E / J U LY 2 0 1 6

(941) 366-3116 PKRONUS@WILLISSMITH.COM

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LWRBA WOMEN LEADERS

Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance

T

he Power of Connection.

To learn more about becoming a member of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance, please visit our website at www.lwrba.org or contact us at (941) 757-1664 or info@lwrba.org.

JESSICA FEATHERSTONE

BARBARA A. JONES

BERLIN PATTEN EBLING, PLLC

SHAREHOLDER, CPA/CFP速

8130 LAKEWOOD MAIN ST., SUITE 206 LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL 34202

1990 MAIN ST., SUITE 801 SARASOTA, FL 34236

(941) 907-9022

(941) 365-4617

JFEATHERSTONE@ BERLINPATTEN.COM

BJONES@KBGRP.COM

MICHELLE CRABTREE BROKER ASSOCIATE PREMIER SOTHEBY'S INTERNATIONAL REALTY 8141 LAKEWOOD MAIN ST., SUITE 101 LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL 34202 (941) 724-4663

KERKERING, BARBERIO & CO.

LORI ANN MARINACCIO GALLAGHER MGA 8430 ENTERPRISE CIRCLE, SUITE 200 LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL 34202 (888) 437-6611 LORIANN_MARINACCIO@ AJG.COM

MICHELLE.CRABTREE@ SOTHEBYSREALTY.COM DR. SHERI DOUGHERTY CEO DAI SOLUTIONS (703) 838-0093 EXT.201 SED@DAI-SOLUTIONS.COM

8430 ENTERPRISE CIRCLE, STE 140 LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL 34202 (941) 757-1664 / lwrba.org

44

941CEO

PHOTOGRAPHY: SALLY ANN ULLMAN

WOMEN OF INFLUENCE 2016

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WOMEN OF INFLUENCE 2016

Bonti Burgess BRIGHT DAY HOME HEALTHCARE

B

onti Burgess founded Bright Day based on a passion for providing truly exceptional home care locally. She knows rigorous hiring practices, optimal insurance coverage and responsive communication are critical to providing the consistency of care and excellent experience clients want. She also knows that the most rewarding part of her job is learning about her clients’ lives. Bright Day has been accredited by the Joint Commission, the most stringent accreditation program for healthcare.

Burgess was raised in Napa, Calif., and received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of California. In 1994, she moved to Sarasota with her husband and a dream of starting a family and her own successful business.

While she encountered setbacks along the way— most notably finding herself a single mom raising two daughters on her own—Burgess persevered.

Today, Bright Day Home Healthcare has emerged the exceptional private duty agency that Bonti dreamed. Bright Day’s guiding principle, Where Caring Comes First, exemplifies what Bonti both believes in and lives by in her personal life and in business.

“The most rewarding part of her job is learning about her clients’ lives.”

J U N E / J U LY 2 0 1 6

ACHIEVEMENTS

▶

▶

▶

ACCREDITED, JOINT

▶

ACHA #299993941

COMMISSION #519604

▶

BEST OF SARASOTA

BOARD MEMBER,

MAGAZINE, FIRST PLACE,

SARASOTA OPERA GUILD

2016 AND READER’S

COMMITTEE MEMBER,

CHOICE FIRST PLACE, 2016

WIT & WISDOM, PINES OF SARASOTA

Where Caring Comes First 2620 S. TAMIAMI TRAIL, SUITE 301 SARASOTA, FL 34239 (941) 955-8900

brightdayhomehealth.com

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WOMEN OF INFLUENCE 2016

Susan Thompson, CPA Aubrey Lynch, CPA Lisa Bristow, CPA Lisa Johnson, CPA CS&L CPAS

W

hy is CS&L CPA’s majority leadership by women beneficial to its clients? Women in business bring unique strengths and insights to client service, relationship building and solution finding. With women in ownership, these characteristics are definitive of the firm’s culture. Its mission is to provide the finest level of personal service and technical expertise to exceed clients’ expectations.

Beyond preparing financial statements and tax returns, CS&L professionals aim to bring consultative advisory perspectives to client relationships. Businesses and organizations seeking to maximize their growth potential can look to CS&L for knowledge and recommendations in areas of financial strategies, technology integration and day-to-day operational issues.

The firm makes certain its clients know they’re the priority. Owners and executives value the ability to really listen and communicate with them in an approachable and responsive manner. CS&L proactively brings timely information and fresh ideas that can add great value to their business.

As business and personal goals often blend together, these relationships expand to include entire families. CS&L serves clients throughout the evolution of their business and their transition to the next phase of life.

“We proactively bring timely information and fresh ideas that can add great value.”

46

ACHIEVEMENTS ▶

▶

▶

2015 SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR, MANATEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2014 SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR, SARASOTA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2014 SPIRIT OF MANATEE, MANATEE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

▶

▶

▶

▶

▶

2014 BEST PLACES TO WORK IN TAMPA BAY, TAMPA BAY BUSINESS JOURNAL CPA PRACTICE ADVISOR 40 UNDER 40 AWARD RECIPIENT, AUBREY LYNCH FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD RECIPIENT, LISA JOHNSON FICPA WOMEN TO WATCH: EXPERIENCED LEADER AWARD, SUSAN THOMPSON TBBJ BUSINESS WOMAN OF THE YEAR FINALIST, SUSAN THOMPSON

1515 RINGLING BLVD., SUITE 900 SARASOTA, FL 34236 (941) 954-4040 1001 THIRD AVE. W., SUITE 700 BRADENTON, FL 34205 (941) 748-1040 101 E. KENNEDY BLVD., SUITE 1460 TAMPA, FL 33602 (813) 490-4490

www.CSLcpa.com

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WOMEN OF INFLUENCE 2016

Dolly Jacobs THE CIRCUS ARTS CONSERVATORY

D

olly Jacobs was born into the circus.

Her mother was a top New York model and later performed with the circus.

Her father was Lou Jacobs, one of the most recognized clowns of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. She was a part of Sailor Circus in Sarasota, a program uniquely reflective of the community's circus heritage, until the age of 14 when she started performing with Ringling Bros.

She couldn’t help but love the circus—it was in her DNA. The circus took Jacobs around the world, making her worldrenowned. Her passion and devotion to the circus arts have also made her beloved in Sarasota.

Jacobs and her husband, fellow circus artist Pedro Reis, founded Circus Sarasota (today known as the Circus Arts Conservatory) in 1997, a nonprofit organization that presents professional performances and community outreach programs. In addition to the education outreach programs that integrate the circus arts into science, language arts, and theater classes and a humor therapy program that brings joy and circus arts to those in care facilities, the CAC oversees Sailor Circus, America’s longest running youth circus.

“I feel truly blessed to be able to do what I’m most passionate about while I’m continuing the legacy of circus arts.”

J U N E / J U LY 2 0 1 6

ACHIEVEMENTS ▶

AWARDED THE

▶

WORLD ACROBAT

CLOWN AND LE DAME

SOCIETY GALLERY OF

DU CIRQUE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL

▶

LEGENDS, 2013 ▶

OF JEWISH WOMEN

MONTE CARLO

“WOMEN IN POWER” AWARD, 2013

INDUCTED INTO ▶

2015 NEA NATIONAL

RING OF FAME, 1997

HERITAGE FELLOWSHIP

RINGLING MUSEUM

AWARD (FIRST CIRCUS

CIRCUS CELEBRITY

ARTIST EVER TO RECEIVE)

AWARD, 1999 ▶

NATIONAL COUNCIL

CIRCUS FESTIVAL OF

SARASOTA’S CIRCUS ▶

INDUCTED INTO THE

PRESTIGIOUS SILVER

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT

▶

OF STATE, FOLK

2015 ARTS LEADERSHIP AWARD FOR ARTISTIC

HERITAGE AWARD, 2012

ACHIEVEMENT ▶

2016 KEY CHORALE

▶

2016 SISTER CITIES ONE

PITCH PERFECT AWARD WORLD AWARD

2075 BAHIA VISTA ST. SARASOTA, FL 34239 (941) 355-9335 / CircusArts.org

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WOMEN OF INFLUENCE 2016

Laura Spencer, Roxie Jerde, Marlo Turner, Betsy Pennewill COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SARASOTA COUNTY

A

t the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, they believe that each and every person has the potential to impact another person, a cause, a community. You can be the one to make a difference.

For more than 35 years, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County has matched donors to the right causes, creating lasting impact. Whether you want to feed the hungry, educate kids, look after animals, support the arts, revitalize neighborhoods, or protect our natural resources, the Foundation can be your partner and ensure your gifts have greater impact.

The combined compassion, expertise, and knowledge of the women of the senior leadership team all reinforce the Community Foundation’s reputation as an authority on philanthropy. In partnership with donors, its mission is to connect with other funders, nonprofits, local governments and school districts to find effective solutions to community problems and stay alert to emerging issues and opportunities. Through a national network of community foundations, the team can advise you about charities all over the country and around the world, as well as stay on top of best practices so that you can enjoy philanthropic peace of mind.

48

IMPACT AND INITIATIVES ▶

TWO-GENERATION APPROACH: CREATING INTERGENERATIONAL CYCLES OF OPPORTUNITY FOR VULNERABLE PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN TOGETHER.

▶

SEASON OF SHARING: PROVIDING A VITAL SAFETY NET TO KEEP A ROOF OVER THE HEADS OF FAMILIES ON THE VERGE OF HOMELESSNESS.

▶

CAMPAIGN FOR GRADE-LEVEL READING: ENSURING THAT ALL CHILDREN ARE PROFICIENT READERS BY THE END OF THIRD GRADE, AN EARLY INDICATOR IN ACADEMIC AND LIFELONG SUCCESS.

▶

EDEXPLORESRQ: CONNECTING TEACHERS AND THEIR STUDENTS TO THE WEALTH OF REALWORLD, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR REGION.

2635 FRUITVILLE ROAD, SARASOTA, FL 34237 (941) 955-3000

cfsarasota.org

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WOMEN OF INFLUENCE 2016

Dr. Sherilyne Dougherty DAI SOLUTIONS

G ACHIEVEMENTS ▶

▶

DOCTORATE,

▶

FOR TECHNOLOGY

WASHINGTON

AND INDUSTRY

UNIVERSITY,

ADVISORY COUNCIL

WASHINGTON, DC

(ACT/IAC) CHAIR

LEADERSHIP

HUMAN CAPITAL SIG, 2012

ALEXANDRIA, 2011 ▶

AMERICAN COUNCIL

THE GEORGE

WHO'S WHO OF

▶

LAKEWOOD RANCH

AMERICAN WOMAN,

BUSINESS ALLIANCE

2012-2016

(LWRBA) “WOMEN OF INFLUENCE,” 2016 ▶

SELAH FREEDOM VOLUNTEER, 2015-2016

2525 GULF OF MEXICO DRIVE, SUITE 13-A LONGBOAT KEY, FL 34228 CORPORATE OFFICES: ALEXANDRIA, VA (941) 383-1651 / dai-solutions.com

J U N E / J U LY 2 0 1 6

oing from being an emergency room nurse to running your own consulting firm takes a lot of chutzpah. But that’s just what Dr. Sherilyne E. Dougherty, chief executive officer of DAI Solutions, did. When asked why, Dr. Dougherty simply says she “wanted to do good work.”

Since founding DAI Solutions in 2000, Dr. Dougherty has done just that. An entrepreneur and respected leader, Dr. Dougherty helps a diverse client base, including the Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs, tackle some of the most vexing human capital issues facing federal government.

While many of her colleagues are thinking about retirement, Dr. Dougherty has taken on a new challenge.

She recently opened an office in Sarasota helping clients navigate federal contracting, providing end-to-end services that result in contract awards.

While growing her business is a top priority, she also believes in giving back, whether offering advice to women who want to start their own businesses or helping local nonprofit Selah Freedom end human trafficking. Dr. Dougherty believes, “If you are doing something you are passionate about and not making a difference, it is time to move on.”

“If you are doing something you are passionate about and not making a difference, it is time to move on.”

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WOMEN OF INFLUENCE 2016

Veronica Brandon Miller VICE PRESIDENT, GOODWILL MANASOTA FOUNDATION

F

or more than 25 years, Veronica Brandon Miller has helped nonprofits enhance and advance their mission. As president of ShelterBox USA, she increased donations by 1,000 percent, founded the Women’s Leadership Council at the Boys & Girls Club and completed the capital campaign for the Smithsonian InstitutionNational Museum of the American Indian.

Veronica is now focusing her efforts on building philanthropic support for Goodwill Manasota and has rebranded its image, created an award-winning Goodwill Ambassador program and started the Goodwill Veterans Services Program— helping veterans reintegrate back into the civilian workforce.

She has also created a program called “Good Futures” that provides mentors to young adults transitioning out of foster care. In addition, Veronica is the host of Good News TV show on SNN and Tell Me Something Good Radio show on WSRQ that showcases the good that is happening our community.

“Supporting those in need is not just what I do for a living,” she says, “it defines me as a person.” In addition to the time devoted to Goodwill, she is a Rotarian and serves on the board for the Child Protection Center and Ave Maria Preparatory School.

“Supporting those in need is not just what I do for a living, it defines me as a person.”

50

ACHIEVEMENTS ▶

▶

941CEO PEOPLE TO

▶

PAUL HARRIS FELLOW

WATCH

▶

ABC SPIRIT OF

YEAR – PROJECT 180 ▶

PHILANTHROPY AWARD

VOLUNTEER OF THE ▶

MARKETING AWARD

LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE ▶

SARASOTA POLICE

▶

DEPARTMENT – CIVILIAN POLICE ACADEMY ▶

SENIOR LEADERSHIP PROGRAM – GII

SARASOTA WOMEN’S ALLIANCE

▶

COMMERCE ▶

CAUSE MARKETING FORUM HALO AWARD

▶

LEADERSHIP SARASOTA CLASS – CHAMBER OF

CHRONICAL OF PHILANTHROPY

GULF COAST

BUSINESS WOMEN’S ALLIANCE GROUP

▶

WOMEN OF THE YEAR FINALIST, TAMPA BAY BUSINESS JOURNAL

2705 51ST AVE. E., BRADENTON FL 34203 (941) 355-2721 / experiencegoodwill.org

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WOMEN OF INFLUENCE 2016

Lori Hultman and Christine Sensenig HULTMAN SENSENIG + JOSHI

H ACHIEVEMENTS CHRISTINE SENSENIG

LORI HULTMAN ▶

▶

▶

GRADUATE, UNIVERSITY

▶

GRADUATE, UNIVERSITY

OF FLORIDA LEVIN

OF FLORIDA LEVIN

COLLEGE OF LAW

COLLEGE OF LAW

FLORIDA BAR BOARD

▶

FLORIDA TREND

CERTIFIED IN LABOR

MAGAZINE LEGAL ELITE,

AND EMPLOYMENT LAW,

2009-2015

2001-PRESENT

▶

SUPERLAWYER, 2015, 2016

SUPERLAWYER, 2008-2010,

▶

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

2014-2016

ALUMNI LEADER OF THE YEAR, 2009 ▶

AV RATED BY MARTINDALE HUBBELL

2055 WOOD ST., SUITE 208, SARASOTA, FL 34237 (941) 953-2828 / hsjlawfirm.com

J U N E / J U LY 2 0 1 6

ultman Sensenig + Joshi was formed

by Lori Hultman, Christine Sensenig and Nikhil Joshi because they wanted to practice law differently. The three friends, who together have more than 75 years of experience, joined forces to create a labor and employment law firm that reflects their personalities and philosophy. The firm provides human resources and employment law advice as well as litigation defense to private and public sector employers in all aspects of the employment relationship. To build strong long-term relationships with clients, they listen to clients to discern their goals, understand their culture, and provide cost-effective legal services. All this allows HS+J to live up to its mission, “You + Us = Workplace Solutions.” The “plus” is what the firm focuses on with clients, in that legal advice is not a one-way street. Hultman Sensenig + Joshi are able to give back to the community by donating time and financial support to local nonprofit organizations, and encouraging others to do the same. Said Winston Churchill, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

“We work with clients to address their legal issues and we provide proactive counseling to minimize future problems.”

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WOMEN OF INFLUENCE 2016

Christine Koval KOVAL & KOVAL DENTAL ASSOCIATES

S

ince she was a child, Christine Koval loved sculpting, painting and the creative arts, with a passion for science.

With her father being an oral surgeon, Dr. Koval knew early on that dentistry was a great combination of all of her desires.

After her graduation from Georgetown University School of Dentistry, she and her father opened a practice where they worked together until his retirement in 2009. Today Dr. Christine Koval continues to head a practice that is both warm and nurturing as well as state-of-theart. Her team members have all been with her long term and are talented, caring individuals.

The wife and mother of two has created many of the most beautiful and natural smiles in this community, which are beyond most patients’ expectations, many of which can be viewed on her website.

Dr. Koval’s investment into continuing education and technology include four different wavelengths of lasers, digital x-rays and intra-oral cameras. Her high standard of care allows patients to realize that they are in safe and talented hands—a very special place for very special patients.

Complimentary consultations are offered.

“I am honored to help my patients start a new chapter with a youthful, healthy and natural smile.”

52

ACHIEVEMENTS ▶

AWARDED “AMERICA’S

▶

TOP DENTIST” ANNU-

DENTAL LASER

ALLY SINCE 2005 ▶

TECHNOLOGIES

RECIPIENT OF 19

▶

GOLD MEDAL SMILE ▶

ACADEMY OF COSMETIC DENTISTRY

FLORIDA ACADEMY OF COSMETIC DENTISTRY

▶

AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION

FELLOW, INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY

▶

FOR DENTAL FACIAL

SARASOTA COUNTY DENTAL ASSOCIATION

ESTHETICS ▶

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF COSMETIC DENTISTRY

AWARDS FROM FLORIDA

▶

CERTIFIED IN ADVANCED

▶

ADVANCED TRAINING

GRADUATE OF THE

IN DENTAL SLEEP

GEORGETOWN UNIVER-

DISORDERS

SITY SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY

2477 STICKNEY POINT ROAD SUITE 216A SARASOTA, FL 34231 (941) 202-6878

kovalandkoval.com

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WOMEN OF INFLUENCE 2016

Mimi Lee

MY TOP MATCHMAKER

M

imi Lee started her successful matchmaking career with Patti Stanger of Bravo TV's Millionaire Matchmaker. Soon after, Mimi left to forge her own path to guiding single Americans into harmonious relationships. A Floridian by birth, Mimi is delighted to be at the head of the reins for MyTopMatchMaker in Southwest Florida.

The most successful matchmaker for MyTopMatchMaker, Mimi refers to one of her more recent successes as to how well she’s brought exceptional romance to the clients she represents.

Chad Barbir decided to propose to Brooke Anderson. He kept it secret and took her on a four-hour journey to a safari zoo, where he’d reserved a trained elephant— Anderson’s favorite animal—and a photographer for the day. When the time came, both the elephant and Barbir got down on one knee, the elephant extended its trunk as he extended the box with the ring, and Anderson with a shriek of delight accepted.

When asked for advice for local singles, Mimi confidently replies, “Call me.”

He extended the box with the ring, and Anderson with a shriek of delight accepted.

J U N E / J U LY 2 0 1 6

3131 S. TAMIAMI TRAIL, SUITE 206 SARASOTA, FL 34239 (941) 773-9527

MyTopMatchmaker.com

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WOMEN OF INFLUENCE 2016

Rita Altman, P.A., M.P.A.S. RITA MEDICAL ELITE

R ACHIEVEMENTS

▶

30 YEARS' EXPERIENCE

▶

EMORY UNIVERSITY

RADIESSE+,

SCHOOL OF MEDICINE,

JUVEDERM+, VOLUMA,

▶

P.A., M.P.A.S. 1986 ▶

MICHIGAN STATE

LYFT & SILK ▶

UNIVERSITY HONORS COLLEGE, B.A. 1982 ▶

DERMAL FILLERS:

KYBELLA AND LASER TREATMENTS

▶

NEUROMODULATORS:

TOP U.S. INJECTOR

BOTOX, DYSPORT,

AND NATIONAL

XEOMIN

TRAINER

▶

2161 SIESTA DRIVE, SARASOTA, FL 34239 (941) 951-2161 / ritamedicalelite.com

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ita Altman is very proud to own and manage her own aesthetic medical practice. She spent many years perfecting her expertise. Altman takes a lot of pride in respecting and appreciating her clients. As a result, 95 percent of her business is referrals and repeat clients. The practice focuses 100 percent on helping clients achieve facial enhancements.

Altman’s reputation as a top injector in the industry has expanded her experience in training many other medical professionals. She has taught plastic surgeons and dermatologists many successful techniques of injectable procedures to reverse facial aging. The ultimate goal is to create a natural look.

Says Altman, “I am blessed to have amazing loyal clients who have given me the honor of treating them, their loved ones and their friends.

To sculpt a face with injectables and watch the transformation over the years is the most amazing reward. When we feel good and look good, everything in life is better.”

Rita Medical Elite is is now offering laser treatments along with injectables. Please call for your complimentary consultation: (941) 951-2161.

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”

—Viktor Frankl

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WOMEN OF INFLUENCE 2016

Daisy Vulovich ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT, CCD, STATE COLLEGE OF FLORIDA, MANATEE-SARASOTA

D

aisy Vulovich’s job is to develop operations and services that meet workforce and community needs in both degree and continuing education programs.

She arrived at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota to work on building a new campus in Lakewood Ranch. The Center for Innovation and Technology opened in January 2003—“One of my proudest accomplishments,” she says—to bring higher education to Lakewood Ranch, along with space that businesses can use for training. It was a collabVulovich’s orative effort between department the college, business, reflects the economic development college’s and community groups. commitment The site continues to to community represent the power of responsiveness collaboration, adding the Technology and and economic Medical Simulation Center to its development. campus a few years ago.

Local hospitals, foundations and individual donors proudly display their names throughout the building.

Vulovich’s department reflects the college’s commitment to community responsiveness and economic development, with focus on workforce solutions, community and continuing education, driver education and the college’s Traffic Safety Institute.

Vulovich’s most recent responsibilities include working with the faculty and staff in professional and technical degree areas. They have expanded college credit certificate and two-year degree programs to address pressing workforce needs.

J U N E / J U LY 2 0 1 6

ACHIEVEMENTS ▶

▶

HELPING TO BUILD

▶

PARTNERSHIPS WITH

INNOVATION AND

MANATEE TECHNICAL

TECHNOLOGY

AND SUNCOAST TECHNICAL COLLEGES

IMPLEMENTED WORKFORCE EDUCATION

▶

PROGRAMS, INCLUDING RISK MANAGEMENT AND ▶

EXPANDED

SCF’S CENTER FOR

HELPED LAUNCH GATOR ENGINEERING AT SCF

▶

EMBRACES TRADITIONAL

INSURANCE SERVICES

AND NONTRADITIONAL

PROVIDES CUSTOMIZED

STUDENTS OF ALL AGES

TRAINING FOR LOCAL

AND BACKGROUNDS

COMPANIES

5840 26TH ST. W., BRADENTON, FL 34207 (941) 363-7200 / SCF.edu

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Jennifer Rust and Jennifer Steube, CIMA

Photographer: Daniel Perales

WOMEN OF INFLUENCE 2016

®

SYNOVUS PRIVATE WEALTH MANAGEMENT

J

ennifer Rust and Jennifer Steube smile at their nickname “the dynamic duo”—but to their high net-worth clients in Sarasota, that’s precisely what they are.

The private wealth advisor, Rust, and senior trust portfolio manager, Steube, have worked together for five years, and share the goal of helping Synovus Private Wealth Management clients to manage financial assets for their future and that of generations to come. Rust specializes in credit and cash management solutions— “everything from arranging liquidity to financing aircraft,” she says. Steube oversees investment portfolios, managing risk and return with customized asset allocation strategies.

Both Jennifers regularly meet with clients. “We’re both accountable,” Steube explains, “but the point person is whoever the client’s most comfortable with.” Like financial concierges, they can draw as needed on the expertise of Synovus specialists in education funding, estate planning, tax planning, charitable giving, and other fields.

“Dynamic,” certainly. Yet this duo are also devoted to compassionately enabling individuals and families to achieve lifetime dreams and create meaningful legacies.

In just a year, Synovus has become a strong local presence in private wealth management.

56

ACHIEVEMENTS ▶

▶

▶

▶

▶

JENNIFER RUST SERIES 7 & 66 LICENSES THROUGH SYNOVUS SECURITIES FLORIDA LIFE, HEALTH AND VARIABLE INSURANCE LICENSES BOARD MEMBER, ASOLO REP PRESIDENT, DESIGNING DAUGHTERS OF SARASOTA CO-CHAIR OF VARIOUS NONPROFIT EVENTS IN SARASOTA AND BRADENTON

▶

▶

▶

▶

▶

JENNIFER STEUBE CERTIFIED INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT ANALYST® BOARD MEMBER, HUMANE SOCIETY OF SARASOTA COUNTY CHAIR, AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY BIG TOP GALA BOARD MEMBER, UW-MADISON ALUMNI SARASOTA/MANATEE CHAPTER MEMBER, INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS ASSOCIATION

1605 MAIN ST., SUITE 107, SARASOTA, FL 34236 (941) 556-1012 / synovus.com Investment products and services provided by Synovus are offered through Synovus Securities, Inc. (“SSI”), Synovus Trust Company, N.A. (“STC”), GLOBALT, a separately identifiable division of STC and Creative Financial Group, a division of SSI. The registered broker-dealer offering brokerage products for Synovus is Synovus Securities, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Synovus Securities, Inc. is a subsidiary of Synovus Financial Corp and an affiliate of Synovus Bank. Synovus Trust Company, N.A. is a subsidiary of Synovus Bank.

NOT FDIC NO BANK MAY LOSE INSURED GUARANTEE VALUE Banking products are provided by Synovus Bank, Member FDIC. Loan products are subject to credit approval.

Divisions of Synovus Bank operate under multiple trade names across the Southeast.

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WOMEN OF INFLUENCE 2016

Dr. Melissa Sloan UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA SARASOTA-MANATEE

Dr.

Melissa Sloan, associate professor of interdisciplinary social sciences at USF Sarasota-Manatee, had already compiled a litany of accolades by the time she won the USF Women in Leadership and Philanthropy Faculty Research Award in March.

Accompanied by a $5,000 grant, the award acknowledged her research and overall contribution to the USF System. But even before then, her efforts around women’s and gender issues garnered attention. They earned her an American Sociological Association Community Action Research Award and an American Association of University Women American Fellowship Grant, among others. She’s also had 17 articles published in top journals, including Social Psychology Quarterly and Social Science and Medicine, and her writings have been referenced by media outlets Time magazine, The Los Angeles Times and NPR. Much of her research involves inequality in the workplace, how men and women express emotions and how those emotions are influenced by job status. A sociologist and mother of three, Dr. Sloan has worked to strengthen the College of Arts & Sciences' interdisciplinary social sciences program since arriving at USFSM six years ago. Most recently, she led efforts to revamp the program for Fall 2016.

“Much of my research examines how the social positions we occupy influence our emotional expressions.”

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ACHIEVEMENTS ▶

▶

▶

▶

▶

PH.D. (2005) AND M.A. (2002) IN SOCIOLOGY, VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY B.S. (2000), CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY TENURED ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, USF SARASOTA-MANATEE CHAIR, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AT USFSM COORDINATOR, INTERDISCIPLINARY SOCIAL SCIENCES PROGRAM, USFSM

▶

▶

▶

▶

COORDINATOR, USFSM HONORS PROGRAM USF INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD MEMBER, SOCIAL BEHAVIORAL BOARD ASSOCIATION FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY COMMITTEE, ESTABLISHED THE FIRST NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES FACULTY ADVISOR TO THE USFSM CHAPTER OF ALPHA IOTA SIGMA, INTERDISCIPLINARY HONOR SOCIETY

8350 N. TAMIAMI TRAIL, SARASOTA, FL 34243 (941) 359-4603 / usfsm.edu

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WOMEN OF INFLUENCE 2016

Debbie LaPinska

VICE PRESIDENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES, PGT INDUSTRIES

D

ebbie LaPinska was born in Seoul, Korea in 1961, where her father served in the Army. From the age of 2, LaPinska grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago. She now has two children of her own with her high school sweetheart. “My proudest moments and memories are of my children,” she says.

LaPinska began working with PGT Industries as a customer service representative in 1991, then became office manager in 1993.

“Through several opportunities provided by PGT and my ambition, I was able to advance to a director and then finally a vice president,” she says. “I’ve held a variety of roles throughout the organization; I’m well versed in all facets of the business.”

In May of 2012 she took over human resources.

With PGT’s recent acquisitions, she has been heavily involved with the integration of compensation and benefits plans, as well as working with the managers on talent acquisition and retention. Her overall responsibilities consist of compensation and benefits, environmental health and safety, employee relations, talent acquisition and retention, training and development and team member services; additional responsibilities include oversight and support of risk management.

“I’ve held a variety of roles throughout the organization; I’m well versed in all facets of the business.”

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ACHIEVEMENTS ▶

NOMINATED, TAMPA

▶

BAY BUSINESS JOURNAL

VENICE AREA CHAMBER

BUSINESS WOMAN OF THE YEAR, 2015; ▶

OF COMMERCE ▶

VOLUNTEER, HABITAT

FINALIST, 2016.

FOR HUMANITY,

NOMINATED, SRQ

CHILDREN FIRST, BOYS

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

AND GIRLS CLUB, BIG

"HEAR ME ROAR"

BROTHERS AND BIG SISTERS

LEADERSHIP AWARD, 2016 ▶

BOARD MEMBER,

▶

SUPPORTER, ALL

BOARD CHAIR,

FAITHS FOOD BANK,

LOVELAND CENTER

FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES

Sponsored by CUSTOM WINDOWS+DOORS

1070 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE, VENICE, FL 34275 (941) 486-0100 / pgtindustries.com

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WOMEN OF INFLUENCE 2016

Sandra Frank CEO, ALL FAITHS FOOD BANK

S

andra Frank, through thoughtful, rational and direct leadership, has galvanized All Faiths Food Bank. “Our work no longer starts and stops with the delivery of food, but involves examining the long-term causes and effects of hunger on all of us,” she says.

“Hunger is a health issue.”

Her solution: diverse community partnerships. Innovative food banking uses the idea that large-scale social change requires broad cross-sector coordination.

Frank and her team know that hunger is a health issue, and that the only way to solve hunger is to do it together.

ACHIEVEMENTS ▶

▶

▶

15 YEARS WORKING IN MATERNAL & CHILD HEALTH MICHIGAN GUBERNATORIAL APPOINTEE – HEALTHCARE ACCESS TASK FORCE 2011 DIRECTOR’S AWARD, HEALTH RESOURCES & SERVICES ASSOCIATION

▶

▶

PUBLISHED WORK ON SYSTEMS CHANGE WITH GEORGETOWN UNIV. NATIONAL CENTER FOR CULTURAL COMPETENCE LEADING THE TRANSFORMATION OF ALL FAITHS FOOD BANK FROM “FEEDING THE LINE” TO “ENDING THE LINE.”

8171 BLAIKIE COURT, SARASOTA, FL 34240 (941) 379-6333 / allfaithsfoodbank.org

Liz Alpert SARASOTA FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY

PR ACTICE AREAS ▶

▶ ▶

DIVORCE - CONTESTED, UNCONTESTED AND COLLABORATIVE SPOUSAL MAINTENANCE FAMILY LAW APPEALS

▶ ▶ ▶ ▶

PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENTS PATERNITY STEPPARENT ADOPTION CHILD CUSTODY AND SUPPORT

1800 SECOND ST., SUITE 705 SARASOTA, FL 34236 (941) 954-1700

lizalpertlaw.com

J U N E / J U LY 2 0 1 6

L

iz Alpert and her team at Alpert Law, P.A. care about helping their clients navigate the rough seas that their clients face when dealing with a family law issue, such as divorce or paternity.

“We want our clients to get to the other side with the ability to reinvent their lives if they choose,” she says.

Alpert speaks from experience. She started law school while going through her own divorce.

In addition to practicing law, she has served on the Sarasota City Commission since May 2015.

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WOMEN OF INFLUENCE 2016

Dr. Laurie Walmsley ASHTON ANIMAL CLINIC & THE PET RESORT

Dr.

Laurie Walmsley graduated from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and completed her ECFVG internship at Oklahoma State University. Practicing in Sarasota since 1993, she founded Ashton Animal Clinic & The Pet Resort, a full-service small animal veterinary hospital and pet boarding facility. In 2013, she was the first female recipient of the Florida Veterinary Medical Association Distinguished Service Award for exceptional achievements and contributions to the advancement of veterinary medicine.

Since 2002, Dr. Walmsley has mentored Buddy’s Feral Cat Program, which has spayed/neutered more than 15,000 feral/free roaming cats, drastically reducing the number of homeless, unwanted kittens. She believes that saving the life of one animal may not change the world, but it changes the world for that animal.

ACHIEVEMENTS ▶ ▶

FVMA GOLD STAR AWARD, 2011 FVMA DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD, 2013

▶

▶

MEDICAL DIRECTOR, BUDDY’S FERAL CAT PROGRAM PLATINUM PARTNER, SOUTHEASTERN GUIDE DOGS

5660 ASHTON ROAD SARASOTA, FL 34233 (941) 927-2700

ashtonanimalclinic.com

Michele L. Rose OWNER OF BEFITSRQ

M

ichele Rose is the owner and operator of BeFitSRQ. BeFitSRQ workouts are effective, 30-minute, total-body sessions tailored to your fitness level. Each workout features a customized combination of cardio and strength training, using machines, bands and free weights, with stretching in between. Workouts are unique every time you come in. The end result will be a leaner, more cut, more energetic you. According to Rose, “My training philosophy—for myself and my clients—is to continue to do the same exercises in my 80s that I did in my 40s.”

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ACHIEVEMENTS ▶ ▶

15-PLUS YEARS OF TRAINING EXPERIENCE USAT LEVEL ONE CERTIFIED TRIATHLON COACH

▶ ▶

B.S. IN SPORTS MANAGEMENT MASTER’S, PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT AND INJURY PREVENTION

330 S. PINEAPPLE AVE., #202 SARASOTA, FL 34236 (941) 365-2348 ONE ON ONE FITNESS

befitsrq.com

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WOMEN OF INFLUENCE 2016

Melissa Link BRAND ELEVEN ELEVEN

M ACHIEVEMENTS ▶

PAST PRESIDENT, FLORIDA PUBLIC RELATIONS ASSOCIATION

▶

▶

“40 UNDER 40,” BUSINESS OBSERVER GOLD ADDY AWARD, ADFED

3516 N. LOCKWOOD RIDGE ROAD, SARASOTA, FL 34234 (941) 799-9079 / brand1111.com

elissa Link founded Brand Eleven Eleven on the principles of helping clients to create a great brand, convey the right message and connect with the right resources and target markets to make their business successful. The full-service digital marketing agency has delivered results for startup businesses, product companies, professional service organizations and nonprofits, implementing all aspects of research, planning, design and creation. Nimble and personalized in its approach, Brand Eleven Eleven works in partnership with companies to deliver what a client needs, when they need it.

Samantha Hobbs

VICE PRESIDENT, CANADA MED SERVICES/DISCOUNT PRESCRIPTION SERVICES

“V

ictory for me is the relief I see on a client’s face when they realize they can afford their medication without worry,” says Samantha Hobbs. In 2010, after 21 years in corporate America, she joined her mother, the founder of Canada Med Services. Six years later and with much accomplishment, she is proud to be a part of the Sarasota business and local nonprofit community and counts many of the women she has met along the way as friends and mentors. To them she says, “Ladies, you know who you are–thank you!”

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ACHIEVEMENTS ▶ ▶

WINNER, GOODWILL WELLNESS PARTNER, 2016 NOMINEE, SARASOTA CHAMBER FRANK G. BERLIN SMALL BUSINESS AWARD, 2016

▶ ▶

▶

GOODWILL AMBASSADOR, 2016 FINALIST BIZ(941) GREATER GOOD AWARD, 2015 FOUNDER CMS CHARITY OF CHOICE PROGRAM, 2010

4119 BEE RIDGE ROAD SARASOTA, FL 34233 (941) 927-3600 shobbs@discountprescriptionservices.com

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WOMEN OF INFLUENCE 2016

Mireya Eavey PRESIDENT, UNITED WAY SUNCOAST SARASOTA. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CAREEREDGE FUNDERS COLLABORATIVE

D

eveloping programs and partnerships that have led to 541 employee promotions, 2,049 workers obtaining pay increases and 3,142 workers enhancing skills through training, there’s no doubt Mireya Eavey has been busy.

Recently, Eavey accepted a new role and with that a new portfolio of opportunities to improve the lives of Suncoast residents.

Through a two-generational approach, Eavey will focus on educating youth while still assisting adults with career readiness.

Eavey is influencing the way businesses view employees and influencing organizations to unite, supporting one another to provide better resources for our community.

ACHIEVEMENT ▶

“BEING THE CATALYST THAT HELPED UNITE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES.”

Funders Collaborative

1800 2ND ST., SUITE 102, SARASOTA, FL 34236 (941) 328-6972 | CareerEdgeFunders.org

Gabriele Charity CHARITY & WEISS INTERNATIONAL REALTY, LLC.

B

orn and raised in Munich, Germany, Gabriele was a seasoned educator when she relocated to Siesta Key in the year 2000.

Now she enjoys her profession, and the extensive knowledge she brings, educating buyers and sellers in real estate. Gabriele founded her own real estate and property management company together with her business partner Rudi Weiss, 10 years ago, which now employ a team of fourteen agents and office staff. Charity & Weiss International Realty LLC and Prime Property Management reflect Gabriele’s commitment to provide clients with the highest level of representation and care.

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ACHIEVEMENTS ▶ ▶

CRS - CERTIFIED RESIDENTIAL SPECIALIST CIPS - CERTIFIED INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY SPECIALIST

▶

▶

▶

TEN-YEAR WINNER, FIVE STAR REAL ESTATE AGENT FOR CLIENT SATISFACTION MEMBER OF “MILLION DOLLAR GUILD” AT THE INSTITUTE FOR LUXURY HOME MARKETING WINNER, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD, 2013 SARASOTA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

2050 PROCTOR ROAD, SUITE C, SARASOTA, FL 34231 (941) 365-0022

CharityWeiss.com

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WOMEN OF INFLUENCE 2016

Michelle Dunbar

COLDWELL BANKER RESIDENTAL REAL ESTATE

M

ichelle Dunbar, broker associate with Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, has the credentials and experience to help people navigate the purchase or sale of Florida real estate. Whether you’re purchasing or selling a home or investment property, you can rely on Michelle Dunbar.

A Florida resident since 1997, Dunbar has been specializing in real estate investing and property management since 1984. She holds a degree in business administration/marketing from The University of Massachusetts, Amherst and a professional paralegal certificate from Northeastern University.

She’s been recognized as a “5 Star Realtor” in Sarasota Magazine every year since 2013.

ACHIEVEMENTS ▶ ▶

SOLD OVER 45 HOMES IN THE LAST TWO YEARS BOARD MEMBER AND VP MEMBERSHIP, WOMEN'S COUNCIL OF REALTORS —SARASOTA CHAPTER, 2015

▶

▶

▶

CERTIFIED RELOCATION AGENT FOR USAA AND CARTUS CUSTOMERS VOLUNTEER ADMISSIONS COUNSELOR, UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS, AMHERST BROKER ASSOCIATE, GRADUATE REALTOR INSTITUTE (GRI), PMN, CERTIFIED NEGOTIATION SPECIALIST, CERTIFIED MARKETING SPECIALIST

COLDWELL BANKER PREVIEWS SPECIALIST (941) 744-6002 / floridamoves.com/michelle.dunbar

Barbara Epperson DESIGNING WOMEN BOUTIQUE

B

arbara Epperson has been a pillar to two Sarasota institutions, seeing them through years of changes and growth. At Designing Women Boutique, she began volunteering by joining the Ambassador’s Guild in 2006, and has served as a member of the board of trustees since 2013.

With the Sarasota Ballet, she has been instrumental in the application process necessary for populating the troupe with the best dancers from around the world.

Epperson was educated at Green Mountain College in Vermont and is a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church.

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ACHIEVEMENTS ▶

BOARD OF TRUSTEES EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER, BOARD SECRETARY AND CHAIR, GRANTS COMMITTEE, DESIGNING WOMEN BOUTIQUE

▶

AUDITION COORDINATOR AND ADMINISTRATION, SARASOTA BALLET OF FLORIDA

1226 N. TAMIAMI TRAIL, SUITE 101 SARASOTA, FL 34236 (941) 366-5293

designingwomensrq.org

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WOMEN OF INFLUENCE 2016

Dr. Heidi K. Anderson DERMATOLOGY & OCULOPLASTIC CONSULTANTS (DOCS)

ACHIEVEMENTS ▶ ▶

BOARD CERTIFIED IN DERMATOLOGY UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI, DERMATOLOGY RESIDENCY

▶

▶ ▶

PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, UNDERGRADUATE MEMBER, WOMEN’S DERMATOLOGY SOCIETY MEMBER, AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY

“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” —Albert Einstein

W

hether it involves her family, her dermatology practice or her community, Dr. Heidi Anderson only knows how to do things one way—with a clear sense of purpose and the resolve to make a positive difference. She brings superior expertise in medical dermatology and sincere compassion to every patient encounter. She takes care of multiple generations and is cutting edge.

5310 CLARK ROAD, SUITE 201, SARASOTA, FL 34233 (941) 925-3627 / SkinEyeDocs.com

Jane Thomas, ARNP DERMATOLOGY & OCULOPLASTIC CONSULTANTS (DOCS)

J

ACHIEVEMENTS ▶

▶

UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI, M.S., NURSING UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, HOUSTON, UNDERGRADUATE

▶

▶

MEMBER OF DERMATOLOGY NURSES ASSOCIATION MEMBER OF NURSE PRACTITIONER SOCIETY OF THE DERMATOLOGY NURSES ASSOCIATION

5310 CLARK ROAD, SUITE 201, SARASOTA, FL 34233 (941) 925-3627 / SkinEyeDocs.com

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ane Thomas is a board-certified adult nurse practitioner who specializes in cosmetic dermatology. Her extensive training started with mentoring by world-renowned dermatologist Dr. Katie Rodan, of Rodan & Fields skin care line. Thomas comes to Sarasota after nine years in San Francisco. She is an expert in aesthetic medical procedures, including Botox, sclerotherapy for the treatment of leg veins, nonsurgical skin tightening and resurfacing, laser photofacials, and vascular treatments.

Thomas is dedicated to helping her patients achieve and maintain beautiful, healthy skin through education and personalized skincare treatment.

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WOMEN OF INFLUENCE 2016

Caroline King EVERGLADES UNIVERSITY SARASOTA

C ACHIEVEMENTS ▶

2016 GREEN ARROW AWARD, 941CEO

▶

212° AWARD: 2009, 2011

▶

OUTSTANDING BUSINESS AWARD, U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL FLORIDA

6001 LAKE OSPREY DRIVE SUITE 110. SARASOTA, FL 34240 (941) 907-2262

evergladesuniversity.edu

aroline King serves as the Campus Vice President for Everglades University Sarasota.

Under her leadership, EU Sarasota has been awarded several national awards, including Most Innovative Program. Dedicated to sustainability, EU Sarasota is the proud recipient of a 2016 Green Arrow Award, and the U.S. Green Building Council’s Outstanding Business award.

Ms. King supports many great causes: Operation Homefront, Habitat for Humanity, JDRF and the Mayors’ Feed the Hungry Program. An advocate for the power of education, her passion is to help students realize their dreams by earning their degree.

Jonna Keller MANAGING PARTNER AND OWNER OF FIRST SECURITY INVESTMENTS, LLC OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

J

onna Keller has pursued her passion of philanthropy by offering her resourceful abilities, coordinating the process of enhancing objectives and goals, and effectively producing results within several not-for-profit organizations. Keller actively supports several organizations in Florida which include Embracing Our Differences, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, All Faiths Food Bank, Boys and Girls Clubs of Sarasota County, T.R.E.K., Howard University, Florida Studio Theatre, Asolo Rep Theatre, Sarasota Pops, Gulf Coast Community Choir, Gamma Xi Boulé Foundation, Inc., local libraries as well as various other causes.

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ACHIEVEMENTS ▶

▶

▶

2016 WOMEN IN BUSINESS INITIATIVE LEADERSHIP CIRCLE AMBASSADOR/ FINALIST 2015 HONOREE, ABC 7 NEWS “SEVEN WHO CARE” BROADCAST AND CEREMONY 2015 BEVERLY BURTON NEW BOARD MEMBER OF

▶

▶

▶

THE YEAR FOR BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS, FLORIDA CHAIR ELECT OF BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF SARASOTA COUNTY CHAIR MEMBER FOR WOMEN IN A CHANGING WORLD PANEL MEMBER AND SPEAKER AT THE U.S. NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR U.N. WOMEN, 2013

3340-A BEE RIDGE ROAD, SARASOTA, FL 34239 (941) 922-9100, (866) 846-2663 Securities and advisory services offered through SagePoint Financial, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC.

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WOMEN OF INFLUENCE 2016

Allison Ward Moore WARD GROUP PR

A SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT “PR IS THE SMARTEST, FASTEST-EVOLVING AND ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO ENGAGE YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE IN CREDIBLE CONVERSATIONS.” —INC. MAGAZINE

(941) 961-3708

GetMoorePR.com

llison Ward Moore knows how to shine the spotlight on her clients. A skilled public relations strategist, Moore develops highly effective broadcast, print and digital campaigns to advance her clients’ objectives. She brings her unique brand of media relations skills to every project, helping her clients—including major corporations, growth-oriented Florida businesses and nonprofits—achieve an excellent ROI on their marketing dollars. A longtime resident of Sarasota, Moore represents clients including Alive Sciences, U.S. Masters Swimming, The Oaks Club and the Ringling College Library Association’s acclaimed Town Hall Lecture Series.

Lindsey McDaniel LAURA JEAN’S CONSIGNMENTS

C

elebrating 25 years in business, Laura Jean’s second-generation owner, Lindsey McDaniel, shines in her late mother’s legacy, not only by keeping her store top notch, but also by giving back. Laura Jean’s is the largest clothing donator to Harvest House and Our Mother’s House. “These women face a daily battle," says McDaniel.

"Helping give them confidence makes my heart full. Seeing the smiles on their faces when they get donations from Laura Jean’s is indescribable. This is one way we can give back to the community that’s supported us.”

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ACHIEVEMENTS ▶

▶

SARASOTA MAGAZINE BEST OF THE BEST 1993-2016 SARASOTA HERALDTRIBUNE READERS’ CHOICE 1995-2016

▶ ▶ ▶

▶

SRQ LOCAL READERS’ CHOICE SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR, BBB NOMINEE BOARD MEMBER, SARASOTA HUMANE SOCIETY, 2009-2010 WOMEN ON THE SCENE, 2015

3830 S. TUTTLE AVE., SARASOTA, FL 34239 (941) 922-5535

laurajeansconsignments.com

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WOMEN OF INFLUENCE 2016

Mary LeMay, Hillary Johnson, AnneMarie Rizzo and Rebecca Cioci THE LAW PLACE ACHIEVEMENTS ▶ ANNEMARIE RIZZO: UNIVER-

▶ REBECCA CIOCI: STETSON

SITY OF FLORIDA DOUBLE GATOR; THE FIRST FEMALE ACS LAWYER-SCIENTIST IN FLORIDA. ANTICIPATED MASTER’S, PHARMACEUTICAL/FORENSIC SCIENCE AND FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY. RECIPIENT OF WOMAN IN BUSINESS AWARD 2016. ▶ HILLARY JOHNSON: THOMAS GOODE JONES LAW; LICENSED IN FEDERAL COURT.

LAW SCHOOL; PSYCHOLOGY BACKGROUND; RESTORATIVE JUSTICE COMMITTEE, WHICH WORKS IN CONJUNCTION WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS, JUDGES AND THE LEGISLATURE. ▶ MARY LEMAY: ACTIVE IN LOCAL BOARDS AND ACTION COMMITTEES, INCLUDING SERTOMA, VETERAN INITIATIVES, GOODWILL AND BUSINESS WOMEN’S ADVISORY GROUP.

2445 FRUITVILLE ROAD SARASOTA, FL 34236 (941) 444-4444

thelawplace.com

T

he goal of the talented attorneys and staff at the Law Place is to use their resources to help clients through any and all situations.

All of these attorneys bring tenacious courtroom skills. AnneMarie Rizzo and Hillary Johnson drive the organization in criminal defense.

Rebecca Cioci uses her 10-plus years in the personal injury field, as well as her psychology background, to help those who are injured as a result of someone else’s negligence. Although not an attorney, Mary LeMay runs the ship and is charged with energizing community relationships.

Harmoni Krusing Bens OWNER OF LOTUS

H

armoni Krusing Bens has been with Lotus for eight years and just became the fulltime owner. She’s worked in boutiques since she was 18—first in Aventura and then in Paris. When she moved back to Sarasota, her hometown, Bens joined Lotus doing sales and buying before becoming a business partner in 2013. She helped open Lotus Siesta Key and an active- and leisurewear store across the street from the anchor Lotus location.

“My biggest passion is my store,” says Bens.

“I work hard to find unique lines that will change a woman's attitude and make her feel great.”

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100 LotusSarasota.com

1451 & 1464 MAIN ST., SARASOTA, FL 34236 5118 OCEAN BLVD., SIESTA KEY, FL 34242 (941) 906-6793

lotussarasota.com

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WOMEN OF INFLUENCE 2016

Joanne Bradshaw LYTEWORKS

“E

very day is the best day of my life,” is Joanne Bradshaw’s mantra. This plethora of optimism is what drives Bradshaw, a woman who possesses an impeccable work ethic. With an M.B.A. from The University of Michigan, she found success as a real estate professional in the Sarasota area.

In 2015, she and her husband acquired LyteWorks, a stunning designer showcase of lighting, furniture and home decor located in Bradenton. As president and CEO of LyteWorks, her goals are simple—to create meaningful and lasting relationships on her new journey in the designer lighting industry.

ACHIEVEMENTS ▶

▶

MEMBER LAKEWOOD RANCH BUSINESS ALLIANCE PEOPLES CHOICE AWARD 2015, 2016 BRADENTON HERALD

▶

▶

▶

PLATINUM 100 TOP LUXURY RETAILERS, SARASOTA MAGAZINE 2015 MANATEE 2016 READER’S CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST LIGHTING STORE, HERALD TRIBUNE MEMBER OF THE ALA (AMERICAN LIGHTING ASSOCIATION)

816 MANATEE AVE. E., BRADENTON, FL 34208 (941) 745-2900 / LyteWorks.com

Dr. Myrdalis Diaz-Ramirez SARASOTA PAIN RELIEF CENTER

P

ain medicine physician and anesthesiologist Dr. Myrdalis DiazRamirez has over 15 years of experience in her field and serves as clinical professor for the Sarasota-based College of Medicine at Florida State University, educating future doctors and the community about pain. Her practice was named a Center of Clinical Excellence by the American Pain Society, and she’s been chosen Top Doctor since 2012. With an entrepreneurial spirit, she’s volunteered for an international nonprofit organization that spreads positive messages with athletes and musicians. Above all, she is devoted to her family, and enjoys traveling with her husband and 10-year-old twins.

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ACHIEVEMENTS ▶

CASTLE CONNOLLY TOP DOCTOR IN PAIN MANAGEMENT, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016

▶

CLINICAL CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE AWARD, AMERICAN PAIN SOCIETY, 2011

1921 WALDEMERE ST., SUITE 607, SARASOTA, FL 34239 (941) 363-9400 / sarasotaPRC.com

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WOMEN OF INFLUENCE 2016

Dr. Kelly-Anne Shedd-Hartman

(Dr. KASH)

SWOR WOMEN’S CARE

Dr.

ACHIEVEMENTS ▶

▶

COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY, B.A., BIOLOGY LAKE ERIE COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, FL, D.O.

▶ ▶

OHIO UNIVERSITY, RESIDENCY, OB/GYN MEMBER, AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC ASSOCIATION, FLORIDA OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, ACOG, JUNIOR FELLOW

1617 S. TUTTLE AVE., SUITE 1A, SARASOTA, FL 34239 (941) 330-8885 / sworcare.com

Kelly-Anne Shedd-Hartman (Dr. KASH) provides comprehensive OB/GYN care and has advanced surgical training in laparoscopy and Da Vinci robotic technology.

She is also certified in contraceptive management and Ultrasound. Dr. KASH also holds a special interest in prenatal health and education for improving neonatal/infant safety.

Kelly Summerfield, CNM, has recently joined Dr. KASH as a certified nurse midwife in the practice. Together, their philosophy is centered on a holistic approach including nutritional education, exercise and natural health care in order for their patients to achieve and maintain optimal health.

Sharon Kunkel WORDSLINGER MARKETING & PR

R

egardless of the medium, the best marketing and fund-raising efforts come down to having a great story and telling it with honesty and passion. People need to understand who you are and what you do— and why—in order for them to care.

Storytelling is Kunkel's passion, whether through public relations, social media, fund-raising letters, speeches or advertising campaigns. “You don’t need to spend a fortune to make a big impact,” she says. “You just need a great story and solid strategy to connect with your target audience.”

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ACHIEVEMENTS ▶

FPRA, CENTRAL WEST COAST CHAPTER

▶

2016 MEDIA GURU OF THE YEAR, GOODWILL MANASOTA

(941) 928-2049

▶

2011 VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR, TEMPLE EMANU-EL

▶

ROCK 'N' ROLL DRUMMER AND VOCALIST

wordslingermarketing.com

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HR CORNER

Developing Women Leaders

Pavitra Ciavardone identifies skills for up-andcoming females. ● INTERVIEW BY LORI JOHNSTON

Pavitra Ciavardone

OF PAUSITIVE LIVING IS A SARASOTA LEADERSHIP COACH, CONSULTANT AND SPEAKER WHO SPECIALIZES IN STRESS MANAGEMENT, PUBLIC SPEAKING AND MINDFULNESS TRAINING.

Q.

My company has a young woman we have promoted into a leadership position. What sort of executive coaching and skills should we be thinking about giving her?

A.

If people are moving into a new leadership position, especially women, you don’t want them to be in a position where they’re treading water.

Providing coaching and leadership 70

skills training yields long-term benefits.

What is important, especially for women, is to cultivate more of the soft skills—personal resiliency, adaptability, effective communication, learning to manage stress—that translate into sustainability and longevity for the company. If a company is not looking to the future, they may neglect investing in these.

This young woman must cultivate resiliency—being able to flow into the next change with less stress and more ease. The first part is learning how to manage stress. If we perceive stress as a threat, we react one way to it. If we perceive it as a challenge, we act another way. Leadership is learning how to “pause and respond” with purpose to change, rather than coming from a knee-jerk reaction.

Women—and men—also need to learn to trust, tap into and strengthen

their intuition. It will allow them to make decisions with more focus, more clarity.

Effective communication is important. Learning to tune in and actively listen to someone is the most important part of effective communication. Without learning the art of listening, we don’t tap into empathy. Our ability to fully be present with another person is that same skill you would use to “pause and respond.”

They’re not separate. The ability to recognize and facilitate communication within a team, with respect and tolerance and being able to see other peoples’ perspectives, is also key. If you’re leading a team, you’re able to inspire them. You can’t inspire them if you’re not able to connect with them on a human level.

Really the true power of a woman is that balance between strength 941CEO

“THE TRUE

ROCKSWEEPER/SHUTTERSTOCK

POWER OF A WOMAN IS THAT BALANCE BETWEEN STRENGTH AND ASSERTIVENESS.”

and assertiveness. That ability to feel compassion is part of our strength, not a weakness. When women try to be like men, it comes across as bullying.

We’ve had to be strong historically to have a voice and to be heard and to be valued in a world that was male dominated. The danger again is if we’re not embracing our femininity as part of our power—embracing the power of vulnerability and authenticity—we lose our compassion. We lose our ability to connect. That’s when we come across as harsh or too assertive or as bullies.

I am of the strong opinion that investing in mindfulness training—a practice that relates to how leaders pay attention and focus their attention, emotions and thoughts— as an essential part of any new leader’s transition to a promoted role, is invaluable and will have a direct bearing on the bottom line and sustainability of the business.

Cultivating this one skill is vital to developing the other key leadership qualities and attributes: resilience, effective communication, emotional intelligence, adaptability to change, authenticity, confidence, teamwork and executive decision-making ability.

When you have coaches, trainers and facilitators who themselves practice and have firsthand experience of the relationship between mindfulness and how to practically apply it to the leadership role, it's a highly effective combination.

The value of investing in that young woman at that right time to give her the coaching, the training and the mentoring she needs is vital. When a leader can tap into her personal motivation and goals and align hers with the personal vision of the company, then it’s a win-win. Then she can translate that to the people she leads. ■

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WHAT I’VE LEARNED

Brock Leach

CEO (retired) of Frito-Lay North America and Tropicana ● BY KIM HACKETT

W

HAT COMES AFTER GATORADE AND FRITOS? For Brock Leach, the retired CEO of Frito-Lay North America and Tropicana—a PepsiCo company—the answer is ministry. After launching some of the country’s most successful consumer products, Leach retired a decade ago from Tropicana and headed to divinity school to become a Unitarian Universalist minister. You won’t find him behind a pulpit on Sundays, though; his congregation is the world. As the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee’s executive consultant for mission, strategy and innovation, Leach uses his business acumen for social justice causes. He also recently launched a multi-faith initiative to organize people who are not affiliated with a religion to lead lives of integrity and purpose.

“I am trying to create opportunities for people who are spiritual but not religious. It’s a start-up community for religious entrepreneurs. In many ways it’s the same kind of work I did at Frito and PepsiCo: running innovation and being a general manager. I work to empower grassroots organizations whose rights are denied. The program takes people of all ages into the heart of justice issues. We work with communities to assert their own rights so they bring about the change. For example, after the hurricane in Haiti, there was a huge in-pouring of financial aid that was not accounted for. Our approach was to work with rural Haitians. They took it upon themselves to rebuild their own villages; we provided money and technical assistance. It was far better than building a sweatshop factory.”

SALVATORE BRANCIFORT

“Your true calling is the intersection of what you love to do and what you are good at, which is not always the same thing. In my business career I saw people who were good at what they did but they didn’t enjoy their work. They chose a career to please their parents or to make money. Life is too short.”

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“I work to empower grassroots organizations whose rights are denied.”

941CEO

“Embrace reality. I mean that positively and negatively. When you walk into an organization, it’s got assets and negatives. You have to confront both and it’s hard to do. You want to gloss over the negatives. Companies that fail, fail because they stick their head in the sand over some inconvenient truth.”

“Don’t get enamored with something that looks revolutionary. Proctor & Gamble invented Olestra (a food oil that adds no fat or calories) and received Food and Drug Administration approval to use it in snack foods in the 1990s. I was working at Frito-Lay at the time and we partnered with P&G, our biggest competitor, to bring WOW baked potato chips to market. Olestra looked like a miraculous product because people couldn’t taste it. In the run-up to getting Olestra to market, it came out that if you ate a huge amount of Olestra, it caused gastrointestinal issues but most people had no problem digesting it. The FDA made us put a warning label on the snacks. It was a public relations nightmare. But at the point of going to market we were committed to the product and nobody wanted to back off. We weren’t paying enough attention to what was happening around us.”

“When I went to business school, I thought I’d do nonprofit work. When I was 15 and living in a tiny rural Colorado town, I spent a summer working for a minister who believed the church was out in the world. He took us to work with migrant farmers and to alcohol rehabilitation centers. I wanted to be like him. But he discouraged me; he told me the ministry happens in different places and I could do ministry later. I was insulted but I more or less took his advice.

In the back of my head I always thought when this corporate thing doesn’t work out, I’ll do ministry.”

AMANDA E. STIFF, MBA Investment Advisor

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“I never aspired to be CEO. I took on work that other people thought would not lead to success in the company. PepsiCo had a lean corporate structure; you could try new things if you had a reasonable idea. I bounced around and had all these experiences. When they needed someone to see the big picture, I had been around the horn. It was dumb luck.”

“I’m an organizational guy now into wonky religion stuff. As part of training I had to do clinical work at Tampa General as a trauma chaplain. I was terrified; I had no experience. But it turned out to be the experience of a lifetime. I have stories of incredible people in tragic situations. They find resilience they didn’t know they have. What matters most are the people in your lives and relationships. When I’m done with the organizational stuff, I’ll go back to that.” ■ J U N E / J U LY 2 0 1 6

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FAST TRACK TALK MOVERS, SHAKERS & HEADLINE MAKERS

ALYSON BATTAGLIA

A LY S O N B AT TA G L I A

and E D WA R D M . M U R P H Y , promoted to partners, newly renamed law firm of Legler, Flynn, Murphy & Battaglia, LLP. ▶▶ R I C K S E V E R A N C E , president, Babcock Ranch. ▶ ▶ C R A I G C O P E M A N , CEO, Keller Williams on the Water downtown Bradenton Office.

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▶ ▶ S U S I E B O W I E , executive director, Manatee Community Foundation. ▶ ▶ D AV I D C A R E Y , promoted to chief financial officer; and K E N N E T H S L E Z A K , promoted to project manager, Willis Smith Construction.

▶▶

STEPHANIE

GROSSKREUTZ ,

KINGA HUSE

▶▶

SUSIE BOWIE

▶ ▶ K E I T H L A R K I N , attorney, business services practice group, law firm of Blalock Walters. ▶▶ A D A M M C M U L L I N , chairman and CEO, Voalte.

▶▶ M E R E D I T H S C E R B A , director; R U S S Y U R K , operations manager; S H E L LY TA N I G U C H I , director of marketing and communications; L I S A B A R K E R , office operations manager; and J O R DY N T R A M B L E , marketing coordinator, 2017 World Rowing Championships. ▶ ▶ PAT R I C K J . M O R E O , dean, College of Hospitality & Tourism Leadership, USF Sarasota-Manatee.

▶ ▶ K I N G A H U S E , promoted to chief operating officer, Center for Sight.

executive director, Ringling College Library Association. ▶ ▶ L I N D S AY T U T T L E , family nurse practitioner; and C A R L O S C A S T R O and DEBI RODINA-MACLOUD, licensed massage therapists, MindSpa Integrative Wellness Center.

▶ ▶ S TA C Y C O R L E Y , promoted to vice president for advancement; and L I S A I N TA G L I ATA , assistant vice president of constituent engagement, Ringling College of Art and Design.

ROGER TURTCH

▶ ▶ R I C K YO K U M , executive director, Humane Society of Manatee County. ▶▶ A N D R E W K I N G S L E Y , general manager, The Meadows Country Club. ▶ ▶ D AW S O N H U G H E S , CEO, U.S. Masters Swimming.

KEITH LARKIN

assistant vice president and director, trust and estate services; and A N D R E W L U N D I N , private wealth adviser, BMO Private Bank.

MEREDITH SCERBA

TA M M I E S A N D O VA L ,

STEPHANIE GROSSKREUTZ

▶▶

▶▶ R O G E R T U R T C H , executive chef, University Park Country Club. ▶▶ C A M M I E L O N G E N É C K E R , promoted to vice president of operations, Southwest Florida division, Taylor Morrison West Florida. ▶ ▶ J O H N F E R R A R O , manager of technical training and safety, Cool, Energy and Plumbing Today.

ALLISON STEWART

POSITIONS TAKEN

▶ ▶ A L L I S O N S T E WA R T , marketing manager, Coastal Orthopedics Sports Medicine and Pain Management.

941CEO

ACCOLADES ▶▶

DR. LISA MERRIT T

JANICE ZARRO

received the True North Toward Health Care Equity: Clinical, Policy and Social Determinants award from the National Medical Association for her work as a health policy advocate.

▶▶

LY N N E K OY, B R O C K

and have joined the Canandaigua National Trust Company of Florida Advisory Council. ▶ ▶ State Rep. R AY P I L O N was named chairman of the board of Selah Freedom. ▶ ▶ Bradenton-based IT firm E N T E C H was chosen as one of the top 250 IT providers in the nation with a spot on the CRN MSP Pioneer 250 list.

▶▶

K E E P S A R A S O TA C O U N T Y

received the 2015 Keep America Beautiful President's Circle Award. ▶ ▶ E D D I E M O R T O N was named chair of the board of trustees of Doctors Hospital.

BE AUTIFUL

▶▶

M I C H A E L’ S O N E A S T

received its 27th consecutive AAA Four Diamond Award, one of just two Florida restaurants to receive the award for more than 25 years. ▶ ▶ A N N E L E E , regional president of Sunshine Bank, is the new board chair of the United Way of Manatee County. ▶ ▶ M I C H A E L J O N E S , owner of the local Comfort Keepers offices, received the Quest for Excellence Award for delivering a stellar business performance in 2015. ▶ ▶ PA U L S T E H L E of Climatic Conditioning Company is the new chairman of Gulf Coast Builders Exchange.

At GCBX’s annual dinner, the late R I C K FAW L E Y was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award, PAT T Y S U L L I VA N received the Volunteer Recognition Award, and Manatee County Commissioner L A R R Y B U S T L E received the GCBX Chairman’s Award.

LE ACH, NELLE MILLER

▶▶

FERMIN MIR ANDA ,

NORMAN WORTHINGTON

and have joined the New College of Florida Board of Trustees.

III, AUDRE Y COLEMAN J O H N L I L LY

J U N E / J U LY 2 0 1 6

ANAND PALLEGAR

JANICE Z ARRO

for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies for its contribution to both the FORTIS exoskeleton and the EarthLinked geothermal heating system. ▶ ▶ The Tampa Bay Business Journal named S O U T H T E C H one of its 2016 Best Places to Work.

and J O E S T E P H A N have joined the board of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation. ▶ ▶ R O B R A DY design received two Good Design Awards from the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and the European Centre A N A N D PA L L E G A R

Cincinnati-based T O TA L one of the largest freight-brokerage firms in the country, has opened an office at 1800 Second St. in Sarasota, with plans to create 100 new jobs by 2020.

▶▶

QUALIT Y LOGIS TICS ,

▶▶

SUNCOA S T CREDIT

has opened its first Sarasota branch at 4402 Bee Ridge Road. ▶▶

A N N A M A R I A OY S T E R

has opened a fourth location at 200 Bridge St., Bradenton Beach.

BAR

▶ ▶ L A U R A D O R S E Y was named by Insignia Bank as its 2015 Producer of the Year. ▶▶

GECKO’S GRILL &

received the Florida Restaurant Neighbor Award from the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, and Gecko’s Hospitality Group co-owner M I C H A E L Q U I L L E N received the Florida Cornerstone Humanitarian Award.

PUB

▶▶

S A R A S O TA M E M O R I A L

H E A LT H C A R E S Y S T E M

is included in Becker's Healthcare 2016 listing of 150 Great Places to Work in Healthcare. ▶ ▶ M A X M U E L L E R of Sir Speedy in Sarasota is one of only 17 Sir Speedy salespeople worldwide recognized as a 2015 Gold Level Top. ▶▶

WILDE HONDA

received the Honda President’s Award for its exceptional performance in 2015. ▶ ▶ C H R I S T I N A U N K E L of the law firm of Maglio, Christopher and Toale was selected as a 201617 Academy Fellow, Class IV of The Florida Bar Wm. Reece Smith Jr. Leadership Academy.

S A R A S O TA

▶▶

MOVING AND OPENING

UNION

LAURA DORSEY

▶ ▶ T I M O T H Y O A K , vice president of construction, South Florida division, Neal Communities. ▶ ▶ N I C O L E R I S S L E R , deputy director of operations, Sarasota County parks, recreation and natural resources. ▶▶ M I L L A R D M A R T I N , promoted to partner, Shinn & Company, LLC. ▶ ▶ J O DY J O R G E N S E N , executive director, SMART (Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy).

▶▶

N AT U R A L

has relocated from Pompano Beach to 7504 Pennsylvania Ave. in Sarasota. ▶ ▶ A R T F I N I T Y , formerly Miguel’s Digital Studio, has expanded to include an art gallery open to the public at 7222 21st St. E. in Bradenton.

IMMUNOGENICS

▶▶

RICE’S OUTDOOR P OWER

has moved to 6430 14th St. W. in Bradenton, also the site of Rice’s Appliance & TV. ▶ ▶ FA R M H O U S E F R O C K S has opened at 506 S. Pineapple Ave. in downtown Sarasota. ▶ ▶ The Gecko’s Hospitality Group has purchased T H E D O C K S I D E WAT E R F R O N T

at Marker 4 in Venice.

The Venice office of the

GRILL ▶▶

WOMEN’S RESOURCE C E N T E R O F S A R A S O TA C O U N T Y has moved to 312 E. Venice Ave., Suite 110. ▶▶ B R A S A & P I S C O , a Peruvian restaurant, has opened at 8347 Lockwood Ridge Road in Sarasota. ▶▶

C O A S TA L E X P R E S S C A R

has opened at 4630 53rd Ave. E. in Bradenton.

WA S H ▶▶

ALPHA BUSINESS

has moved to 207 44th Ave. E. in Bradenton. ▶ ▶ Architect JB Taylor and artist Sarah Taylor have launched TAY L O R S T U D I O S at 4501 Manatee Ave. W., No. 174, in Bradenton. ■ SOLUTIONS

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TECH TOOLS

Computing News ● BY KEVIN ALLEN

Kevin Allen (@KEVJOSEPHALLEN) IS A SARASOTA-BASED CLOUD TECHNICAL EVANGELIST FOR IBM, WHERE HE HAS WORKED AS AN EDITOR AND WRITER FOR THOUGHTS ON CLOUD AND DEVELOPERWORKS. HIS ARTICLES HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED IN ENTREPRENEUR, PR DAILY, THE CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, ESPN, FOX SPORTS AND MANY MORE PUBLICATIONS.

IN

THE 10 OR SO YEARS SINCE MY WIFE’S LAST VISIT TO PARIS AND THE FIVE YEARS SINCE MY OWN, smartphones went from novel to necessity.

The challenge of hailing a taxi had forfeited to the ease of Ubering. And, perhaps most importantly, the selfie had turned the phrase, “Can you take our picture?”, utterly obsolete.

This time we were visiting the City of Light with each other, and our gadgets. Like most Americans, we didn’t bother to learn a lick of French before we whisked off. Didn’t matter, thanks to the handy Google Translate app. We were able to order our poulet au pot, croque monsieur (et madame) in French and then figure out exactly how much walking we did to burn off those calories. In the four days we spent there, we logged 63,484 steps— nearly 30 miles—according to my cloud-synced Fitbit.

Accounting for Moore’s law, the rule that computer components double every year, it’s exciting to think about what will change between this trip and our next. Here’s how I see us getting to that next iteration:

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Cloud enters its next phase The business case for cloud is evolving. Moving data and workloads to the cloud isn’t just about speed and convenience. It presents an opportunity for startups (like the makers of my trusty Fitbit) to get to work immediately without heavy up-front investment on infrastructure, and to rapidly scale as the company grows. For larger enterprises (and even small and mid-size businesses), cloud offers a means to keep pace or even outshine potential industry disruptors.

If Uber and Airbnb taught us anything, it’s that no mainstay industry is safe from disruption.

As businesses continue to understand and reap the benefits that cloud computing presents, expect multicloud to become the norm (or hybrid cloud, if you want to get technical). It’s no longer as simple as choosing whether to tap into a private cloud or public cloud. Businesses will ask the question, “Which environment is right for this workload?” All of this allows developers and programmers to do what they do best: innovate.

At the same time, this presents challenges, most notably with interoperability and ensuring IT employees have the skills to keep up with the pace of change.

Internet of Things goes mainstream One of the buzziest of buzz phrases in recent years is finally becoming a reality. If my wife and I are able to make it back to Paris in 2020, Gartner, an information technology research and advisory company, says we’ll be doing so in a world with more than 20 billion connected things. These devices have embedded sensors and connect to each other via networks, giving them

the ability to exchange actionable data.

Aside from Google’s Nest products, which include devices like thermostats that learn their users’ habits and are controlled via mobile devices, cars are likely the most visible consumer-facing product that’s coming online this year.

Our phones aren’t going to be the only things in our lives that are smart.

Device sensors that connect to the Internet will give us data on just about anything that’s worth collecting, and probably a few things that aren’t.

And where will all that data live?

See the section on cloud.

Virtual reality: not just for gamers I swear, VR is not just for gamers.

This year, Facebook’s Oculus Rift and HTC’s Vive have already hit the market, and Sony PlayStation VR is set

HALFPOINT / SHUTTERSTOCK

Three new tech innovations for business and pleasure.

to hit shelves in the fall. But the rise of virtual reality could soon transport us from our living rooms to the 50-yard line at the Super Bowl. It could put you (or more likely your teenager) front and center at a Taylor Swift concert.

The video implications are huge.

Marriott even partnered with Oculus last year to give users the experience of virtual travel.

So, who knows? Maybe our next trip to Paris will happen in our living room by simply strapping on a couple of VR headsets. ■ 941CEO

THE SEEN TALK

MORE SEEN PHOTOS AT 941CEO.COM

2

1

SARASOTA CHAMBER HOB NOB

3

1 Gabriele Vest, Britney Guertin, Shelby Isaacson, Grapevine Communications 2 Alan McCall, Shelby Medico, PayServ 3 Lena Coach, Cheryl Sisson, American Shave 4 Jack Pilkington, Insignia Bank; Matt Christian, Gateway Bank 5 Maha Elkhateib, Trustco Bank; Reid McCullough, GFT; Courtney Barron, Trustco Bank 6 Lindsay Roth, Katie Wynn, CORE 7 Sarah Enderby, Brennan Anderson, Complete Sarasota 8 Greg Carlson, Stifel; Bonnie London, London Wellness

4

PHOTOGRAPHY: LORI SAX

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J U N E / J U LY 2 0 1 6

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8

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THE SEEN TALK

2

1

MANATEE AND SARASOTA CHAMBERS’ 2016 “BLUES ON THE BAY”

3

1 Johnette Isham, Amy and Terry Smith, Realize Bradenton 2 Jody Lagasse, Steve Kowalski, PayChex 3 Eva Gonzalez, Debra Burger, Shapiro Goldman Babboni & Walsh 4 Hank Progar, AIM Safe Money Advisors; June Braithwaite, Business Benefits 5 Sarah Felder, Sarah Scully, Sarasota Chamber 6 Jahna Allen, Kim Daglish, Manatee Chamber; Ben Weger, Habitat for Humanity 7 Trudy and Stewart Moon, Air & Energy

4

PHOTOGRAPHY: LORI SAX

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7 941CEO

MORE SEEN PHOTOS AT 941CEO.COM

1

2

MANATEE TIGER BAY DISCUSSES AFFORDABLE HOUSING 1 Beth Work, Michael Wood, Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County; Xtavia Bailey, candidate for School Board District 1 2 Ivory Crofoot, Community Relations & Government Affairs Coordinator; Michael Ayres, USF Sarasota-Manatee 3 Misty Servia, Gina Messenger, candidates for Manatee County School Board 4 Ben Bakker, Manatee Tiger Bay Club president; Diana Greene, Manatee County Superintendent of Schools 5 Andi Watson, Just for Girls; Edward Viltz, candidate for Manatee County School Board 6 David Wymer, Rob Laidlaw, Insignia Bank 3

4

5

6 PHOTOGRAPHY: LORI SAX

Volume 13/Number 4, June/July 2016, 941CEO (ISSN 1936-7538) is published in January, March, April, June, September and November by Gulf Shore Media, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of SagaCity Media, Inc., 330 S. Pineapple Ave., Suite 205, Sarasota, FL 34236.

Subscriptions are free to qualified individuals. For customer service inquiries, subscription inquiries or to change your address by providing both the old and new addresses, contact: Subscription Department, 941CEO, 330 S. Pineapple Ave., Suite 205, Sarasota, FL 34236. Phone (941) 487-1100 or (800) 881-2394, Fax (941) 365-7272. Periodicals postage paid at Sarasota, Florida, and at additional mailing offices. Copyright 2016 by Gulf Shore Media, LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Unsolicited manuscripts without return postage will not be returned. DISCLAIMER: Advertisements in the publication do not constitute an offer for sale in states where prohibited or restricted by law.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 941CEO, 330 S. Pineapple Ave., Suite 205, Sarasota, FL 34236.

J U N E / J U LY 2 0 1 6

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OFF THE CLOCK TALK

ISN’T IT IRONIC?

● BY ILENE DENTON

C

another later this summer.) When Welch decided to take up running, she ran her very first marathon in Anchorage, Alaska, eight miles of which was on a rock trail.

“The running joke about me around FCCI is, ‘She takes the most risks of anybody,’” Welch says.

Her risky business began 11 years ago. “I wanted to learn something new for my 35th birthday, so I went out to Santa Monica to learn to surf,” she says. It rapidly progressed from there. “I hadn’t ridden a bike since I was 12 years old, so I found a 100-mile bike ride around Lake Tahoe to participate in,” she

says. “My mom said maybe you should start with a 10-mile ride, and maybe you should get a bike.”

Welch started making a goal list. “It was important to look at every aspect of my life—having a fitness goal, a personal development goal, a charitable goal. Life is short; I want to maximize all that,” she says. “I’m the kind of person who can easily get caught up in work. When that happens, I pull out my list and say, ‘What am I going to do now to get more balance?’”

Welch says these experiences have enriched her life immeasurably.

“But you don’t have to go halfway around the world,” she says.

“If you think a little bit outside your box, there are things right outside your door right here in our own community that you can do.” ■

BARBARA BANKS

ina Welch acknowledges the irony. As senior vice president and chief risk officer for the FCCI Insurance Group, she is responsible for mitigating potential risk in every aspect of the company, from regulatory compliance to data security.

Yet, in her private life, Welch courts grand adventure. She’s climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in a snowstorm, swum 1.7 miles across San Francisco Bay in raging currents, volunteered at a conservation park for injured elephants in Thailand, taught English at a Cambodian school, and completed a great white shark cage dive off northern California’s San Farallon Islands.

(She’s playing with the idea of doing

For FCCI’s chief risk officer Cina Welch, vacations mean daring adventures.

“THERE ARE THINGS RIGHT OUTSIDE YOUR DOOR RIGHT HERE IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY THAT YOU CAN DO.” 80

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