Guide to Greater Gainesville 2016

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GAINESVILLE • ALACHUA • ARCHER • HAWTHORNE • JONESVILLE • LaCROSSE • MICANOPY • NEWBERRY • WALDO

CONTENTS Features 156

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Dual Career Partners Health Street: Linking the Community to Good Health Commercial Real Estate in Greater Gainesville

PHOTOGRAPHY We would like to thank the following for their contributions: Gib Coerper Lindsay Costello Aaron Daye Allison Durham Robin Barnett Hall Virginia MacKoul Suzanna Mars Dawn McKinstry Susannah Peddie David Rountree John Sloan Cindy Taylor City of Newberry Gainesville Community Redevelopment Association Gainesville Health & Fitness Santa Fe College University of Florida Photography: Bernard Brzezinski Hannah Pietrick Eric Zamora University Relations

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS We would like to thank the following for their contributions: Nick Banks Paul Bernard Eugenia Blaubach Tara Blythe Charles Ryan Boisseau Deborah Bowie Erik Bredfeldt Patti Breedlove Alyssa Brown Ed Buckley John Carmean Brian Cook William Conrad Joe Cirulli Frank Curtis Susan Davenport Gerry Dedenbach Rose Fagler Dave Ferro Ian Fletcher Jeremy Foley Dr. Kent Fuchs April Griffin Luisa Guaracao

John Hartnett Edward Jimenez Dug Jones Sophia Karnegis Karen Koegel Dale Kinsell Leslie Ladendorf Dr. Sally Lawrence Emily LeClair Agapitus Lye Jorgia McAfee Nathalie McCrate Dr. Scott Medley Jane Muir Aaron Palmer Barzella Papa Samantha Ramirez Dr. Owen Roberts Dr. Jackson Sasser John Spence Todd Powell Craig Wilburn Mary Wise Ashley Wu

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ainesville Fitness Gems Gainesville

GUIDE TO GREATER GREAT A ER GAINESVILLE | 2016

Although every attempt is made to be as comprehensive and accurate as possible, Advantage Publishing, Inc. is not responsible for any misprints, errors, omissions, deletions, or the accuracy of the information in the publication.

Advantage Publishing, Inc. does not accept responsibility for any loss, injury, or inconvenience sustained by anyone using this publication.

| BUSINESS

Business Boom Greater Gainesville is an ideal location for smart people and innovative companies

G

reater Gainesville has the right education resources, intelligent workforce, and culture of innovation that makes it a region of opportunity — with a distinctly modern Southern twist — for virtually any business or individual.

The upward trajectory of opportunity in the Gainesville Metropolitan Area is demonstrated by its increasing gross domestic product, which in 2014 reached over $11.5 billion, up nearly $1 billion since 2010 and $5 billion since 2001.

In recent years, Greater Gainesville has evolved into a region propelled by research, business, and a smart, young, and creative class that both thrives on and catalyzes innovation. The region’s culture of innovation has been a defining characteristic of its economy, businesses, and overall identity for the past two decades and beyond. However, Greater Gainesville’s trail of innovation was first blazed 50 years ago when Gatorade made the commercial leap from the lab of thenUniversity of Florida professor Dr. J. Robert Cade to retail shelves.

Since the commercialization of Gatorade, the University of Florida has set a tone for entrepreneurship strengthened by its prowess in garnering research funds — in 2014 alone, UF brought in $706 million — as well its affinity for building partnerships that encourage the transfer of its research to market. The result has been a business ecosystem fueled by a steady proliferation of innovative business, state-of-the-art products and services and world-class incubators to nurture the companies that produce them. Further enriching this ecosystem is Santa Fe College — ranked in 2015 by the Aspen Institute as the nation’s number one community college — that has proven its ability to produce graduates who are prepared to pursue higher education or have the relevant skills local employers need.

Elements of Greater Gainesville’s business ecosystem have garnered national and international recognition in recent years, which has turned a spotlight on the success of individual companies and resulted in increasing regional resources for innovation and business growth.

Santa Fe College’s Center for Innovation & Economic Development (CIED) is dedicated to fostering innovation and economic development by adding value and providing enrichment to individuals and organizations within our business community.

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ALACHUA COUNTY

EDUCATION COMPACT 58

GUIDE TO GREATER GAINESVILLE | 2016

EDUCATION SANTA FE COLLEGE

SANTA FE COLLEGE PURSUING ITS MISSION OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY, RESPONSIVENESS TO THE COMMUNITY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST

In its ďŹ rst 50 years, Santa Fe College has matured from a small community college of 1,000 students into a strong four-year college offering a rich and wide variety of educational opportunities. Each year, more than 22,000 individuals attend the main campus and additional educational sites and online classes. In every way, the college has proven to be a vital part of the communities it serves in north central Florida.

SANTA FE COLLEGE was named the number one community college in the nation by winning the 2015 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence

Santa Fe College

In this Section NO. 1 RANKING 50 YEARS CULTURAL & ARTS CONTRIBUTIONS SF EVENTS AND DESTINATIONS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Santa Fe College was established by the state legislature in 1965 as a “community college” to offer wide access to quality higher education for citizens of Alachua and Bradford Counties.

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PARTNERING WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AT SANTA FE COLLEGE, YOUR EXPERIENCE EXTENDS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

EDUCATION SANTA FE COLLEGE

In its first 50 years, Santa Fe College has matured from a small community college of 1,000 students into a strong four-year college offering a rich and wide variety of educational opportunities to more than 22,000 individuals each year on all educational sites and online.

No. 1 Ranking

N

umber one. The best.

Top school. Santa Fe College can now categorize itself as any of these phrases as of March 18, 2015.

Santa Fe College was named the winner of the 2015 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence by the prestigious Aspen Institute out of more than 1,000 institutions nationwide. The college has been in the top 10 of U.S. community colleges since 2012.

As the signature recognition of high achievement and performance in America’s community colleges, the Aspen Prize reinforces SF’s outstanding achievement in four areas: student learning outcomes, degree completion, labor market success in securing good jobs after college, and facilitating minority and low-income student success.

“Santa Fe College does an exceptional job of maintaining a strong focus on what students need to succeed both at the college and in what follows,” said Joshua Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program. “The results are clear — student success rates at Santa Fe College far exceed the national average.”

“To the students at Santa Fe College, this is your award. You did the work,” said SF President Dr. Jackson N. Sasser. “Santa Fe College is proud to share the award with the students, employees and trustees of all community colleges in our country.”

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50 years to first

“C

ommunity” is no longer part of Santa Fe College’s name, but it is still at its heart. The college opened as Santa Fe Junior College in 1966 during a period when 28 community colleges started across Florida, providing a campus within commuting distance of every potential student. Santa Fe College was tasked with serving Alachua and Bradford counties.

Over the 50 years of its history, Santa Fe College has risen in excellence, culminating with

the Aspen Institute naming it No. 1 among community colleges nationwide in 2015.

The college has also grown, achieving an enrollment of 18,000 in for-credit courses and 12,000 in noncredit courses. The school’s name evolved to Santa Fe Community College in 1972 and dropped “community” in 2008 to emphasize that the college offers bachelor’s degrees in some fields.

Over the years, Santa Fe College has expanded their services to offering not only training for the local workforce, but also the option of completing a bachelor degree. All these accomplishments have been met while remaining true to the college’s orig original mission of making higher education acce accessible to everyone, said Ralph Cellon, w o served on the committee that established wh who the college and is still a member of the Santa C Fe College Foundation Board.

The college does that in two equally imp important ways: preparing students to tra transfer to four-year institutions and training the local workforce. t T programs that prepare students The to transfer provide a stepping-stone, Cellon said.

“There “Th is a need to serve people who aren’t a le to pay to go to a four-year school right ab able a ay aw a or who don’t have a scholarship,” he said. away The workforce training is also vital, Cell added.

Cellon “No everyone needs to be a doctor or lawyer “Not or C CEO,” he said. “We need firefighters, police officers offic and plumbers, too.”

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SF offers many cultural activities to enrich the community’s quality of life. The Fine Arts Hall on the Northwest Campus is a state-of-theart, 600-seat theater that hosts numerous performances both by student artists and professionals.

SF Events and Destinations

S

anta Fe College is known for more than just its academics.

SF takes pride in being known as Gainesville’s true “community” college, with a wide variety of things to do all year round.

The Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo, a unique 10-acre zoo, is a nationally accredited zoo; one of only two teaching zoos in the nation. Visiting hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. seven days a week (except certain holidays). No appointments are necessary, and guests may walk around the zoo on a self-guided tour to experience the exhibits at their own pace. The zoo trail is stroller and wheelchair accessible.

Since 2006, the Kika Silva Pla Planetarium has been dedicated to enriching the learning environment of Santa Fe College students and our community. It employs

the latest educationally innovative technology in a unique immersive-learning environment for Santa Fe College and University of Florida students, public and private school children, community groups and the public of North Central Florida. Located on the Northwest Campus of Santa Fe College, the Kika Silva Pla Planetarium was made possible by a generous donation of John Pla and his wife, Amy Howard, on behalf of the Pla family in recognition of his mother’s commitment to education and passion for social justice and civic engagement.

Additional community learning opportunities include SF’s Jean Klein Rock Cycle Garden, the REAL Lab, the Little School, fine arts concerts, shows and events and SF’s North Woods recreational area.

Since 2006, the Kika Silva Pla Planetarium has been dedicated to enriching the learning environment of Santa Fe College students and our community.

Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo is the only nationally accredited zoo on a college campus and attracts nearly 30,000 visitors per year.

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EDUCATION SANTA FE COLLEGE

Employment Opportunities

W

orking at Santa Fe College offers more than just a stable job. Generous vacation and personal leave, fully funded health insurance, numerous retirement options and free tuition are all part of the benefits package offered at SF. Anyone interested in working for Santa Fe College can check out a list of full- and parttime job openings at sfcollege.edu/hr/jobs.

Partnering with Local Organizations

B

usiness and industry partnership support is essential to SF’s Career and Technical Education programs in order to provide students with a high-quality education and to the dynamic growth of business in Florida.

These partnerships help the college educate and prepare the workforce to meet the high demands of employers for highly skilled, highly trained employees. Among the many kinds of support SF receives from its community partners are professional advice, financial support, internships and clinical settings, employment and assistance

with the law and regulation. Santa Fe College clinical internships provide students with practical, hands-on experience in workplace laboratory settings. In these settings, students learn to integrate theory and instructional knowledge into real-world practice.

Also, worth noting is Santa Fe College’s long standing partnership with the University of nt Florida. UF annually accepts nearly 70 percent of SF associate degree graduates who apply too transfer to the University of Florida.

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EDUCATION SANTA FE COLLEGE

At Santa Fe College,

your experience extends beyond the classroom

T

he SF Northwest Campus alone boasts three distinct venues for the visual arts.

A near constant cycle of exhibits gives students the opportunity to experience works of art from fellow students, professors, community artists, and nationally recognized master artists.

SF’s Bat Cave is a truly unique asset to the college. Its dry cavern is a geological anomaly and is the only subterranean classroom of its kind among Florida’s 28 state colleges. The marine laboratory located on Seahorse Key allows students to delve deeper into marine biology and botany.

SF boasts a vibrant student life with a full calendar of events put on by scores of student organizations. Its four athletic teams consistently rank high among NJCAA competitive teams, and for non-athletes it offers a free fitness center and intramural sports.

Located on the SF Northwest campus, the UF at SF center is the physical embodiment of the college’s partnership with the University of Florida. Part study hall, part advisement center, it’s the home base for current and future Gators at SF.

The largest online destination for college professor ratings annually releases a list ranking the nation’s top university professors based entirely on students’ input. SF professors are consistently ranked among the top-ten university professors.

State colleges tend to have a reputation as commuter schools, this is not so at SF. Its student population is only about half local.

More than 48 percent of its students are from outside its service district, including students from more than 100 foreign countries.

Santa Fe College has one of the lowest costs of attendance of all higher education institutions in Florida. In fact, while many schools have raised tuition year after year, SF has kept rates flat. Santa Fe College also provides tens of thousands of dollars each term in student aid in the form of grants and scholarships.

Academic life is highlighted by an Honors Program, Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society, Brain Bowl, a Model United Nations, Research in Undergraduate Education programs and festival, and an International Program that features study abroad in eight foreign countries each year.

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Take a seat At Santa Fe College’s State-of-the-Art Fine Arts Hall

Get a high-paying job

Santa Fe College No. 1 in the nation

Through Santa Fe College’s Perry Center for Emerging Technologies

Earn a Bachelor’s degree With personalized attention and affordable options

From accounting to zoology, Santa Fe College provides outstanding educational opportunities to prepare students for exciting careers.

Start a company

Santa Fe College. New degrees. New programs. New opportunities.

At Santa Fe College’s Center for Innovation and Economic Development (CIED)

Empower your employees With training in one of Santa Fe College’s career-relevant courses

Enrich your life

www.sfcollege.edu

With Santa Fe College’s Community Education courses

| CULTURE & LEISURE

Spectator Sports

I

n Greater Gainesville, people tend to bleed orange and blue, the official colors of the Florida Gators.

Bringing thrilling entertainment to the community, University of Florida sports teams are an immense source of pride for locals but not the only source, as Greater Gainesville is home to a wide range of exciting spectator sports.

As for the Florida Gators, the University of Florida provides spectators with an assortment of sports to choose from: baseball, basketball (men and women), cross country, golf, gymnastics, women’s soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track, volleyball and the allimportant football.

With such a wide selection of sports to watch, there is never a dull moment in Greater Gainesville.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– To see a comprehensive list of sports to attend, download MyGainesville from iTunes or GooglePlay.

If you enjoy watching horses maneuver through courses and leap fearlessly over obstacles — then make your way to Canterbury Equestrian Showplace. The equestrian center features some of the best jumps and courses in the country and hosts horse shows and many other horse-related events. It’s a great place for both kids and adults.

You can experience a different kind of horsepower at the Gainesville Raceway, where engines roar, smoke builds and cars race at incredible speeds. Fans from across the country gather at Gainesville Raceway every March for the NHRA Gatornationals.

High Springs BMX takes you from four wheels to two. BMX racing, or bicycle motocross racing, is an adrenaline-inducing sport where racers speed through rigorous tracks and launch themselves off of ramps. While airborne, they skillfully twist their bodies to produce different series of flips that make for an exceptional show.

For more traditional sports like baseball, basketball, softball and volleyball, check out Santa Fe College’s Saints Athletics. Santa Fe College student-athletes fight for victory and leave their hearts on the field.

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