The Bridge Magazine - April 2021

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BRIDGE April 2021 Issue

Quarterly Member Magazine

From the CEO Page 2

New Team Members Page 6

New in Membership

100 YEARS

Pages 12-13

Leadership Sarasota Pages 14-15

THE CENTENNIAL MURALS Pages 8-9


economic development and support community assets like the Selby Gardens master plan and the Bay Project- all important to the vitality of our city. The Chamber will continue to address workforce and talent issues through our workforce initiative of CareerEdge.

FROM THE CEO Your Chamber is celebrating 100 Years- that’s a pretty BIG deal! This is a very special time for our Chamber, and we are so proud to have served the Sarasota community and supported the growth of businesses in our region for the last century. When we look back over the last 100 years, our Chamber has been at the epicenter of community involvement, lending to the development and strengthening of local businesses. If we go back to the 1920’s, the Chamber was instrumental in

“When we look back over the last 100 years, our Chamber has been at the epicenter of community involvement, lending to the strengthening of local businesses.”

Developing and grooming strong leaders through the Leadership Sarasota program and the Young Professionals Group, is what our member companies are seeking out. And in the coming year, we will roll out a new program funded by the Barancik Foundation, that will support small and minority owned businesses with resources and internships. Your Chamber will be at the forefront of collaborating with community leaders and stakeholders to continue to make Sarasota a great place to do business or start a business. The fruits of this labor will be the creation of jobs and resources to our community. One of our foundational strengths is being a convener – of information, resources, solutions and opportunities. Over the course of 100 years, we’ve been on the cutting edge of innovation- a constant adjusting of the sails to best serve our members and the community at large. It has been our honor to serve this community for the past 100 years, and we look forward to working hard on our members and the community’s behalf for another 100 years. As we kick off our big birthday- be sure to check out our new logo and look, as well as the new beautiful mural on the eastern and western sides of the Chamber building. You’ll hear more about the mural from our Chair of the Board Dr. Larry Thompson in his article this month!

HEATHER KASTEN CEO/PRESIDENT

leading the charge for the formation of a new county to be called Sarasota. Fast forward to 2021, the Chamber is working on issues that drive

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Thursday, April 8 | 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. Relational Networking in Today’s World Members and Non-Members: Complimentary Thursday, April 29 | 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. The Employee Retention Credit: Does Your Company Qualify? Members and Non-Members: Complimentary

Wednesday, April 28 | 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. Courtyard by Marriott Sarasota/Lakewood Ranch Members: Complimentary, Non-Members: $20

Friday, May 21 | 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Update on Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch Members: Complimentary, Non-Member: Complimentary

CEO & JOE

HOUR

POWER

Lunch

IN-PERSON

IN-PERSON IN-PERSON

IN-PERSON

IN-PERSON

Sponsored by Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP

VIRTUAL

VIRTUAL

Your Chamber is meeting you where you’re at. We are offering our members both in-person events with safety protocols in place as well as virtual events held on Zoom. Check out the upcoming events below, and visit sarasotachamber.com for more information.

Wednesday, April 7 | 11:45 a.m. - 1 p.m. Boca Kitchen, Bar and Market Members: $24, Non-Members $39 Sponsored by HH Staffing Services

Thursday, May 20 | 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Sun ‘N Fun RV Resort Members: Complimentary, Non-Members: $20

Trustee Reception | Thursday, April 22 | 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Hosted by Metz Culinary Management at The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art Please Note: These events are a benefit of Corporate Trustee level membership and above.

STATE

Community O F

T H E

LUNCH SERIES

Sponsored by Keiser University and Observer Media Group

Tuesday, April 27 | 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Update on City and County of Sarasota Carlisle Inn - Sarasota Members: $35, Non-Members: $45

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A LETTER FROM THE BOARD CHAIR It is truly amazing to consider the wondrous variety of opportunities available to experience arts and culture in this county.

In addition to world-class beaches and a wonderful climate, Sarasota is also known for its vibrant arts scene. We have a long history as an artist’s haven, of which Ringling College of Art and Design is proud to be a part, and of our community supporting our arts and cultural organizations and businesses. Opportunities abound to engage with the arts in Sarasota. We have museums - including the still-new Sarasota Art Museum - opera, symphony, theater, botanical gardens, venues hosting world-class performances of big-name shows, galleries, and sculptures and murals all around town - to name just a few. Art is almost everywhere you look in Sarasota.

Given the value that arts and culture have here, it seemed fitting to turn to art to help celebrate our Chamber’s and County’s Centennial. In summer 2020, the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County issued a call for artists to participate in Paint Sarasota with Love, a program to pair artists with businesses interested in developing public murals at their locations. The Chamber jumped at the chance to join the program. Matt Myers, a visiting instructor at Ringling College and a freelance artist, worked with Chamber CEO/President, Heather Kasten, to define the right message for the mural. The piece needed to be a tribute to our community’s history and a celebration of our community’s vibrancy and future potential. The artwork does just that by depicting a mix of things old and new, including nine historical personages, examples of notable architecture, representations of Sarasota’s natural environment, the “new” Ringling Bridge, and St. Armands Circle. The mural is installed on the East and West exterior walls of the Chamber building at the corner of Gillespie and Fruitville Road. It doesn’t stop there; visitors to the mural will soon be able to access information about the mural’s content via their mobile phones thanks to a collaboration with Ringling College’s Motion Design department. We hope you come by to experience it.

LARRY THOMPSON CHAIR OF THE BOARD

T H A N K YO U C H A M B E R C H A M P I O N S

communications

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C H A M B E R S TA F F Heather Kasten

MEET THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President/CEO hkasten@sarasotachamber.com (941) 556-4050

Brittany Lamont

Vice President blamont@sarasotachamber.com (941) 556-4040

Chair | Larry Thompson | Ringling College of Art and Design

Mireya Eavey

Chair-Elect | Dennis Murphy | Gulfside Bank

Executive Vice President of CareerEdge meavey@sarasotachamber.com (941) 556-4045

Immediate Past Chair | Paul Caragiulo | Caragiulos Italian-American Restaurant Chamber President/CEO | Heather Kasten | Sarasota Chamber Charlie Bailey Williams Parker Attorneys at Law

Teri A. Hansen Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation

Mark Pritchett Gulf Coast Community Foundation

Nathan Bailey SouthTech

Joe C. Hembree Hembree & Associates, Inc.

Dr. Carol Probstfeld State College of Florida

Jeff Benninghoff WWSB ABC 7 Kirk Boylston Lakewood Ranch Commercial Matt Brockway Icard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm, Furen & Ginsburg, PA Stacey Crawford Capstan Financial Dr. Michael Crosby Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium

Dr. Kameron Hodgens The Glasser/ Schoenbaum Human Services Center Dr. Karen Holbrook University of South Florida John LaCivita Willis Smith Construction David Lafferty Tidewell Hospice Kelley Lavin Sarasota Magazine

Ernest F. DuBose II DuCon, LLC

Jim Ley Hibiscus Suites

Dan DeLeo Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP

Lorrie Liang Sarasota Memorial Health Care System

Camila Fermin STAR Student

Kim Livengood The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime

Christopher Gallagher Hoyt Architects Jennifer Grondahl Baltimore Orioles Andy Guz Lakewood Ranch Medical Center

Mike McCoy Bank of America Erin McLeod Senior Friendship Centers

Samantha Badgley

Executive Assistant sbadgley@sarasotachamber.com (941) 556-4051

Alyssa Barnsley

Programs and Communications Assistant abarnsley@sarasotachamber.com (941) 556-4031

Mike Quillen Gecko’s Hospitality Group

Caitlin Bolton

Communications Coordinator cbolton@sarasotachamber.com (941) 556-4046

Darrin Rohr HH Staffing Services

Shauna Donahue

CareerEdge Program Director sdonahue@sarasotachamber.com (941) 556-4038

Jennifer Rominiecki Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

Zach Henkel

Membership Investment Representative zhenkel@sarasotachamber.com (941) 556-4029

Elizabeth Stamoulis Williams Parker Attorneys at Law

Craig McGonigal

John Stump The Bank of Tampa

Membership Engagement Manager cmcgonigal@sarasotachamber.com (941) 556-4034

Elizabeth Topp Twinkle Toes Nanny Agency

Kelly Monti

Events Coordinator kmonti@sarasotachamber.com (941) 556-4035

Gerhard Toth Regions Bank

Kaveecia Moore

Eric Troyer Kerkering, Barberio & Co.

Opportunties For All Manager kmoore@sarasotachamber.com (941) 556-4058

Don Vichitvongsa PGT Innovations

Programs Manager srachon@sarasotachamber.com (941) 556-4039

Sara Rachon

Emily Walsh Observer Media Group

Christine Seaman

Accounting Manager accounting@sarasotachamber.com (941) 556-4053

Cina D. Welch FCCI Insurance Group

Alicia Williams

CareerEdge Programs Manager awilliams@sarasotachamber.com (941) 556-4030

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MEET OUR NEW TEAM MEMBERS Samantha Badgley Executive Assistant

Zach Henkel

Membership Investment Representative

Christine Seaman Accounting Manager

Alyssa Barnsley Programs and Communications Assistant

Kaveecia Moore Opportunities For All Manager

Alicia Williams

CareerEdge Program Coordinator

INTRODUCING A NEW CHAMBER PROGRAM

OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL

The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce is launching a new “Opportunities For All” (OFA) initiative led by Kaveecia Moore, who will serve as manager over the new program. The OFA program will assist in placing interns with local companies in the Sarasota/ Manatee region and serve as a help desk/navigator for small and minority-owned businesses. Small grants and funding will be available to help these small businesses grow and thrive in the community. This initiative is funded by a grant from the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation.

Kaveecia Moore has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and a Master of Business Administration from Barry University in Miami, FL. She is a 3rd generation Sarasotan and has a background in the education and financial realms. She currently serves on the board of the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition (SAACC), the advisory board of the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe and is a graduate of the 2021 Gulf Coast Board Institute. “This is such an exciting opportunity to work with interns and connect them to our member businesses, as well as work with small and minority business owners who are just starting out. It will be incredibly rewarding to see how we can move the needle in supporting, helping, and watching them grow.”

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RIBBON CUTTINGS

Nailed It DIY Studio Sarasota 5537 Palmer Crossing Circle Sarasota, FL 34233

Vensure Employer Services 301 N. Cattleman Rd. Sarasota, FL 34232

VetCor of Sarasota 1800 Northgate Blvd. Sarasota, FL 34234

Sarabella Senior Living 5650 Gantt Road Sarasota, FL 34233

Botanic Waterside 1450 Pine Warbler Place Sarasota, FL 34240

Tripletail Seafood and Spirits 4870 S. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34231

Sarasota Sports Medicine 1400 Cattlemen Rd. Suite 103 Sarasota, FL 34232

Reef Cakes 1812 Osprey Ave. Sarasota, FL 34239

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Historic Walking Tour Women’s Event 2021 Frank G. Berlin, Sr. Small Business Awards John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art Exhibit Centennial Celebration

Stay tuned for more information on these Centennial events and activities! The western mural features Lewis Colson, John and Charles Ringling, Bertha Palmer, A.B. Edwards, and Owen Burns.

For a full list of upcoming Chamber events, please visit sarasotachamber.com/ events.

CHAMBER CENTENNIAL MURALS The two, new 30-foot murals that cover the western and eastern sides of the Chamber building are a colorful celebration of the last 100 years of Chamber and community history. The artist, Matt Myers, with Ringling College, created the murals to highlight and represent 100 years of achievements and leaders in our Sarasota community. The murals were made possible by the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County, as well as the generous support of SpeedPro Imaging Affinity Solutions and partners. We invite you to come and check out the murals - they are for our whole community to enjoy! The murals are layered with images and meaning, and we’re sure that you’ll spot something new each time you look at them.

NATURAL ELEMENTS The natural elements pictured in the murals carry a history of their own. Featured in the artwork are tarpon, hibiscus flowers, seagulls, beaches, and pieces of Sarasota architecture.

MORE THAN A FACE All of the individuals depicted in the mural had a tremendous impact and integral role in the history of our community. For more information on their legacies, visit sarasotachamber.com.

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The western mural features Lewis Colson, John and Charles Ringling, Bertha Palmer, A.B. Edwards, and Owen Burns.

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A VIBRANT PAST AND A BRIGHT FUTURE The bold and bright colors used in the mural were an intentional choice over a black and white color palette. The symbols and imagery used in the mural reference the legacy of past leaders, while the bold colors illustrate the vibrancy of Sarasota today.

ABOUT THE ARTIST Matt Myers is an artist/designer whose work crosses several disciplines. He is a Ringling Illustration graduate, receiving a BFA with Honors. After graduation, he continued his studies at Art Students League, School of Visual Design, and New York Academy of Art and began a freelance career. In addition to illustration commissions, he began a diverse career in art/design, investigating opportunities in fine art, illustration and decorative art, as well as graphic, interior, fashion, theatrical and landscape design. As his career progressed, the bulk of his work centered on the creation of murals and other site-specific artwork, primarily for the Hospitality industry.

MURAL ORIGINS

100 YEARS

The City of Sarasota was founded on a legacy of art and during times of uncertainty we continue to turn to the arts for comfort and hope. In the early months of the COVID-19 Pandemic, we experienced the power of art with the success of the “Sarasota Heroes” mural at 1717 Second Street and its statement of gratitude during the COVID-19 crisis. The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County then partnered with the Public Art Committee and City of Sarasota to create a project as part of the City’s Pandemic Recovery Plan. Together, seven murals were commissioned throughout the city to convey the circumstances of our times and create positive and healing energy within the community. The Chamber is proud to be the home of two of these powerful community arts displays.

The eastern mural features Emma E. Booker, John Hamilton Gillespie, and Rose Wilson.

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C A R E E R E D G E CO N T I N U E S I TS CO M M I T M E N T TO WO R K F O R C E S O LU T I O N S Through partnerships with employers, educators, and funders, CareerEdge has spent the last year adapting to workforce needs during COVID-19 which include: • • January HVAC Fast-Track Training Graduation

• •

HVAC Fast-Track Training at Suncoast Technical College (STC) North Port

Changing the FastTrack model to include practical training and focusing industry council discussions on how to best meet employer needs during the pandemic. Partnered with STC on a CARES grant for training and updated equipment. Increased diversity in the manufacturing industry through a grant with Boeing, Convened workforce development stakeholders in Manatee and Sarasota counties to develop and adopt a common workforce legislative agenda that allows stakeholders to communicate with a consistent message. Funded a tiny new home project with Suncoast Technical College giving students hands-on experience when former sites closed due to COVID. Upon completion, the home will be displayed at local schools to promote trades in the community.

CareerEdge aligns resources and strategies to develop a solutions-based plan for our community’s workforce needs. To learn more or become involved CareerEdge please visit: https://careeredgefunders.org/.

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W H AT ’ S N E W I N M E M B E R S H I P NEW MEMBERS Alpha Foundations Appalachian Undewriters Botanic Waterside Carter Clegg Insurance Advisors Coastal Haven Home Watch Cruise Planners - Jennifer Martin Driverseat Sarasota Elite Realty Brokerage Ernest Ritz Express Employment Professionals

January 2021 - March 2021 Fetzerhaus Technology, Inc. Fleet Force Truck Driving School Florida Gulf Coast League, Inc. J2 Solutions, Inc. Lutz, Bobo & Telfair, P.A. Main Street Creamery Marina Jack Yacht Basin Meaney Accounting Consulting, LLC Nailed It DIY Studio Sarasota Palm Printing PMI Sarasota

Reef Cakes Rise & Nye’s Savannah Grand of Sarasota Save Smart Pharmacy and Compounding Center Spinner Law Firm, P.A Sunshine Community Compost SWAT Networking The Charcuterie Beach LLC Tiger Lily Flowers Vensure Employer Services

C E L E B R AT I N G A Q U A RT E R O F A C E N T U R Y O F MEMBERSHIP Join us as we recognize members who have been a part of our Chamber for 25 years or more.

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Der Dutchman Four Winds Beach Resort

30

Lido Beach Resort

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Girls Incorporated of Sarasota County Norton, Hammersley, Lopez & Skokos, P.A.

Senior Friendship Centers

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Brown & Brown Insurance

Rugs As Art Regions Bank Downtown Sarasota

RITE Technology

Women’s Exchange, Inc.

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April 2021

Michael Saunders & Company

46

Safe Children Coalition

50

Williams Parker Harrison Dietz & Getzen

53

Cool Today

Sunnyside Village

31

40

Sun ‘N Fun RV Resort

Kellogg & Kimsey, Inc. Wright Accounting, Inc. Sarasota Memorial Health Care System

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M E M B E R N E WS LOUIS AND GLORIA FLANZER PHILANTHROPHIC TRUST distributes $3.145 million in matching grants to nonprofits in 2020, and extends their matching program through 2021. When the new year starts, many Americans routinely set goals to lose weight and try to commit to a healthier lifestyle. SARASOTA SPORTS MEDICINE is partnering with Orangetheory to launch a nutritional program to transform lives in 2021.l JFCS of the Suncoast is pleased to announce the hiring of Arthur Lerman as their CEO. Lerman has served as the Interim CEO for the past six months. “Arthur has done an excellent job leading the organization as our Interim CEO,” said Dean Miller, Chair of the JFCS Board of Directors. The law firm of ICARD MERRILL has renewed its long-standing pro bono program for the 13th year, continuing the firm’s legacy of service by providing vital legal services to those in need. Despite a pandemic and virtual challenges, the firm continued to serve clients and engage in the program throughout 2020 with over 550 hours of pro bono work completed by attorneys and staff. Five SARASOTA MEMORIAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM workers were invited by the NFL to attend Super Bowl LV to watch The Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The SMH team works on one of the hospital’s busiest COVID-19 units. Lorrie Liang, who previously served as SARASOTA MEMORIAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM’s COO, has been appointed president of the Sarasota Memorial Hospital Sarasota campus. Jennifer Compton, managing partner of law firm SHUMAKER, LOOP & KENDRICK, LLP has been named vice chair of the firm’s management committee. Compton previously served as a board member, executive committee member and legal counsel for the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce. Local foundations supported scholarships for children in need. The Roberta Leventhal Sudakoff Foundation awarded $25,000 in support of scholarships to CHILDREN FIRST, the exclusive provider of Head Start and Early Head Start services in Sarasota County.

MEMBER TIP U P DAT E YO U R P R O F I L E Has your staff, business, or contact information changed recently? Help us help you, and update your member profile!

Step 1:

Go to www.sarasotachamber.com.

Step 2:

Click on Member Login at the top of the page.

Step 3:

Login with your Organization Username & Password. If you do not have your organization’s master login information, please contact Craig McGonigal.

Step 4:

You will appear on the Member Portal Home after you have logged in. Your company name should be listed above the paragraph.

Step 5:

Under the Member Portal Home, in the third column, select the fourth option, Profile Update. Simply click on Edit My Profile for the Organization (a pop up appears) to edit any of your information. Click on Directory Listing and update your listing with a short company description (250 characters or less) and a long company description. Click on Social Media and link any of your social media profiles including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Yelp & more!

Questions?

Contact Craig McGongial, Membership Engagement Manager at cmcgonigal@sarasotachamber.com.

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LEADERSHIP SARASOTA CLASS PROJECTS Each year, every Leadership class participates in a group class project aiding a local nonprofit. Normally, the entire class works together on one project. This past year has fueled change in all areas, including the 2021 Leadership Sarasota class project.

YOUR CHAMBER’S LEADERSHIP PROGRAM Leadership Sarasota is building a community of leaders for Sarasota today and tomorrow. Your Chamber’s leadership program offers four tracks for leadership development: Adult Leadership, Youth Leadership, Engage Sarasota, and Leadership Alumni. Visit sarasotachamber.com for more information.

FOLLOW US!

For the first time, the Leadership Sarasota class is completing four class projects, with a greater impact than ever before. Each of the four groups are partnering to assist different nonprofits in Sarasota, which are: Embracing Our Differences, Safe Children Coalition, Take Stock in Children, and Tidewell Foundation. Embracing Our Differences Group • Assisting with a video encouraging students to read and worked to help package and distribute books to schools Safe Children Coalition Group • Revamping the group home, “Grammy’s House” Take Stock in Children Group • Mentoring children for a year and creating group web events Tidewell Foundation Group • Supported a linen drive for Tidewell’s in-home and assisted living facilities

LEADERSHIP APPLICATIONS COMING SOON Leadership applications for the next Adult and Youth Leadership Sarasota classes will open in April. We are very excited for what the coming year has in store for our new classes! Applications will close in June, and the 2021-2022 program will officially start in August and September.

CELEBRATE OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AWARDS Save the date for our annual celebration of our program’s legacy-makers on Thursday, August 12! The Leadership Awards recognize leadership alumni with a legacy in community participation and impact in three unique categories. Lifetime of Leadership Award: Recognizing body of work in career, community and beyond. Impact in Action Award: Recognizing a current community leadership endeavor. Leadership Sarasota Dedication Award: Recognizing commitment to the Leadership Sarasota program.

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: HENRY DECOO Hometown: Bronx, NY Company: SouthTech Title: Business Development and Marketing Manager Leadership Class Year: 2020 How do you stay connected with area professionals? I stay connected with area professionals by attending networking events hosted by the Chambers as well as the different associations we are members of. We also attend local tradeshows and host educational and recycling events for clients and the community. What was the most impactful part of the Leadership Sarasota program? The most impactful part of the leadership Sarasota program for me was to learn about this wonderful community I now call home. Being a new arrival to Florida, it really gave me a chance to engage with and learn about the community while also getting to meet new people and learn about them. The friendships and connections I made while in leadership are something that only comes out of a shared experience like this. Now being a part of Leadership Alumni, I hope to continue to support the program and continue developing relationships formed while in this wonderful program as I continue to grow as a leader in the community. What is the best piece of professional advice you have been given? Work smart and hard. There’s no question we all need to find ways of making our lives more efficient and work smarter. However, that does not replace the pure effort factor. So, for those of you out there searching for something that works try waking up a little earlier tomorrow, skipping the extended lunch with your colleagues, making the extra call, learning something new, staying a little later and you will see better results. Work smarter and harder!

Building Today’s Leaders UPCOMING ALUMNI HAPPY HOURS Wednesday, April 14 Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club Thursday, July 15 Location TBD

COMMERCE & INDUSTRY DAY

EXTRA, EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT IN THE NEW LEADERSHIP NEWSLETTER! We recently launched the new Leadership Newsletter a monthly information update on all things Leadership to help current participants and Leadership Alumni stay connected. Read the newsletter for information on events, current class activities, Alumni spotlights, and more!

On Commerce and Industry Day, the Adult Class visited the Sarasota Polo Club and the Youth Class visited the Finish Tower at Nathan Benderson Park! GREATER SARASOTA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MAGAZINE APRIL •2017 • BRIDGE 15 GREATER SARASOTA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEMBERMEMBER MAGAZINE • April• 2021 BRIDGE 15


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Face every challenge with determination and hard work. Let’s get together at StearnsBank.com Sarasota (941) 929-9000

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St. Petersburg (727) 521-1000

Venice (941) 497-6660

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| Member FDIC | Equal Housing Lender


be in good company. YPG SPOTLIGHT: JESSICA MAXON-BERRIER Hometown: Philipsburg, PA Company: United Way Suncoast Title: Community & Volunteer Engagement Associate YPG Member Since: 2017 What is the best piece of professional advice you have been given? I have an amazing mentor who regularly encourages me to review and challenge my methods and processes and use constructive criticism to constantly enhance the quality my work. It is very scary to make changes to our routine, but ultimately by making it more efficient and increasing accessibility and equity, our outcomes improve.

YPG’ers met up for coffee and a tour of the Sarasota Farmer’s Market.

What is your favorite thing about Sarasota? Sarasota is home to incredible biodiversity, creative and unique people, and access to diverse opportunities. My favorite part of Sarasota is that even after calling Sarasota home for five years, every time I leave my front door, I have the ability to see something, meet someone, or do something different. What do people say you do really well? I am very proud of my creativity. When I am finding an unusual solution to a personal or professional challenge, designing a new art project, or practicing my acting skills in my improvisation group, I am the most comfortable. I’m lucky to have found a career at United Way Suncoast that allows me the space to build those aspects into my work.

YPG members enjoyed food, drinks, live music, and networking at the 2021 Party on the Bay.

UPCOMING EVENTS

YPG PRODEV

Tuesday, May 18 | The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce

YPG SUMMIT

Friday, July 23 Embassy Suites Sarasota YPG partnered with Cask & Ale for a booth at the 2021 Party on the Bay.

Get Connected

AFTER HOURS

Thursday, May 6 Embassy Suites Sarasota | 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 3 Cask and Ale | 5:30 p.m. .

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Lisa Krouse, Board Member of FCCI Insurance Group and Sr. Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), will be speaking at a Young Professionals Group Professional Development event entitled “Nudge or Nuisance? How to set career expectations and aspirations with your boss”. Lisa will discuss techniques that can make or break an employee’s quest for a promotion or higher compensation.

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A DV E RT I S I N G O P P O RT U N I T I E S Your Chamber has a host of opportunities for you to advertise and promote your business!

Chamber Buzz E-Newsletter - The Chamber

Website Advertising - Looking to enhance your

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Special Placement: Inside Front Cover Single ad - $1,500 Two or more ads - $1,350 ea.

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To reserve advertising space or for more information, please contact Brittany Lamont, blamont@sarasotachamber.com. 18

BRIDGE

April 2021

GREATER SARASOTACHAMBER OF COMMERCE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEMBER MAGAZINE GREATER SARASOTA MEMBER MAGAZINE

APRIL 2017 • BRIDGE

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C H A M B E R N E WS Visual History Sarasota Observer | Harry Sayer | “History is on the minds of staff at the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce as the organization marks it 100th anniversary. To celebrate the chamber recently unveiled a pair of 30foot high murals honoring eight landmark figures. […]” Sarasota Chamber Announces 2021 Annual Breakfast Sarasota Magazine | Staff | “The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce will continue its Centennial celebration at its upcoming 2021 Annual Chamber Breakfast on Friday, March 26. The featured speaker will be John McCarthy, vice-president of Historic Spanish Point. McCarthy, a frequent presenter of local history lectures and tours, will share tailored insight into defining points in the last 100 years of commerce in Sarasota. The chamber will also share its vision and focus for the year. […]” CareerEdge Updates Its ‘Where Are the Jobs?’ Guide Sarasota Magazine | Staff | “CareerEdge Funders Collaborative has updated its “Where are the Jobs?” guide to assist the region’s students and young adults with exploring possible career options. Through colorful graphics, the guide features a listing of the highest-demand jobs in the area, along with their average wages, and the educational pathways to obtaining a credential for each. […]” ABC7 News at 5 pm - Trolley Tour WWSB - ABC7 | Mike Modrick | “It’s a Chamber of Commerce kind of day, and I’m on a special trolley for the Sarasota Chamber to learn about the history of Sarasota’s earliest African-American pioneers […]”

Tidewell Foundation Hosts Linen Drive to Support Patients in Need SRQ Magazine | Staff | “In partnership with Leadership Sarasota and the Junior League Sustainers, the Tidewell Foundation, Inc. is hosting a linen drive for Tidewell Hospice patients [...] Donated linens will be made available to Tidewell Hospice field teams, who will distribute the sheets and towels to resource-limited patients receiving in-home and assisted-living facility hospice care. […]” Chamber Celebrates Black History Month with Newtown Trolley Tour Sarasota Magazine| Staff | ”In celebration of Black History Month, the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Historic Newtown Trolley Tour event [...] The two-hour guided, interactive tour will explore the history of Sarasota’s earliest African-American pioneers. Attendees will learn about the courage and vision of key African American leaders; early settlement in Overtown and Newtown; the local history of medicine, labor, entrepreneurship, education, segregation and integration, social and religious life, political action; and future redevelopment. New Mural on Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Building Salutes History Sarasota Magazine | Kay Kipling | “Artist Matt Myers has been at work turning the west-facing wall into a celebration of the centennial of the Chamber, depicting figures crucial to our history (like Charles and John Ringling, Bertha Palmer, A.B. Edwards, Lewis Colson, Owen Burns, Rose Wilson, John Hamilton Gillespie and Emma E. Booker. […]”

Chamber CEO hosts Business Oberver Book Club Business Observer | Staff | “Sarasota Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Heather Kasten will lead a Business Observer book club discussion about the book “The Go-Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea” by Bob Burg and John David Mann. […]” Sarasota Chamber to Host 2021 Party on the Bay Sarasota Magazine | Staff | “The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce will host its 2021 Party on the Bay at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 24, from 4-7 p.m. Guests can enjoy live music along with networking, food tasting from local vendors, beer, wine and specialty drinks, and networking opportunities.” Build Your Workforce with an On-the-Job Training Funding Opportunity SRQ Magazine | Staff | “CareerEdge is addressing a worker shortage in manufacturing locally as well as providing an opportunity for workers to obtain employment at livable and competitive wages through on-the-job training (OJT) funding. Jennifer Behrens, President, Atlantic Mold & Machining Corporation said, “CareerEdge’s on the job training (OJT) application process was very streamlined and easy to navigate. One thing that makes this process effective for us is that we can customize the training to our specific needs. CareerEdge Prepares Grants for Skills Training SRQ Magazine | Staff | “The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce on March 22 will open its annual process of requesting grant applications for its CareerEdge grants program. The organization is seeking plans from manufacturing, health care, insurance skilled trades and construction employers in Manatee and Sarasota, with a course laid out for how businesses will use the funding to increase skills and accelerate promotions while speeding job creation.”

GREATER SARASOTA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MAGAZINE APRIL •2017 • BRIDGE GREATER SARASOTA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEMBERMEMBER MAGAZINE • April• 2021 BRIDGE

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