SRQ Magazine | Best of SRQ Local Showcase, July/August 2022

WINNERS SHOWCASE

READERS RECOGNIZING THE BEST LOCALLY-OWNED BUSINESSES IN THE SARASOTA AND MANATEE REGION

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SRQ READERS SET A NEW RECORD IN THIS 14th ANNUAL BEST OF SRQ LOCAL COMPETITION. You spoke up, and we listened. From vets and videographers to cocktails and chiropractors, BOSRQ Local is back with a brand new batch of the cities’ finest fare, favorite services, most sought-after places and beloved businesses—a grand tally thanks to all your voting (a record-breaking 78,000 votes to be exact!). Inspired by the collaborative, immersive Robert Mapplethorpe and Patti Smith: Flowers, Poetry and Light exhibit currently residing at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, we pay homage to this influential photographer. “Robert Mapplethorpe was the most renowned photographer of the late twentieth century,” says Jennifer O. Rominiecki, President and CEO of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. “He is best known for his black-and-white photographs consisting of portraits, nudes, and still lifes. Many of his finest still lifes feature flowers—and that is why we at Selby Gardens felt his work should be featured within a botanical garden context for the very first time. Mapplethorpe made floral still life a significant contemporary genre, heightening the status of photography as an art form in the process.” In bringing to life the winning experiences chosen by our readers, we play with the themes of expressive lighting and irreverent black and white candids to vividly capture the “best” experiences chose by our readers. And now we are happy to present you with the leading legends, the new voices and the rising nominees of this year’s competition. Together, they continue to put Sarasota and Manatee Counties on the map— proving evolutionary and eclectic aren’t just for the big cities. Ready, set, celebrate— #BOSRQ

BEST LOCAL BAGEL Brooklyn Bagels & Deli Everyone loves a good bagel and at BROOKLYN BAGELS & DELI, our Platinum winner, bagels are a holey food. 99 BOTTLES TAPROOM & BOTTLE SHOP takes the Gold while LOX’ N EGG BREAD COMPANY is ready and waiting for pick-up in the Silver category.-A.Chates Emily Govars (on Brooklyn Bagels & Deli): Their bacon egg and cheese bagel is to die for and always a quick hearty breakfast on the way to work. Their customer service feels like home and so does the food. So glad they’re in business!

Sarah Seay (on 99 Bottles Taproom & Bottle Shop): Best bagels in town. So many options on how to get them prepared.

With great drink selection. Werner Gundersheimer (on Lox’n Egg Gread Company): Bagels are extremely fresh, not excessively doughy, with consistent quality across the range; the bialys are even better. Platinum Winner- Brooklyn Bagels & Deli / Gold Winner- 99 Bottles Taproom & Bottle Shop / Silver Winner- Lox’N Egg Bread Company.

BEST POOL MAINTENANCE Sutherly Pool Service, Inc.

Keeping critters at bay and leaves away is just a call away with these favorite pool maintenance spots. SUTHERLY POOL SERVICE, INC. is a pool-pleasing Platinum while TIP TOP POOLS gets your splash-zone glowing with Gold. Last up is SUPERIOR POOLS OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA INC. keeping your pool sparkling as the Silver winner.-A.Chates

Kristie Lever (on Sutherly Pool Service, Inc): Sutherly Pool Services is a family-run business and it shows in the stellar care and service they provide us! Since moving to The Sunshine State, they have helped maintain the vision we had of our private oasis. We couldn’t be happier!

Eliezer Mandujano (on Tip Top Pools): Thomas is an honest contractor! That is very hard to come by. He is very knowledgeable in all aspects. Kathy Zamudio (on Superior Pools of Southwest Florida Inc.): Superior pools provides excellent customer service and design. Ben and his team were patient, responsive, and had great ideas to make our dream come true within our budget. They own every detail and provide a customized pool. Our home oasis is the talk of the town. Platinum Winner- Sutherly Pool Service, Inc / Gold Winner- Tip Top Pools / Silver Winner- Superior Pools of Southwest Florida, Inc.

BEST PARK FOR KIDS

Payne Park Circus Playground Fresh air is good for the whole family, and Sarasota has plenty of parks to play in. PAYNE PARK CIRCUS PLAYGROUND is the Platinum pick for outside adventures while URFER FAMILY PARK grabbed Gold in the race for best place to run around. BENDERSON PARK slides into Silver with their ample sidewalks for rollerblading and running and BAYFRONT PARK is the Bronze best. To continue the out-door occasions try Honorable Mentions Nokomis Beach, Casey Key, Florida, Red Rock Park and Colonial Oaks Park.-A.Chates

These formdiable winners from our annual Best of SRQ Local competition did not make it into the pages of the April 2022 issue. We celebrate them this month as some of our readers’ local favorites. Look for the Special 2022 Best of Lakewood Ranch winners in the September 2022 edition of Living Lakewood magazine.

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V OT E D O N E O F “S A R A S O TA’S T O P 12 R E A LT O R S”

BY SRQ MAGAZINE READERS

DAWNELLE LANNERS AND ASHLEY GUTTRIDGE Dawnelle Lanners and Ashley Gu ridge’s mission at Legacy Home Connection is to positively impact the lives of clients and colleagues by building authentic lifelong relationships while providing the highest level of honesty, integrity and expertise in all things real estate.

Their residential real estate company has grown quickly in the Sarasota/Manatee market. As they moved into 2022, Legacy expanded their organization into the commercial real estate world, and now looks to serve our community and beyond, in new and exciting ways.

WHAT SETS YOUR BUSINESS APART?

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT

When you get to know the two of us,

YOUR JOB? We get to have fun ev-

one character trait that will stand

ery day. We meet amazing people

out about us both is that we are ob-

and have the honor of helping them

sessed with the idea that we can al-

with what is often one of the largest

ways be better; as Realtors, as busi-

financial transactions they’ll make

ness owners and as humans. That

in their lives, and we’ve fallen in love

comes across in the way we run our

with the process of making that ex-

business. Every day, we are looking

perience exceptional for them. Even

for ways to create more opportuni-

when there are challenges, we find

ties for the people we interact with

joy in coming up with the solutions

and to elevate the experience of our

to overcome those challenges and

clients, because no matter where we

get our clients to the closing table.

are at, we will never stop wanting to

Some say this is a stressful job…for

grow and improve.

us, we’re having a blast, and we like to think our clients are too.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR

“IT’S NOT ENOUGH FOR US TO

SELL REAL ESTATE. WE WANT TO MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE WE SERVE, BOTH CLIENTS AND TEAM MEMBERS ALIKE.” Ashley Gu ridge,Team Co-Owner

Legacy Home Connection Keller Williams Classic Group M (941) 202-2331

SOMEONE LOOKING TO BUY OR SELL

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE RECOG-

A PROPERTY IN THE CURRENT REAL

NIZED BY SRQ READERS AS A TOP RE-

ESTATE MARKET? In this market, you

ALTOR THIS YEAR? This recognition

absolutely need a highly skilled pro-

is incredibly humbling. One thing

fessional on your side who is not only

we decided when we started this

up to date with the latest market con-

company is that we would always

ditions, but also who is aggressive and

be

knows what it takes to win offers for

and true to ourselves, our families,

buyers and get top dollar for sellers in

and our faith. In a world that often

a real estate landscape that is rapidly

defines how people are supposed to

changing. The tactics that worked in

do things, and can be unforgiving

previous markets are not what is best

to those who break the mold, we’re

for buyers and sellers today, so you

grateful for the opportunity to do this

need an agent representing you who

business our way and for the support

recognizes the need to adopt new ne-

of our community.

3355 Clark Rd #103,

gotiation and sales techniques that

Sarasota, FL 34231

are specific to the unique market we

info@legacyhomeconnection.com

are in in 2022.

uncompromisingly

authentic

www.legacyhomeconnection.com @legacy_connection_kw

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V OT E D O N E O F “S A R A S O TA’S T O P 12 R E A LT O R S”

BY SRQ MAGAZINE READERS

SHERRI MILLS I’ve lived in Sarasota for 33 years and love this community more with each passing year. I taught Special Ed. before becoming a Realtor 20 years ago and what be er prep for real estate! Asking questions, listening, problem-solving and creative thinking has given me a loyal following that has made me a Top Producing Realtor with Michael Saunders & Company, a premier Luxury brokerage firm in the area.

MY MISSION There are a gazillion things to do from Day 1 to closing. My mission is to make the process look easy. It’s that simple. After 20 years of negotiating, staging homes to sell, dealing with vendors, working with lenders & attorneys, I realize the magic is in the minutia. It’s what my clients don’t know that’s happening behind the scenes that makes the process easy. Easy for them. Gratifying for me.

A CLIENT’S PERSPECTIVE Sherri was my Realtor® for the selling of my home and the purchasing of another. She was truly amazing for both transactions! Always knowledgeable and helped maneuver through the rough spots seamlessly. I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for

“TO ME, THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT WORDS IN REAL ESTATE ARE YOU, YOU AND YOU.”

a bright, honest realtor. —Heather Chapell CLHMS (Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist)

Sherri Mills, Real Estate Negotiation Expert (RENE accredited) Michael Saunders & Company 1605 Main Street Sarasota, FL 34236 sherrimills@michaelsaunders.com www.sherrimills.com

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V OT E D O N E O F “S A R A S O TA’S T O P 12 R E A LT O R S”

BY SRQ MAGAZINE READERS

RYAN SKRZYPKOWSKI “Real estate is not a job, it’s a lifestyle. I feel unbelievably grateful to be able to do this in the place that I love—with the people that I love, serving clients that we love. I want my clients to be able to refer me to their closest friends and family members and know that they will be taken care of.” Ryan considers it an honor for him and his team to be recognized by SRQ Magazine readers as a Top Realtor® for the fi h year running. Thank you, thank you!

RYAN SKRZYPKOWSKI’S commitment

and grow in efficiency and produc-

to live, work, and play at “Level 10”

tivity to ensure we offer the best ser-

each and every day has catapulted

vice out there” says Theresa.

his ever- growing influence both locally and nationally within the real estate industry. His constant embrace for greatness and innovation means he never apologizes for having big goals, not just for himself, but for every member of his team within the RSTS Group. This is the fifth year that the RSTS Group has been

“WE DON’T SET OUT TO MERELY SATISFY OUR CUSTOMERS, WE SET OUT TO DELIGHT THEM AND EXCEED ALL EXPECTATIONS.”

Along with hundreds of 5 star reviews on Google and Zillow, their clients boast of their energetic, thorough, and professional approach that focuses on making the entire real estate process a tailored experience for every single client, no matter what price of their home.

recognized within the best of SRQ.

“We operate in the service of our

The growth from Ryan and Theresa,

clients every hour of every day. De-

the husband and wife team, to the

livering on our promise, following

innovative 11 person powerhouse

through on every detail and always

that operates today, has fueled their

thinking from our client’s perspec-

success year after year. 2021 was an-

tive to ensure the highest level of

other record breaking year for the

trust is built and maintained well

RSTS Group. They were able to help

beyond the closing table,” says Ryan.

132 families buy and sell their home resulting in an astonishing sales volume of almost $90 million. As a Sarasota County top producer, Ryan ranks at 0.02% of all active agents for transactions and total volume.

“Innovation is the fuel that keeps

RSTS Group

our rocket heading upwards. It’s a

Coldwell Banker

never ending quest to learn, improve

For the RSTS Group, it is a never-ending quest for improvement, efficiency and productivity. Its pursuit keeps them young, motivated, vibrant, and ever-evolving.

Embracing innova-

tion wholeheartedly, because without it, there is no forward progress.

Residential Real Estate M (941) 500 3872 443 John Ringling Blvd. Ste F Sarasota, Florida rstsgroup.com

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BEST OF SRQ LOCAL 2022 WINNERS SHOWCASE V OT E D O N E O F “S A R A S O TA’S T O P 12 R E A LT O R S”

BY SRQ MAGAZINE READERS

HALIE ROBERSON Halie Roberson, a Sarasota resident for over 20 years, brings strong local knowledge and professionalism to the Sarasota Gulf Coast Homes team, a part of the Keller Williams on the Water Office in downtown Sarasota. Halie navigates every transaction with focus, compassion and enthusiasm, and readily draws upon her in-depth knowledge of the Sarasota and Manatee County markets. Her priority is to represent her client’s best interests, create a positive experience and fulfill their real estate goals.

“HALIE’S GOAL IS TO HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOURS.”

WHAT SETS YOUR BUSINESS APART? The Sarasota Gulf Coast Homes team mission is to deliver excellence and aim to exceed expectations in everything we do. In 2021, our team was honored to have helped 275 families with their real estate needs totaling over $131 million in sales. The Sarasota Gulf Coast Homes team earned the spot of the #1 Keller Williams team in Sarasota and Manatee Counties, #2 in the North Florida region and #6 in the entire state of Florida! Our team is educated on what it takes to be competitive and what it takes to win in today’s market because we stay on top of the ever changing market trends that we are seeing here in the Sarasota and Manatee areas.

Halie Roberson Sarasota Gulf Coast Homes Keller Williams on the Water M (941) 735-4707 1549 Ringling Blvd Suite 600, Sarasota, FL 34236 halieroberson@kw.com halie.sarasotagulfcoastrealtors.com halieroberson_realtor

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