While many who participate in the community conversations propel the region forward, it’s the presence of strong individuals that often shape and drive the news. That’s as true on the Gulf Coast as everywhere else. For the first time, SRQ Media Group will recognize the most important newsmakers of 2017 through installments of SRQ Daily released every day this week. The individuals selected were chosen by our editorial team based on meaningful impact within the fields where they demonstrated leadership, effectively redirecting action and dialogue. In the arenas of business, politics, food, philanthropy, architecture and culture, these individuals made headlines and exacted permanent change to the course of events. Sometimes the work done by individuals came after years, or even decades, of service to a specific cause. Sometimes achievements came from fast action made with focus and efficiency. The efforts in some cases were controversial, with the priorities of the newsmakers advanced ahead of contradictory agendas, but it was the vision of these individuals that won out for better or for worse, and the Gulf Coast has been changed in lasting ways. 

Al Carlson knows the value of engineers. As CEO of Sun Hydraulics for 16 years, finding college graduates with training in engineering always proved difficult. Now as the first director of University of Florida’s Innovation Station, he will help fill the gap in the workforce. “It’s going to open doors,” Carlson says. “It’s not just about engineering. It’s about economic development for the local area and the entire state of Florida.” And that promise to improve an entire industry, Carlson has also earned the title of SRQ’s business newsmaker of the year.

Carlson in fact has been involved since 2014 in attracting the University of Florida to open an engineering program here. “At first, it was not particularly to champion the program but to push it as CEO of a local company,” Carlson says. Sun Hydraulics faces such challenges in finding engineering grads that the company worked with students before they graduated high school hoping to encourage the children to study engineering later.

When UF leaders in March announced plans to open the first extension campus for the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, Carlson was among the business leaders lauding the news at a press conference at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota. Then in May, UF announced the recently retired CEO would be the campus’ first director. Carlson since has assembled a team, including a workforce coordinator, industry coordinator and K-12 outreach director. The university will soon announce a permanent location for the Innovation Station, Carlson says. From here, Carlson is eager to start working with tomorrow's engineers.  

“This is just the first Innovation Station in Sarasota; it will be one of many going forward,” he notes. “There is a lot of opportunity that will be born out of more people having a technical background. Computer science and engineering, that’s where the jobs are. We’re creating an atmosphere for young entrepreneurs to start companies.”

Honorable Mention: Michael Klauber, chairman of Bayfront 20:20, put into motion plans to reimagine the Sarasota Bayfront. Steve Queior announced his retirement after years as president of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce. Elliott Falcione, director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, moved ahead with plans for a convention center hotel.

All this week, SRQ Daily names a newsmaker of the year for 2016. Individuals selected were chosen by our editorial team based on meaningful impact within a field where they have demonstrated leadership, effectively redirecting community conversation in important and lasting ways. Read tomorrow's edition to learn the political newsmaker of the year. 

The Friendship Centers, a nonprofit organization serving older adults in Southwest Florida for more than 40 years, has received a $2,500 grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County Elderly Human Services Fund, a program of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. The funding will be used to purchase multi-purpose, convertible conference tables for use in training programs and meetings at the Friendship Centers. 

Community Foundation of Sarasota County

Williams Parker has announced that Teen Court of Sarasota, Inc., has named attorney Erin Hope Christy as its Alumni of the Month for December 2016. Teen Court of Sarasota, Inc., provides students ages 8-18 with educational youth development activities that are designed to meet the specific needs of at-risk youth and student volunteers. In an attempt to make the community safer by reducing juvenile delinquency, all youthful participants become engaged in activities tailored to confront the many challenges facing youth in Sarasota County. 

Williams Parker

Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate CARES, the charitable arm of Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, presented a $700 donation to Goodwill Manasota’s Veterans Services Program. Through the Veterans Services Program, Goodwill Manasota works to help returning servicemen and women reintegrate back into their families, communities and jobs. The mission of Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate CARES is to give back to the communities and neighborhoods in which its members live and serve by providing charitable contributions and volunteer support, thus strengthening and reinforcing its commitment to creating a lasting source of unity, hope and vision. Since its inception, Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate CARES has raised more than $4.2 million for local not-for-profit charities and programs throughout Florida. 

Coldwell Banker

Join SRQ Media for our dynamic SB2: GOOD EDUCATION–Learning for a Lifetime breakfast symposium on Thursday, January 26, 2017 from 7:30am–9:00am at The Francis, Downtown Sarasota. Local community leaders will give us insight on the adaptations going into innovative thinking in the K-100+ education experience in the Sarasota-Bradenton region. Keynote Mary Chance, President of the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations, will discuss the organization’s representation of 61 county-wide school district education foundations that collectively raise more than $63 million annually for targeted initiatives to increase student achievement. Special guest panelists include: Dr. Larry Thompson, President, Ringling College of Art and Design; Jennifer Vigne, President, Education Foundation of Sarasota County; and Mireya Eavey, Executive Director, CareerEdge. Tickets are $35 per person and include a buffet breakfast. 

Reserve tickets.