SRQ DAILY Sep 17, 2018
Monday Business Edition
"We're blown away, truly, to be just over one year in and already receive such a massive acknowledgment, especially from who we consider to be some of the most influential in our county."
A Sarasota company defining the way cars get sold online won recognition regionally for its innovative business model.
Dealers United, a company founded in 2012 to provide a resource for auto dealers to purchase products and services at competitive prices, won the Ringling College Innovation by Design Award last week at the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County’s annual meeting.
The honor came specifically for the design of “Facebook Inventory + VIN Lead Ads” that assists dealers in assessing shopper data. The company today boasts the greatest number of automotive success stories published by Facebook Business and has been deemed a “Top-Tier Facebook Partner,” one of only seven approved Facebook Marketplace Inventory Providers and a Top 10 Facebook Automotive Agency. The company has also been recognized as one of nine Oracle Elite Data Marketers.
“The innovation award is an amazing symbol of what our team has worked so hard to accomplish over the last 15 months,” says Pete Peterson, CEO of Dealers United. “We're blown away, truly, to be just over one year in and already receive such a massive acknowledgment, especially from who we consider to be some of the most influential in our county—with Ringling driving the creative side and EDC heading up growth and expansion—it's just an absolute honor.”
Dealers United co-founder Jesse Biter says the company’s success comes as much from assembling a good team. “It has taken a while to build a great team at DU but we're there," he says. "Everyone works well together, we have a great culture and we're making great strides forward."
Peterson says the award further validates how the company can compete with the major dealers. “It's incredibly meaningful for us to see how it's changed and improved our clients' sales processes,” he says. “It says a lot about our team as a whole. Obviously, we wouldn't be here without their hard work, their eagerness to combine just the right amounts of creativity and data analysis with technology, and then go so much further than that, always thinking, 'What MORE we can do?; How can we build it BETTER?' “
Besides the Innovation Award, the EDC also awarded The Observer Group CEO Matt Walsh with the Clyde Nixon Business Leadership Award and recognized their other clients, software company Codeware, digital marketing agency FloorForce and product manufacturer Swanky. Outgoing EDC Chair Rae Dowling of FPL turned over the reins to Benderson Development executive Larry Fineberg. 
Photo courtesy EDC: Ringling College President Larry Thompson presents award to Dealers United CEO Pete Peterson.
The Sarasota Farmers Market will be shifting one street over, beginning Saturday, September 22. The move is in response to safety concerns from ongoing construction activity of The Mark during market hours, and the bricking of Lemon Avenue in early 2019. The new market footprint will extend south to Main Street on Lemon Avenue, with a new addition of First Street from Lemon Avenue to Orange Avenue. The shift was initiated by the Sarasota Farmers Market Board of Directors, with the support of the City of Sarasota. Throughout this shift, the Sarasota Farmers Market will be open for it’s regular hours, 7am–1pm, rain or shine. The Market will be providing a shaded seating area, free kids activities and live music on the new Market Stage. It will also be rolling out several special events to engage the community and spread the word about the shift. The Market is also working with State Street merchants to support their viability during this shift.
Sarasota Orthopedic Associates has announced the relocation of its Lakewood Ranch facility to the future Lakewood Ranch Healthpark, currently under construction. Sarasota Orthopedic Associates will occupy 10,000 square feet on the first floor of the medical office building located within the C.O.R.E. project of Lakewood Ranch. The new SOA office at Healthpark will replace the existing location while doubling in size to better serve patients. The Collaboration Opportunities for Research and Exploration, or CORE, is a 300-acre development located at the intersection of SR 70 and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard. CORE is projected to focus on health sciences, higher education, biotech, research and related retail and hospitality uses. Healthpark at Lakewood Ranch will be a 46,000 square foot Class A medical office building developed by Optimal Outcomes based out of St Petersburg.
Fyzical Health, formerly University ENT Associates, has announced its expansion to a third location, now in Venice (4120 Woodmere Park Blvd, STE 5), as well as its two locations in Sarasota, along the Sarasota/Manatee county line—easily accessible for patients in both counties. With the expanded locations also comes expanded providers and expanded hours, including Saturdays in Sarasota. New otolaryngologists have joined the team: Dr. Julia Pfaff, DO, MPH from Philadelphia, Dr. Paige Lindberg, MD from Tampa and Dr. Paula Pyle, MD from Pensacola, bringing the total ENT providers to five, including Dr. Vien Phommachanh, MD and Dr. Arthur Schwartz, MD, JD.
Anna Maria Oyster Bar has announced that Cherise Sherwin, a staff member at the Landside Oyster Bar location, has been named the 2018 Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association’s “Restaurant Employee of the Year.” A wonderful member of the AMOB family for nearly 21 years (since Day One at the Landside location which opened in 1997), Sherwin was honored for her hard work, dedication to the company and generous spirit as a Hospitality Star of the Industry award winner. The popular Birthday & Anniversary Club was her idea—now with over 12,000 members—and Sherwin also walks with the AMOB “Shuck Cancer” Making Strides Against Breast Cancer team, sells ducks for PACE Center for Girls and volunteered to captain Dive Into Reading at Landside, the award-winning summer reading program for Title I elementary school children, making sure each one is fed, had a book and is having fun and learning.
Michael S. Gallatin will be heading up the Commercial Division at SaraBay Real Estate. Over his more than 25 years in both commercial and residential real estate, Gallatin has successfully closed many complex transactions, achieving a career sales volume of $70 million. He continues to specialize in the sale and lease of industrial property, retail, office and land in Florida. His comprehensive background in real estate also includes serving as owner and president of Michael Gallatin, LLC, in Annapolis, MD, where he engaged in and oversaw every element of operations—from contract preparation and negotiations to construction planning and quality control. Gallatin was also owner and president of Terrain, Inc., an engineering and surveying company where he planned, organized and managed all aspects of civil engineering projects in both commercial and residential land development.
Elizabeth P. Diaz, a trusts and estates attorney with Williams Parker, has been selected to participate in the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Sarasota County Class of 2019. The Chamber’s Leadership Sarasota County program offers participants an opportunity to foster leadership skills and enhance awareness of the community and its needs through community involvement, leadership training and education, as well as through a class project, which leaves a lasting impact on the community. Diaz focuses in the areas of taxation, estate planning and estate and trust administration. She currently serves on the board of Forty Carrots Family Center and on the Make-A-Wish Southern Florida Christmas in Candy Land Committee.
Congressman Vern Buchanan has announced that his bill, American Innovation Act of 2018 (H.R. 6756), intended to make it easier and less costly for an entrepreneur to start a new business, was approved this past Thursday by the House Ways and Means Committee. The full House will vote on the measure later this month. The bill, which passed committee in a bipartisan voice vote, would quadruple the amount of start-up costs small business owners can deduct from their federal income taxes, raising it from $5,000 to $20,000. The measure has the support of the Florida Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business. Only around 50 percent of new small businesses survive past their first five years, according to the Small Business Administration.
Most people agree attack ads from unknown political action committees (PACs), dropping gobs of "dark money" to influence voters, results in bad government.
City of Sarasota Commission elections have been free of those shenanigans. But residents will feel the toxic tide of dark money if a referendum to change the election date is approved.
Currently, the nonpartisan City Commission races are decided in the spring. But the ballot proposal (dubbed Change the Date) would shift city elections to coincide with August primaries and November general elections.
The interests behind Change the Date claim their sole agenda is to increase voter participation. If this were the only consequence, fine—but in the current political environment, moving the city election is a bear trap riddled with deleterious consequences. That’s why city voters must VOTE NO on the referendum this November.
Moving the spring elections to the August/November cycle—when partisanship and PAC money abound—would forever change the tone of city races and dampen the ability of grass-roots candidates to win seats. Transparency would suffer, because PACs aren't required to report their donor and spending information in time for citizens to research it before voting.
There would no longer be a fair playing field. A new breed of city candidates—financed by dark money, exactly as County Commissioners are now—would blast negative discourse and drown voters in dishonest attack mailers.
Furthermore, moving the election date to August would diminish civic engagement. The city's March election schedule gives candidates access to winter residents and neighborhood organizations. Those groups recess in the summer. Walking door-to-door in hot, humid weather in August will be challenging.
Who is behind the proposal? Change the Date backers paid $6,000 to Micro-targeted Media, owned by Christian Ziegler—the developers’ empty-suit County Commission candidate.
Hardly grassroots considering they paid approximately $9,000 to an army of petition gatherers to put this measure on the ballot. The move is bankrolled by the Chamber of Commerce ($18,000), The Argus Foundation ($18,000), Gulf Coast Builders Exchange ($10,000), Realtors Political Advocacy Committee ($5,000), and the Manatee-Sarasota Building Industry Association ($1,500). All are business, real estate and development organizations.
Please VOTE NO on the Change the Date referendum this November.
Virginia Hoffman is a Sarasota sculptor and Arlington Park leader.
Join SRQ Magazine's Senior Editor Jacob Ogles for an analysis of the results from every major contest in Sarasota and Manatee counties, including legislative primaries, county elections and school board races on Thursday, September 20, 2018 from 7:30am to 9:00am at SRQ Studios.The $5 cover includes coffee and donuts courtesy of Five-O Donut Co.
When you reserve your space in the LOVELOCAL GUIDEBOOK you share your story with visitors and residents throughout the year with personalized quotes, gorgeous environmental portraits, and powerful social media visibility. Contact Associate Publisher Ashley Ryan Cannon at 941-365-7702 x211 or growmybusiness@srqme.com
Calling all home builders, renovation specialists, interior designers, designers and contractors! Share the top home design trends and any notable recent residential home projects in our annual Fall House+Home Portfolio.
A selection of watercolors drawn from The Ringling’s permanent collections, illustrating various ways artists have used the medium. The exhibition will feature works by Edward Hopper, Charles Burchfield and Childe Hassam, among others.
The Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota.
Join SRQ Magazine Senior Editor Jacob Ogles for Where the Votes Are on Thursday, September 20, 2018 from 7:30-9am at the SRQ Studios. Ogles will analyze and deconstruct results from every major contest in Sarasota and Manatee counties, including legislative primaries, county elections and school board races. The $5 cover includes coffee and donuts courtesy of Five-O Donut Co. Coffee and donuts at 7:30am. Presentation 8am-9am. Click here to RSVP.
SRQ Studios, 331 S. Pineapple Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236
Join the Designing Daughters for Dining for a Difference, a community wide, dine out event featuring 20+ local Sarasota and Manatee County Restaurants who will donate a portion of all sales made on September 20 back to the Designing Daughters Grants Program for local Children and Family charities. Simply grab your friends, colleagues and neighbors, pick a participating restaurant and enjoy a meal. No ticket, no fancy clothes, just a night out with your favorite people.This simple act will make a huge impact for local families in need.
Multiple locations, Multiple locations
Sure-shootin’ Annie Oakley can win prizes with her marksmanship, but she can’t get a man…or can she? This slice of magical American musical theatre still thrills audiences with the classic tunes of the legendary Irving Berlin.
The Players Centre for Performing Arts, 838 North Tamiami Trl., Sarasota.
Join the Center for Architecture Sarasota and Germane Barnes for a meetup and lecture. What is the role of the architect and architecture in today's intersetional environment? Can the architect, once singularly viewed as the master builder, be held responsible for non-inclusive space?
Center for Architecture, 265 S Orange Ave, Sarasota
Truly Valued presents its 2nd Annual Taste of New Orleans Benefit Dinner, at Michaels on the Bay at Selby Gardens with speaker Captain Todd Shear of the Manatee County Sheriff's Office and a night of entertainment with NuJazz. All proceeds support Truly Valued's mission of building self-esteem, confidence and character to promote a positive self- image, positively impact educational and career aspirations and improve academic achievement in adolescent girls. Dinner is complimentary and an opportunity to make a financial gift will be extended during the event.
Michaels on the Bay at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens', 900 South Palm Ave., Sarasota.
Learn how to build the perfect charcuterie board while supporting pediatric cancer research. Inspired by Benjamin Gilkey’s love of charcuterie, admission includes wine and appetizers from Louies Modern, a handcrafted charcuterie board to take home, pairing education from local experts and the chance to create your own palette of fine meats, cheeses and delicious accoutrements, provided by local artisans. Proceeds benefit The Benjamin Gilkey Fund for Innovative Pediatric Cancer Research, which supports groundbreaking studies led by physicians at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.
Louies Modern, 1289 North Palm Ave., Sarasota.
25 designers ages 8–16 are encouraged to use repurposed/recyled materials in their creations. Most of them will also wear their outfits in the runway show, adding self-confidence and stage presence as skills gained. The participants are treated to a professional fashion photoshoot for the program guide, as well as professional hair and makeup stylists backstage to complete their look. Proceeds from the event benefit the expansion of the Art Center's youth art education programs and help students who are in need of financial assistance receive scholarships.
Art Center Sarasota, 707 North Tamiami Trl., Sarasota.
Forty Carrots Family Center's Annual Free Community Speaker Event presented in partnership with Community Foundation of Sarasota County returns for a 16th year featuring best-selling author and parenting expert, Dr. Michele Borba. She will be discussing “How to Cultivate Mentally-Healthy, Resilient, Empathetic Children (Despite a Trophy-Giving, Anxiety-Driven, Helicoptered and Bubble-Wrapped Culture)” and “UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About Me World.” In these free presentations, parents and educators will learn how to shift children's focus from I, me, and mine, to us, we and ours. With examples from years of research, Dr. Michele Borba will offer a framework that yields successful, happy kids who grow up to be kind, moral, courageous and resilient adults.
Community Foundation of Sarasota County and Riverview High School Performing Arts Center, 2635 Fruitville Rd., Sarasota; 1 Ram Way, Sarasota.
Don't miss out on this year's amazing Grey Matters Luncheon Symposium benefitting The Roskamp Institute. This year's Alzheimer's Disease-Research based Symposium will focus on lifestyle, wellness and healthy aging. For information or to be added to this year’s waiting list please call Megan Micale at (941) 552-9832.
Michael's on the Bay at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 811 South Palm Ave., Sarasota.
Join the American Cancer Society as they reveal the 2018 Real Men Wear Pink of Sarasota–Manatee. The candidates will participate in a fashion show, hosted by the tenants of the Mall at University Town Center. Come out and see which men in our community are dedicated to raising funds and awareness to help fight breast cancer. Light refreshments will be served.
The Grand Court at The Mall at UTC, 140 University Town Center Dr., Sarasota.
Taking place in the 1950s on the South Side of Chicago, the story revolves around a working class black family aspiring to a better life after the death of their father. Hope is sparked by the arrival of a $10,000 life insurance check. But conflicts arise when mother and son want to spend the money in different ways.
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 North Orange Ave., Sarasota.
Made for speed, SkillSHARE is the basics of mentorship concentrated into mini-sessions that encourage honest interactions and allow for spontaneous connection. This event is a way to meet like-minded professionals, make valuable connections and get straight to your most burning questions about career and personal development. Each participant will be paired with several mentors for mini-sessions. Lasting from 10-12 minutes, each mini-session is unstructured, allowing for conversation, guidance and direction from each mentor.
SRQ Studios, 331 S Pineapple Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
Music Compound is ready to kick off the fall season with the 4th annual Beer, Bands & BBQ. This will be a day for the whole family, with craft and domestic beers, local BBQ favorites, top local bands and local businesses supporting the talent. Not only will there be traditional BBQ to look forward to but also BBQ with a twist, with menu items such as BBQ chicken pizza and more. At this event, everyone can enjoy the music that they love with different genres playing each hour.
Music Compound , 1751 Cattlemen Rd, Sarasota, FL 34232
Don Bryn, Joseph Holt, Andrew Lapp, Thomas Purviance and Jonathan Spivey; this year joined by Genevieve Beauchamp, Avis Romm, Lee Dougherty Ross, Milana Strezeva and Aza Torshkoeva. Five Steinway Concert Grand pianos direct from New York and featuring ten renowned pianists performing familiar classics and popular songs.
Sarasota Opera House, 61 North Pineapple Ave., Sarasota.
Join SRQ MEDIA as we celebrate 20 years of superlative
coverage, community engagement and living hyper-local at
LaStrada | SRQ’s 20th Anniversary Street Festival!
Dolphin Street, Downtown Sarasota, FL 34236
SRQ DAILY is produced by SRQ | The Magazine. Note: The views and opinions expressed in the Saturday Perspectives Edition and in the Letters department of SRQ DAILY are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by SRQ Media. Senior Editor Jacob Ogles edits the Saturday Perspective Edition, Letters and Guest Contributor columns.In the CocoTele department, SRQ DAILY is providing excerpts from news releases as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SRQ DAILY. The views expressed by individuals are their own and their appearance in this section does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. For rates on SRQ DAILY banner advertising and sponsored content opportunities, please contact Ashley Ryan Cannon at 941-365-7702 x211 or via email |
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