Aside from the elevated seating areas, fully-loaded kitchen, funky decor and unique studio nooks, Erin Cigich, CEO of Clickbooth, has been a key player in establishing the premier tech-enabled company, headquartered in the growing tech city of Sarasota. Beyond its home base on Cattleman Road, its bandwidth continues to span globally, with satellite offices in Denver, CO and Banja Luka, Bosnia, including remote employees that bridge Israel to California and Canada. While the culture and feel of the company is that of a startup, Clickbooth has existed for over 17 years and continues to be recognized as the #1 CPA (Cost-Per-Action) network in the world by mThink Blue Book for three years running.

The company also recently brought home the title of Tampa Bay Business Journal’s #2 Best Place to Work Award. Clickbooth's digital marketing expertise currently leads the burgeoning industry of “strategic performance-marketing solutions” in a digital era saturated with companies promising agile customer acquisitions—keeping its reputable reputation with businesses and entrepreneurs by acquiring new customers at scale and connecting them to promotion partners, or “Affiliates,” who are experts in driving high-quality traffic of a particular product or service online.

"Clickbooth has achieved phenomenal growth by powering the customer acquisition goals of our clients, a mix of top brands and rising entrepreneurs,” says Cigich. “When clients work with us they are only paying for real customers—it's a model that is performance-based and strategic.”

And while much of Clickbooth’s work largely takes place on a computer screen or through a phone call, Vibe Manager Ryan Hill recognized the immediate importance of an inspiring office atmosphere, and designed the space to be conducive for creative thinking and networking gatherings, while embodying the company's vibrant culture. 

“We are in league with some of the most innovative  national corporations, and we consistently outperform other networks through a competitive blend of proprietary platform technology and an incredible, motivated team,” he says. 

Matching the walk to the talk, the Sarasota offices recently underwent a fully-renovated sweep for a more modern and eclectic design—right on par with hip city startups and companies known for their cool offices, like Google or Amazon. The new interior promises employee productivity and superior quality of work life. “Supporting national and international clients, our team works very hard—with our new offices we wanted to optimize every part of their experience," says Cigich. "What we feel sets our culture apart is the ability for someone to come in, build a career and make a real impact on the industry.”

Clickbooth recently teamed up with Pete Peterson, CEO of Dealers United to form Silicon Beach SRQ, a networking group for professionals in the Sarasota area with a focus on AdTech and MarTech. The group’s mission is to provide these professionals and other local businesses the opportunity to connect and grow. The new quarterly power-up mixer will kick off at the new office space on October 9 (401 North Cattlemen Rd., Sarasota).  

Photo by Ali Kesner of Kesner Creative Photography.

Follow Clickbooth.

It won't be a long weekend, but it can still be a fruitful one. The Collective returns to the Westfield Siesta Key Mall this weekend for a brick and mortar artisan pop-up shopping experience. The free-to-attend pop-up market hosted by Simply Events, an exclusive twist to Tampa Bay’s Most Unique Shopping Experience, will feature 20 of the best local decor artists and makers from Shabby Chic Vintage Market & Artisan Days. 

From small accents such as pillows, collectibles, candles, wall art and seasonal wreaths, to large furniture such as tables, vanities, desks, dressers, chairs and headboards, The Collective features a boho-chic selection of unique home finds and furnishings, and gets better year after year. 

Saturday, September 7, 10am - 8pm.
Sunday, September 8, 12pm - 5pm. 

Photo courtesy of Hillgrove Vintage.

The Collective Facebook Event Page.

Following intensive deliberations and based on forecasts from the Tampa Bay – Ruskin office of the National Weather Service, the School District of Manatee County and Sarasota County Schools will hold school as regularly scheduled today, Tuesday, September 3.

School District of Manatee County Superintendent Cynthia Saunders and Sarasota County Schools Superintendent Todd Bowden have been in communication with each other through the weekend as well as with superintendents in other southwest Florida school districts. Both Bowden and Saunders ultimately agreed that schools should be open for the following reasons: Emergency Management Operations in both counties de-escalated activity on Saturday, August 31, without opening a shelter in either county; forecasts from the National Weather Service office in Ruskin since Saturday have consistently stated that the expected impact on southwest Florida counties is expected to be “minimal”; while wind levels may be elevated, they are not expected to come close to standards required to impact school bus transportation services; and thunderstorm activity in both counties is expected to be typical for this time of year.

Students in either county who are kept home tomorrow due to Hurricane Dorian will be able to receive an excused absence.

Schools in both Manatee and Sarasota Counties will open and close at their regular times, transportation will function as usual and after school activities, athletics and aftercare will operate as previously scheduled. 

School District of Manatee County

Brian D. Hall has just been named senior vice president and community president for CenterState’s Sarasota/Manatee Market effective immediately. Hall takes leadership of commercial and retail banking for Sarasota and Manatee counties following the recent retirement of Jim Kuhlman. Hall joined CenterState Bank in 2013 after serving eight years as president, CEO and organizing director of Sarasota-based Sabal Palm Bank. He also held various senior management positions with the former SouthTrust Bank in Sarasota, as well as for Star Bank and Irwin Union Bank in Ohio and Indiana. Previously, he served as a Regional Director and past Campaign Chair of United Way Suncoast, and served as past Director and Treasurer of the Education Foundation of Sarasota County. 

Reporting to Hall will be Chris Perkins, Area Executive/Commercial Team Leader, who now takes on the additional oversight of commercial banking for Sarasota County as well as Manatee County. Also reporting to Hall is Renee Brady, Private Banking Team Leader, who oversees the local Private Bank as well as Cindy Denison, Retail Market Manager, who oversees all nine full-service branches across both counties. 

CenterState Bank

Following its annual summer hiatus, the Local Group of Deep Sky Observers, a Bradenton/Sarasota group of astronomy enthusiasts, has announced the return of Sidewalk Astronomy for another season of outdoor events. Weather permitting, on Saturday, September 7, starting at 7:45pm, and continuing until at least 10:30pm, the members of the Local Group will set up their high-quality telescopes for public viewing in the parking lot at the southeastern corner of Sarasota's Celery Fields Park.

Home to the Sarasota Audubon Society, located at 6893 Palmer Boulevard, Sarasota, public parking will be available just west of the Nature Center building. The telescopes will be set up in the parking lot on the east side of the Nature Center. Telescopes will not be set up at the top of the hill.

Observing highlights will include spectacular views of the gorgeous ringed planet Saturn, as well as the giant planet Jupiter and the waxing gibbous moon. Other deep-sky wonders will also be observed as they become visible during the evening.

As always, Sidewalk Astronomy is free of charge and is open to people of all ages. 

Local Group of Deep Sky Observers

Are you an architect, interior designer, contractor, builder, or developer? Submit a recent project to the 4WALLS Design Competition. We're looking for the best multi-unit projects designed as public or private spaces.

The competition is open to multi-family, commercial or mixed use buildings, new home communities and public spaces. Your project does not have to be fully realized, but must have complete renderings to be considered.

The 4WALLS winners will be announced in the December 2019 edition of SRQ Magazine. 

Learn more and submit your entry HERE