Sarasota officials joined with leaders of Florida TaxWatch on Wednesday in encouraging citizens to participate in the 2020 Census.

"Getting the census right is not just about knowing how many people call our beautiful city home, importantly, it guides the distribution of federal dollars into this community,” said Mayor Liz Alpert. “That means in 2020, millions of dollars are on the line and dependent on us getting a full and accurate count of every resident in Sarasota."

Notably, members of the all-Democrat City Commission joined with a politically conservative group to stress the importance of the region being counted correctly.

“The importance of the 2020 Census cannot be overstated. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, omissions in Florida in the 2010 Census were as high as 1.3 million, equivalent to more than three times the population of Sarasota County,” said Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic Calabro. “As Florida prepares to welcome more than three million new residents over the next 10 years, there has never been a more important time to ensure every single Floridian is accounted for so we get our full and fair share of federal resources.”

TaxWatch officials pointed to a PicewaterhouseCoopers report that showed in the 2000 Census that showed the Census failed to count roughly 200,670 people, which over the next decade cost the state an estimated $2.5 billion in federal grants.

City Commissioner Shelli Freeland Eddie said the city will employ a Complete County Committee, which launches its efforts Nov. 20 at Sarasota City Hall. “With the census now just five months away, we are fighting every day to make the most of this opportunity to secure every federal resource Sarasota families rightfully deserve,” Eddie said.

Manatee County developer and Florida TaxWatch President Pat Neal, a former state senator, said it’s key federal and state officials know the population in the region to better assess its needs.

“As the eyes and ears of Florida’s taxpayers, and the state’s premier government watchdog for the past 40 years,” Neal said, “TaxWatch knows well the importance of getting a full and fair return on our federal tax dollars and we’re encouraged by the hard work of the City of Sarasota to make sure all their residents are counted.” 

When a guest comes to experience Hyatt Regency Sarasota’s Resort-style hotel with a dramatic bayside setting and modern amenities, they find the perfect blend of a beautiful waterfront setting, authentic hospitality and the welcoming comforts of home. Beyond the aesthetics of the Hyatt Sarasota, there is an abiding and loyal trail of tenured employees, heartfelt stories between hotel staff and guests, a continued growth of community partners, events held for various local businesses, and the multiple remodels of modern facilities and amenities.

Since its lobby doors opened in 1974 as Sarasota’s first full-service hotel in the downtown area, the Hyatt Sarasota is taking a look back at all it has accomplished—from checking guests from all over the world into its 294 guest rooms, to seating and feeding 800 people for a gala in one of the largest ballrooms in the city. And after 45 years of local and global engagement, it’s time to take a look ahead at what is in sight for the next 45 years, with a large scale renovation in the works for 2020. Apart from Hyatt Hotels’ namesake, Hyatt Regency Sarasota continues to exist as its own entity and celebrate the unique legacy it is leaving and leading for the region.

“It’s the sense of arrival that really makes you feel like you’re walking into our home,” says Director of Sales & Marketing, Debbie DeVito. “Our people are what set us apart from the rest. You’ll never see anyone without a smile on their face, from our dishwashers to our general manager. There’s really a wonderful sense of home here at the Hyatt.” DeVito is quick to take note that Hyatt Sarasota’s success is largely attributed to as many wonderful clients as wonderful colleagues. Indeed, every job gets tough— with their own set of stresses and challenges—but that’s what’s so great about having a strong team to get by. “I love to come to work everyday, first of all,” says General Manager Marcia Dmochowski Clark. “I walk into this hotel and I see that beautiful view of the Marina, and then I get to interact with our team, which is more like one big family. We help each other get through the rough times as well as celebrate the good times.”  

The Hyatt Regency Sarasota | 1000 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota, FL

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CareerEdge Funders Collaborative, the workforce development initiative of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, recently launched a 15 insurance video series as part of a larger insurance industry talent recruitment campaign. The videos, which feature firsthand accounts of the diverse career opportunities found in the insurance industry, were created in response to a skill gap study and subsequent employer-based branding committee organized by CareerEdge.

“These videos are very helpful when trying to educate people about the amazing career opportunities afforded by the insurance industry,” says Michael A. Moran, President of Wilde Insurance Services. CareerEdge’s overall solution plan offers resources that are accessible to the entire community, forged by community-wide collaboration. CareerEdge is working with Sarasota County Schools on an Insurance Career Awareness month in February and recently launched a 4-40 Insurance Customer Service Representative License and soft-skills Fast-Track Training for 12 participants in partnership with the Women’s Resource Center and the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. They also worked to have a 4-40 Insurance Customer Service training added to the curriculum at Suncoast Technical College. 

The videos are available for download here. 

A new networking group launched with a nearly 100 people attending, representing about 25 local companies at Sarasota-based Clickbooth’ s headquarters. They were all technology firms, or heavy users of technology, and they represented part of the economic future of the county. The new networking group, called Silicon Beach SRQ, is emblematic of the changes in the Sarasota County economic landscape as the technology arena blossoms here — and specifically in the advertising technology and marketing technology sector, in industry parlance known as ad tech and mar tech. Some of the firms in this space include DealersUnited, Clickbooth, AdRizer, Revcontent, AtLarge, AdHawk/FloorForce and more, plus a host of companies that increasingly rely on info tech professionals.

“Sarasota is known as a retirement destination, but there are many things that are attractive to do for people of all ages,” said Ami DeWille, Vice President of Marketing for Clickbooth. “Silicon Beach SRQ is a resource for professionals, allowing them to get more plugged in and to become aware of what this community has to offer. Our hope is that it will help them feel more connected to the community as a whole.”

For the full article by Mark Huey, president and chief executive officer of the Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County, click here. And for more information on Silicon Beach SRQ, the SCF coding academies and other technology initiatives, visit the EDC here. 

City administrative offices will be closed Monday, November 11, in observance of the Veterans Day holiday. Garbage, recycling and yard waste pickups will not be affected. The City, in conjunction with the Sarasota Patriotic Observance Committee, will also host the 2019 Veterans Day parade and ceremony on Monday, November 11. The parade will begin at 10 am at Main Street and Osprey Avenue and will end at Chaplain J.D. Hamel Park at the corner of Main Street and Gulfstream Avenue, where an 11 am ceremony will be held. This year’s parade theme is “All Gave Some . . . Some Gave All . . . We May Not Know Them All . . . We Owe Them All.” The ceremony will feature guest speaker and retired U.S. Army Col. Michael P. Ryan, who served 10 years as senior Army instructor at Sarasota Military Academy, and a performance by the Sarasota Jazz Club Band. Those interested in participating should contact Dan Kennedy, Patriotic Observance Committee chairman, at 941-812-5406. 

Sarasota County Schools and Newtown Alive are pleased to announce an exciting and impactful partnership. Starting in the winter of 2020, Southside Elementary School will become a destination on the Newtown Alive trolley tour. The stop will feature a memorial plaque in honor of Mrs. Dorothye Smith, the first African American principal hired within the integrated school system in Sarasota County, to celebrate and recognize her leadership at Southside Elementary. “As a district, it’s important for us to recognize the incredible impact our African American school leaders have had, and continue to have, on our school communities,” noted Dr. Laura Kingsley, assistant superintendent/chief academic officer of Sarasota County Schools. “We are honored to help celebrate the life of Mrs. Dorothye Smith, as well as the love and expertise she poured into her students as an educator. Newtown Alive is a gift to our community that provides a wealth of cultural and historical insights into African American pioneers and the development of Sarasota. We are excited for children and families to experience the trolley tour in its entirety along with new curriculum, and look forward to collaborating on more educational opportunities in the future.”

Newtown Alive and the school district are actively seeking community partners, individuals and organizations who are interested in contributing to commemorating the legacy of Mrs. Dorothye Smith. If you are passionate about enriching the cultural landscape of Sarasota County and want to become more involved, please visit newtownalive.org or visit the legacy campaign’s GoFundMe page for more information. 

BayView Dental is excited to welcome Dr. Anthony Castellano to our Stickney Point office, located at 2477 Stickney Point Rd. Suite 109B in Sarasota. Dr. Anthony Castellano received his D.M.D. from Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry with a Summa Cum Laude distinction. He was also inducted into Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the national dental honor society. He earned his Bachelor of Science from Boston College, and is originally from Clarks Summit, PA.Since graduating from dental school, Dr. Castellano has been honing his clinical skills, by providing high-quality comprehensive dental services in private practice in Philadelphia, PA. As a member of the American Dental Association, Anthony is always working to stay up to date with the newest/best technology and techniques. His calm demeanor and clinical expertise help gain the confidence of even the most wary of dental patients. His passion for dentistry is undeniable, as is his desire to treat his patients as if they were his own family. 

The full-service Coastal Orthopedics recently selected orthopedic spine surgeon Dr. Patrick Dermarkarian and shoulder, elbow and sports medicine specialist Dr. R. Stephen Otte to join its highly skilled staff. Dr. Dermarkarian is trained in all aspects of spine surgery, including complex adult and pediatric deformities of the spine, as well as minimally invasive and motion preservation procedures. “What drew me to Coastal Orthopedics was the sense of unity,” said Dr. Dermarkarian. “The physicians seemed to be on each other’s side, supportive and willing to help one another out. They are all highly trained and intelligent yet are very encouraging of each other and have developed their own community. Their No. 1 goal is to take care of patients the best way possible.” Dr. Otte is a shoulder, elbow and sports medicine specialist. While his specialty is shoulder replacement surgery, with a specific interest in complex rotator cuff management and joint replacement of the shoulder, Dr. Otte also treats sports-related shoulder and elbow injuries. “The culture of the group at Coastal Orthopedics was great,” says Dr. Otte. “I got a really great overall impression of the camaraderie of the group, and I felt like it was a good fit.” For more than 45 years, Coastal Orthopedics’ highly skilled staff of physicians and surgeons has treated patients in specialty care, including sports medicine, joint replacement, pain management and rehabilitation. Now, the company is home to 19 orthopedic surgeons and pain management physicians.