The plan was for the Independence Day weekend to be a boon for Sarasota tourism in 2020.

“This year it would have been our biggest,” said Virginia Haley, president of Visit Sarasota County. “The Sarasota Grand Prix races would have been last weekend instead of falling on the 4th. So it would have been a 10-day holiday. Such is life.”

Instead the industry deals with one of its greatest obstacles in decades. The COVID-19 pandemic had a dramatic impact of travel, hotels and rentals, many of which closed completely for much of the spring while the state went into lockdown.

That contributed to the total Tourist Development Tax revenue collected in Sarasota County dropping from almost $4.3 million in March 2019 to under $2.6 million this year, a decline of almost $1.7 million. April, a slower month already, saw an even sharper decline. Revenue in April 2019 came in at more than $2.2 million, but dropped to $257,489, a nearly 89% decline.

Florida began a phased reopening in May, and tourist development tax reports are not yet available to show how much the industry rebounded. Moreover, a statewide surge in cases since reopening has generated negative attention, and forced five South Florida counties to shut down beaches for a second time this year amid concerns about holiday weekend crowds,

But in Sarasota and Manatee counties, beaches and businesses remained open through the Fourth of July this year. And despite nixing a major event that fills hotels, Haley said hospitality businesses have been positive about traffic this weekend.

“Reports are that the Fourth was still very good this year,” she said.

As for the Grand Prix, organizers next year plan to hold races June 25-27, again hopefully delivering a 10-day holiday to the Sarasota tourism industry. 

Photo courtesy Visit Sarasota County: Siesta Key Beach.

The State of Talent Conference (SOTC) is a premier one-day conference experience completely focused on the future of workforce and talent development. Powered by CareerSource Suncoast, with partnered host Game On Nation, this leadership-focused conference provides a unique insight into the current state of talent in the workforce. Each year, SOTC brings together some of the best speakers from across the nation focused on talent development to help businesses engage their most valuable assets. With 500+ attendees, participants leave with insightful management strategies, networking and inspiration from the lineup of speakers brought on. While the original live event was canceled this year in light of COVID-19, SOTC will now be providing a free and immersive digital experience on Thursday, July 16, 2020. Of the 10 speakers on board to present an engaging virtual presentation, SRQ connected with a few of the bright lights to hear what they're excited to bring to the table for our region's entrepreneurs and change-makers.

First up is Mark Brewer, Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy and President/CEO of Central Florida Foundation. With over 20+ years at the helm for the foundation, Brewer had earned respect by building a number of strong community partnerships, as well as working with hundreds of individuals, families and corporations to establish philanthropy plans, endowments, funding strategies, and planned gifts to produce measurable monetary results. 

SRQ: What are you most excited to bring to the SOTC conference this year? 

Mark: This is a moment for change in the world and the Independent sector has a leadership role. While many are scared by the dramatic and quick change to the economy and now must find new ways to make business models and operations work in the new economy post-COVID, and with an equity lens to help us heal.

What will your seminar topic cover and what influenced your theme?

The need for a solid theory of change and transformational leadership in the post-COVID world. As the pandemic continues and the impact of the recession sets in, nonprofits must define their civic value and create more diverse revenue streams. The best innovation requires disruption to begin the rebuilding process. There are many innovative ideas, but without the disruption, mostly nothing changes. The pandemic and America’s national reckoning over systemic racism are the disrupters that “norm” that will allow for innovation to take place. We should now move more quickly to solve complex problems that we’ve all been “working on” for a long time without success.

What ideals or tools went into developing your presentation?  

Social enterprises need to have strong theories of change. Tending to social issues is a process. Solving them or trending toward solutions requires a valid “if, then” statement. If we do this … then this will happen. A theory of change is validated in three ways–academic study, experience and data, or model validation. Transformational leadership refers to the knowledge and skills of volunteer leaders and boards of directors bring to a nonprofit organization. The ability to mix fiduciary, strategic, and generative leaders at the board table provides the right mix of leadership to execute outcome-based theories of change. 

What do you hope for Sarastoans to take away? 

In spite of the chaos in the world and the economy right now, we are in a unique time of change. All we need are willing communities of people to apply working strategies and leadership to make our way through the haze.

Do you have any practical advice or “a-ha” moments you had in your professional life you can share?

Change is what drives life. Better to have a solid strategy for action, rather than a plan. Plans go by the wayside easily. Strategies can be adjusted to accelerate or decelerate action based on the need. Anyone who had a strategic plan or business plan in February probably hasn’t looked at it since. 

Photo of President & CEO Mark Brewer, courtesy of Central Florida Foundation.

Register for the State of Talent live virtual conference here.

Grapevine Communications mixes "vivid visions with smart strategies," to help enhance the visibility of companies across multiple platforms. Print, web, news, social media - anywhere and everywhere potential consumers will connect with a brand, Grapevine is there to give clients a boost and "serve up refreshingly creative concoctions." Working with a team of writers, designers and developers, Grapevine creates advertising and marketing campaigns that strive to grab your attention. Allison Imre, President/CEO/Owner of Grapevine gave SRQ some insight into their recent rebranding, and how they've worked to adapt to the world's "new normal."

SRQ: What can clients expect from the Grapevine rebranding?

Allison Imre: The world has changed in the past few months. You could say that we changed with it. While continuing to serve the needs of our clients, we took this time to look in the mirror to see what was peeping back. What we saw was our own funny faces, each one glowing with personality, full of passion and eager to elicit a smile from those around us. That’s when it just clicked. Yes, we take the success of our clients very seriously… ourselves, not so much. And that’s what our clients love about working with our team. We’re here to get real results for those we serve, and we like to have fun along the way. So, we wanted our experience as individuals and as a company to be reflected in our new look, logo and website -- to show who we are and how we've evolved in the past few years.

It started with trademarking our tagline -- Creative. Strategic. Accountable.® This is our mantra and it demonstrates our confidence, stability, commitment and approachability. The change continued with our new logo and brand colors, which are more versatile, strong, clean, and straightforward. The brand refresh is the result of diligent teamwork and we’re proud of it. It represents the expectations we have for ourselves, our passion for our profession and our preference for not taking ourselves too seriously. Clients can expect us to continue to update and innovate while always looking for new ways to improve and help deliver optimal results.

SRQ: How has Grapevine adapted during COVID to best help clients needs?

Allison Imre: We are still 17 strong and we have a renewed determination to help our Suncoast community weather the storm. We've faced the same challenges as our fellow businesses. But even during this time of uncertainty, we're adapting by taking the advice we give our clients: Pivot, don’t panic. Seek opportunities to demonstrate compassion and leadership and to be a part of the solution for this new normal.

For some clients who have been hit with unforeseen challenges, we're helping them embrace the digital age and target consumers, shift spending, reevaluate messaging, win the Google game and maximize their social media footprints. We have also launched our own free Vine Time series to help all businesses in our community make their pivot and look to the future with hope and the promise of new opportunities. I know it’s cliché, but we are in this together, and we will come out on the other side stronger, better connected and ready for anything. 

5201 Paylor Lane, 941-351-0024, grapeinc.com

Click here for more information.

The Brain Health Initiative (BHI) is in search of future leaders of brain health to work with its scientists. Beginning this month and continuing through this fall, Brain Health Scholars will have the opportunity to work remotely with the BHI scientists and clinicians to promote and protect brain health, fight brain illness, and improve brain performance for all ages throughout the Suncoast region.

Representatives from collaborating school districts, independent schools, and youth organizations may submit nominations for Brain Health Scholars. Nominees should be youth leaders over the age of 15 who have an interest in science, medicine, and/or health and well-being. It is anticipated that the Brain Health Scholars will invest about 20 hours throughout the summer and fall and because they are working remotely, they must have reliable access to the internet.

“Brain Health Scholars will play an an important role in the research agenda associated with the BHI Community Brain Health Prioritization Survey in Sarasota and Bradenton,” said BHI Executive Director Dr. Stephanie Peabody. “We want to better understand the brain health and well-being concerns, values, priorities and attitudes of both youth and adults from the Suncoast region. This will be accomplished through a survey of issues related to brain health risk and protective factors as well as COVID-19 experience related to brain health and overall wellbeing in each community that leaders and citizens find to be important.” 

Click here for nominations.

Lucio Gordan, MD, President and Managing Physician of Florida Cancer Specialists Research & Institute (FCS), will lead an educational session at the Community Oncology Advocacy Summit, a national virtual meeting presented by the Community Oncology Alliance (COA). Scheduled for July 15, 2020, the one-day virtual conference will focus on patient advocacy and the impact of COVID-19 on cancer care.

Dr. Gordan’s session will review current data and provide insight into the operational and economic issues relating to cancer treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic; it will also include a discussion of the challenges in patient care and some projections for the future, as diagnostic procedures and surgeries resume.

 “Information technology plays a significant role in cancer treatment today,” said Gordan. “Through cancer informatics, local and national surveys, and predictive analytics, we can collect and analyze data from practices and patients who are affected by the COVID-19 crisis. These data provide insights that will help guide providers in developing protocols and tackling some of the crucial questions related to access to care and clinical matters. With rapid response to collected data, we can meet patient needs, as well as support practice operations in the future as this pandemic evolves.” 

Click here to register.

Each year, the organization’s esteemed Curatorial Council selects artists of extraordinary ability across multiple disciplines for Hermitage Fellowships. The Hermitage Curatorial Council is comprised of visionary leaders from some of the most renowned cultural institutions in the world.  

This year’s prestigious Council includes leaders from the highly respected Paris Review, Metropolitan Museum, Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center; professors from Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, and Julliard; and a social media art influencer. Among the awards earned and works championed by this august group are multiple Tonys, the MacArthur Genius Award, Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Award, multiple Grammys, New York Times Book Awards, two Pulitzer Prizes, and more. These curators recommend artists in all genres for Fellowships at the Hermitage. All resident artists present free community programs throughout our region.

“We are honored to welcome these visionary leaders to the Hermitage Curatorial Council,” says Andy Sandberg, the Artistic Director and CEO of the Hermitage. “These fourteen individuals share a collective passion for the development and creation of new work from bold and diverse voices, and we are incredibly fortunate to have them in the Hermitage family. With their breadth of experience, their vast networks, and their insightful ability to identify extraordinary talent, we know that the selection of our Fellows could not be in better hands.”  

The state of Florida has included $600,000 in its new budget to support Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ efforts to house its world-class scientific collections in facilities that will protect them from hurricanes and major storms. The appropriation came in a year when Governor Ron DeSantis vetoed more than $1 billion worth of projects in the wake of the state’s economic crisis related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Selby Gardens maintains the best scientifically-documented collections of orchids and bromeliads in the world, along with other plant collections, electronic databases, rare books, scientific journals, and digital images and video from 45 years of research by some of the world’s leading botanists. The collections are currently housed in older, former residential buildings on the Selby Gardens Downtown Sarasota campus that aren’t built to current hurricane standards. The appropriation will be of tremendous help as Selby Gardens looks to move the collections into modern, hurricane-resilient facilities as part of the master plan it has submitted to the City of Sarasota for approval.

“We could not have secured this appropriation without the phenomenal leadership of Senator Joe Gruters, as well as the support of our state legislators,” said Jennifer Rominiecki, President and CEO of Selby Gardens. “We are also thankful for the support of Governor DeSantis, who recognizes the value Selby Gardens’ vision for the future will bring to Sarasota and the entire state of Florida.” 

The same day that Americans for the Arts issued their COVID-19 arts impact updates (June 29), Governor DeSantis released his budget approving Culture and Museum grants funding recommendations totaling $13,600,000 supporting 489 Florida arts and cultural non-profits. These arts organizations receiving grants represent over 15,000 FTE Florida jobs and every grant requires a match; the very vast majority leverage these grants to generate an additional $5 for every $1 of State funding. 

A roundup of this year's paw-sitively paw-esome animal friends. 

Click here to read the full article from SRQ's Summer 2020 edition.

Join The Players Studio for some performing arts fun in the sun from July 7 through August 4 from 10:00am-11:00am. Amazing instructors from The Players Studio will be spending an hour on Tuesday and Thursday mornings teaching acting and dance in Bob Gardner Community Park, completely free. If you are looking for a way to stay active and get your fill of performing, join us! For ages 8-14. Masks will be required, and social distancing guidelines will be followed. This event is free thanks to generous funding from Lakewood Ranch Communities. If you have any questions about classes please call 941-365-2494.

Click here to register.

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) is pleased to announce that it will present an online improv festival the same weekend its annual Sarasota Improv Festival was slated to take place: Friday, July 10 through Sunday, July 12. Held completely online, this Festival features workshops, shows, and interviews with established improvisers from around the world, including Joe Bill (a founding member of Chicago’s Annoyance Theater), Craig Cackowski (Quartet, Orange Tuxedo), and Gael Perry (French improv troupe, La Carpe Haute).

“During this time of year, FST would be putting the final touches on our annual comedic extravaganza, the Sarasota Improv Festival,” said Will Luera, FST’s Director of Improvisation. “Due to COVID-19, we had to cancel this destination event. Though it can’t go on in its usual whirlwind Festival form, we’ve decided to virtually celebrate and recognize the event that has brought some of the best improv comedians in the world to Sarasota.”

Shows and interviews can be accessed for free on the Sarasota Improv Festival’s Facebook page. Workshops will be conducted over Zoom and cost $30 each. 

941-366-9000

Click here to register.

DOH Sarasota has scheduled two by appointment only COVID-19 testing dates in South Sarasota County at Heron Creek Middle School July 8 and 9. DOH Sarasota will have 100 COVID-19 tests available per day, appointments are required as demand for testing is high.

DOH Sarasota is prioritizing COVID-19 testing for anyone who is currently experiencing symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell) or who works in a health care setting, however, additional slots are available for those without current symptoms seeking a test.

To be evaluated and to make an appointment, please call 941-861-2883, Monday through Friday from 8:00am. to 5:00pm. 

The following state-run COVID-19 testing sites have been established for anyone regardless of symptoms, with no appointment necessary:

• Robert L. Taylor Community Center Walk-up testing site, located at 1845 34th St. Sarasota, open 9:00am. to 5:00pm daily, or until capacity is reached.
• The Mall at University Town Center Drive-thru testing site, located at 299 University Town Center Drive Sarasota, open 9:00am to 5:00pm daily, or until capacity is reached.
• Publix at Port Charlotte Crossing, located at 4265 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte, open daily from 9:00am to 5:00pm.,or until capacity is reached.

Click here for more information.