The year has barely begun but the players in a major Sarasota County Commission race in 2024 may already have thrown their hats in the ring.

Republicans Teresa Mast and Ray Pilon both filed to succeed County Commissioner Mike Moran in District 1. Moran cannot seek a second term because of term limits.

Mast, a former School Board candidate, filed her paperwork on Jan. 2. The Sarasota County Planning Commissioner brings close ties to the business community as a board member of the Building Industry Association and the founding chair of the Professional Women in Building Council.

“Our county needs a Commissioner with the business experience and relationships that will allow us to grow smarter and catch up on investing in the things we need instead of wasting people’s hard-earned money on whims and wants,” Mast said. “By relying on the same core conservative principles Gov. (Ron) DeSantis has used to govern, we can deliver the services our neighborhoods rely on, without raising taxes.”

Pilon filed for the district seat on Jan. 6. He previously served on the county commission from 1996 to 2000, and later served three terms in the Florida House of Representatives. He promised to bring a change in philosophy away from pursuit of growth. He publicly announced his candidacy at a Sarasota Republican Women’s Club meeting. He will bring back a frequent campaign motto with his return to the ballot.

“It’s time for a change. We can’t change the past but we can plan for a better future,” Pilon announced on Twitter. “Hey Hey Vote For Ray! This time for Sarasota County Commission Dist 1.  Time for a change. Time to reign in our growth mania.”

Both candidates bring proven ability to raise funds and a level of experience on the ballot.

With a switch to single-member voting approved before 2020 and affirmed in a special election last year, only voters in District 1 will vote in the election. The district covers most of northeast Sarasota County north of State Road 72, including the Sarasota County portion of Lakewood Ranch and unincorported areas east of the city of Sarasota. 

Photo: Teresa Mast, Ray Pilon.

Rich and Denise Fox have joined RE/MAX Platinum Realty as Realtors in the Venice, Florida, office. They moved to Florida from Mount Airy, Maryland, where they were agents with RE/MAX Realty Centre, earning the RE/MAX Hall of Fame and RE/MAX Lifetime Achievement awards. Both are Graduates of the Realtor Institute (GRI) and ePros. Known as the Fox Team, they offer expert negotiation skills, outstanding marketing plans, staging services and top-notch customer service. Rich enjoys golf and Denise likes yoga and music. The both enjoy spending time with their two golden retrievers and Jeep “ducking.” The Venice office is located at 307 W. Venice Avenue, Venice, Florida 34285. The Fox Team can be reached at (941) 218-0347 or TheFoxTeam@TheFoxTeam.net. 

Founded in 1958, Financial Access Federal Credit Union have added new Select Employer Groups (SEG), Associations and Organizations, and are pleased to say we are growing! We continue to serve individuals who live, work, attend school or worship in the CDFI Investment Eligible Areas of Manatee and Sarasota counties to provide comprehensive, innovative, personalized, and affordable products. We are making a difference in the community. Financial Access FCU’s providing a loan resulted in saving an employee’s job! Kelly Quickel of New Dawn Electric, one of our Select Employer Groups, recently shared an employee success story with us. "New Dawn Electric was approached by Financial Access Federal Credit Union to be able to provide financial products to our team of employees who may not have had access to them otherwise. Under our employer umbrella, these products have more favorable interest rates than other banking institutions just because of the mere fact that our employees are working for our organization, which is aligned with FAFCU. We had a dynamic individual in our office who had started working for us in June. Unfortunately, she was staying with her parents who suddenly moved to South Carolina, and she was faced with a decision. She had just relocated from Colorado and didn't have the means to stay in this area in a moments' notice, with the rising cost of living surge. She was about to turn in her notice and move out of the state when it clicked with her that she had access to a program for a loan thru FAFCU. She quickly applied and was approved, and this loan gave her the means to secure an apartment with a down payment and first month's rent. This stellar individual has been able to not only stay with us but become a key employee in our organization. A true rising star who just needed a break. We are grateful to FAFCU for being there for our employee and our company and would encourage other Bradenton/Sarasota Employers to find out more about their programs to help everyone continue to better themselves and their organizations!" 

The Evolution at 111 Golden Gate Point has moved full speed ahead after the construction of this modern eight-story luxury residential building has been halted since March of 2022. After a failure to meet several construction milestones, the luxury condominium developer, WB Golden Point, LLC, a company owned by WB Finance Group, ended its collaboration with the previous general contractor, Gates Construction. WB's decision was validated by surety, which pledged to complete the project with its own technical team, including an established general contractor, Voeller Construction, Inc. The goal of completing The Evolution is set for the fourth quarter of 2023. Residential layouts of The Evolution include two penthouse options and three unit variations. All residences reflect The Evolution's motto, "Luxury Close to Nature," meaning splendor at home and delight in the open air. Amenities include a pool deck, sauna spa, fitness center and yoga studio, rooftop terrace, a pet grooming studio, car wash, garage, and private concierge service. With a new and determined team, The Evolution is soon to become the pearl of Sarasota's skyline.

Pictured: Penthouse A living room. Photo courtesy of Golden Gate Point, LLC.

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Hometown Florida builder Christopher Alan Homes will showcase its newly completed Captiva model in The Hammocks at West Port during an open house weekend, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 14, and noon to 6 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 15. The professionally decorated model highlights the livability, quality construction and value of Christopher Alan’s single-family homes. Open house guests can explore the Captiva and learn about the builder’s limited-time, 2-1 buy-down offer for quick move-in homes, available for all move-ins year-to-date. Loans with a sub-4% mortgage rate are available on select homes in limited quantities to qualified buyers who close by March 5, 2023. Homes in The Hammocks are priced from the mid-$300,000s. Through a strategic partnership with West Port developer Kolter Group, Christopher Alan is offering 111 single-family homes in The Hammocks. Planned for 2,000 homes in 450 acres, West Port is a new community in Port Charlotte offering single- and multi-family neighborhoods nestled around Centennial Park, a 100-acre public amenity with a gymnasium, fitness center, indoor soccer and pickleball courts, event spaces and classrooms in a 10,000-square-foot recreational building, plus outdoor ballfields, an 18-hole disc golf course, nature trails, a community garden and an aquatic facility with a 50-meter Olympic-size pool and diving boards. West Port also offers miles of pedestrian sidewalks and trails, is within walking distance of the Charlotte County Fairgrounds and the spring training home of the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park and is a quick drive to top-rated public schools. Located on U.S. 41/Tamiami Trail and State Road 776/El Jobean Road in Port Charlotte, the community is close to shopping, dining and entertainment options, hospitals and healthcare offices, Warm Mineral Springs Park, outdoor recreation at local and state parks offering trails, kayaking and canoeing and is less than 30 minutes from the area’s famed white-sand beaches. The Hammocks at West Port is 15 miles from the Punta Gorda Airport and 50 miles from the Southwest Florida International Airport. For more information about The Hammocks and limited-time incentives on quick move-in homes, visit the Christopher Alan Homes sales center at 1496 Sunset Preserve Way, Port Charlotte, online at www.ChristopherAlanHomes.com or call 855-44-MYCAH. The center is open Monday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday noon to 6 p.m. 

PulteGroup, one of the nation’s most recognized and trusted brands in homebuilding for 70 years, introduces the first DiVosta-branded resort community in Babcock Ranch – TerraWalk. The new guard-gated neighborhood expected to open in Fall 2023, will offer 1,000 single-family homes and twin villas and feature DiVosta’s signature resort-inspired lifestyle with an expansive eight-acre amenity campus, including an onsite bar and restaurant. TerraWalk represents Pulte’s fifth neighborhood in Babcock Ranch, the nation’s 10th top-selling master-planned community, joining the successful Parkside, Northridge, Edgewater, and Edgewater Shores communities. DiVosta will offer three collections of consumer-inspired home designs and a variety of homesite sizes overlooking lakes and preserves with cul-de-sac streets and an extensive network of hiking and biking paths connecting to Babcock Ranch’s growing trail system. Model homes are expected to break ground in Spring 2023, with sales beginning in Fall 2023. Pricing in TerraWalk is expected from the $400,000’s. Located along the southwestern most boundary of Babcock Ranch in Lee County, TerraWalk offers immediate access to State Road 31, with shorter travel times to I-75. Nestled within a picturesque setting surrounded by water views, TerraWalk’s centrally located resort amenity campus will offer eight acres of indoor and outdoor destinations, catering to both active and leisurely pastimes. The luxuriously appointed 12,000-square-foot clubhouse will serve as the hub of community activity and social connections, including a state-of-the-art fitness center, dedicated aerobics studio and locker rooms, activity and game rooms, and a catering kitchen. Alfresco amenities include a resort pool, heated outdoor spa, poolside outdoor bar and grill, fire pit lounge area, an events lawn, dog park, and sports courts that include pickleball. Located in Babcock Ranch, America’s first solar-powered town, TerraWalk offers convenient access to the Southwest Florida International Airport, the Punta Gorda Airport, and major shopping, dining and entertainment destinations in Fort Myers and Punta Gorda. Families with school-age children have a choice of educational options, including the renowned onsite Babcock Schools providing K-12 project-based learning. Students are also eligible for the School District of Lee County’s school choice program, which includes International Baccalaureate and advanced academic programs for middle and high schoolers. For monthly VIP updates as the community progresses, join the Interest List for TerraWalk at Babcock Ranch by visiting www.DiVosta.com/TerraWalk. 

Pictured: Stellar gathering room concept for TerraWalk.

Middle School students at The Out-of-Door Academy had their first scientific look at cells and structures during an exciting unit focused on microscopes. The unit lead by Mr. Fernando Azcona, teaches how the invention of the microscope helped in the creation of the science of biology, and walks each class through the anatomy of the microscope and how to properly use the equipment in order to observe different types of cells and structures. By supplying every student with their own microscope, each budding scientist has ample opportunity to practice preparing and observing their own specimen.

Students remarked on the details they were able to see, and how different the everyday samples appeared under high magnification versus with the naked eye. “I loved seeing how sand appeared under 40x magnification,” volunteered Shreya Nair ’28. “It looked a lot like ice, it was so reflective–I hadn’t expected that. This is incredibly interesting, I want to look at insects and bacteria next to learn more about their structures.”

"The skills our seventh graders learn when using the microscopes for the first time will benefit them when they move to the Upper School and take ninth grade biology as well as advanced science courses,” said Mr. Azcona. “After completing this unit, students will be familiar with the safety and handling of the equipment, proper use and functionality, and the importance of recording precise observations. The advantage they gain from having a detailed, hands-on learning experience while utilizing this important science tool is unquestionable, and it is my goal to make it a Middle School experience they'll benefit from forever." 

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PGT Innovations (NYSE: PGTI), a national leader in the premium window, door, and garage door categories, is pleased to announce that Jeff Jackson, the organization’s president and CEO, was recently elected board chair of the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority board. Jackson was appointed to the six-member airport authority in 2020 by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Jackson is a dedicated community advocate, having served as a board member for the Sarasota County Economic Development Corporation, as well as a board member, vice chair, and board chair for Children First.The Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority was created as a public agency to operate and manage the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport. The Airport Authority is tasked with the power to acquire, construct, improve, finance, operate, and maintain the airport facilities for the primary purpose of meeting the air transportation needs of Sarasota and Manatee counties. 

Meet the region's 35 Under 35 Awards Honorees for the 2022 program produced by SRQ Magazine to recognize young professionals who are taking a leadership position at their company and in the community. Learn more about Amanda Parrish, Partner COO at Fawley Bryant Architecture!

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How and when did you know you wanted to be a leader in your field?

I think leadership falls upon everyone at some point in their professional journey. It can happen in big moments, small moments, or when you least expect it. Whenever it happens, though, you can choo se to embrace and cultivate the opportunity or walk away from it. I’ve never had that “ah-ha” moment where I decided to be a leader. I simply reacted with passion, positivity, and authentic communication when situations were thrown at me. I don’t turn down a challenge, and I stand behind my word. I work hard, strive to elevate those around me, and truly believe in the power of people. I don’t see myself as a leader in any field but as an advocate for bringing humanity back into the workplace. 

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