The State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota announced it selected state Rep. Tommy Gregory, R-Lakewood Ranch, as its next president. He will succeed retiring President Carol Probstfeld on beginning July 1.

“I want to build upon the success already happening at SCF,” Gregory told SRQ. “They have been led tremendously and successfully led by Carol Probstfeld for the last 12 years under er leadership and the board’s. SCF has provided tremendous education for the community. My priority remains low-cost, high-quality education for students and adults in the community.”

Gregory’s own background doesn’t include working for a college, or university. But the three-term lawmaker stressed he does have background in education, noting he served as general counsel for the Air Mobility Warfare Center and he acted as an instructor in seven courses over several years. He holds a bachelor’s in economics from the Air Force Academy and a law degree from the University of Texas.

The Republican, who now chairs the Florida House Judiciary Committee, will not seek a fourth term in the Florida Legislature. That has political consequences. Gregory was unopposed, but his move to the college means an opening in an east Manatee County state House seat in District 72. Gregory said he is still exploring whether he needs to resign his House seat before the end of the term, but regardless, there’s not enough time for a Special Election to fill the seat so his successor will be chosen in the general election cycle.

As far as the college, Gregory stressed he plans to rely on the existing faculty and staff in moving the school forward. Asked if there’s any college administrators he would model his leadership on, he listed those already working at the community college.

“What I’m certainly going to do is take advantage of and lean on the role models already at SCF,” he said. Probstfeldt will still be around until he official retirement at the end of June, he said. Provost Todd Fritch will also be available to show him the internal intricacies of the SCF system. As a state lawmaker, he already has a relationship with many administrators from collaborating on the schools needs at the state level.

He also expects SCF to continue partnerships and to further working relationships with other Sarasota-Manatee area schools, including Ringling College of Art and Design and New College. He notes strong partnerships with the Sarasota campus for the University of South Florida, as well as a collegiate school program connected to Florida Gulf Coast University.

Gregory is the latest of several state lawmakers to end up with a leadership position in higher academia. Former state Rep. Fred Hawkins, R-St. Cloud, left the Legislature last year to lead South Florida State College. And locally, former Speaker of the House Richard Corcoran was selected by New College’s new board of trustees to head that Sarasota-based state university.

But Gregory said he didn’t feel like he had any inside track for the job.

“I was nervous right up until I received the announcement,” he said. “The interview was appropriately difficult and challenging.” 

Photo courtesy Florida House of Representatives: State Rep. Tommy Gregory.

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Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Venice is on track to nearly double its inpatient capacity from 110 beds to 212 this year, with 68 new private patient suites opening today, and an additional 34 additional private suites scheduled to open this fall. The two upper floors of the Venice hospital’s new five-story Northeast Tower began filling with patients today, with each new floor adding 34 patient suites. The fourth floor will serve as a larger, dedicated unit for cardiac patients, while the fifth floor will be dedicated for the growing volume of orthopedic patients. The expansion is in response to the high demand for medical services in the community. Since opening in November 2021, SMH-Venice has operated at or near full capacity, and often beyond, as a critical health care safety net for people following the closure of ShorePoint Health Venice Hospital and Hurricane Ian in 2022. This fall, an additional 34 private suites will be opening on the second level of the new Northeast Tower to expand care for general medical/surgical patients. The ground level includes space for additional patient care and support services in the future, while the third level is interstitial space for mechanical systems. Construction is also well under way on a 30,000-square-foot expansion of SMH-Venice’s Emergency Care Center (ECC). When complete this fall, the ECC will more than double in size, from 28 rooms to 61, and include enhancements to registration and support areas and increased imaging capabilities. The hospital also increased the number of surgical suites from six to eight in January and created space for future expansion of eight additional operating rooms. To prepare for the expansion, SMH-Venice has been actively recruiting new staff. More than 200 new team members have been hired in recent months, with more staff set to come on board in the weeks and months ahead. 

Demand Exposure and Grapevine Communications proudly announced today the merger of their esteemed agencies. This strategic union brings together two of the Suncoast's most awarded marketing and communications firms, each renowned for their ability to create compelling work that resonates with consumers and drives results for clients. The combined entity of 27 professionals will operate under the Grapevine Communications banner. Grapevine will now have two office locations, its original headquarters in Lakewood Ranch as well as Demand Exposure's Main Street office in downtown Sarasota. With the merger, Demand Exposure, a dynamic multimedia agency known for its expertise in media purchasing, video production, paid digital media, and social media management, joins forces with Grapevine, a fixture in marketing, advertising and public relations. Grapevine Communications has a diverse clientele ranging from start-ups to internationally recognized brands. The integrated agency creates innovative strategies and solutions across all channels, specializing in print, digital marketing, events, website development, brand identity, social media, video production and more. Clients of both Grapevine Communications and Demand Exposure can expect a seamless transition, with no disruption to their services or relationships. The combined teams will remain intact and dedicated to providing unparalleled creative work to achieve exceptional results. 

Pictured: Rex Raymond and Allison Imre celebrate the merger of Grapevine Communications and Demand Exposure. Photo courtesy of Grapevine Communications.

In honor of Earth Day, Wellen Park is giving away free tree saplings and hosting a family-friendly movie night on the lawn. The saplings, donated by SunnyGrove Landscaping, will be available from 7 to 8 p.m. near Downtown Wellen’s Grand Lawn. The saplings are particularly symbolic for Wellen Park, which spent nearly $1 million relocating over two dozen heritage oaks to Downtown Wellen. Oak trees absorb thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide each year and help minimize the effects of rainwater runoff. In fact, much of the Grand Lawn sits under the shade of Downtown Wellen’s landmark Heritage Tree. The Earth Day celebration will continue with the showing of “The Biggest Little Farm” on the jumbo screen in front of Solis Hall following sunset over the Grand Lake. The 2018 documentary recounts a couple’s attempts to turn 200 acres outside of Los Angeles into a sustainable farm working in harmony with the land. Moviegoers are welcome to bring lawn chairs and blankets. Coolers are not permitted, but to-go beverages are available throughout Downtown Wellen’s many restaurants. For classic moviegoing fare from gourmet popcorn to hot dogs, attendees can stop by the Atlanta Braves-endorsed PopDawgs in The Yard. Additional saplings will be available at the Wellen Park Welcome Center Monday, April 22, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. while supplies last. Championing sustainability through every step of development, land conservation efforts have been incorporated throughout the entire Wellen Park master-planned community. Boulders, rocks and shells removed from construction areas are repurposed for landscaping, roadways, and parts of Wellen Park’s 30-mile multimodal trail system. The future Oakheart Nature Trail in the Playmore District will wrap around a 50-acre lake and meander through wetlands and preserves, linking Downtown Wellen, CoolToday Park and the site of Sarasota County Schools’ new K-8 and high school campuses. 

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The School District of Manatee County will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for a school addition and renovation project on Monday, April 8, 2024. The event is taking place at 9:30 a.m. at Blackburn Elementary School, which is located at 3904 17th Street East in Palmetto. The school addition and renovation were approved by the School Board of Manatee County in December 2021, and the scheduled opening of the building is November 2025. The project includes the replacement of Building 1 and removal of Building 6. The complete renovation of the existing campus includes the electrical, mechanical, and plumbing systems; new windows, new doors, and roof renovations; campus safety enhancements; and on-site traffic queuing. The project budget is $40.7 million. Architect: WJ Architects / Hoffman Studio. Construction Manager: A.D. Morgan. 

Nearly one in 10 Americans are living with chronic back pain so serious it impacts their ability to perform everyday activities. Many opt against surgery, fearing large incisions and long recovery times associated with many traditional procedures. But the benefits of robotic and minimally invasive surgical techniques are now allowing Sarasota Memorial Hospital (SMH) spine surgeons to repair a wide range of spine conditions through key-hole incisions, and giving patients with debilitating back pain more options than ever before. Although not everyone is a candidate, minimally invasive options are available to surgically repair herniated discs, synovial cysts, lumbar stenosis and other complex conditions of the spine. Compared to traditional open surgery, minimally invasive techniques offer many advantages, including: shorter hospital stays, faster recovery, less damage to surrounding tissue, lower risks of infection and complications. A podcast interview with Dr. Vaziri  is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhh0NAfLNBw&t=441s. 

Manatee Memorial Hospital (MMH) is proud to announce that Dr. Stacey South (Gynecologic Oncology), Dr. Stelios Rekkas (General Surgeon and Bariatrics), and Dr. Jose Erbella (General Surgeon and Breast) have been recognized as Master Surgeons by the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC). This accreditation not only confirms expertise in their field but their ongoing commitment to quality improvement and delivery of safe and effective patient care. Many hours of demanding work were devoted to this accomplishment, and it required a collaborative effort of their clinical team members, administration and leadership. 

 Christopher Alan Homes has topped a regional list from LSI Companies Inc. as the largest local and private homebuilder in Southwest Florida based on single-family residential permits pulled in 2023, demonstrating its continued growth and reinforcing its standing as a leading homebuilder in the region. For permits pulled in 2023 in Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties combined, Christopher Alan Homes ranked sixth top builder by total units permitted, which includes rental community builders, and fourth top builder by single-family residential units permitted. For single-family detached new home construction permits pulled by builder, Christopher Alan Homes first in Cape Coral, second in Charlotte County and third in Lee County. The listings were created according to data compiled, analyzed and presented by LSI Companies Inc. at Market Trends of Southwest Florida. Christopher Alan Homes closed 569 homes in 2023, a 26% increase year-over-year. Since its inception in 2017, the homebuilder has closed more than 2,300 homes. In 2023, Christopher Alan Homes commemorated several milestones that helped contribute to its growth, including opening a new Palm Bay division on Florida’s East Central Space Coast and launching sales in Creekside Run at Babcock Ranch, where 27 homes sold during the first four months. Christopher Alan Homes also introduced the second phase of The Hammocks at West Port in Charlotte County. It recorded over $200 million in 2023 gross revenue, a 45% year-over-year increase despite ongoing industry-wide challenges, including labor shortages, lingering supply chain interruptions and rising interest rates. Headquartered in Southwest Florida, Christopher Alan Homes is a preferred single-family builder in Babcock Ranch, America’s first solar-powered town; West Port; Burnt Store Village and Deep Creek. The builder-owned company also builds on individual homesites in Charlotte, Sarasota and Lee counties in Southwest Florida and Palm Bay on Florida’s East Central Space Coast. Christopher Alan Homes ranked is the only local homebuilder among Southwest Florida’s top five builders for single-family residential permitted units, a ranking it held for the third consecutive year in 2023. The company also ranks 59th in the top 100 private homebuilders by closings nationally. For more information about Christopher Alan Homes visit christopheralanhomes.com or call 855-44-MYCAH.  

Grimes Galvano, a 102-year-old multi-practice law firm, announced its expansion into West Palm Beach, growing its physical footprint in the state and further supporting its ability to serve clients throughout Florida. This expansion marks the firm’s third office location in Florida, adding to its original Bradenton office and a Sarasota location that was opened in 2021. Grimes Galvano was founded in 1922. For more information on Grimes Galvano, visit grimesgalvano.com. 

2024 BEST OF SRQ LOCAL PARTY | Join us on Friday, April 12, 2024, from 5-8 pm at the Aloft Hotel in Downtown Sarasota to taste and experience some of this year's "Best of SRQ Local" restaurants and cocktails. Share a hip evening with our area’s passionate localvores and foodies. 

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