Craft breweries are more popular than ever, but Inner Compass Brewing Company in Lakewood Ranch is one-of-a-kind. The credit for that goes to the blended family that runs the business. The story of Inner Compass begins in Sanford, Florida, where Robert Turner owned and operated a small brewery and taproom. When Covid hit, Turner shut down that original version of Inner Compass and relocated to Bradenton to be closer to family. His mother, Susan Carrubba, encouraged him to hold onto his brewing equipment so he could open another taproom again in the future.

As it happened, Turner isn’t the only person in the family with brewery experience. Susan is married to Robert Carrubba. His daughter Brittany Sutherin has worked in the restaurant industry since she was fifteen years old, including a stint behind the bar at Motorworks Brewing in Bradenton. With his brewing expertise and her extensive front-of-house experience, it made sense to combine forces. And that family involvement didn’t stop with them.

“My father was a home remodeler by trade, so he actually built the space from the ground up with his partner Nate,” says Sutherin, who has taken on the role of General Manager. “I run the front, we have Robert brewing in the back, and then Susan does the financial part. So all of our strengths together formed this whole business and everything seemed to work perfectly.”

Inner Compass officially opened on June 5th, and it already seems to be a smash hit, with lines out of the door on the weekends. There’s a lot to enjoy. Inner Compass has 30 taps, and always features as many of their own brews as possible. They round out their selections with craft beers sourced from other Florida breweries, and also offer a well-curated wine list as well as sangria and mimosas and a full menu of elevated bar fare.

“Every single night my father makes the dough from scratch, so the pizza is made 100% from scratch by an Italian man,” laughs Sutherin. “And then Susan makes the pizza sauce herself as well.”

Beyond the delicious food and next-level beer, Inner Compass offers some pretty special amenities. The brewery is located on a large plot of land by a lake, so there’s plenty of beautiful scenery to enjoy. You can sit at a picnic table and sip on a new brew like the orange mango Rizzler, a summery American wheat beer brewed in-house. The brewery is dog-friendly and also has an outdoor play area for children. There really is a little something for everyone in the family. Not surprising from such a unique family business.

Inner Compass Brewing Company, 10316 Technology Terrace, Bradenton, 941-900-1102, innercompassbrewingcompany.com. 

Pictured: The Saison from Inner Compass Brewing has notes of citrus, stone fruit, and pepper, with a floral earthiness. Photo courtesy of Inner Compass Brewing Company.

At S-One Holdings Corporation, there is always friendly competition, according to Executive Vice President of Culture, Angie Gruss. This rang true on Friday, June 14, when eight employees volunteered as participants for the second annual Grill-Off, to which the invitation read, “Come Hungry”. Though closed to the general public, the Grill-Off brought together S-One employees from all over the county.

But few of the nearly seventy attendees arrived at the S-One global headquarters in Sarasota, empty-stomached and empty handed. This wasn’t a typical office grill-off; it was an opportunity to give back to the members of the community that need extra support when the summer makes food scarce. Children from under-resourced families rely on free and reduced meals when school is in session. But come summertime, it takes a village to bridge the gap. To pitch in to the All Faiths Food Bank Campaign Against Summer Hunger, S-One’s “Come Hungry”was a call to action to its employees and a reminder to all: ending hunger is a community-wide effort.

As the event carried on, and the grillers discussed amongst themselves whether a ceramic cooker or a kettle grill would produce a better brisket, a mountain of donated non-perishable goods piled up at the entrance—S-One’s commitment to community greeting every passer-by.

From the grill, the lineup included smoked ham and cheese sliders, chiropán (grilled chorizo), a rosemary and garlic tri-tip, smoked shawarma lamb, mexican corn (off the cob), ribs grilled with the intention of sliding off the bone and a few other carnivorous delicacies. Although every grill-master took their dish seriously, meticulously plating their meats and condiments to present to the judges, it was not the title nor the medal they were hoping to win. “Bragging rights, more than anything,” were the true laurels to fight for, said Dan Barberio, who entered the competition with his BBQ Smoked Pig & Popper Pizza.

A well-curated panel of judges hosted Chef Jason Pellett of Bar Italia in Lakewood Ranch, Chef Alyson Zildjian, the genius behind Zildjian Catering and Consulting, and international BBQ circuit favorite Michael “Gibby” Gibson—who prefaced the winner’s announcing with some advice for all grillers: “Don’t be afraid to use salt.”

S-One’s Grill-Off competition is exemplary of Sarasota’s philanthropic spirit, of its culinary aptness, and, perhaps most importantly, of its commitment to the re-humanization of the workplace—an undertaking that requires serious dedication in the post-Covid world.

At S-One, the Employee Experience and Engagement (E3) taskforce, operating under the firm belief that “if you don’t have a good employee experience, you can’t have a good customer experience,” as Angie Gruss put it, has recently reimagined the E’s that make its name. Angie proposes that the modern employer should, “continue to engage, but elevate and evolve…as the workplace changes.” The praxis of this manifesto is palpable at events like S-One’s Grill-Off, where a break from the screens of a hybrid workplace creates communities better fit for the blurred lines between office and home. 

Pictured: S-One employees line up to build their tasting platters as grill-masters await the judges' decision. Photo by Vanessa Tasé Sueiro.

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) presents Ken Ludwig’s Dear Jack, Dear Louise, a comedic and touching look at life in 1942, as the next show in its Summer Mainstage Series. Inspired by the WWII courtship of Ludwig’s parents, Dear Jack, Dear Louise begins on July 3 at FST's Keating Theatre. Single tickets are now available at FloridaStudioTheatre.org or by calling 941.366.9000. Dear Jack, Dear Louise is part of a three-show subscription package, which also includes Kander and Ebb’s musical revue The World Goes Round, and The Outsider, a comedy that cleverly critiques modern politics. Subscription packages start at just $59 and can be purchased at 941.366.9000 or online at FloridaStudioTheatre.org. 

Due to popular demand, Ruckus Entertainment today announced it has extended the U.S. tour for The Life and Music of George Michael (www.TheLifeandMusicofGM.com) that will visit more than 25 cities through this fall. The brand-new concert-style show chronicles the amazing journey George Michael had with music and his fans while capturing the performance and sound of the musical sensation with concert style staging and lighting. The Life and Music of George Michael will make a stop at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Sunday, October 20 for one show only. Audiences are invited to join the party and listen to early music hits from Wham! and Michael’s illustrious solo career that made him a legend. Tickets start at $30 and go on sale Friday, June 28. Tickets can be purchased at www.VanWezel.org, by calling the box office at 941-263-6799 or by visiting the box office Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Groups of 10 or more should contact Group Sale Manager Ellen Dyer at ellen.dyer@sarasotafl.gov. 

At the Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers (FCCC) summer conference, the FCCC Best Practices Committee awarded the Office of Angelina "Angel" Colonneso, Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller for Manatee County, with a Recognition of Excellence in all ten categories of the FCCC's Best Practices in Excellence Program for the fourth consecutive year. The Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller was one of 47 out of 58 participating offices to receive recognition in every category. FCCC established the Best Practices Program as an opportunity for Clerks to receive Recognition of Excellence certificates for completing assessments that evaluate the acceptance of specific best practices. Each Best Practice category provides guidance to Clerks and Comptrollers statewide and assists in achieving consistency in interpretation of the law and in practice. This year's program categories included Appeals, Civil Contraband Forfeiture, Court Record Retention and Destruction, Department of Revenue Parenting Plan Fee Waivers, Determination of Indigency, Marriage License, Public Records Requests, Service of Documents by Clerks for Pro Se Litigants, Risk Protection Orders, and Vexatious Litigants.Angel Colonneso, Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller for Manatee County, accepted the certificate on behalf of the Clerk’s Office. "I am proud of my staff for their efforts to meet the professional standards described within the Best Practices Program," said Colonneso. "This recognition signifies my office's continued commitment to protecting the public trust through integrity and transparency." In addition to the Best Practices recognition, 2023-2024 FCCC President and Suwannee County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller honored Clerk Colonneso with the Courage Under Fire award for her outstanding courage, leadership, and initiative for the last program year. For more information about the Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller, please visit their website at www.ManateeClerk.com.  

Sarasota-based Accurate Information Systems (AIS) has earned accreditation for background screening from the Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA) based in Raleigh, North Carolina. AIS is a leading background check company serving clients in the U.S. and globally with capabilities in more than 165 countries. Key services include employee screening, tenant screening, vendor and contractor screening, and international background checks. To become accredited, AIS passed a rigorous audit by a third-party auditor. The audit reviewed AIS policies and procedures as they relate to six key areas:  Information Security, Legal and Compliance, Client Education, Third Party Service Providers, Verification Services Standards, and Business Practices. PBSA was founded in 2003 to support the development of the screening industry. Service support includes setting standards based on best practices and providing professional development. The non-profit trade association represents more than 900-member companies around the world. The core members are consumer reporting agencies (CRAs) pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA. The agencies are regulated by both the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). 

The past year has been one of monumental growth and service for Sarasota Memorial Health Care System (SMH). The hospital recently released its 2024 Community Update, which highlights Sarasota Memorial’s transformative expansion initiatives and new services improving the health of the Suncoast region and patients it serves. From opening world-class medical facilities and expanding vital services, to attracting top-notch physicians and clinicians to our fast-growing community, Sarasota Memorial’s accomplishments the past year are wide-ranging. Among these achievements are placing among U.S. News & World Report’s list of the top hospitals in the country for over 20 types of care, ranking amongNewsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals, and earning a spot on Forbes’ list of “America’s Best Large Employers.” These independent quality and reputation reviews came amid a period of exponential growth and helped the health system attract nearly 3,600 new staff members in 2023, continuing its status as the region’s largest employer with over 10,000 employees. Founded in 1925, SMH was the county’s first modern hospital and remains the only community-owned, not-for-profit hospital in the region. Shaped by and for the community it serves, the health system is guided by an unpaid, publicly-elected Sarasota County Public Hospital Board, which provides strategic oversight, transparency and accountability. The governing board helps ensure that SMH operates in the best interest of the community, maintaining high standards of fiscal responsibility and patient service as it pursues advances in health care and technological innovation. In its 2024 Community Update, Sarasota Memorial spotlights several initiatives meeting essential needs in the fast-growing region. The hospital also is expanding services and facilities serving areas of the county seeing vast population growth. For example, SMH is doubling the capacity of its Venice campus and plans to develop new medical facilities in North Port and Wellen Park to provide residents with convenient access to hospital services, outpatient care, and physician offices. It is also expanding emergency care in the northern part of the county. “We are proud to celebrate the growth and success of this valued public institution and the important steps it continues to take to ensure our community has access to comprehensive, top-quality care,” Sarasota Memorial President and CEO David Verinder said.  

The complete 2024 Community Update is available here