People & Business: Wednesday 3/20/19

Wednesday, April 3rd
THE SARASOTA SCENE
People & Business
To submit your news for consideration, please send press info to scenemagazine@scenesarasota.com.

Lake Club Builders Earn More Than 20 Awards During Parade of Homes

Preferred builders in Lakewood Ranch’s most elite village, The Lake Club, were honored with 24 awards from the Manatee-Sarasota Building Industry Association during their recent Parade of Homes.

In the single-family home categories, awards recognized the following builders and masterful residences:

·      Anchor Builders’ Abaco in Lake View Estates for Best Overall, Best Curb Appeal, Best Kitchen, Best Master Suite, Best Floor Plan, and Best Architectural Detail in Category 27.

·      John Cannon Homes’ Akarra IV in Vineyards for Best Overall, Best Curb Appeal, Best Kitchen, Best Master Suite, Best Floor Plan, and Best Architectural Detail in Category 26. Their Korina model in Lake View Estates also received Best Overall, Best Curb Appeal, Best Kitchen, Best Master Suite, Best Floor Plan, and Best Architectural Detail in Category 29.

·      Lee Wetherington Homes’ San Mateo at Matera for Best Overall, Best Curb Appeal, Best Kitchen, and Best Architectural Detail in Category 21.

·      Stock Signature Homes’ Clairborne II in Lake View Estates for Best Curb Appeal in Category 23.

·      Lee Wetherington Homes was also a Green Award Winner in Category 21 for their San Mateo model.

In the pool categories, Pool Design Concepts and LeeSure Water Pools each won one award for their work within The Lake Club. Also, in the landscape categories, Trent Culleny Landscape Contractor won four awards and Juniper Landscaping and ArtisTree Landscape Maintenance & Design each won one award for their work in The Lake Club.

To learn more about Lake Club living or to explore the award-winning models, visit the Model Preview Center located at 8307 Lake Club Boulevard in Lakewood Ranch, call (855) 201-8065 or preview models, floor plans and amenities at TheLakeClubLWR.com.

Tickets On Sale Now for 2019 Forks & Corks University Master Class Wine Seminar

Rescheduled from its original January date due to inclement weather, the highly anticipated 2019 Forks & Corks Food & Wine Festival is offering foodies a second chance to experience its one-of-a-kind University Master Class on May 4. Led by seven world-renowned industry professionals and winemakers, this exclusive Wine Seminar will showcase 14 award-winning wines from around the globe.

Guests will swirl, sip and savor as the passionate and accomplished panel leads them on a guided tour of wine from around the globe – no passport required. Following the theme of “Technique & Terroir: A Discussion of Old World & New World Wines,” the event will feature wines from California, Oregon, Portugal, Italy and more. Among the seven panelists are Steve Reynolds, Winemaker and Owner of Reynolds Family Winery; Bill Wolf, Winemaker and Owner of Eagle Eye Winery; Lorenzo Gatteschi, Winemaker for Podere Ciona; John Zelko, Winemaker and Owner of Z’IVO Wines.; and Bertrand Ambroise, Winemaker and Owner of Domaine Bertrand Ambroise.

Tickets are just $50 and include admission to the Master Class and admission to the Michael’s Wine Cellar Retail Tasting, immediately following.  Tickets are on sale now, while supplies last. The University Master Class takes place Saturday, May 4 from 1-3 p.m.

Sarasota Cuban Ballet School Wins Top Honors at Tulsa Dance Competition  
 
The Sarasota Cuban Ballet School took the Outstanding School award, six medals, and 8 honorable mentions at the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) Regionals held between March 8th and 10th in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 
 
A group of 10 local dancers led by Sarasota Cuban Ballet School (SCBS) Co-Founder and CoArtistic Director Ariel Serrano brought home two gold, one silver, two bronze medals, 6 Top 12 mentions, and 2 Top 24 mentions after dazzling the judges with their classical repertoire and contemporary performances. SCBS dancers also won a silver medal for their cotemporary  ensemble piece called Cuba, an original work created by the school’s 

resident choreographer, Tania Vergara. 
 
“This has been our best performance yet at a dance competition. We are very proud of our students because all of them showed mastery of ballet technique, sheer artistry and the maturity to express themselves as a collective,” said Mr. Serrano. 
 
The Youth America Grand Prix is the largest global network of dance. Every year the organization hosts master classes, auditions, and competitions around the World to support and develop young dancers ages 9 to 19. 
 
All 10 SCBS dancers were invited to participate at the 20th YAGP Finals to be held in New York from April 11th to April 20th. Some 1,200 young dancers are expected to compete for more than $250,000 in scholarships and the attention of recruiters looking for the next stars of the ballet world. 
 
“The first time SCBS participated at YAGP, in 2013, we won the Outstanding School Award and my son Francisco (Serrano) received a full scholarship to the Royal Ballet School.  This year we have the School award in the bag, so all we need now is for our dancers to get noticed by a major ballet company,” said Mr. Serrano. 
 
To prepare for the finals, the group has rejoined their classmates at SCBS studio located in 501 North Beneva Rd. There, they’ll be practicing their repertoire 4 hours a day, six days a week until it’s time to go back on the road.  
 
The school is always looking for donations to continue their Student Scholarship Program, Dancer Shoe Fund, and Title I School Outreach Program. Visit it’s website: http://srqcubanballet.com/support to learn more.  

Game On! Ringling College Students Compete to Redesign Florida License Plate

Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida turned to the students of Ringling College of Art and Design to create the new “Conserve Wildlife” license plate. Now, the public has the chance to weigh in on the winning design at  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/bearplate

Once upon a time, the nonprofit Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida’s “Conserve Wildlife” license plate was one of the best-selling in the Sunshine State. For $25 extra dollars, Florida drivers with the bear tag knew they were protecting many of Florida’s iconic animals, from endangered Florida panthers and bears to grasshopper sparrows and wood storks. While it still generates $400,000 annually for conservation, sales have declined significantly over the past several years, losing ground to newer – and more stylish – plates.

“This plate has generated more than $600,000 alone in recent years to help conserve the Florida black bear, which has rebounded from a total 400 bears 20 years ago to more than 4,000 bears today,” said Foundation CEO Andrew Walker. “We know the new design will be a bestseller that increases our ability to protect and manage Florida’s wonderful wildlife.”

In the era of crowdsourcing, the Foundation turned to the best and brightest for help: the students of Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, FL. 

Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida worked with the Collaboratory, by launching a campus-wide competition to redesign the “Conserve Wildlife” plate. The Collaboratory is a partnership with Ringling College of Art and Design and The Patterson Foundation created to offer students real-world work experience before they graduate. “We are extremely pleased with the design and technical challenges this project provides our students. The competition is a tremendous opportunity, demanding our students develop a unique design which addresses both aesthetic and functional needs, from concept to output,” states Collaboratory project director, Angela Leed. Ninety-eight students entered, competing for cash prizes and the chance to see their artwork adorning cars across the state. Ringling faculty chose the five top plates, all of which will receive awards, and the Foundation will choose the winning design.

Sarasota Crew Masters Race Well at Tampa Mayors Cup 
 
The Sarasota Crew Masters athletes competed at the 11th annual Tampa Mayor’s Cup Regatta at the Tampa Bypass Canal Racecourse this past Saturday. 31 teams including high school, collegiate, and masters athletes raced both 1500m and 1000m races.
 
Sarasota Crew had 18 masters entries and came home with 9 first place finishes, 3 second place finishes, and one third place finish.
 
 “The Tampa Mayor’s Cup provided a great testing ground for our athletes with the competition we encountered this weekend. Our athletes have been diligent in their training and it’s absolutely paying off in these regattas. We will use the success of the weekend to continue our forward motion as we look towards the final races of the season.”
 
Sarasota Crew Masters’ next race will be the Florida Masters Regatta in Orlando on May 4, 2019.
 
RESULTS FIRST PLACE Mens Masters 4+ Womens Masters 4+ Womens Masters 4x Mixed Masters 4+ Ken Jackson Marla Yaegers Marla Yaegers Matthew Freeburg Jon Campana Caitlyn Perlman Caitlyn Perlman Caitlyn Perlman Matthew Freeburg Linda Simpson Linda Simpson Marla Yaegers Greg Simons Tonya Johnson Tonya Johnson Greg Simons Nicole Mercado Bruno Cami Berlin  
 
Mens Masters 1x Mens Masters Novice 1x Matthew Freeburg Eric Waite
 
Mixed Masters 8+ Womens Masters 8+ Mens Masters 8+ Marla Yaegers Nicole Mercado Bruno Ken Jackson Caitlyn Perlman Carmen Espinal Owen Homeister Matthew Freeburg Caitlyn Perlman Matthew Freeburg Jon Campana Gil Cooper Tom Edwards Ken Jackson Marla Yaegers Eric Waite Greg Simons Tonya Johnson Jon Campana Linda Simpson Linda Simpson Colin Scaife Tonya Johnson Kelsey Ritchey Greg Simons Cami Berlin Cami Berlin Gaby Giannone
 
SECOND PLACE Mens Masters Novice 1x Mens Masters 4x Womens Masters 2x  Ken Jackson   Jon Campana   Colin Scaife Linda Simpson Miguel Rivera Greg Simons Tonya Johnson
 
THIRD PLACE Mens Masters 4x Tom Edwards Eric Waite Miguel Rivera Roger Jauch
 
 

USF Sarasota-Manatee to Host Financial Markets and the Economy: Financial Literacy Day III
 
 USF Sarasota-Manatee, Cumberland Advisors and the Global Interdependence Center are partnering to host Financial Markets and the Economy: Financial Literacy Day III, a daylong forum on economic and financial matters with renowned experts, including senior investigative reporter Gretchen Morgenson of The Wall Street Journal.

The event – scheduled for Thursday, April 11, at the Selby Auditorium at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, 8350 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota – is open to the public and designed to appeal to a wide range of financial interests.

Topics include:

The outlook for U.S. stocks/global economic outlook
Special session: Health, Hunger and Philanthropy
Surveying the global economic/geopolitical landscape
Keynote Speaker: Gretchen Morgenson, senior writer, Investigations Unit, The Wall Street Journal
A conversation with Susan Harper, Canada’s consul general in Miami
David Kotok, chairman and chief investment officer of Sarasota-based Cumberland Advisors, and USFSM Regional Chancellor Dr. Karen Holbrook will offer introductory remarks starting at 8:30 a.m.

“We are thrilled to partner once again with Cumberland Advisors and the Global Interdependence Center on what has become a much-anticipated annual community event,” Dr. Holbrook said. “The quality and depth of speakers is phenomenal, and the fact that they explore financial topics that appeal to most anyone makes this an important and not-to-be-missed experience.”

This will be the third Financial Literacy Day. Among the speakers are Matt McAleer, executive vice president and director of equity strategies, Cumberland Advisors; Richard Hoey, senior economic advisor, BNY Mellon Wealth Management; Judith Monroe, president and CEO, Centers for Disease Control Foundation; Lisa Marsh Ryerson, president, AARP Foundation; Leland Miller, CEO, China Beige Book International; and Paul O’Brien, deputy chief investment officer, Strategy and Planning Department, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.

Tickets are $50 (includes lunch). To register or for more information, visit sar.usfsm.edu/event/financial-markets-and-the-economy/.

The agenda is as follows:

8 – 8:30 a.m. | Registration and coffee

8:30 – 8:45 a.m. | Welcoming Remarks

David Kotok, CIO, Cumberland Advisors and board member, Global Interdependence Center
Karen Holbrook, PhD, regional chancellor, University of South Florida, Sarasota-Manatee
9 – 10 a.m. | Session I – The Stock Market

Matt McAleer, executive vice president and director of equity strategies, Cumberland Advisors
Richard Hoey, senior economic advisor, BNY Mellon Wealth Management
Tripp Zimmerman, director of research, WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc.
Moderator: Maryanne Waldman, RBC, Boston, Mass.
10 – 10:15 a.m. | Break

10:15 – 11:30 a.m. | Session II – Health, Hunger and Philanthropy

Judith Monroe, president and CEO, CDC Foundation
Erin McLeod, CEO, Friendship Centers, Sarasota
Lisa Marsh Ryerson, president, AARP Foundation
Gabriel Hament, Cumberland Advisors
Moderator: Lisa Shaw, CFP, CIMA, managing partner, Cygnus Asset Management, LLC
11:30 a.m. – Noon| Special Report on the Use of the Bloomberg Terminals – Two Years Later

Paul Bova, director of development, and/or GJ de Vreede, PhD, interim dean, College of Business, USF Sarasota-Manatee
Noon – 1 p.m. | Lunch

1 – 1:15 p.m. | Report on National and International Financial Literacy online exams

Christine Brown, CFA Tampa Bay, society executive, Tampa
1:15 – 2 p.m. | A Conversation with Canada’s Consul General in Florida

Susan Harper, Canadian consul general in Miami and former economic minister, Embassy of Canada
2 – 3 p.m. | Session III – How the World Looks to Me

Leland Miller, CEO, China Beige Book International
Paul O’Brien, deputy chief investment officer, Strategy and Planning Department, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
Moderator: John Authers, author and Bloomberg columnist
3 – 3:15 p.m. | Break

3:15 – 4 p.m. | Keynote Speaker

Gretchen Morgenson, senior writer, Investigations Unit, The Wall Street Journal
4 p.m. | Concluding Remarks

Reception and Book Signing

For more about USF Sarasota-Manatee, visit usfsm.edu.

SouthTech Hires Decoo to Head Business Development & Marketing Departments

SouthTech, a provider of managed technology solutions, recently named Henry Decoo as Business Development & Marketing Manager. The first individual to hold this position within the company, Decoo will seek to drive new business and capitalize on existing campaigns geared towards SouthTech’s existing client base. Decoo got his start in the managed services world in door-to-door phone service sales, learning and rising through the ranks to eventually lead his own team of sales representatives with his previous employer. A firm believer in ROI analysis and AB testing, Decoo aims to elevate SouthTech’s business development efforts and work with marketing to organize campaigns that produce the greatest possible results. 
   
Decoo is a New Jersey native, and made the switch to Florida to leave behind a near 90-minute work commute into Manhattan. His wife and two sons will remain in New Jersey to finish out the school year, and then will be making the move as well with the family pet: a miniature poodle named Marla. Being from the New York metro area, Decoo is naturally a Yankees fan and enjoys cruises to the Caribbean

Booker Middle School’s Visual and Performing Arts Program Opens Their Doors To Parents and Community Members At Second Annual Master Classes FUNraiser Event

Everyone who steps foot in the Booker Middle Visual and Performing Arts classrooms says how much they would love to be a part of the arts education experience: “I wish I could come do this!” they say.  Well now is their chance!  During the fun-filled Masterclass FUNraiser event parents and community members are invited to experience Booker Middle VPA’s arts classes first-hand as they participate in visual and performing arts master classes taught by the program’s Visual and Performing Arts Magnet faculty.  From seasoned professionals to total amateurs, all experience levels are certain to have a blast at this celebration of art and community benefiting students across Sarasota county.

On March 30th, 2019, participants will attend two pre-selected fun-filled arts classes to enjoy, then will come together for a reception that includes entertainment and refreshments.  The event will feature arts experiences, student performances, a silent auction, and collaborations with some of our community partners.  Arts class offerings include 2D/3D Art, Band, Chorus, Creative Writing, Dance, Drama, Graphic Design, Guitar, Musical Theatre, and Orchestra. 

“We are hoping to engage our Booker Middle community, our arts community, and the community at large with this celebration.” said BMS Arts Coordinator Savannah Holds, “The goals of the event, in order of importance, are: to have fun, to engage the community in a hands-on shared experience, and to raise money to support our exceptional arts education programs.”

Booker Middle School VPA is a visual and performing arts magnet program dedicated to identifying highly interested and talented students and providing them with an enriched, culturally diverse, and technology-infused arts education ultimately developing lifelong consumers and producers of the arts.  In addition to their general education classes, the over 300 VPA students participate in up to two creative arts classes as part of their daily academic schedule.  The Booker Middle VPA program creates tremendous opportunities both for students who would otherwise be unable to participate in such a high-level arts education and for student who come from across 3 counties to take advantage of the intensive program.  This creates a melting pot of students, ethnicities, experience levels, and socio-economic backgrounds making the program and the school shine and creating an environment of creativity, diversity, and acceptance. 

“Our theme for the 2018-2019 school year is ‘Know Thy Impact.’  This is a great way to explore the impact of arts education and have a fabulous time doing it.  We hope our parents, partners, and friends we haven’t met yet will consider attending and discovering what their impact really is,” said BMS Principal Dr. LaShawn Frost, who the district recently named Sarasota County Principal of the Year 2019.

Individual tickets are available for a suggested donation.  Entire classes may be reserved for groups who would like a more personalized experience. For more information, email bookermiddlevpa@gmail.com or visit www.bookermiddleschoolvpa.weebly.com/fundraiser.

Through Women’s Eyes Film Festival Announces Film Lineup 
 
From French cinematographers, to Indian HIV Matchmakers, and Rugby Players from Papua New Guinea, this year’s Through Women’s Eyes International Film Festival (TWE) shares fabulous stories from around the globe and opens up new worlds for viewers.
 Each year, Through Women’s Eyes International Film Festival (TWE) presents the very best in new, groundbreaking films about brave, heroic women produced by established and emerging filmmakers from around the world. TWE raises funding for the United States National Committee for UN Women, the world’s champion for gender equality and women’s empowerment. *
 TWE: Saturday, April 6, and Sunday, April 7, at Hollywood 11 Cinemas, 1993 Main St., Sarasota. 
 
We have chosen 22 films (15 shorts and seven features) from more than 400 worldwide submissions. Tickets and a complete schedule of films will be available at www.throughwomenseyes.com. What we love about this year’s films is that they blow open the idea that women have to fit into a certain constraining standard or cultural voice. The women in our films find their voices and bravely go after their personal missions with grit and determination.