April 6, 2018

On the Coast: Business & People News

Children First Welcomes New Vice President of Philanthropy
Children First board chair Jeff Jackson welcomed Jessica Rogers at a party held at his home.

Jeff Jackson welcomed attendees and spoke about the strides Children First has made in serving children and families in the past year, and CEO Philip Tavill updated the attendees on the success of the Raise Your Hand campaign. Jessica Rogers shared the impact Children First continues to have on families because of the generosity and continued support of the community. 

Coastal Orthopedics Launches Regenerative Medicine Services
The board-certified orthopedic surgeons and spine specialists at Coastal Orthopedics are using the latest technologies to help patients relieve joint pain without surgery.
These treatments use natural substances, utilizing patients’ own cells and proteins to repair damaged tissues safely, quickly and effectively allowing joints, tendons and ligaments to heal and repair themselves.
The use of regenerative medicine or biologic technologies is expanding rapidly in a number of medical fields, including orthopedics. There are three different forms of regenerative medicine, including Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), cell-based therapy and the use of amniotic products.
Coastal Orthopedics began doing the simplest form of PRP several years ago; In late 2017, the practice expanded into cell-based therapy treatment.

“Our practice has put together an ethical, evidence-based regenerative medicine strategy because of advances in science and evidence that the treatments work,” said Dr. Arthur Valadie.

At Coastal Orthopedics, regenerative medicine is used to treat a variety of conditions, including arthritis, joint and tendon injuries, sciatica and back pain, among others. These treatments are performed as outpatient procedures, and the initial recovery process is shorter and less painful than traditional surgeries.
While regenerative medicine is less invasive than surgery, it is not always a substitute for surgery. There are a variety of treatment options available for any condition based on severity, and every patient is different.
“It’s really more about individualizing the treatments to the patient’s unique circumstances,” said Dr. Valadie.

First quarter sales break record for Neal Communities
The builder enjoyed a 10% increase from its 2017 first quarter sales, setting a new company record.

John Collier, Randy Turkovics, Pat & Charlene Neal, Michael Storey, Michael Greenberg

Neal Communities sold 106 new home sales company-wide last month, bringing its first quarter total to 336 sales. In March, close to 40 percent of the builder’s sales consisted of move-in-ready homes.

“A continued shortage in residential resale home inventory across the country and particularly in the southwest Florida real estate market helps fuel our sales success,” said Michael Storey, president of Neal Communities. 

Neal Signature Homes, the firm’s luxury custom home division, sold 10 homes in March and the builder’s south division, encompassing Lee and Collier counties, was responsible for 12 sales.

Guthrie Supervises Sales at Neal Signature Homes’ Provence
Neal Signature Homes recently welcomed Christine Guthrie as a new home sales associate at Provence, an exclusive gated community in Sarasota.
Guthrie brings 12+ years of experience as a real estate broker in the Sarasota area. In her new role, she is responsible for all the sales, tours and models within the community.
Provence | 5305 Provence Lane, Sarasota

Goodwill Team Member Recognized by Local Social Workers Chapter
The award honored Bannister for her tireless work on behalf of veterans in our community
On March 26, the National Association of Social Workers Florida Chapter (NASW-FL), Sarasota/Manatee Unit recognized Goodwill Manasota’s director of Veterans Services, C.J. Bannister, as its 2018 Public Citizen of the Year. The award, which was presented during NASW-FL’s annual awards dinner, honored Bannister for her tireless work on behalf of veterans in our community. Each year, the local chapter of NASW bestows the Public Citizen of the Year Award upon an outstanding member of the community whose accomplishments epitomize the values and mission of professional social work. Bannister, who is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, was hired in September 2014 by Goodwill to lead its efforts on behalf of area veterans. While overseeing the organization’s Veterans Services Program, she has helped to lower barriers to employment and provide opportunities for higher-paying positions for veterans and their families. Additionally, she works to connect veterans with crucial social services, helping them reintegrate into their families, communities and jobs. For more about Goodwill’s veterans program, go to experiencegoodwill.org or call (941) 355-2721, ext. 451.