People & Business: Wednesday

Wednesday, December 5, 2018
THE SARASOTA SCENE
People & Business
To submit your news for consideration, please send press info to scenemagazine@scenesarasota.com.

USF Sarasota-Manatee Professor’s Book Hits Chinese Market
Tens of thousands of copies of Dr. Wilma Davidson’s book, Business Writing: What Works, What Won’t, have been distributed across the United States and Canada, but now a vast new market is emerging thanks a deal to bring the work to Chinese booksellers.
First published in 1994 and revised in 2001 and 2015, the USF Sarasota-Manatee professor’s book has become a steady-selling, how-to guide for college students, business executives and anyone else who wants to master the art of business writing.
Then last year, Taiwan-based Heliopolis Culture Group approached Dr. Davidson’s publisher, St. Martin’s Press, a division of Macmillan Publishers in New York, about printing the book in traditional Chinese, potentially opening a huge untapped market. It was released this spring, in time for the Taipei International Book Exhibition.
“Of course, I was honored and thrilled that they approached us for international rights,” said Dr. Davidson, an instructor of professional and technical writing in the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences at USFSM. “They told us they wanted to offer the book to people in the business world, so they can benefit from the ideas in the book on how to compose effective business correspondence. After all, English is the language of business.”
She recently received copies of the translated work. She says the version is faithful to the original text except in instances where illustrations were dropped to allow side-by-side English-to-Chinese translations of business letters. The book also contains examples of well-written memos, reports and other business documents as well as practical business writing tips.
Davidson is hoping for strong sales in the large Asian market, which could depend on promotion and how the book is mass-marketed there. Almost 50,000 copies of her three editions have sold in North America. The book currently retails for $19.99 in the United States with a digital version as well.
“I’m just so gratified that the book is getting attention globally,” she said. “I’ve spent my professional life studying why and how people write, and while I may never get them to love writing, I do get them to hate it less.”

Rotary Club of Sarasota Foundation Awards Grant to Embracing Our Differences
The $5,000 grant will help fund the organization’s rich tapestry of education initiatives.
The Rotary Club of Sarasota Foundation awarded Embracing Our Differences a $5,000 grant directed to empower EOD’s celebrated educational outreach programs.
Since 2004, EOD’s international, juried exhibition celebrating the theme of “enriching lives through diversity,” showcases the art and words of thousands of artists and writers from around the world, including hundreds of area-based students and educators. Also crucial to the organization’s mission are its ongoing education initiatives. Presented in partnership with the regional school district and nationally recognized educators, these programs positively impact the lives of thousands of area teachers and students every year. These include annual workshops and retreats that provide arts and diversity curricula for area educators, bi-county reading initiatives, free bus transportation for students and teachers to visit area cultural venues, and student docent programs in high schools.
Sarah Wertheimer, Embracing Our Differences’ executive director, says with 932 teachers and 39,211 students participating in the organization’s exhibit and educational programs in 2018 alone, Embracing Our Differences continues to lead as one of the largest education programs in southwest Florida.
Embracing Our Differences’ annual juried international art exhibit returns to Sarasota’s Bayfront Park, January 19-March 15.

Mote Teaches Sustainable Fishing to 80+ Fifth Graders

Mote Staff Scientist Dr. Nathan Brennan helps a student reel in a catfish

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium hosted one of its popular Teach-A-Kid Fishing & Ecology Clinics in November at Mote Aquaculture Research Park in Sarasota County, educating 88 fifth grade students from Florine J. Abel Elementary.

Mote volunteers and staff from Mote’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Directorate and Education Department worked together to encourage and educate the students during the event. Students rotated through five different hands-on stations during the clinic: fish biology, casting, bait and tackle, ethical angler and sun/water safety, and fishing at the pond, where many children caught their first fish. At the end of the clinic, each child went home with a rod and tackle kit courtesy of Fish Florida and a gift bag, filled with educational materials and fishing items from Daiichi Hooks, DOA Fishing Lures, FWC, Mirrolures/L&S Bait, North American Marine Environmental Protection Association and Mote.

“I look forward to this event every year, as it is one of the most rewarding parts of my job here at Mote,” said Carole Neidig, Staff Scientist in Mote’s Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture. “We usually receive thank-you letters from the students after the event. Many of the children have never fished before, and being able to provide that experience that they would otherwise not have is truly special. We couldn’t do it without our sponsors and dedicated volunteers.” Neidig has been involved with the Teach-A-Kid clinic since its inception in 2008.

While Mote also hosts an annual public fishing clinic associated with the William R. Mote Memorial Snook Shindig, the Teach-A-Kid clinic is unique in that it is offered to students from Title 1 schools at no cost to the school or the participants. Now in its 10th year, the Teach-A-Kid Fishing & Ecology Clinic has reached almost 2,000 underserved students from Sarasota and Manatee counties.

“We have great relationships with the schools in Sarasota and Manatee counties,” said Aly Busse, Mote’s Assistant Vice President for Education. “At Mote, we believe ocean conservation begins with education, and we are proud to be able to offer these types of programs to our local youth and excite them about our marine and coastal ecosystems.”

Revcontent Names Omar Nicola as CEO; John Lemp as Board Chair
As Omar Nicola prepares to take over as the company’s CEO, Founder and current CEO, John Lemp, will
transition to a role as Chairman of Revcontent’s Board of Directors.
Nicola previously co-founded Kixer, a mobile advertising technology company that connects publishers
and users with mobile app recommendations. Kixer was acquired by Lakana and its parent company, Nexstar Broadcasting Group, in 2015, where Nicola served as Senior Vice President for Revenue & Operations until 2017.
“Content marketing is a space that has provided companies a valuable revenue stream, which is imperative for brands of all sizes to continue to grow and tell their stories beyond the walled gardens. Revcontent has been at the forefront of this push, and I’m looking forward to working with our team to expand our client base and to identify technical solutions to best serve our partners,” says Nicola. 
Nicola started his career with Morgan Stanley before transitioning into the technology and publishing
industries where he held various roles at Myspace, Evolve Media and Uproxx Studios. He would later
co-found Kixer in 2014.
“Omar is the perfect choice to take over as CEO of Revcontent, because of his wealth of experience and
track record of success as a publisher and a leader of several different advertising technology
companies,” said Founder and current CEO John Lemp. 
Nicola’s initial 90-day plan is focused on the continued expansion of publishers and advertisers using the Revcontent platform, identifying technical solutions to generate additional revenue for partners and to continue to improve upon the quality of the content within the Revcontent platform.

New Sales Gallery for The DeMarcay on Palm Set to Open in January
Sales will launch in January for condominiums at The DeMarcay, a soon-to-be-constructed luxury residential project by GK Development at 33 S. Palm Ave. in downtown Sarasota. The new sales gallery is slated to open at the end of January, and agents are taking purchase agreements beginning January 7, 2019. The DeMarcay at Palm will be marketed and sold by ON Collaborative, a full-service national development marketing and sales firm integrated with its Coldwell Banker branded operations.
The general contractor for the project is Palm Harbor-based Voeller Construction, and Sarasota firm Parker Walker Group is the architect. The interior design by Chicago-based Ma’am Design Collective will honor the site’s history as a cigar factory and hotel that were originally located on the site in the new building’s lobby.
The 18-story building will feature a resort-style rooftop pool with expansive waterfront views of the Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay. Ranging from 1,144 to 3,106 square feet, the floor plans will have the flexibility to combine units for larger square footage. Prices range from the low $600,000s to just over $3 million. The building is expected to begin construction in summer 2019 with an estimated 18-month build out.

The Ringling: Holiday Splendor Supports Toys for Tots
Dec 6,  5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Visit The Ringling during extended evening hours and enjoy holiday music and performances by local elementary, middle and high schools. Admission is free with one unwrapped toy per guest. Learn more

Gulf Coast Community Foundation Adds to Team
Gulf Coast Community Foundation recently added two new staff members to further strengthen its team and advance its mission of transforming our region through bold and proactive philanthropy. Marcia Saulo was hired as controller, while Kelly Carlstein Buehler joined Gulf Coast’s marketing and communications team to direct marketing and public relations strategies.
In her role as controller, Saulo is responsible for the operation of financial and accounting services, including preparation of financial analyses, income and expense reports, and budgets. She also will help Gulf Coast transition to a new, fully integrated charitable operations management and accounting platform.
Carlstein Buehler  leads digital and traditional marketing strategies and innovative storytelling in coordination with donors and community partners. She also will play a lead role in planning for Gulf Coast’s upcoming 25th anniversary.

Chef Steve Phelps Speaks Out for Strong Fisheries Management
Leading Restaurant Chef Signs Portland Pact for Sustainable Seafood
Chef/Owner Steve Phelps of Indigenous Restaurant added his name to the Portland Pact for Sustainable Seafood, which highlights the need for fisheries management policies that ensure a steady supply of sustainable, domestic seafood – now and for the future. Indigenous is known for seafood choices and its sustainability practice.

“I’m passionate about serving the best food possible to my customers, including delicious ingredients produced without harming the planet,” said Chef Phelps, who has been a driving force in his community and nationally for serving and promoting sustainable seafood. “Keeping seafood favorites on the menu is directly tied to the long-term health of our fisheries and our oceans. It’s my business to do all I can to protect these resources.”

Some of the top names in the culinary world came together in Portland, Oregon, recently to craft and sign the Portland Pact for Sustainable Seafood. Now, chefs throughout the country are adding their names to the Portland Pact, signaling the need for strong U.S. fisheries management policies that support their businesses as well as the health of the oceans and the health of U.S. coastal economies.

The United States has some of the best-managed fisheries in the world. At the heart of that success is the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA), the primary law governing fishing in U.S. waters. Since 2000, the Magnuson-Stevens Act has helped rebuild more than 40 species, bringing overfishing in U.S.-managed waters to near all-time lows. By signing the Pack, Chef Phelps hopes to encourage policymakers to sustain this progress and make even more improvements in the future.

“Anyone who cares about maintaining this country’s vibrant culinary industry or protecting the jobs of the fishermen we work with who rely on healthy fisheries for their livelihoods, must reject efforts to weaken these measures,” said Chef Phelps. “I am always looking for the most sustainable seafood products available and am especially pleased when that includes local, sustainable U.S. seafood.”

To learn more and view the full list of chefs who have signed the Portland Pact to date, visit www.chefsforfish.org.

Meals on Wheels of Sarasota gets Holiday Help from Local Businesses
The staff and volunteers at Meals on Wheels of Sarasota has teamed with local businesses to collect holiday presents for homebound seniors, veterans, children and families in need. Residents and business owners embraced the challenge and donated not only items for gift bags, but also grand transportation for collecting the gifts.

Sunset Subaru provided a vehicle to pick up donations at local businesses. Five Michaels Saunders and Company real estate offices and Mattress Firm on South Tamiami Trail were gift collection sites for their staff and for the public. Several local businesses also hosted a holiday gift drive for their employees including Bank of America; U.S. Trust; Merrill Lynch; Tarpon Point Nursing & Rehabilitation Center; Sarasota County’s Supervisor of Elections, Tax Collectors and Clerk of Courts Offices; Sarasota Magazine; and Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP. With so many stops and so many donations, the logistics of collecting all the gifts safely and efficiently was a priority. 

The annual “Share the Love” campaign that supports local charities – including Meals on Wheels – is currently underway through January 2, 2019. A national campaign, Subaru will donate $250 to a charity of choice for every new purchase or lease. 

At Meals on Wheels of Sarasota, 550 volunteers help prepare, pack, and deliver heart-healthy meals, six days a week, year-round, using their own vehicles and gas. Meals on Wheels clients, who range in age from 6 to 103, receive meals because they are physically or mentally impaired, and unable to prepare meals or go to a food pantry or grocery store.

To learn more about the gift drive, volunteering, or donating through a charitable fund, contact Meals on Wheels of Sarasota: info@mealsonwheelsofsarasota.org or 941-366-6693.

ELC Awarded $5,000 Grant From PNC Foundation
The Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County (ELC) has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the PNC Foundation to help support the creation of a second STEAM Machine mobile classroom as part of the ELC’s successful STEAM Machine early learning program.

Paul Sharff, ELC Chief Executive Officer, said: “The Early Learning Coalition is extremely appreciative of this support from PNC Bank. Promoting STEAM education gives children the opportunity to attain essential skills to connect ideas and integrate knowledge across disciplines, all the while capturing their attention. The PNC Foundation contribution will enable us to reach even more early learners in Manatee County.”

STEAM curriculum focuses on science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math. The ELC’s STEAM Machine exploratory curriculum engages early learners in real projects within authentic environments and lays the academic groundwork for math and science.

The STEAM Machine program is available to all VPK classrooms in Manatee County. The STEAM Machine visited 58 classrooms serving 826 four-year-olds in the 2017/18 school year. The program anticipates visiting 60 classrooms in the current 2018/19 school year.

The new STEAM Machine will be constructed from a school bus donated to the ELC by the School District of Manatee County. The bus will be transformed by students at Manatee Technical College using building materials and an exterior wrap funded by community contributions, including the PNC Foundation grant.

USFSM, Perlman Music Program/Suncoast Celebrate 10 years
The stirring musical compositions that fill the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus each December are the result of a longtime collaboration between the university and the Perlman Music Program/Suncoast.
For a little more than two weeks, promising young musicians from across the globe visit the campus to practice and perform concerts culminating in a show at the Sarasota Opera House led by violinist Itzhak Perlman. On Wednesday, that collaboration was formally acknowledged with the unveiling of a bronze plaque near the FCCI Rotunda.
The PMP/Suncoast started 15 years ago, but didn’t come to USFSM until 2007 when then-Associate Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs Peter French offered space for rehearsals and performances. The group, which had bounced between rehearsal sites, now visits the campus yearly.
The plaque, posted next to the welcome desk, reads: “The University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee proudly hosting the Perlman Music Program/Suncoast since 2007.”

Visit Sarasota County Names Communications Specialists
Visit Sarasota County (VSC) has appointed Britney Guertin communications & content manager and Adam Cellini content coordinator. The new additions will be responsible for all aspects of the communications, public relations and content creation and will work in concert to increase the visibility and recognition of Sarasota County as a visitor destination.

M/I Homes Sarasota Division Welcomes Ed Suchora as New Area President
For the past two years, Suchora served in a regional capacity for M/I Homes as Regional Vice President of Land, and prior to that held roles as Division President for both Mattamy Homes and Beazer Homes, and as an Executive with Pulte Homes.

Sarasota Yacht Club Awarded Platinum Club of America Status
Established in 1997, Platinum Clubs of America recognizes only the preeminent private clubs in the nation. Only thirty yacht clubs in the country receive this distinction. It is the first time the Sarasota Yacht Club applied to be considered for this elite status. The selection criteria is based on universal recognition, excellence in amenities and facilities, caliber of staff and professional service levels, quality and commitment of membership, governance and prudent fiscal management, adapting to changing times, and overall experience. Incorporated as Sarasota Yacht Club in 1926, SYC is a full-service club with a variety of amenities and facilities including a 110-slip marina, pool bar, grand dining room, waterside terrace and multiple meeting rooms. In April of 2010, they opened the doors to the newly constructed 23,000 square foot club facility enjoyed by the Club’s multigenerational membership.

The Gulf Coast Chapter of the Diva Angels Announce New Board of Directors for 2019
Director – Kathie Minidis
Assistant Director – Donna DeFant
Treasurer – Susan Goslin
Secretary – KJ Smolarek
Membership – Kerri Wilkinson
Media/Marketing – Donna DeFant
Activities – Kathie Minidis
Fundraising – Melanie Puccinis
Clothing/accessories – Amy Barco
Safety Director – Rita Davis
Sergeant at Arms: KJ Smolarek
Website: Lynne Weise
Sunshine: KJ Smolarek
Scrapbook: Loretta Wronowski
The Gulf Coast Diva Angels raises money for local non-profits benefitting women, children, animals and volunteers their time on the Adopt-A-Road initiative in Sarasota County.
Diva Angels, Inc. is a non-profit organization of female motorcycle enthusiasts who enjoy
riding together, doing good in the community and building strong friendships. 

Halfacre Construction Company Completes New Therapeutic Amenity for The Haven
The Haven hosted a grand opening ceremony to commemorate the completion of the project on Nov. 15. The therapeutic amenity features a 1,248-square-foot commercial pool, zero-depth entry with a ramp entrance, restroom facilities, a screened enclosure and an expansive brick paver deck.
“Aquatic therapy is a really an underutilized form of therapy for children, teenagers and adults and one that no one else offers in the region,” said Brad Jones, president and CEO of The Haven. “
Halfacre Construction broke ground on the 10,000-gallon commercial pool in February 2018. The construction company has partnered with the nonprofit for more than 10 years, completing a number of other projects, including the creation of two new group homes and the recreational athletic facility as well as remodel and maintenance work. In 2019, Halfacre Construction will break ground on a third group home for The Haven.
The pool project was funded entirely by the Fry Family Foundation, which has supported The Haven through various projects for nearly 12 years.
Located at 4405 DeSoto Road in Sarasota, The Haven currently serves more than 800 children and adults with disabilities through educational, residential and employment programs and services.

AdFed Suncoast Accepting ADDY Award Entries through Jan 18, 2019.
The local chapter of the American Advertising Federation, AdFed Suncoast, invites businesses and professionals engaged in creative marketing to enter the American Advertising Awards (ADDYs). This competition recognizes and rewards the creative spirit of excellence in the art of advertising.The entry period for the 2019 competition is now through January 18, 2019. Submissions must consist of work that ran or appeared in final form between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2018.

The American Advertising Awards is the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition, attracting more than 60,000 entries every year.
Conducted annually by the American Advertising Federation (AAF), the local phase hosted by AdFed Suncoast is the first of a three-tier, national competition. Concurrently, all across the country, local entrants vie to win ADDY Awards — recognition as the very best in their markets. At the second tier, local ADDY winners compete against winners from other local clubs in one of 15 district competitions. District winners are then forwarded to the national stage of the American Advertising Awards.
For submit an entry or more information about the American Advertising Awards on the Central and Southwest coast of Florida, please visit AdFedSuncoast.com/addys.

Grant Helps Launch New Guide Dog Camp for Visually Impaired Teens 
Southeastern Guide Dogs announces that Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation has awarded a $50,000 grant to support a new Intro to Guide Dogs Camp to be held on the school’s Palmetto, Florida campus. Plans are currently being made to finalize the camp with its launch and first session planned for March 2019.
The objective of the camp will be to provide an educational and fun experience for children ages 14 – 17 who are visually impaired and who may be interested in becoming a guide dog handler, and for parents and guardians. Teen campers and parents will stay overnight in the school’s Barpal-Hirst Student Center during the three-day camp, and will experience simultaneous but different tracks, one for students and one for parents. As with all Southeastern Guide Dogs programs, there is no charge for participants.
Teens will be assigned a dog for each day and will enjoy hands-on activities such as walking with a trained guide dog in harness, practicing dog obedience, experiencing mock veterinary checks, playtime, and more. Parents, meanwhile, will learn about practical matters such as financial expectations for the care of a large-breed dog and evaluating whether their child is ready to take the next steps and apply for a guide dog.
“Over the years, we’ve often heard our students and graduates say, ‘I wish I hadn’t waited so long to get a guide dog; I had no idea it would change my life so much,’” says Southeastern Guide Dogs CEO Titus Herman. “By educating teens and parents sooner, we’ll create a smoother, more direct path to the independence and freedom that a guide dog offers.”
“Barancik Foundation strives to make a difference in Sarasota and beyond, and supporting this Intro to Guide Dogs Camp at Southeastern Guide Dogs aligns perfectly with our focus on educational and humanitarian causes,” says President and CEO Teri A Hansen. “We’re excited about this partnership and seeing this program grow.”

Elementary School Students Dig Surprise Archaeological Site
Education Foundation creates simulated archaeological discovery for immersive learning project
The Education Foundation of Sarasota County funded a surprise simulated archaeological dig site for an immersive learning project to help elementary school students attain a higher level of scientific literacy and develop inquiry skills.

Students at Cranberry Elementary School in North Port returned to school after the Thanksgiving break, expecting to assemble for a tree-gifting ceremony in honor of their retiring principal, Linda Daniels. Instead, students were surprised and excited when the tree-planting was halted because “dinosaur bones” were discovered.

Scientists from USF quickly arrived and taped off a dig site complete with assorted bones, fossils, rubble and other mysterious objects to spark students’ natural curiosity.

The “Can You Dig It?” immersive scenario, created in coordination with University of South Florida (USF) professors, involved all Cranberry Elementary School students in grades K-5.

Designed as a productive way to integrate exciting, collaborative interdisciplinary and schoolwide curriculum and investigative problem-solving, the immersive grant sparked students’ curiosity about remnants of previous times and inhabitants, led to natural inquiry, and connected to other disciplines such as language, culture, art and history.

The weeklong event included visits from the Florida Archaeology Network, the Ringling Museum and The Suncoast Science Center, and introduced students to archaeologists who shared real dig site photos and replicas of artifacts from previous civilizations.

Teachers in all disciplines integrated their lessons with the scientific-inquiry theme of the simulated dig. Some ways in which the immersive learning experience was incorporated into the curriculum include:

• The third grade teaching team had their students paint clay pots, only to have students discover they “accidentally” had been broken overnight, leaving students with the task of collecting pieces and reassembling pots much like real archeologists do.
• Second-graders read Charlotte’s Bones, a book about whale bones that were discovered far inland on a farm. Using this new information, students were able to better understand how sharks’ teeth could be found at their school.
The archaeological dig was the 2018-19 academic year’s first immersive learning experience funded by the Education Foundation. Kati Burns, director of programs at the Education Foundation, said four more immersive grant projects are planned this school year. All are surprise events for the students.
The schoolwide immersive grants are awarded through the Education Foundation’s EducateSRQ grants program, which also approved approximately 175 classroom and schoolwide grants for a total of $316,468 in funds awarded this school year.

Neuro Challenge for Parkinson’s Featured in Harvard Medical School Newsletter
Neuro Challenge Foundation for Parkinson’s is one of three nonprofits in the nation featured in a recent article in the Harvard Medical School newsletter. The article, “Season of Receiving: Use Free Services to Stay Independent,” encourages readers to seek out local resources which enable them to age in place and live independently.
The newsletter is produced by Harvard Health Publishing, the media and publishing division of Harvard Medical School. The division also produces reports, books, apps, interactive tools and websites to bring people around the world the most current and authoritative health information drawn on the expertise of the 10,000+ faculty physicians at Harvard Medical School.

Urology Treatment Center Welcomes Physician And Nurse Practitioner
Urology Treatment Center, a division of 21st Century Oncology, recently added a physician and a nurse practitioner to its urology practice – Gerard A. Curtis, M.D. and Casie Wodzien, M.S.N., R.N., A.N.P.- B.C.
Curtis joins the practice with clinical experience in urology, robotic surgery, urologic surgery and a focus on general urology, urologic oncology, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, testicular cancer, erectile dysfunction, kidney stone, and incontinence. He received his B.S. in Biology from the University of South Florida and completed an internship in General Surgery at the University of Miami School of Medicine. While there, Dr. Curtis also completed his residency in urology before moving on to finish a fellowship in urologic oncology at the University of Florida Health Science Center.
Wodzien joins the practice as a Urology Nurse Practitioner specializing in female urologic disorders. Before joining Urology Treatment Center, she worked extensively as a Registered Nurse at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics for six years, a Transitional Care Nurse Practitioner for three years, and as a Gastroenterology Nurse Practitioner at SSM Health Dean Medical Group for five years.
Urology Treatment Center is a urology practice based in Sarasota, FL specializing in robotic surgery, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, kidney stones, BPH, erectile dysfunction, prostate and urinary conditions, incontinence, vasectomy, and vasovasostomy (vasectomy reversal).