The Sarasota Scene May 25, 2018

BUSINESS & PEOPLE

Manatee County Clerk of Court Closes for Memorial Day
The office of the Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller will be closed in observance of Memorial Day on Monday, May 28, reopening Tuesday.
1115 Manatee Ave. W. | Bradenton | 34205 | 941-749-1800

Three Six Oh PR Adds Two
Three Six Oh Public Relations, a Sarasota-based public relations agency, recently welcomed Kate Ritz as a public relations and social media coordinator and Brittany Van Voorhees as a digital media coordinator.

In their roles, Ritz and Van Voorhees will be responsible for coordinating public relations activities as well as assisting with social media management. Since 2012, the agency has handled public relations strategy, writing and social media marketing for a diverse group of clients as well sales training, messaging and media coaching. 

Raymond James Advisor to Attend Educational Seminar
Dave Shugol, investment consultant and financial planner, was offered the opportunity to attend the annual RJFS Elevate National Conference.
This year’s meeting was held in Washington, DC from May 21 to 24. The theme for this year’s conference was “Elevate.”

Noted Physician Joins Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation Board of Trustees
Cardiologist Joel Morganroth, M.D. joins a board of 25 community leaders who help advance the Healthcare Foundation’s mission to strengthen healthcare in our community.
Cardiologist, medical educator, innovator and philanthropist Joel Morganroth, M.D., was recently named to the Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation’s Board of Trustees, joining a board of 25 community leaders who help advance the Healthcare Foundation’s mission to strengthen healthcare in our community.
Dr. Morganroth received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI. Currently, he serves as Chief Cardiac Consultant to EResearchTechnology, a global company that he founded which specializes in clinical research services for pharmaceutical and healthcare organizations. He also sits on the Board of Trustees at The Ringling College of Art and Design. Dr. Morganroth noted, “I am honored to be part of the Healthcare Foundation board and look forward to applying my medical and business experience to enhance further success.”

Vaughan-Birch Reappointed to Serve on Nonprofit’s Advisory Council
Norman Vaughan-Birch, a member of the full-service law firm Kirk-Pinkerton, PA, has been re-nominated to serve on the advisory council for Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium.
In this capacity, he will continue to serve as an ambassador for positive community relations through informed and targeted communication of Mote’s research and education programs, initiatives and events. Vaughan-Birch also serves on the research committee, a sub-committee of the Mote Marine Laboratory’s board of trustees.

Fergeson Skipper Welcomes Attorney Lisa Gallagher
Firm Expands Comprehensive Tax and Estate Planning Services
The law firm of Fergeson Skipper, P.A., announced Lisa K. Gallagher has joined the firm’s Wills, Trusts and Estates Department as an associate attorney. She is admitted to practice before all local and state courts in Florida. She has an extensive background in securities law, financial products, and the financial services industry, which will help to expand the firm’s tax and estate planning services.
Gallagher received her Juris Doctorate and Bachelor of Science in Finance degree from the University of Arizona and her Master of Laws in Taxation from Boston University. She holds securities licenses as a General Securities Representative, Registered Options Principal, General Securities Principal, and Municipal Securities Principal. Having passed the Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination and the Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination, she is also registered and authorized to provide investment advice.

Home Sales Rise Despite Challenging Inventory
In April 2018, Sarasota and Manatee housing inventory levels dropped; overall, April showed an increase in sales across the two counties, as well as an increase in new listings. April reported 2,014 total sales, a 3.3 percent increase from last year. Median sales prices continue to rise in Sarasota and Manatee. A seller’s market remains, indicated by the decreased month’s supply of inventory. Monthly reports are provided by Florida REALTORS® with data compiled from My Florida Regional Multiple Listing Service. For comprehensive statistics dating back to 2005, visit www.MyRASM.com/statistics.

The Van Wezel Foundation Supports New Performing Arts Center
Envisioning enhanced educational programs through the support for the creation of a multi-purpose, multivenue center for Sarasota
To retain cultural vitality within the community, the Foundation believes a new performing arts center is needed and will create public value by making diverse programs accessible to ever-growing audiences.
Research shows that to bring the existing facility up to current standards of customer and operating
expectations would require investments of tens of millions of dollars and major reconstruction. Currently, FEMA regulations cap the renovation expense at $15 million which makes reconstruction impractical.
In line with the progress the Sarasota Bayfront Planning Organization is conducting for the 53-acre
bayfront, the new performing arts center will enhance the space with a single multi-use hall, a small black box theatre, an expanded event space, an outdoor plaza that will more fully leverage the Sarasota Bayfront location, provide increased opportunities for entertainment and assembly, enhance educational opportunities, and further serve the needs of the community as Florida’s Cultural Coast for the next 50 years. 

Williams Parker Adds Three Attorneys
Nicole F. Christie, Nicholas A. Gard, and Bailey S. Lowther are welcomed to the firm.

Ms. Christie represents clients in residential and commercial real estate matters. She received her J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Florida College of Law and her B.A. from Lafayette College.
Mr. Gard focuses on corporate and tax law. He obtained his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and earned his M.Acc. and B.S., cum laude, from the University of Florida.
Ms. Lowther is a civil trial attorney who focuses on complex litigation matters, including probate and trust litigation and business litigation. She received her J.D., magna cum laude, from Tulane University and her B.A. from the College of Charleston.

Halfacre Construction Company Names New Partners
The Lakewood Ranch-based commercial construction company recently named Reed Giasson and Tom Rees as partners.

In their new roles, the two will work alongside Halfacre Construction President Jack Cox to strengthen local relationships and strategize future growth and lead various projects for the company.
Giasson joined Halfacre Construction 18 years ago as a carpenter. As the team leader for manufacturing and industrial projects, Giasson will manage preconstruction services and oversee the project managers and superintendents during construction through project completion.
Rees joined Halfacre Construction 14 years ago as an assistant project manager. Rees will supervise the firm’s educational projects in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, Collier and Hillsborough Counties. From preconstruction through completion, he will oversee all project phases and managing client relations.
Halfacre Construction currently employs 30 at its Lakewood Ranch-based office. As part of its recent growth, the firm recently added three new positions and promoted two.

SCF to Host 18^th Annual Suncoast Film Festival
State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) will host the Student Film Festival from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 9 at Burns Court Cinema, 506 Burns Court, Sarasota. The event is free and open to the public.
The film festival, sponsored by SCF’s Film Club, showcases SCF student productions from Fall 2017 and Spring 2018. Categories in the showcase include narrative, documentary and experimental. The productions explore themes of identity and self, social and private relationships, and quality of life.
Student filmmakers include Priscilla Bass, Deborah Echevarria, Kami Hughes, Chris Pedro and Jared Shaw. Attendees also will see SCF students Kim Galway and Connor Dahlman’s  winning production from the Sarasota Film Festival’s “20 Hour Best Cinematography” competition.
For more information, contact Chris Bellanca at BellanC@SCF.edu or 941-752-5409.

Johns Hopkins Pain Management Physician Joins Local Orthopedic Group

Sarasota Orthopedic Associates welcomes Ashot Kotcharian, MD, a board-certified Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation specialist with focus on Interventional Spine & Sports Medicine and Pain Management. He joins SOA after serving as Assistant Fellowship Director at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation department. Dr Kotcharian is skilled in interventional therapies for spine disease and sports injuries. He is an expert at both diagnostic and interventional fluoroscopic-guided spinal procedures including steroid injections, nerve blocks, and radiofrequency denervation. Active in the sport of martial arts since his youth, Dr Kotcharian continues to practice Taekwondo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Karate. He has proudly accomplished the highest, most difficult level of 2nd degree black belt in Taekwondo. Dr Kotcharian is fluent in multiple languages including Russian and Spanish and when time allows he is enjoys a game of chess, reading, meditation, exercise, and painting. Dr Kotcharian joins the mission of Sarasota Orthopedic Associates in getting patients back on their feet, back to work, back in the game, and back to life.