Sarasota

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FLORIDATRENDCOM SEPTEMBER 2015 3

PORTRAIT FIN 1114

( Sarasota Portrait )

Welcome to Florida Trendrsquos special report on Sarasota In this e-zine format yoursquoll see the full Portrait that was featured in our September 2015 issue

Most of us know this beautiful city on Floridarsquos Gulf Coast as a top spot for affluent retirees highly rated beaches and a vibrant arts scene

While the arearsquos mainstay tourism- and real estate-related industries continue to thrive you may not know that the countyrsquos economy is evolving As Amy Martinez reports ldquoSarasotarsquos size good schools and arts infrastructure are attracting a young lsquocreative classrsquo of workers and entrepreneurs for whom quality-of-life considerations are paramount in deciding where to live and workrdquo

And the overall economic momentum is not confined to downtown There is renewed interest from large developers and parks and road projects in south county are getting more funding

All in all the story of Sarasotarsquos evolution is worth a good read

Florida Trend continues its series of Business and Community Portraits in coming editions I invite you to subscribe to our print edition so that you donrsquot miss a single one Information on how to contact us is printed below

We look forward to hearing from you

mdash Andy CortyPublisher

[acortyfloridatrendcom]

How to Reach UsLETTERS TO FLORIDA TRENDMail Florida Trend PO Box 611 St Petersburg FL 33731 Fax 727822-5083Email mhowardFloridaTrendcom All letters should include the authorrsquos telephone number or e-mail address Florida Trend edits some letters for length and clarity

FLORIDA TREND ONLINEWebsite wwwFloridaTrendcom Includes back issues

REPRINTSE-PRINTSTo purchase article reprints or e-prints contact Wrightrsquos Reprints at 877652-5295 or wwwwrightsreprintscom

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A Word from the Publisher

Florida Trend wwwFloridaTrendcom

Publisher Andrew P CortyExecutive Editor Mark R Howard

EDITORIALManaging Editor John AnnunziataSouth Florida Editor Mike VogelAssociate Editors Jason Garcia Art Levy Amy Martinez Restaurant Editor Chris ShermanContributors Rochelle Broder-Singer Carlton Proctor Ron Word

ARTArt Director Gary BernloehrAssociate Art Director Jason Morton

ADMINISTRATIONBusiness Manager Barbara GoodmanStaff Accountant Jenny Shea

CIRCULATIONDirector of Audience Development Karen TysonPrint amp Fulfillment Supervisor Connie GreenblattCustomer Relations Marsha Almodovar

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTAssociate Publisher Janice G SharpMarketing amp Special Projects Coordinator Leslie VasbinderCreativeGraphic Designer Anne MeyerGraphic Designer Mary Ann Upham Will

PRODUCTIONDirector of Production Jill South

ONLINE PUBLISHINGOnline Project Manager Joyce EdmondsonOnline Publishing Specialist Robb Brown

ADVERTISING SALESDirector of Advertising Lynn Lotkowictz 727892-2612

Senior Market Director Central FloridaOrlando - Treasure Coast - Gainesville - Brevard County Laura Armstrong 407951-6359

Senior Market Director Tampa BayTampa - St Petersburg - Sarasota - Naples - Ft MyersChristine King 727892-2641

Senior Market Director South Florida Miami - Ft Lauderdale - Palm Beaches Maggie Caruso 727892-2640

Senior Market Director North Florida Jacksonville - Tallahassee - Panama City - PensacolaJaime McKnight 727892-2645

National Sales Director New York - Atlanta - Chicago Lynn Lotkowictz 727892-2612

Advertising Support Representative Rana Becker 727892-2642

PUBLISHED BY TREND MAGAZINES INC Chairman Paul Tash President Andrew P Corty Secretary Barbara Goodman Treasurer Jana Jones

Made in the USA Florida Trend (ISSN 0015-4326) 490 First Ave S St Petersburg FL 33701 Telephone 727821-5800 Copyright 2015 Trend Magazines Inc All rights reserved The following are registered trademarks and logos of Trend Magazines Inc and their unauthorized use is strictly prohibited Florida Trend Golden Spoon Awards Tallahassee Trend Florida CEO Trends dba Florida Florida Small Business Florida Trend Research Florida Legal Elite Florida Trendrsquos NEXT - Your Future After High School Florida Trendrsquos NEXT Career Connections Teen Trendsetters Florida DataMine Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is prohibited Florida Trend accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts photographs artwork or reacutesumeacute material Subscriber Services online at wwwfloridatrendcomcustomerservice or call 1-800-829-9103 Address Change Send address with mailing label from past issue to Florida Trend PO Box 16238 North Hollywood CA 91615 Allow six weeks

Member BPA Worldwide Alliance of Area Business Publications Florida Magazine Association

Sarasota( Sarasota Portrait )

4 SEPTEMBER 2015 FLORIDATRENDCOM

Sarasota

( Community Portrait )

FLORIDATRENDCOM SEPTEMBER 2015 5photo Steve Schadt

6 SEPTEMBER 2015 FLORIDATRENDCOM

( Sarasota Portrait )

unincorporated Sarasota CountyAfter grinding to a halt during the

recession construction also is under way again at Palmer Ranch in south-ern Sarasota and WCI Communities is pushing ahead with new develop-ments in the Venice area

Housing prices historically have been highest in the northern half of the county sending many families and new residents especially young ser-vice workers southward into North Port which has surpassed Sarasota as the countyrsquos most-populous city

Friction between the northern and southern parts of the county over government attention and resources traditionally has been a political fact of life but there are signs of change For the first time in its 93-year histo-ry a majority of the county commis-sion comes from the southern half of the county Parks and road projects in south county are getting more fund-ing North Port will soon be home to a county library and satellite campus for Suncoast Technical College

Meanwhile the city of Sarasota where growth can be a sensitive issue continues to be a magnet for developers Last year Jacksonville

Overview

EvolutionBy Amy Martinez

Traditionally Sarasota and its economy have been defined by a large population of affluent retirees highly rated beaches and a vibrant arts scene mdash the legacy of among others circus legend John Ringling and his wife Mable Ringling settled in Sarasota full time after years of visiting on vacation and left his mansion with its large art collection to the state of Florida when he died in 1936

The arearsquos mainstay tourism- and real estate-related industries continue to thrive Local hotels report record numbers of visitors and construction cranes have returned to the skyline of what for years has been one of Floridarsquos most vibrant downtowns Developers have more than 30 projects under development or in the pipeline including five hotels and a variety of residential buildings that could add as many as 2800 dwellings downtown

The economy however is evolving Sarasotarsquos size good schools and arts infrastructure are attracting a young ldquocreative classrdquo of workers and entre-preneurs for whom quality-of-life con-siderations are paramount in deciding where to live and work Some of Sara-sotarsquos fastest-growing companies are in tech-driven sectors such as health care innovation which now accounts for about 70 employers and more than 2500 jobs Hoping to push the diver-sification economic developers now market the area as the ldquoCreative Coastrdquo

The overall economic momentum extends beyond downtown To the south a surge in retired and second-home buyers is drawing renewed interest from large developers Cana-da-based Mattamy Homes and its part-ners spent $86 million on land for a new master-planned community with as many as 20000 homes The proper-ty spans 9650 acres in North Port and

developer Ed Burr and his Green-Pointe Communities paid $27 million for a 15-acre bayfront lot where a retail development called the Sara-sota Quay once stood GreenPointe reportedly plans a mixed-use project

Business and community leaders also have formed an initiative called Bayfront 2020 Organized by Visit Sarasota County theyrsquore calling on the city to develop a long-range plan for 42 acres of public land around the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall A parking lot and loading dock are prime targets for an upgrade

Jesse Biter a local real estate developer and technology entrepre-neur embodies the optimism that is pervasive in Sarasota these days Tired of winter he moved down from Pennsylvania 15 years ago after visit-ing Florida seeking warm weather and a business-friendly climate Hersquos now part of the movement to create a thriving tech scene in Sarasota

ldquoI picked Sarasota because it was the nicest place I could find and therersquos a great mix of peoplerdquo he says ldquoWe have the tech We have the arts When you build something you need all those piecesrdquo

A Jacksonville developer has bought one of the last undeveloped tracts of land along Sarasotarsquos bayfront and is planning a mixed-use project The 15-acre lot was once home to an outdoor shopping and entertainment center called the Sarasota Quay

ldquoHistorically a lot of

growth and redevelopment

has been in north

county But increasingly wersquore seeing

growth and private

investment in south county

as wellrdquo says Thomas

Harmer Sarasota

County administrator

Vital Statisticsgt Sarasota County 387140

gt Incorporated Areas North Port 59231 Sarasota 52689 Venice 21117 Longboat Key 4488

gt The population grew 2 between 2010 and 2014 compared to the Florida average of 38 The county is the statersquos 14th most populous

Key Demographicsgt White (non-Hispanic) 86

gt Hispanic or Latino 8

gt African-American 5

gt Median age 533 vs 411 statewide

gt Nearly a third of the countyrsquos population is 65 or older ndash 5 is over 85

gt Only 13 of residents speak a language other than English at home compared with 27 in Florida overall

Economic Lifegt Median household income

$49052 vs $46956 statewide

gt Per-capita personal income $56661 vs $41497 statewide

gt 92 of residents ages 25 and older have graduated from high school 31 have a bachelorrsquos degree or higher compared with 26 statewide

gt Small businesses dominate the countyrsquos economy About 87 of all firms have fewer than 20 employees And more than quarter of all employees work for a small business

gt Compared to Florida overall Sarasota has an above-average share of jobs in educationhealth services construction leisurehospitality and manufacturing

gt The top five employment sectors are health caresocial assistance retail trade accommodationfood services administrativewaste

services and construction

gt Poverty rate 13 vs 17 statewide

gt Gross Domestic Product 2012 $233 billion 2013 $243 billion Year-over-year change 43 vs 45 statewide

gt Unemployment rate Sarasota 50 vs statewide average of 55

Employment by Industry

Industry of All

Industries

Avg Annual Wage

Educationhealth services 196 $43673

Tradetransportationutilities 187 $33729

Leisurehospitality 149 $21844

Professionalbusiness services 142 $48034

Government 95 $48428

Construction 66 $39782

Financial activities 63 $66291

Manufacturing 47 $47687

Other services 37 $29718

Information 15 $50691

Mining 02 $35215Source Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research 2013 figures

Quality of Lifegt Mean travel time to work 219

minutes vs 259 statewide

gt 64 of public school teachers in Sarasota County hold a masterrsquos degree vs 34 statewide

gt The countyrsquos non-profit arts and culture organizations employ more than 5000 people

gt Sarasota County had the 31st highest crime index per 100000 population in 2014 among Floridarsquos 67 counties

Ready to define your SignatureStorytrade Sign here

When you truly believe in something you sign your name to it

To many ldquobrandrdquo is synonymous

with ldquologordquo At we believe

in branding that dives far deeper

and communicates the truth of

who you are and why your

customers should care prefer

and ultimately buy We call this

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outcome of our proprietary

BrandSignaturetrade process

Graphic designers create

logos We refine define and

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to achieve marketing goals

through whatever channels are

relevant efficient and effective

Patricia Courtois9414871916pcourtoisc-suitecommscomc-suitecommscom

8 SEPTEMBER 2015 FLORIDATRENDCOM

( Sarasota Portrait )

bottom photo Newscom

TourismHotel occupancy rates hit a record

72 last year while average daily room rates increased 6 to $15961

St Armands Circle is a top tourist draw along with the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Mote Marine Laboratory Circus Sarasota the Ringling Museum of Art and the Ringling familyrsquos Cagrave drsquoZan mansion

Sarasota also has a growing sports tourism sector Since 2010 the Baltimore Orioles have played their spring training games at Ed Smith Stadium Last year the Modern Pentathlon World Cup Finals took place at the newly renovated Selby Aquatic Center and Sarasota Polo Club And in 2017 Nathan Benderson Park will host the World Rowing Championships

Economic Backbone

ArtsSarasotarsquos artistic and creative roots

can be traced back to circus magnate John Ringling and his wife Mable who made Sarasota their permanent home in 1926 and built a Venetian-inspired mansion they named Carsquo drsquoZan Ringling left his estate and a large art collection to Florida when

he died 10 years laterSarasota has an impressive array

of big-town artistic and cultural amenities The John amp Mable Ringling Museum of Art is well regarded internationally Sarasota boasts Floridarsquos oldest continuing orchestra as well as professional ballet and opera companies the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation-

designed Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and FSUrsquos Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training

The area also is home to a handful of theater companies including the Asolo Repertory Theatre which was established in 1960

All told non-profit arts and culture organizations pump $180 million into the local economy according to the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County That number includes about $129 million in direct spending by the organizations plus $51 million in ancillary spending by their audiences Sarasotarsquos arts scene generates more than 4500 full-time equivalent jobs and $20 million in government revenue according to the alliance

St Armands Circle is

a popular shopping

venue

The John amp Mable Ringling Museum of Art

The 41-year-old Sarasota BMX Track mdash said to be the longest-standing BMX track in the US mdash is now adding an Olympic-level supercross track one of only two in the nation

High-end hotel accommodations

include the Longboat Key Club amp Resort and the Ritz-Carlton which is undergoing a renovation Therersquos also the Hyatt Regency and a new Westin under construction on Sarasotarsquos bayfront

John and Mable Ringling built the Carsquo drsquoZan mansion

300000+ MSA amp 1M REGIONAL WORKFORCE

No taxON INCOME ESTATES

CAPITAL GAINS DIVIDENDS OR INTEREST

2 State for BusinessCHIEF EXECUTIVE

MAGAZINE

Big Business meets Big Balancemdashthatrsquos what makes Sarasota County so enticing Centrally located to every market in Florida and with easy access to all points of the compass wersquore the perfect place for companies interested in setting down deep roots for things both personal and professional And the EDC is your front door to everything this unique place has to offer

Whether yoursquore looking for in-depth assistance finding site options or just a quick conversation about the many tax and regulatory benefits we have to offer I invite you to give me a call My title may be President and CEO but Irsquom actually your personal concierge for all things Sarasota County Let me show you how we balance business and pleasure in paradise

CHOOSE PARADISE FOR BUSINESSCHOOSE SARASOTA COUNTY

Mark Huey President and CEOEconomic Development Corporation of Sarasota County1680 Fruitville Rd Suite 402 Sarasota FL 34236(941) 309-1200 ext 100 | mhueyedcsarasotacountycom

| wwwedcsarasotacountycom

PATRICK REDMOND CEO TERVIS

LISA KROUSE SVPFCCI INSURANCE GROUP

ROD HERSHBERGER PRESIDENT AND CEOPGT INDUSTRIES

LOCALLY OWNED GLOBALLY CONNECTED

MICHAEL SAUNDERS amp COMPANYEXPERIENCE SARASOTA WITH

40 YEARS of exceptional people properties and real estate services

100 SOUTH WASHINGTON BOULEVARD | SARASOTA FLORIDA 34236 | 9419537900 | MICHAELSAUNDERSCOM

Since 1976 Michael Saunders amp Company has been woven into the fabric of Sarasota As the area continues to make history and headlines we remain at the forefront of its

residential and commercial real estate market

Sarasota is the best place to grow your business within a collaborative unique and creative environment enriched with culture and opportunity Come and experience our vibrant lifestyle and be a part of shaping the future of our community Recognized internationally as an ideal place to live work and thrive now is the ideal time to contact us to learn more

MICHAEL SAUNDERS amp COMPANYEXPERIENCE SARASOTA WITH

40 YEARS of exceptional people properties and real estate services

100 SOUTH WASHINGTON BOULEVARD | SARASOTA FLORIDA 34236 | 9419537900 | MICHAELSAUNDERSCOM

Since 1976 Michael Saunders amp Company has been woven into the fabric of Sarasota As the area continues to make history and headlines we remain at the forefront of its

residential and commercial real estate market

Sarasota is the best place to grow your business within a collaborative unique and creative environment enriched with culture and opportunity Come and experience our vibrant lifestyle and be a part of shaping the future of our community Recognized internationally as an ideal place to live work and thrive now is the ideal time to contact us to learn more

MICHAEL SAUNDERS amp COMPANYEXPERIENCE SARASOTA WITH

40 YEARS of exceptional people properties and real estate services

12 SEPTEMBER 2015 FLORIDATRENDCOM

( Sarasota Portrait )

Manufacturing

Sarasotarsquos manufacturing sector is small but growing The

number of local manufacturing jobs is expected to grow 12 by 2024 well above the projected national growth rate of 1 according to

Economic Modeling Specialists International Among the countyrsquos largest manufacturers are PGT Industries (windows and doors) Sun Hydraulics

company for $865 million About 75 of the tract will be developed The rest will be preserved as wetlands Construction on the first two neighborhoods could begin this fall

Meanwhile WCI Communities a Bonita Springs-based home builder has two large residential developments under way in southern Sarasota County The 2400-acre Sarasota National golf course community in Venice and the 1039-acre Venetian Golf and River Club along the Myakka River in North Venice

WCIrsquos CEO Keith Bass says Sarasota is drawing retirees and second-home buyers ldquofrom more diverse locations than we did in the pastrdquo citing California as an example ldquoIf you can live in Florida six months of the year and earn your income itrsquos a different world tax-wiserdquo

Michael Saunders founder and CEO of real estate brokerage Michael Saunders amp Co says the market is healthy ldquoWersquove gone from 12000 residences for sale in 2007 to under 4000 todayrdquo she says ldquoAlthough yoursquod think that would cause prices to go through the roof prices are rising graduallyrdquo

Economic Backbone

Real EstateExperts say demographic

trends are driving growth in Sarasotarsquos housing market as more Americans turn 65 and migrate south to retire Metrostudy predicts that Sarasota will see ldquomoderaterdquo

growth in housing starts in the 5 to 10 range this year and then faster growth next year amid strong demand from retirees

Mattamy Homes Canadarsquos largest home builder is

preparing to develop as many as 20000 units in the next 40 years on a tract between North Port and Venice In 2014 Mattamy bought 9600 acres of the former Thomas Ranch from an Atlanta-based development

(hydraulic cartridge valves for industrial uses) and Tervis Tumbler (insulated plastic cups) The county also has attracted facilities that produce wheelchairs (Hoveround) bandages (Aso) interior doors (JeldWen) and ldquoblack boxrdquo flight recorders (L-3 Communications) PPi Technologies which builds packaging machinery for other companies opened a $54-million manufacturing plant in Sarasota last year

Sarasota companies make wheelchairs bandages and flight recorders

The Venetian Golf and River Club in North Venice

Health Care and Life Sciences

The medical sectorrsquos share of jobs in Sarasota is well above the national average Economic Modeling Specialists International predicts the number of health care jobs in the county will increase 18 over the next decade Sarasota Memorial Health Care System Venice Regional Medical Center Doctors Hospital and Englewood Community are among the largest employers countywide

Earlier this year FSUrsquos College of Medicine and Sarasota Memorial joined to create an internal medicine residency program Starting in 2017 the program will pick 10 doctors a year to train with physicians at the hospital

Sarasota has attracted digital health startups including Voalte (doctor-to-doctor text messaging) BioLucid (interactive software

apps) and IntelligentM which makes a wristband that monitors a physicianrsquos hand-washing habits Biotechnology firm RPS Diagnostics helps doctors quickly test for conjunctivitis and dry eye CAE Healthcare develops patient simulators that are used to train medical staff worldwide

Sarasota Memorial Hospital employs

more than

4000 staff

Financial ServicesA large concentration of wealthy retirees

and second-home buyers from the Northeast and Midwest has attracted dozens of wealth-management firms over the years The financial sector accounts for about 6 of jobs in the county and is one of the best paying with an average annual wage of more than $66000

A partnership including Mattamy HomesmdashNorth Americarsquos largest privately owned home buildermdash has invested more than $100 million in Sarasota That should tell you wersquore here to stay

Wersquore creating the most dynamic and innovative master-planned community in southwest Florida The West Villages

With designs for 20000+ homes 3 million square feet of commercial space schools green space water features and recreation this will be the most desirable place to live and grow a business

in South Sarasota County

Paradise in Your

Backyard

wwwMyWestVillagescom infomywestvillagescom mywestvillages

Mattamy_halfHindd 1 8615 929 AM

14 SEPTEMBER 2015 FLORIDATRENDCOM

( Sarasota Portrait )

left photo Mark Wemple

Tervis TumblerThe manufacturerrsquos insulated cups and tumblers are

sold at more than 10000 stores nationwide as well as 37 company-owned stores in 16 states A key driver of its growth has been licensing deals with major sports teams and companies including Disney Marvel and Warner Bros Its North Venice headquarters includes a newly built $3-million Innovation Center for its creative team The company employs more than 900

Notable Firms

Voalte

In 2014 digital health care company Voalte forged a partnership with Motorola to extend its software to Android devices It then raised $36 million in an investment round led by New York private equity firm Bedford Funding

Voalte offers secure smart phones to hospitals for text-messaging among medical staff making pagers unnecessary The Sarasota-based company launched its services on Apple iOS devices in 2009 and employs 125 people

About 63000 health care providers use its platform each day up from 20000 three years ago according to Voalte Customers include Massachusetts General Hospital Texas Childrenrsquos Hospital and Nebraska Medical Center

Along the way Sarasota Memorial Hospital has been a key developmental partner providing ldquoinvaluable feedback that helped us grow the companyrdquo says Voalte founder and CEO Trey Lauderdale ldquoTheyrsquore working with us now on what comes nextrdquo

Sun HydraulicsThe Sarasota-based manufacturer employs

about 700 locally and has facilities in China France Germany India Korea and the UK It makes screw-in hydraulic cartridge valves and manifolds used in fluid power systems Most of its sales are to manufacturers of large equipment thatrsquos not meant to be fixed in one place The publicly traded company says its products can be found ldquojust about anywhere mdash in a blueberry harvester a Ferris wheel an aerial works platform a city bus a tire-curing press an airport runway cleaning system an energy-efficient vehiclerdquo

RPS DiagnosticsFounded in 2004

the biotechnology company makes rapid in-office diagnostic tests for conjunctivitis and dry eye In 2014 RPS received approval to begin overseas sales of a new finger-stick test to help identify respiratory infections It also secured $28 million from New York-based OrbiMed to help win regulatory approval to market the product in the US

Tervis Tumbler PresidentCEO

Patrick Redmond

16 SEPTEMBER 2015 FLORIDATRENDCOM

( Sarasota Portrait )

US Nano

The Notre Dame spinoff company develops nano materials for printed electronics It recently moved to Sarasota from South Bend Ind to expand operations The company has won about $1 million in grants from the National Science Foundation and plans to license its technology to the defense consumer electronics and healthcare industries As its first project it created a printable flexible plastic light sensor with the thickness of a sheet of paper The company also has developed a printed version of a transistor

Notable Firms

PGT IndustriesThe Venice-based door and window

manufacturer continues to benefit from a recovering housing market In May it reported a ldquogreat startrdquo to 2015 as first-quarter sales jumped 52 mdash 31 from

organic growth and 21 from a recent purchase of Miami-based CGI Windows and Doors Publicly traded PGT is one of the countyrsquos largest employers with about 1800 workers

BioLucidThe mobile health company

creates interactive software designed to improve communication between doctors and patients A doctor can download an app to an iPad for example and show a patient with blocked arteries a 3-D preview of heart stent surgery ldquoBased on their lab values and heart condition we can simulate the progression of the

diseaserdquo says co-founder and CEO Lawrence Kiey ldquoWe personalize the health conversation in a visual wayrdquo

Founded in 2011 BioLucid employs about 30 people including graduates from the Ringling College of Art and Design The company occupies nearly 7000 square feet of office space at the HuB a business incubator in downtown Sarasota

CAE HealthcareThe medical simulation and

training firm is a division of Montreal-based CAE a global leader in the flight simulation business It entered the medical-simulation sector in 2011 with a $130-million purchase of Sarasota-based Medical Education Technologies Its primary product

is a patient mannequin built for anesthesia respiratory and critical care Today CAE employs 135 at a 76000-sq-ft facility just east of I-75 About 9000 of its health care simulators are in use worldwide at medical and nursing schools hospitals defense forces and other organizations

800-226-3224wwwfcci-groupcom

ldquoFCCI has more than 55 years of experience covering Florida businesses We were founded in Sarasota in 1959 and grew our reputation and our business throughout the state before expanding We now provide comprehensive property and casualty insurance in 18 states but we havenrsquot lost our local expertise or our personal approach to business We are pleased to be ranked as one Floridarsquos best employers and to offer our exceptional insurance coverage claims service risk management and customer care to businesses in our home state and beyondrdquo

Warren Edwards CIC Senior Vice President amp Chief Regional Officer FCCI Insurance Group Sarasota Florida

FCCI coverage is sold exclusively through independent agents To find an agent near you visit wwwfcci-groupcom

Auto bull Crime bull General liability bull Inland marine bull Property

Umbrella bull Workersrsquo compensation bull Agribusiness bull Surety

Coverage available in 18 states copy 2015 FCCI

PERSONAL SERVICEFINANCIAL STRENGTH

FCCI_Edwards_FTrend_FNLindd 1 62215 323 PM

18 SEPTEMBER 2015 FLORIDATRENDCOM

( Sarasota Portrait )

Southeast Venture HoldingsIn late 2014 Healthy Earth Sarasota

a company owned by private equity firm Seven Holdings bought a caviar production operation from the local non-profit Mote Marine Laboratory which operates in a 125000-sq-ft facility As part of the deal Healthy Earth gained access to 50 acres of the 200-acre Mote Aquaculture Park for expansion and commercialization of aquaculture-related science

Seven Holdings general partner Chris Cogan says he and his investor partners Ross Barrett and Russ Vernon have the marketing expertise and industry relationships to expand distribution of Motersquos Siberian sturgeon caviar Whole Foods Chairman John Elstrott sits on the firmrsquos advisory board and Jeff Sedacca who leads the shrimp and aquaculture division at National Fish amp Seafood is a venture partner

ldquoItrsquos easy to grow fishrdquo Cogan says ldquoItrsquos difficult to sell and distributerdquo

Earlier this year Seven Holdings bought the Anna Maria Fish Co which makes and sells bottarga mdash salt-cured mullet roe mdash from a local restaurateur Cogan says hersquos already working to expand operations and add product lines Both acquisitions were folded into the firmrsquos ldquoHealthy Earthrdquo line of sustainable-food businesses

ldquoFlorida imports nearly $3 billion of seafood every yearrdquo Cogan says ldquoIf all we do in the next five to seven years is capture 20 of Floridarsquos imported seafood market wersquoll have a $600-million business Therersquos tremendous potential for what wersquore doingrdquo

Notable FirmsAtlantic Mold and Machining

The Venice manufacturer produces steel molds used to create intricate plastic parts Owners Brian Schmidt and Jennifer Behrens-Schmidt employ six people including two apprentices who can expect to earn an average annual salary of $60000 upon completion of the training program

Boarrsquos Head Provisions

In 2001 the deli meat purveyor moved its headquarters to Sarasota from Brooklyn NY citing its strong relationship with Publix The family-run firm had an estimated $12 billion in sales last year ranking No 43 on Florida Trendrsquos biggest private companies list Despite its size the company keeps a low profile rarely granting interviews and releasing few details about its business

FCCI Insurance Group

FCCI began in 1959 as a workersrsquo compensation firm It has since expanded into other lines and now does business in 18 states and generates more than $657 million in revenue The firm No 73 on Florida Trendrsquos biggest private companies list employs 400 in Sarasota EvEr y day For 90 yEars hellip

and wErsquorE just gEtting startEd

The Herald-Tribune

delivers

potential customers in the market

7 10out of

The Herald-Tribune delivers

comprehensive news and advertising in

four daily editions of the newspaper

the most-read media website

in the market six weekly tabloids

ten magazines and a full array of

digital marketing solutions

From responsive sites to direct email campaigns

Creating the perfect digital mix to boost your business

For inFormation call 941-361-4000

20 SEPTEMBER 2015 FLORIDATRENDCOM

( Sarasota Portrait )

Higher Education

New College of Florida the statersquos honors college is located on a 110-acre bayfront campus in northern Sarasota County With an undergraduate enrollment of fewer than 900 it has a student-faculty ratio of 101 The school consistently ranks among the nationrsquos best values in education and is a top producer of Fulbright scholars Founded in 1960 as a private school New College struggled financially until the mid-1970s when the state paid off its debts and made it a unit of USF In 2001 it severed ties with USF and became the 11th independent school in the State University System It recently introduced its first post-graduate program mdash a masterrsquos degree in

data scienceUSFrsquos Sarasota-Manatee

campus has a population of about 1200 full-time students Once a transfer school for upper-level students it accepted its first freshman class in 2013 The area also is home to a regional campus of the FSU College of Medicine and CityLab-Sarasota a new masterrsquos program by the UF School of Architecture The State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota has a college prep school enabling students to graduate simultaneously with a high school diploma and an associate degree Suncoast Technical College is building a North Port campus which will include a new county library

Business AssetsK-12 Education

Sarasota County has a medium-sized school district with 42000 students The district has received an ldquoArdquo grade from the state for 11 consecutive years Voters have approved a four-year one-mill property tax levy to support public schools raising about $40 million annually for school operations The money has been used to offer more advanced classes in science technology engineering and math preserve art music and drama programs attract and retain good teachers and add 30 minutes to the school

day The districtrsquos teachers are among the statersquos best-paid educators with an average salary of $54586 in 2014-15

Besides traditional K-12 schools and charter schools the district includes a school for students with special needs and a technical college that specializes in career training for high school students and adults The district also has the Pine View School for intellectually gifted students in grades two through 12 US News amp World Report ranked Pine View the sixth-best high school in the nation in 2014

For the past five years Sarasota County Schools has partnered with the Gulf Coast Community Foundation to install ldquoSTEMsmart TechActiverdquo classrooms at public middle schools The multimillion-dollar initiative has brought new technology and a different teaching approach to about 160 math and science classrooms The idea is to make learning more interactive and collaborative with students working on projects in small groups rather than listening to lectures

The studentteacher ratio at New College is 101

USF Sarasota-Manatee has grown to a population of 1200 full-time students

IS THE FOUNDATION OF COMMUNITYINNOVATIONPhilanthropy is our innovation engineAt Gulf Coast Community Foundation we invest in things like developing 21st-century talent assisting entrepreneurs and providing more opportunity for all residents Things that will move our region toward an innovation economy And in everything we do we leverage the big ideas and strategic giving of our generous donors

Together with our donors we transform our region through bold and proactive philanthropy 9414864600 | GulfCoastCForg

Learn more about these and other Gulf Coast initiatives on our website

22 SEPTEMBER 2015 FLORIDATRENDCOM

( Sarasota Portrait )

Profile

Right Brain Meets Left BrainRingling Collegersquos Larry Thompson has raised millions for the art and design school mdash and raised its profile in the process

Larry Thompson arrived at the Ringling College of Art and Design via a circuitous path After earning his law degree from Ohio State he worked for a large law firm in Co-lumbus until 1981 when he returned to his alma mater as a special assis-tant to the president

Thompson spent the next seven years doing legal work and trouble-shooting problems for Ohio State He then received a call from a headhunt-er with an interesting opportunity

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland was looking for a startup director and CEO From 1988 to 1992 Thompson helped make the museum a reality raising millions of dollars and working with architect IM Pei on a building design

Business AssetsWith construction about to begin

Thompson was ready for a new chal-lenge and took a job overseeing the Flint Culture Center in Michigan a 30-acre campus encompassing a variety of cultural organizations

In 1999 Ringling College came call-ing hiring him to lead the renowned private art school as its sixth president Thompson says he was drawn to the job for personal and professional rea-sons He came down to interview for the job in the middle of winter and fell in love with both the city which hersquod never visited and the college

After taking some time to figure out ldquowhatrsquos needed and where do I fit inrdquo he decided to focus on raising money and awareness mdash ldquoIt needed for people to know how great this institution re-ally isrdquo he says

Under Thompson Ringling College has increased enrollment by more than 50 to nearly 1300 undergraduate students and has added twice as many majors Its reputation as a wellspring of creative talent also has grown DreamWorks Pixar Walt Disney and other major film studios regularly recruit its graduates

Meanwhile Thompson has been a strong fundraiser Ringling College is spending $19 million on a new library and $18 million to transform the old Sarasota High School building into a modern art museum

The film program is getting a professional soundstage and post-production studio And a new fine arts building is scheduled to open by the end of 2016 Since 1999 the college has grown its endowment from less than $3 million to $46 million

Thompson has described himself as the left-brain guy in a right-brain world mdash even as he has worked to bring those two worlds together

The school boasts a sophisticated computing infrastructure that rivals MITrsquos and offers a degree in the busi-ness of art and design as well as com-puter animation and graphic design among others Plans call for a new program in media content creation for online platforms such as Netflix

ldquoI have no artistic skills I canrsquot even draw a stick figurerdquo Thompson says ldquoBut one thing I do understand and appreciate is the incredible need for creativityrdquo

ldquoWersquore all about shattering the myth of the starving artist Our students get incredible jobsrdquosays Larry Thompson president of Ringling College of Art and Design

Founded in 1931 the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota offers majors including computer animation film and game art About 20 of its students come from abroad

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24 SEPTEMBER 2015 FLORIDATRENDCOM

( Sarasota Portrait )

Business Assets

Philanthropy

Sarasota County is home to two of Floridarsquos largest community foundations The Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice the statersquos second-largest community foundation has more than $274 million in assets From June 2013 to June 2014 it awarded some $18 million in grants and scholarships in the areas of arts and culture health and human services education civic affairs and the environment

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County a close

No 3 has $273 million in assets and awarded $19 million in grants and scholarships in the fiscal year ended May 2014 Numerous other foundations also support charitable causes in the community A new entrant is the Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation founded in 2014 with an injection of $100 million The Baranciks have split their time between Chicago and Sarasota for many years and are interested in the arts education and science humanitarian causes the environment and medical research

Roskamp Institute

The non-profit biomedical research center aims to find a cure for neurological disorders such as Alzheimerrsquos disease Itrsquos studying a blood pressure drug called Nilvadipine as a possible therapy and has a clinical trial under way in Europe The institute began at USF in 1996 and became a freestanding organization seven years later Sarasota philanthropist Bob Roskamp a developer of senior living facilities has said he was inspired to create the institute by a brother who suffered from schizophrenia The organization employs about 40 scientists technicians and other research staff at a former Bausch amp Lomb plant in Sarasota A commercial spinoff Archer Pharmaceuticals shares the same space

CareerEdge Funders Collaborative

The Bradenton-based organization custom-tailors training programs to meet the needs of employers in Sarasota and Manatee counties Formed after the recession CareerEdge is one of 31 regional initiatives supported by the National Fund for Workforce Solutions Itrsquos the only one of its kind in Florida Financial backers include the John S and James L Knight Foundation Microsoft and United Way Two years ago CareerEdge partnered

with Sarasota County Schools and Sarasota County government to create a precision-machining training program at Suncoast Technical College

AirportSarasota Bradenton International

Airport which recently renovated its terminal complex serves about 12 million passengers a year Airlines include Air Canada American Delta JetBlue United and US Airways Venice Municipal Airport is a general aviation facility with private corporate and charter flights

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County headed by Roxie Jerde (center) funds the Sarasota Boys and Girls Clubs

Great Futures Academy

CareerEdge helped create a precision-machining training program

wwwringlingedu

The Collaboratory is an initiative developed by Ringling College in partnership with The Patterson Foundation that provides creative experiential learning opportunities to all its students

RINGLING COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN

Redefi ning Floridarsquos Creative Economy The brightest minds in art and design are at Ringling College We go beyond giving our students the tools for successmdashwe instill in them the confidence to question rethink and rework In essence we pave the way for our students to emerge as the leaders of the 21st century creative economy How We ensure our students graduate not only as world-class designers and artists but also prepared to face the demands of the real world

Our Collaboratory Commitment guarantees the opportunity to engage in professional work experience with real clients real deliverables and real deadlines before graduation This commitment allows our graduates to develop technical and transferable skills gain practical experience and make important connections to remain competitive in the global marketplace

As an integral part of our community we are as committed to our region as we are to our students We are investing over $57 million to build a state of the art soundstage and post-production facility a library of the future the Basch Visual Arts Center and the Sarasota Museum of Art for modern and contemporary art All opening in 2016

Ringling College is making an impact on higher education the arts and the greater Sarasota areamdashcome see for yourself

26 SEPTEMBER 2015 FLORIDATRENDCOM

( Sarasota Portrait )

Profile

HuB for GrowthRich Swierrsquos co-working space is home to about 130 entrepreneurs

In 1994 Rich Swier graduated from the University of Florida and planned to move to California to become an entrepreneur But a visit to his parents who had retired to Sarasota after leav-ing the military changed his mind about California

While promising to keep in touch by email Swier discovered that there were no internet service providers in Sara-sota And so he stayed and launched a dial-up service called Sarasota Online

Two years later Comcast bought out Swier and his partners for a little more than $1 million Swier calls that his first ldquoahardquo moment

ldquoIt was worth way more than $1 million but what did I knowrdquo Swier says ldquoIf I had been surrounded by people whorsquod been there done thatrdquo things might have turned out differ-

ently he says Swierrsquos second ldquoahardquo moment

came a decade later when he in-vested in a software company called Clinipace Despite growing up in Sarasota Clinipacersquos CEO Jeff Wil-liams had chosen Research Tri-angle Park in North Carolina for the startuprsquos headquarters

Swier figures that Sarasota might have won out over Research Triangle but it lacked an entrepreneurial culture

In 2009 Swier transformed a small warehouse in the Rosemary District into a co-working space for entrepreneurs hoping to develop a thriving tech scene

The HuB has since moved to larger downtown digs on Fruitville Road Today itrsquos home to about 50 companies and more than 130 entrepreneurs who

Business Assets

are drawn to its collaborative work environment and networking events

The HuB also has an 18-month incu-bator program designed to get startups to a point where they can stand on their own Recent graduates include real estate website Offrscom which predicts which homes in a neighbor-hood are most likely to be listed for sale in the next 12 months

Swier says the HuB has a wait list of 20 companies to fill its offices and a longer list for those interested in its incubator

ldquoWe have people from all over the country coming here Itrsquos surrealrdquo he says ldquoTheyrsquore saying lsquoOK I can go to the West Coast and compete with 5000 entrepreneurs for funding or I can go to Sarasota for a lot cheaper be a big fish in a little pond and build a better companyrsquo rdquo

Swierrsquos landlord Jesse Biter a local tech entrepreneur and real estate developer now wants to build on the HuBrsquos success Biter plans to add a building next door with 96 livework lofts aimed at young entrepreneurs

With several colleges in the area he says ldquoWe have a lot of young folks come here fall in love with Sarasota and want to stayrdquo

Sarasota entrepreneur Rich Swier founded the HuB in 2009 to help build a tech community His wife Assunta Swier is now CEO

Sarasota County is excited to host the 2017 World Rowing Championships

We canrsquot wait to welcome 40000 rowers and spectators to our new world-class regatta center at Nathan Benderson Park

Choose from more than 15000 accommodations including everything from campgrounds to luxury resort hotels and with more than 50 meeting venues Sarasota sets the perfect stage for any group event

MAKE A SPLASH IN SARASOTA COUNTY

RowSarasotaorgSarasotaMeetingsorg

28 SEPTEMBER 2015 FLORIDATRENDCOM

( Sarasota Portrait )

Business Assets

Environment

Sarasota County has 35 miles of coastline Siesta Key Beach ranks high on lists of the nationrsquos best beaches The coastal community ranked No 1 on TripAdvisorcomrsquos 2015 ldquoTravelersrsquo Choice Awardsrdquo

Venice Beach is known as the ldquoSharkrsquos Tooth Capital of the Worldrdquo because of the abundance of fossilized shark teeth that wash ashore

Myakka River State Park east of Sarasota is one of Floridarsquos oldest and largest state parks It

has a boardwalk stretching out over the Upper Myakka Lake for wildlife viewing as well as airboat tours and a tram safari

Warm Mineral Springs in North Port is Floridarsquos southernmost major spring with year-round 87-degree waters

boasting the highest mineral content of any spring in the US A New York City doctor plans to turn about 16 acres he owns near the city-owned springs into a medical tourism site with new offices residences and hotel and retail space

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

The bayfront retreat is located on the grounds of the former home of Texas oil barons Marie and William Selby It gets more than 130000 visitors a year and includes a tropical conservatory banyan groves fern garden and koi pond Earlier this year Jennifer Rominiecki previously with the New York Botanical Garden became president and CEO

FilmmakingThe Sarasota County Film and

Entertainment Office which is part of the Economic Development Corp promotes the area as a filmmaking destination Founded in 1999 the Sarasota Film Festival annually draws more than 250 filmmakers and 45000 attendees

The county will soon complete a $21-million makeover at Siesta Key Public Beach

Legacy TrailThe 10-mile paved trail runs from

Sarasota to Venice along a former CSX railroad corridor Sarasota County partnered with the Trust for Public Land a decade ago to buy the property for $1175 million and repurposed it for recreational use Legacy Trail opened in 2008 as part of a countywide network of trails and has been rated one of the top 10 bike trails in the state by Bike Florida

Architecture

Sarasota has a rich architectural past In the years following World War II Paul Rudolph and other local modernist architects created a style of architecture called the Sarasota School which pays homage to Floridarsquos tropical climate Some of the distinguishing features are flat roofs broad overhangs and oversized glass sliding doors Last spring the Center for Architecture Sarasota opened in a renovated modernist building that serves as a satellite campus for UFrsquos graduate architecture program

ShoppingDining

St Armands Circle draws international and domestic visitors with an array of upscale shops and restaurants near the beach Palm Avenue in downtown Sarasota is known as Gallery Row for its concentration of art galleries Last year national mall developer Taubman opened University Town Center off I-75 in Sarasota The 880000-sq-ft mall contains many stores new to the market such as Apple

University Town Center was one of only two enclosed malls to open nationwide last year

Local architects created the Sarasota School style of architecture

PoweringFloridacom

fixindd 1 8715 1231 PM

30 SEPTEMBER 2015 FLORIDATRENDCOM

( Sarasota Portrait )

top and bottom photos Mark Wemple

gt Mary Bensel Executive director Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall

gt Kirk Boylston President Lakewood Ranch Commercial Realty

gt Marty Black General manager Mattamy HomesWest VillagesThe Ranch Land Partners

gt Allen Carlson PresidentCEO Sun Hydraulics

gt Chris Cogan Co-managing member Southeast Venture Holdings (Seven Holdings)

gt Jeanne Corcoran Director Sarasota County Film amp Entertainment Office

gt Patricia Courtois PresidentCEO C-Suite Communications

gt Fiona Crawford PresidentCEO Roskamp Institute

gt Michael Crosby PresidentCEO Mote Marine Laboratory amp Aquarium

gt Michael Dattoli Dattoli Cancer Center

gt Dominic DiMaio PresidentCEO Synovus Bank

gt Patrick Dorsey Publisher Sarasota Herald-Tribune

gt Mireya Eavey Executive director CareerEdge Funders Collaborative

gt Larry Fineberg Vice president Benderson Development

gt Alexey Gusev President US Nano

gt Gregory Hall Principal Hall Architects

gt Virginia Haley President Visit Sarasota County

gt Ben Hanan Sarasota managing partner Shumaker Loop amp Kendrick

gt Teri Hansen PresidentCEO Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation

gt Thomas Harmer Sarasota County administrator

gt Kevin Hicks CEO Gator Grading and Paving

gt Steven High Executive director John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art

gt Paul Hoffman President SouthTech Solutions

gt Mark Huey PresidentCEO Sarasota County Economic Development Corp

gt Roxie Jerde PresidentCEO Community Foundation of Sarasota County

gt Craig Johnson PresidentCEO FCCI

gt Heather Kasten Executive director Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance

Must-Know Contacts

gt Jim Kuhlman Market president Stonegate Bank

gt Trey Lauderdale FounderCEO Voalte

gt Jonathan Lewis North Port city manager

gt Carolyn Mason Chair Sarasota County Commission

gt Jeff Mayers General manager Longboat Key Club

gt Robert Messick Shareholder Icard Merrill

gt Octavio Ortiz General manager Mall at University Town Center

gt Don OrsquoShea President New College of Florida

gt Anand Pallegar Founder AtLarge digital marketing firm

gt Rick Piccolo PresidentCEO Sarasota Bradenton International Airport

gt Mark Pritchett Senior vice president Gulf Coast Community Foundation

gt Sue Wolverton Regional senior vice president Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate

gt Rod Hershberger ChairmanCEO PGT Industries

Bensel

OrsquoShea

FLORIDATRENDCOM SEPTEMBER 2015 31

gt Carol Probstfeld President State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota

gt Steve Queior President Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce

gt Patrick Redmond PresidentCEO Tervis Tumbler

gt Nicole Rissler COO Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center

gt Nicholas Roberts County president for commercial banking SunTrust Bank

gt John Ryan PresidentCEO Venice Area Chamber of Commerce

gt Robert Sambursky PresidentCEO Rapid Pathogen Screening

gt Michael Saunders FounderCEO Michael Saunders amp Co

gt Mary Anne Servian Managing director Sarasota Ballet

gt David Sessions President Willis Smith Construction

gt Willie Charles Shaw Sarasota mayor

gt Sandra Stone Regional chancellor USF Sarasota-Manatee

gt Rich Swier Founder HuB incubator

gt Larry Thompson President Ringling College of Art and Design

gt David Verinder PresidentCEO Sarasota Memorial Health Care System

gt Bill Waddill Senior vice president Kimley-Horn and Associates

gt Lori White Superintendent Sarasota County Schools

gt Mike Wilson Shareholder Williams Parker Harrison Dietz amp Getzen

gt James Westman CEO Octex Holdings

Saunders

Engineers | Scientists | Planners | Designers

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Serving the SarasotaManatee area for more than 35 yearsVHBrsquos environmental roadway tra c and land

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Perry Corneau 9416504626Vittoria Rutigliano 9419625867

We are pledged to the letter and spirit of the US policy for achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the nation We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race color religion sex handicap familial status or national origin Obtain the property report required by Federal law if applicable and read it before signing anything No federal agency has judged the merits or value if any of this property

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