►Michael Saunders & Co. was named the exclusive listing broker for Epoch, an 18-story condominium tower under construction in downtown Sarasota.
►Tableseide Restaurant Group opened a Lakewood Ranch location of Libby’s Neighborhood Brasserie at 8445 Lorraine Road in University Corner.
►Norman Love Confections will open the company’s sixth “chocolate salon” at University Town Center in a 2,000-square-foot end-cap space with an outdoor patio, opposite California Pizza Kitchen, along Cattlemen Road.
► Sarasota conservationist and philanthropist Elizabeth Moore has been named president of the TREE Foundation, an international nonprofit organization based in Sarasota dedicated to tree and forest research, exploration, education and conservation across the globe.
►Jeremiah Robinson, a career development facilitator with Goodwill Manasota’s veterans services program, was honored with the Hero of the Month award, recognizing his extraordinary service on behalf of veterans.
►St. Petersburg-based W3 Insurance opened a Sarasota location at 2000 Webber St., Suite 100.
►New College Foundation, in Sarasota, named Kevin Hughes its new associate vice president of advancement.
►Realize Bradenton, a nonprofit that promotes cultural and physical development and economic growth in downtown Bradenton, appointed Karen Corbin as the organization’s first development director.
►Sarasota lawyer John D. Dumbaugh celebrated his 45th anniversary of Florida Bar membership and as part of the law firm of Syprett Meshad.
►Stratum Health System, in Sarasota, parent company of Tidewell Hospice and other health care subsidiaries, named Debbie Mason executive vice president/chief philanthropy officer.
►Paradise Ventures purchased Cortez West at 6310 Cortez Road W., Bradenton, a 27,278-square-foot neighborhood retail center anchored by Fifth Third Bank and J.P. Morgan Chase.
►Sarasota lawyer Amanda King, a partner in the law firm of Syprett Meshad, has been certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a family mediator.
►Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy received a $3,000 grant from the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund of the Manatee Community Foundation, to be used to provide partial and full scholarships for therapeutic riding, and equine assisted learning sessions, to children with disabilities in the Lakewood Ranch area.
►Sarasota lawyer Ben Sorrell, an associate with the law firm of Syprett Meshad, has been appointed to the Realtor-attorney joint committee of the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee.
►JBCC Development has purchased 1.75 acres of land on the northwest corner of Bradenton Road and University Parkway in Sarasota for $1.5 million.
►Galin McGowan, a graduate of the C.G. Jung Institute in Zurich and a practicing Jungian analyst in Sarasota, has been named president of the board of directors for the C.G. Jung Society of Sarasota.
►Congressman Vern Buchanan announced that the Sarasota-based nonprofit organization, Selah Freedom, has been awarded more than $750,000 by the Department of Justice to support victims of human trafficking.
►iTNSunCoast, a nonprofit transportation service serving Sarasota and Manatee counties, named Bill Carter its executive director.
►Cindy Breslin and Kevin Skiest opened a French Mediterranean restaurant, Blasé Bistro & Martini Bar, at 1920 Hillview St. in Sarasota’s Southside Village.
►Craft beer and pizza restaurant Oak & Stone opened its downtown Bradenton location at 1201 First Ave. W., in the SpringHill Suites hotel.
►The Hermitage Artist Retreat in Englewood named Leslie Edwards president of its board of trustees.
►New College Foundation in Sarasota named two new members to its board of directors, Monica Van Buskirk and Charles Raeburn.
