► Children First, in Sarasota, has received a six-year, $1.251 million grant from the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, to amplify family strengthening services.
►Centennial Bank provided a $20 million loan for construction and permanent financing to a joint venture composed of Casto Group, a real estate services firm, and Shawn Kaleta, a local, real estate developer and investor, for the site acquisition and development of 10 single-family rental homes in Lido Key.
►The Operation Outbreak educational platform, developed at Sarasota Military Academy, a local, public charter school, was recently named the world’s most innovative hybrid learning program at the 2019/2020 Wharton-QS Reimagine Education Awards Ceremony in London, England.
►The board of the Hermitage Artist Retreat, in Englewood, named Andy Sandberg as its artistic director and chief executive officer.
►Wandering Oaks, a local wedding and event venue, opened at 11325 MJ Road, in Myakka City.
►Bradenton-based retailer Beall’s named Robert “Matt” Matthews Beall III as CEO.
►Selva Grill will open a second location at Lakewood Ranch’s University Town Center in summer 2020.
►Cumberland Advisors added Todd Engelhardt, in the firm’s Sarasota office, as a regional director of investments.
►Sarasota businessman Eric Baird donated money to 2,850 teachers and instructional staff employed by Sarasota County Schools, who will each receive a $350 cash award that may be used for personal or professional purposes.
►Sarasota law firm Williams Parker named Beth Collins chief operating officer.
►The Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County named former Longboat Key town manager David Bullock its interim CEO.
►Sarasota attorney Amanda King, a partner with the Syprett Meshad law firm and a Florida Supreme Court-certified family mediator, has been selected by the Florida Bar family law section to serve on its children’s issues committee.
►Bradenton law firm Blalock Walters has named real estate attorney Amanda Tullidge a firm principal.
►Nate’s Honor Animal Rescue, a nonprofit, no-kill animal shelter and adoption center in Lakewood Ranch, broke ground on a yearlong campus expansion project.
►Hershorin Schiff Community Day School, in Sarasota, received a gift of $500,000 from the Daniel E. Offutt III charitable trust.
►What was once Stardust Skate Center, at 2571 12th St. in Sarasota near Ed Smith Stadium, is set to become the Sarasota Pickleball Academy with Brian McCarthy of Starboard Tack, a Sarasota-based commercial real estate development firm, leading the effort.
►Kimberlie MacDonald and Melissa Watrobsky, agents affiliated Coldwell Banker’s Residential Real Estate in its Lakewood Ranch office, launched their real estate partnership and will serve Bradenton (East and West), Lakewood Ranch, Parrish, Sarasota, Siesta Key and Venice.
►The Harry Sudakoff Foundation awarded $20,000 in support of scholarships to Children First, the exclusive provider of Head Start and Early Head Start services, in Sarasota County.
►Jeffrey Parsons joined The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton as general manager.
►The Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller earned a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for the county’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and its Manatee County Port Authority comprehensive annual financial report and an Award for Outstanding Achievement for the office’s Popular Annual Financial Report.
