Business News
• The Florida Society of Botanical Artists (FSBA) held its inaugural meeting February 19 at the studio of the Academy of Botanical Art in Sarasota.
Guest speakers included Dr. Douglas Chismar, Liberal Arts Program Director at the Ringling School of Art and Design, who spoke on “Ethics in Art” and Paula Biles, Executive Director of The International Water Lily and Water Gardening Society, who discussed aquatic plants and the upcoming IWSG Symposium in 2006. The IWGS symposium will be held in Orlando, Florida, this summer and will include a juried exhibition of water plant and water garden art and photography.
The FSBA founder and President, Olivia Marie Braida Chiusano, spoke of the current renaissance in classical botanical art and the important role the FSBA will play in promoting the appreciation of botanical art throughout Florida and the Southeast.
The Florida Society of Botanical Artists will provide support and professional development for its members and is continuing to develop connections with other organizations that share the same passions, a respect for and curiosity about native plant life. To date, the FSBA has already connected the Florida Native Plant Society and the International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society who offer botanical artists a resource for obtaining and understanding native and aquatic plant information necessary for accurate illustration.
Braida Chiusano is a teacher and author. She founded the Academy of Botanical Art in Sarasota and New York and designed a Botanical Certification Program based on her ten books entitled “Ten Steps - A Course in Botanical Art.”Braida's certification program is available through the Continuing Studies department of the Ringling School of Art and Design, and also online through her Academy. Her art works are in public and private collections, including the prestigious Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, the largest collector of botanical art in the nation. FSBA hopes to bring art and vocational awareness to Florida students and teachers at the high school level and use Braida's books as a tool for achieving at least part of this task.
The proposed FSBA calendar of events for 2006 and 2007 includes lectures by scientist, Meg Lowman; participation in the IWGS 2006 Symposium in Orlando; juried and student exhibitions; and educational programs for both teens and adults. FSBA welcomes for membership all Botanical artists and patrons who are interested in promoting and supporting the field of Botanical Art and Illustration.For information, contact Philip Phillips, Vice President, FSBA, 941-360-9763 or visit www.FSBA.us.
| Joanne Lain, owner and founder of Bradenton-based JoLain Virtual Assistant Services, announced the expansion of her virtual assistance practice. JoLain Virtual Assistant Services helps small business owners and home-based entrepreneurs handle a host of administrative tasks that detract from growing their businesses. By leveraging technology, area businesses get professional administrative support without having to hire employees or temporary help.
Lain announced has added five virtual assistants to her staff: Shannon Adams, Barbara Denlinger, Jennifer Donovan, Suzanne Hawken, and Sue Kaiser.
Her company can do a wide range of administrative tasks, such as correspondence, mail merging and direct mail, word processing and creative document production, real estate agent support, bookkeeping, group emailing, PowerPoint presentations, graphics design, writing, editing, proofreading, data entry and database management, Internet research, and other day-to-day matters – all from their home-based offices, using the high-technology tools of today. Assistance with special one-time projects, such as event planning, is also available. JoLain Virtual Assistant Services was established in January 2002. For information, call (941) 870-0050.
Appointments
• First Step of Sarasota has hired Donna Wolski as Vice President of Development. She will be responsible for the creation of First Step's capital campaign.
Before joining First Step, Wolski was the director of development for G.WIZ - The Hands-On Science Museum in Sarasota. Wolski has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maine and a Master of Science in Collage Student Personnel Administration from Indiana University.
• Marie Graham, RN, was recently promoted to Director of Doctors Hospital of Sarasota’s Emergency Department. Graham has been employed at the hospital since 1997 and was most recently the Clinical Director of the Emergency Department. She has over 27 years experience in numerous areas of healthcare, including emergency services, neurosurgery/neurology, ICU and cardiac care. She received her Nursing Degree from Queensboro College, Bayside, New York, in 1978. She is a licensed RN, and is ACLS Certified, Pals Certified, and has Bioterrorism / Decontamination certification.
• The Sarasota Unit of the American Cancer Society announced that Patty Ordonez-Bains has joined the Unit as the Associate Director. In addition, Lisa Dahlquist has been promoted to Community Representative for Englewood, North Port and DeSoto County.
| Real Estate News
• Michael Saunders & Company had over $3 billion in sales in 2005 and awarded all top associates at the 2005 Awards ceremony and high tea, which took place February 20 at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota.
Founder and president Saunders noted that Michael Saunders & Company was the local market leader, with more sales than any single broker in the area - capturing 23.6% of all real estate sales in Sarasota and 14.58% of all sales in the Manatee County, Sarasota, Venice and Englewood areas.This year's awards include Top Commercial Associate Company-wide, which was awarded to Lee DeLieto for hissales volume of $64,749,056 in 2005.
• Linda Roe Dickinson, who produced $55,341,726 in residential sales last year, received both the honor of Top Individual Associate Company-wide and Highest Listing Sold ($8,995,000). Gail Wittig and Saint Cacchiotti received both the Top Team award for their $53,936,900 sales volume and the Highest Benchmark Sale ($8,847,000). Top Team award also went to Annette Rogers and Michael Moulton, who together produced $53,671,950 in sales last year.
• The Highest Benchmark Transaction award was given to Lee De Lieto of The Commercial Group ($8,000,000), Debra Bahr of The New Homes & Condominiums Division ($4,850,000) and the real estate team of Beth Afflebach and Joan Dickinson ($5,000,000), also of The New Homes & Condominiums Division.
• Other awards included Top Rookie, Outstanding Community Service Award, Most Transactions, and Highest Listing Sold. All top producers company-wide received "Circle" awards based on last year's sales volume, ranging from the Circle of Excellence ($3 million to $4.9 million) to the Pinnacle Circle ($60 million-plus).
• Neal Communities has added sales staff for its newest community Forest Creek located on Route 301 North in Parrish. Gail Shane, Dennis Greene and Gloriana Siman have been selected as sales associates.
• Forest Creek is located in a rural area on 135 acres just five miles east of I-75 on Rt. 301 in the Parrish Community within Manatee County. The development plan includes 108 town homes and 236 single-family homes. Models are anticipated to open in early 2006. Neal Communities has announced the addition and promotion of the following staff members: Patty Campbell, Accounting Assistant; Eddie Gaudette, Warranty Manager and Chip Giardina; Site Merchandising Assistant.
| Accolades
• Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation Director of Development Lisa C. Intagliata, CFRE, was elected president of the Southwest Florida Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), having been an active member of the chapter for 12 years and serving on its board for five years.
 The Southwest Florida Chapter has more than 120 members and represents not-for-profit organizations in Manatee and Sarasota Counties.
With more than 170 chapters and 26,000 members worldwide, AFP works to advance philanthropy through advocacy, research, education and certification programs.
Intagliata has been in the fundraising field for 13 years and has been employed by the Healthcare Foundation since 2001.
She earned her CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) credential in 1999, and is a graduate of Leadership Sarasota County.
Board News
• The American Cancer Society recently added Sarah Phillips, a Financial Advisor with Morgan Keegan, John Helms of John Helms Inc., Michael Faehner of Abel Band Chartered, Dr. Jameel Audeh, and Keri Hockett of Sarasota Memorial Hospital, to the Sarasota Unit Board.
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