POSITIONS TAKEN

Chris Pennewill, senior vice president and commercial banking manager, Whitney National Bank Sarasota/Manatee market area.

Eric Peters, vice president and market manager, First Federal Bank of Florida.

Renee Snyder, executive director, Habitat for Humanity Sarasota.

Jessica Sowers, promoted to vice president of business development and client management; and John Briggs, promoted to account representative and client management specialist, Anexio.          

Karen Tulman, client specialist, MGA Insurance Group.

Kevin DiLallo, group vice president, Manatee Memorial Health Care System.

Sally Rose Gruters, promotional director, The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.

Tom DiSarro, fabricator/installer; and Maria Cameron, design fabricator, Canvas West.

Julie Beck, sales manager, SouthTech Solutions.

Bev Daley, clinical supervisor, Take Care Private Duty Home Health Care.

Joesph “Tom” Cuervo III, client relationship manager and research analyst, Williams Wealth Management Group.

Alan Monroe, communication manager, ShelterBox USA.

Sheri Shirley, business development manager, Spherion Staffing & Recruiting.

Norman Olshansky, president and chief executive officer, Van Wezel Foundation.

Patrick Hussey, insurance specialist, Mott & Associates.

Christopher J. Reuter, promoted to vice president of science, Osprey Biotechnics.

Linda Podlaski, director of property management, RMC Property Group.

ACCOLADES

Bill Jarvis of Lakewood Ranch Commercial Realty has been named chairman of the Gulf Coast Builders Exchange.

Sarasota has been named the best place to retire and row by the Rowers Almanac eBook.

Joe Gruters has been appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist to the board of directors of the Florida Sports Foundation.

Sarasota Memorial Hospital has been ranked as one of “America’s 50 Best Hospitals” by HealthGrades.

Icard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm, Furen & Ginsburg, P.A. has been honored as a co-recipient of the 2010 Law Firm Commendation Award, the highest honor given by the Florida Supreme Court and the Florida Bar Association in recognition of pro bono work.

Jenifer S. Schembri of the law firm of Shumaker, Loop and Kendrick, LLP has joined the board of directors of the Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy.

Wayne S. Dictor of Dictor/Martin has been recognized as a top financial adviser by LPL Financial and named to its Chairman’s Club.

ABCO Payroll Services received the 2010 Best of Bradenton Award in the payroll accounting service category from the U.S. Commerce Association.

John S. Booth III has been named to the board of directors of Caldwell Trust Company.

International law firm O’Melveny & Myers LLP has donated $100,000 to Lakewood Ranch-based ShelterBox USA in order to aid earthquake survivors in Haiti.

ROBRADY design has won this year’s Universal Design Award in Mobility from Universal Design GmbH for its design of the db0 3.0 Electric Folding Bike.

Nick Gladding, attorney and civic activist, has been named a winner of the Points of Light Award by Gov. Charlie Crist.

Grapevine Communications won 10 ADDY awards at the AAF-Suncoast’s 2010 ADDY awards dinner.

Paul Hoffman, president of SouthTech Solutions, has been elected 2010 president of the Suncoast Technology Forum.

Byron E. Shinn, president of Shinn & Company LLC, has been appointed to the board of trustees of the University of South Florida.

Englewood Bank was awarded a Certificate of Recognition at the American Bankers Association National Conference for Community Bankers for its contributions to the community.

Taylor Tollerton of Benefits and Planning, Inc. recently became the youngest female Chartered Life Underwriter in

the nation. 

MOVING AND OPENING

The Gettel Automotive Group has purchased five BMW, Volkswagen and Porsche dealerships in Gainesville and Ocala.

Bradenton-based First Watch has signed a multi-unit franchise agreement with Dabbour Enterprises, LLC for three Oklahoma City restaurants.

Robert F. Antonelli has opened Systems Engineering Process Consulting, LLC (SEPCON) in Lakewood Ranch.

Digital Safety Net, LLC, an inventory management service, has opened in Bradenton.

CK Business Solutions has opened in Manatee and Sarasota counties.

Day Assist, a home and specialty watch service, has opened in Bradenton.

Bob’s Twist & Shake, a retro ice cream shop built by J.E. Charlotte Construction Corp., has opened at 420 U.S. 41 in Venice.

Integrity Wealth Management has expanded and relocated to 202 N. Rhodes Ave., Suite 101, in Sarasota.

Home Instead Senior Care has opened at 206 S. Harbor Drive in Venice.

First Benefits Group, Inc. has moved to 306 N. Rhodes Ave., No. 111, in Sarasota.

Contessa Couture has opened at 121 W. Venice Ave. in Venice.

Wedding Wizards has opened in the Bradenton/Sarasota area.

Scot Robinson, formerly of Gulfcoast European, has opened ESB Automotive at 2024 Princeton St. in Sarasota.

Blu Smoke Island Grill has opened at 149 Avenida Messina in Siesta Village.

Canon USA, a Fortune 200 company, has opened an office at 301 N. Cattlemen Road, Suite 107, in Sarasota.

Planet Fitness has opened a new gym at 6605 Manatee Ave. in Bradenton.

Mike Eiffert is now providing fractional chief financial officer services to companies in the Tampa Bay area as CFO Consultants. ■

Send Fast Track notices to Susan Burns, editor, Biz941, 330 S. Pineapple Ave., Suite 205, Sarasota, FL 34236 or [email protected]. Deadline is 10 weeks prior to publication.