New Hires and Promotions

CenterPlace Health, a provider of primary care health services for children and adults and Sarasota County’s only Federally Qualified Health Center, has named Kari Ellingstad its new CEO. Ellingstad was formerly the director of the Community Health Improvement Partnership.

The Sarasota Ballet has appointed Melissa L. McCoy to its newly expanded role of chief strategy and advancement officer. McCoy most recently served as chief advancement officer at Abilities First, Inc., a nonprofit in New York.

All Faiths Food Bank has hired Timothy Taylor as its new CFO. In the position, Taylor will be responsible for providing leadership for the financial reporting and operations of the organization, including managing all day-to-day financial and accounting functions, recording, and reporting for the organization. He will work with department leaders to create budgets and department reports, provide strategic direction, and support the mission of All Faiths. Taylor will also be responsible for the analysis of financial trends as well as managing IT.

SVN Commercial Advisory Group has promoted Jake LaFemina to the role of advisor.

The Central West Coast chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (CWC-FPRA) has installed its 2022-2023 board of directors. They are Sheryl Vieira, president; Sarah Glendening, president-elect; Melanie Reda, immediate past-president; Erin Hoffer, finance; Travis Cornwell, membership; Sharon Kunkel, media relations/editorial; Crystal Rothaar, digital communications; Jennifer Linzy, creative; Hunter Carpenter, community liaison; Nathaniel Sweetman, events; Hallie Peilet, Image Awards; and Joe Curley, Eleni Kouvatsos, Kim Livengood and Elise Ramer, at-large (non-voting).

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County has appointed Dr. Laura Mattia to its board of directors. Mattia is currently a member of the foundation’s Investment Committee. A certified financial planner, Mattia is a fee-only comprehensive financial advisor, a member of NAPFA, and a fiduciary advocate.

Rankings

New College of Florida has retained its spot as the No. 5 National Liberal Arts College (Top Public Schools) by U.S. News & World Report for the 2022-2023 school year. The annual “Best Colleges” rankings by U.S. News, now in its 38th year, evaluate more than 1,450 colleges and universities on up to 17 measures of academic quality. In addition to earning the No. 5 ranking, New College was also ranked No. 76 for National Liberal Arts Colleges (up six positions from last year, and the highest ranking New College has ever achieved in this category), No. 52 for Social Mobility in National Liberal Arts Colleges (a 15-position increase from last year), and No. 40 for Most Innovative Schools (National Liberal Arts Colleges). There were 18 public national liberal arts colleges on the list this year.