The Ringling has announced the appointment of six new members to the board of the John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art Foundation, Inc. They are Adele Fleet Bacow, David W. Benfar, Amy D. Berk, Elma Felix, Howard D. Noble  and Keebler J. Straz. They join Warren R. Colbert Sr. (chair), Margaret “Meg” Dunwoody Hausberg (vice chair), H. Michael Bush (treasurer), Mercedes Soler-Martinez (secretary),  Jasleen “Ritu” Anand, Hon. Dennis Archer, Francine Birbragher-Rozencwaig, James Clark, Larry J. Cuervo, Rebecca Donelson, Andrew M. Economos, Leon R. Ellin, Dr. Ronald A. Johnson, E. Marie McKee, Cynthia Louise Peterson, Frederic D. Pfening III, Kelly Ann Romanoff, Mayra Niubo Schmidt, Debra Short, James B. Stewart, Janice Tibbals Mobley, Marla Vickers, Kirk Ke Wang and Joan Uranga. Board members serve three-year terms, with an option to continue a second term. 

The American Jewish Committee (AJC) will honor Dr. Larry Thompson, president of Ringling College of Art and Design, with its National Legacy of Leadership Award. Thompson, a long-time supporter of the AJC, will be recognized for his professional and personal accomplishments at a gala dinner at Michael’s On East in Sarasota.

Ian Black Real Estate has hired Lauren Dixon as sales associate. Dixon is a newly licensed commercial real estate professional who previously owned four Pure Barre locations in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Bradenton.

Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation has announced that Laurie Wallace has joined the organization as director of advancement services, a newly created role.

Dr. Nate Francis has been selected to serve as the next principal of Brookside Middle School. He succeeds Ryan Chase, who is now serving as the principal of Sarasota High School.

Nate Sweetman, the sports marketing coordinator for Visit Sarasota County, was recognized with the Ginnie Duffey Troyer Award of Professionalism award from the Central West Coast chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association last week.

Five Sarasota County educators were recently named 2023 Ripple Effect Teacher Award winners by Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation and Sarasota County Schools. They are Elizabeth Donofrio, Venice High School; Kim Hunt, Venice Elementary School; BJ Ivey, Sarasota High School; Marjie Smith, Sarasota Middle School; and Robert Whipple, Triad Alternative School.

Visit Sarasota County recently received a bronze Flagler Award for direct marketing for its direct mail “coaches card"  to engage a variety of coaches and get them interested in the sports facilities Sarasota has to offer. 

New College of Florida recently announced the appointment of Kate Leavell as head coach for women’s lacrosse.

Coastal Properties Group and Christie's International Real Estate have announced that real estate advisors Pam Taylor and BJ Mangrum have joined the brokerage.