Manatee Memorial Hospital has announced the appointment of Katy Wilkens chief nursing officer and the newest addition to the hospital’s executive leadership.

The Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation recently named the recipients of its 2024 TIME teacher fellowships, which provide teachers and school-based administrators with funding and support to pursue a unique, self-designed personal project intended to reignite their passion for education. They are Alison Bapst and Kristen Kinkin (Toledo Blade Elementary School), Joseph Conner
(Venice Middle School), Elise Conway (Englewood Elementary School), Karen Cramer (Cranberry Elementary School), Kate Daniel (Bay Haven School of Basics Plus), Amanda Daughtry (Southside Elementary School), Kathryn Dougherty (Riverview High School), Chrystal Hunt (North Port High School), Laura King (Alta Vista Elementary School), Carrie Mills (Booker Middle School), Susan Nations (Wilkinson Elementary School), Jennifer Nzeza (Sarasota Middle School), Elizabeth Ogren (Venice Middle School), Cameron Parker (Emma E. Booker Elementary School), Cynthia Pelosi (McIntosh Middle School), Tanya Pryer (North Port High School), Carlos Silva (Booker Middle School), Anne Smith (Englewood Elementary School), Aimee Walker (Riverview High School) and Dwana Washington (Emma E. Booker Elementary School).

Florida Trend magazine has named Selby Gardens president and CEO Jennifer Rominiecki to the Florida 500, a list of Florida’s most influential business leaders representing 500 candidates across major industries. 

The State University System Board of Governors appointed Sarasota resident Don Patterson to the New College Board of Trustees at its meeting Nov. 9.

Harry E. Robbins Associates recently announced that commercial realtor Rico Boeras has joined the commercial brokerage team.

Music Compound recently hired Jonathan Simos as its new sales, marketing and outreach coordinator.

PGT Innovations was recently bestowed the Top 10 Executive Team Award by OnConferences during its 2023 OnCon Icon Awards.

The Florida Center for Early Childhood recently welcomed Kate Reed as its chief philanthropy officer.

Twenty-four community leaders from across the region graduated Oct. 27 from the 2023 fall Gulf Coast Board Institute. They are Mary Lou Belisle, Literacy Volunteers of South Sarasota County, START of Sarasota County; Sarah Clough, Manatee Habitat for Humanity; Thomas Doherty, Venice Area Historical Society; DeeAnna Dowdle, Manatee County Audubon Society, City of Sarasota Parks & Sustainability Advisory Board; Denise Dull, Florida International Airshow, Integrity Charitable Foundation; Len Frischer, The Haven; Victor Gartner, North Port Art Center; Kristofer Geddie, Venice Theatre, Friends of the Venice Public Library; Dr. Deborah Hamm, Sarasota Orchestra; Bianca Harris, Education Foundation of Sarasota County; Wendy Ingram, Dragonfly Mental Health; Michael Ippolito, Selah Freedom; Peter Kretzmer, Sarasota Orchestra, Sarasota Cuban Ballet School; Wayne Luoma, The Haven; Lise Mills, START of SC, South County Food Pantry; Christina Ottman, Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida; Lisa Pervin, Charlotte County Homeless Coalition; Sasha Pyatte, Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s philanthropic advisor; Sasha Rosin, Jewish Family and Children’s Service; Paige Soper, Streets of Paradise; Dalton Tininenko, Peace River Botanical and Sculpture Gardens; Clolita Vitale, Girls Inc. of Sarasota County, Sarasota Cuban Ballet School; Gale West, North Port Art Center; and Linda Zeck, Sarasota Medical Pregnancy Center.

Williams Parker recently announced that attorney Douglas E. Walker has earned the Florida Bar Board Certification in Construction Law.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties recently announced its 2023-2024 officers of the board of directors: Ken Freeman, senior executive partner, Gartner (chair); David Arch, chairman and CEO, Blistex, Inc. (chair-elect); Jaime DiDomenico, founder, CoolToday (treasurer); Meghan O. Serrano, Shumaker (immediate past chair); and Nishalle U., senior at Pine View School (STAR Youth Leader). The 2023-2024 Foundation board of directors was also announced: Steven Townsend, entrepreneur (chair); Alex Armstrong, Armstrong, Fleming & Moore (chair-elect); Rob Weiss, regional director and financial advisor, Provenance Wealth Advisors (treasurer); and Robert Scheb, Bowman, George, Scheb, Kimbrough, Koach & Chapman (secretary).

Sarasota Young Voices  recently announced the appointment of James Guyer as artistic director.

Children First recently announced that four representatives for the agency have been honored by the Florida Head Start Association for their impact in elevating excellence across Florida’s Head Start Community. They are Kathleen Sullivan (Aubrey Puckett Memorial Award), Leah Jones (Beating the Odds Award), Jane Shaw (Achievement Award for Disabilities Services) and LaShawn’te Lee (award for Head Start staff in pursuit of higher education).