SRQ Strong, a regional nonprofit that is raising awareness about the impacts of trauma and fostering healing and resilience across the Suncoast region, has hired Tom Edwards as its first executive director. Edwards began serving in the role in late August.

Sarasota County tax collector Barbara Ford-Coates was recently recognized by the Florida Tax Collectors Association for excellence in financial operations.

Visit Sarasota County (VSC) has announced new board of directors member appointments for the 2025 fiscal year, which begins Oct 1. They are Stacey Corley, president of Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation; Jason Samson, general manager of Aloft Sarasota; and Heather Van Wie, president and CEO of The Cottages On The Key. The 2025 executive committee members are Richard Russell, general director of Sarasota Opera (chair); Nick Mavrikas, area general manager of Spark by Hilton (immediate past chair);  John LaCivita, president/CEO of Willis Smith Construction (vice chair); and Tim Self, senior vice president, investments, at Gulfside Wealth (secretary/treasurer). Continuing their terms as members are Hon. Ron Cutsinger (Sarasota County Commission); Mark Gordon, (managing editor, Business Observer); Kara Morgan (CEO, Venice Main Street); Mike Quillen, president, Gecko’s Hospitality Group; Wes Santos, general manager of the Hyatt Regency Sarasota; and Susie Bowie, president/CEO of the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation.

The Central West Coast chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association recently installed its 2024-2025 board of directors, comprised of Hunter Carpenter (president);  Laura Ansel (president-elect); Sarah Glendening (immediate past-president); Jennifer Linzy (finance director); Jennifer Hemmerdinger (membership director); Traci Willingham (community liasion);  Jodel Velarde (student outreach director); Muffy Lavens (media relations director); Amanda Heisey (digital communications director); Ciera Coleman (creative director); Erin Guzzo (member communications director); Sharon Kunkel (credentialing co-chair); Jennifer Moss (credentialing co-chair); Travis Cornwell (events director); Andrea Knies (celebration director); Joe Curley; Eleni Kouvatsos; Melanie Reda; Sheryl Vieira; Sawyer Lang; Connor Borden; Miranda Colavito; Ann Comer-Woods; Alyssa Holcomb; Alyssa Barnsley; Meredith Dropkin; Olivia Turpening; and Claudia Harden.

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe has announced its 2024-2025 board of trustees. New to the board this year are Charles W. Brown and R. Dean Piccirillo, who will serve three-year terms. They join Doris A. Johnson (chair), Lee Rainer (vice chair), Cheryl Anderson (treasurer), Marian Moss (secretary) and trustees Ali Bahaj, Chris Caswell, Kitty Cranor, Nancy Flanagan, Michael Gardiner, Sy Goldblatt, Asa Harris, Michele Hooper, Penelope Kingman, Howard Millman, Dr. Randall C. Morgan, Kimberly Parris, Mona Rankin, Dr. Donald Reaves and Dona Scott.

The Sarasota Paradise soccer team has named Tim Jansen its director of operations.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties recently honored Dr. Harriet Moore, director of strategic engagement for Sarasota County Schools, and Jack Cox, president and owner of Halfacre Construction Company, for their dedication to empowering local teens to achieve their full potential.

First 1,000 Days Suncoast has welcomed six new members to its steering committee. They are Carla Johanns (chief program officer, Forty Carrots Family Center); Ashley Coone (CEO, Links to Success); Jordan Mayer (director of family and young adult services, Harvest House); Abby Olsen (director of women and children’s services, Sarasota Memorial Hospital); Jennifer Carey (CEO, Sarasota Medical Pregnancy Center); and Sara Oleson (associate executive director, Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County). 

Art Center Sarasota executive director Kinsey Robb will be stepping down to pursue a new role within the visual arts nonprofit sector based in New York City. 

The Sarasota-based Florida Center for Early Childhood has expanded its fetal alcohol spectrum disorder diagnostic services to the Panhandle region and is now offering comprehensive assessments in Pensacola.