Embracing Our Differences recently named Patrick Arthur Jackson its new vice president of learning and engagement. In this role, Jackson will create and facilitate educational initiatives that support the organization’s mission and vision. 

Diane Scheb, Sarasota Memorial Health Care System’s Advanced Specialty program coordinator for Acute Pain Service, has been awarded the 2024 Magnet Nurse of the Year award for exemplary professional practice by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Florida Studio Theatre has announced the appointment of Nancy Rominger as its new associate artist in charge of new play development.

Twenty-five Sarasota County Schools educators have been selected by the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation for the foundation’s 2025 TIME Fellowship, which provides public-school educators with the resources to experience meaningful professional renewal and personal rejuvenation.  Each teacher receives up to $12,000 from the Barancik Foundation to complete a personal project they design to revitalize their passion for teaching and commitment to their students. This year's recipients are Amy Archer, Garden Elementary School; Clay Burton, Venice High School; Charles Carney, Pine View School; Joanna Davis-Lanum, Garden Elementary School; Thomas Austin Dunk, Sarasota High School; Chad Erickson, Bay Haven School of Basics Plus; Hali Flahavan, Pine View School; Allison Foster, Southside Elementary School; Amy Gerlt, Heron Creek Middle School; Kimberly Hall, Alta Vista Elementary School; Andrew Harshman, Sarasota High School; Kristina Harshman, Sarasota High School; Andrew Jaffee, Alta Vista Elementary School; Jennifer Kaskiw, Tuttle Elementary School; Alevtina Lazareva, Pine View School; Denise Milliken, Toledo Blade Elementary School; James Minor, Riverview High School; Jason Mocherman, Riverview High School; Margaret Novello, Glenallen Elementary School; Kathryn O'Hare, Oak Park School; Katerina Peltier, Booker High School; Chad Smith, Riverview High School; Michaela Stockhill, Riverview High School; Liz Storino, Heron Creek Middle School; and Felice Tannen, Bay Haven School of Basics Plus.

Kolter Hospitality recently announced that it has promoted Lisa Meccia to area director of sales and marketing. 

Sarasota Memorial Nursing & Rehabilitation Center was named among the nation’s best nursing homes for both short-term rehabilitation and long-term care in U.S. News & Annual Report’s annual “Best Nursing Homes” ratings.

Sarasota Paradise, a USL League Two team based in Sarasota, recently appointed David Herman as the club’s first head of revenue. 

Nick DeVito II, of Ian Black Real Estate, was recently named the chapter president for the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors' (SIOR) Florida chapter.

Twenty-three community leaders from across the region recently graduated from the fall 2024 Gulf Coast Board Institute. They are Annie Berkness, ALSO Youth; Nicole Britton, The Twig Cares, Venice YMCA; James Caldwell, Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast; Nicole Carney, United Way of South Sarasota County; Joanna Cumiskey, Charlotte County Society for Human Resource Management; Michael Donnellan, Venice Area Historical Society; Tom Edwards, SRQ Strong, Sarasota County School Board; Kelvin Foster, American Red Cross, Resilient Retreat; Christine Griffith, Venice Art Center and Laurel Civic Association; Beth Hirsch, Asolo Repertory Theatre; Deb Metzler, Literacy Volunteers of South Sarasota County; Peter Offringa, The Hermitage Artist Retreat, Bridge Angel Investors, 26 West; Jackson Pitts, Florida Highway Patrol Auxiliary; Eli Rapaport, Jewish Congregation of Venice; Rita Rikka-Williams, Literacy Volunteers of South Sarasota County; Ferris Rinko, Jewish Congregation of Venice; Bruce Roorda, Bay Point Church; Robin Schoenewald, Jewish Congregation of Venice Sisterhood; Tracy Spalsbury, Spalsbury Marketing, LLC; Gareth Stevenson, Easterseals Southwest Florida; Jaime Still, Sarasota Contemporary Dance, Urbanite Theatre; Kristen Theisen, Amplify Connections Consulting; and Sandi Wall, Sarasota Rising.

Both Sarasota Memorial Hospital campuses received A grades for how well they prevent medical errors, accidents and infections, according to The Leapfrog Group’s Fall 2024 Hospital Safety Report Cards.