Former Sarasota Magazine senior editor Ilene Denton has been elected to the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation board of directors. Denton, who is also  vice president of the Library Foundation for Sarasota County, joins board members Susan Hines (chair), Clolita Vitale (vice chair), Carolyn Johnson (secretary and treasurer) and Keith DuBose, Laura Spencer and Tom Tryon. 

The St. Regis Longboat Key was recently awarded “Project of the Year” by Associated Builders & Contractors.

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium has been named a secondary care holding facility for manatee rehabilitation under the direction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Sarasota) recently announced the recipients of his 11th annual Congressional Educations Awards. One hundred twenty award educators were also recognized by the Buchnan in the Congressional Record for their achievements.

John and Amanda Horne of Oysters Rock Hospitality were recently recognized with Visit Sarasota County's 2025 Voice of Sarasota award. 

SeaPort Manatee has named John D. Glass Jr. as its deputy director of engineering and construction.

Stella Misantone, a junior in the International Baccalaureate program at Riverview High School, was recently appointed a Students Take Active Roles (STAR) board member at Embracing Our Differences.

Meals on Wheels PLUS recently hosted its annual Volunteer Luncheon and presented awards to volunteers who have gone above and beyond in their service. They are Terri Hill (Volunteer of the Year, Oustanding Food Bank Volunteer and Champions Circle: 300-Plus Hours of Service), Dan Wilhelm (Champions Circle: Ten Years of Service), Pat McDonald (Champions Circle: 300-Plus Hours of Service), Veronica Brandon-Miller (Outstanding Volunteer Ambassador) Jonathan Maassen (Outstanding Youth Volunteer), Lakewood Ranch Elks Lodge (Most Generous Group Ambassador), First Watch (Outstanding Volunteer Group), Barbara Brown (Outstanding Administrative Volunteer), Pam O'Connor (Outstanding Friendship Dining Center Volunteer), Charlie Gunn (Outstanding Car Loader), Lana Paul (Outstanding Warehouse Volunteer), Jeff and Christy Mohler (Rookies of the Year), Larry Breidenbach (Outstanding Daybreak Adult Day Center Volunteer) and Reina Huerta (Outstanding Telephone Reassurance Volunteer).

Both Sarasota Memorial Hospital campuses as well as HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital earned "A" grades in Leapfrog Hospital Group's hospital safety report cards. 

Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center (SPARCC) recently received a four-star rating from Charity Navigator and the 2025 Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid. 

SPARCC also announced that Mary Ellen Mancini, its vice president of philanthropy, has been re-certified as a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) by CFRE International. 

Sarasota County Schools has named Mark Grossenbacher, the current principal of Woodland Middle School, as the first principal of Wellen Park High School. The county also named Nate Francis, current principal of Brookside Middle School, as the new executive director of secondary schools. 

Palmetto Marriott was recognized as one of the "Top 8 Spa Resorts in Tampa Bay" by Strategistico.

Andrew Clark, an employee of residential window and door manufacturer MITER Brands, was recently named the 2024 Florida Manufacturer Apprentice of the Year.