The Sarasota Paradise recently announced the signing of its Garret McLaughlin, the first professional player in club history. McLaughlin’s signing comes as the organization starts to build its roster ahead of its inaugural USL League One season in 2026.

Lakewood Ranch president and CEO Rex Jensen was the recipient of this year's C. John A. Clarke Community Humanitarian of the Year Award, presented by the Lakewood Ranch Community Foundation.

Rod Hershberger, co-founder of PGT Custom Windows and Doors and a MITER Brands board member, was recently recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award from The Argus Foundation.

The Sarasota County Public Hospital Board, which governs Sarasota Memorial Health Care System, recently named new officers for 2026: Kevin Cooper (chair), Sharon Wetzler DePeters (first vice chair), Patricia Maraia (second vice chair); Pam Beitlich (secretary), Greg Carter (assistant secretary), Brad Baker (treasurer), Victor Rohe (assistant treasurer), and Bridgette Fiorucci and Sarah Lodge (members). 

Asolo Repertory Theatre announced today the appointment of Juliana Han Witt as its new director of development.

Visit Sarasota County recently honored seven hospitality professionals during its Haley Hall of Fame Awards, a peer-nominated competition established to honor longtime VSC president Virginia J. Haley. They are Watershed Hospitality Concepts (Business Excellence), Mary Bensel, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall (Legacy Star); Edith May Perez, The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota (Rising Star); Phil Trego, Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce (Volunteer Excellence); Susie Chinn, The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime (Front Line Excellence); Myllanna McKinnon, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe (Heart of the House Excellence); and Juan Carlos Serra Valenzuela, The Resort at Longboat Key Club (Management Excellence).

Twenty-five Sarasota County Schools educators will receive fellowships of up to $12,000 to complete intellectually stimulating projects that they design to renew them professionally and rejuvenate them personally as recipients of the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation’s 2026 TIME Fellowship. They are Erin Boyd, Skye Ranch School; A.J. Brown, Riverview High School; Ryan Chase, Sarasota High School; Lynsey Davis, Riverview High School; Grace Duyn, Garden Elementary School; Gretchen Eidelbus, Taylor Ranch Elementary School; Farnaz Fehr, Bay Haven School of Basics Plus; Charlotte Harber, Oak Park School; Justine Holcomb, Tuttle Elementary School; Christine Magan, North Port High School; Lisa McQuaid, Bay Haven School of Basics Plus; Ellen Millar, Riverview High School; Taylor Mowery, Brentwood Elementary School; Pamela Novak, Pine View School; Leah Pollard-Lane, Fruitville Elementary School; Francisco Ramirez, Alta Vista Elementary School; Rick Ramon, Booker High School; Derek Reich, Sarasota High School; Lindsay Rowe, Booker High School; Rawley Ryckman, Southside Elementary School; Jeremy Steffy, Riverview High School; Kathleen Suchora, Pine View School; Brooke Teal, Triad Alternative School; Daniele Therrien, Venice High School; and Jodie Vaughn, Suncoast Technical College North Port.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties recently announced that Alvin L., a 17-year-old club member and senior at Florida Virtual School, was honored with the Youth in Philanthropy Award at the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Southwest Florida Chapter’s National Philanthropy Day Celebration. The club was also recently awarded the Boys & Girls Clubs of America's National Safety Committee of the Year Award.

John and Amanda Horne, founders of Oysters Rock Hospitality, have been awarded the NAACP Manatee Community Service Award.

Sarasota County Schools’ Student Services department has been awarded the “Innovative Program in the Practice of School Psychology” award for of Excellence in Service Delivery from the Florida Association of School Psychologists (FASP).

Patricia Rand has been promoted to vice president of academic affairs at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota.

The Hermitage Artist Retreat has welcomed Tiffany Colli-Moon as its new programs director. Additionally, the Hermitage hired Joyous R. Pierce as of artist and alumni relations manager.

The Sarasota Concert Association announced that Charlie Berardeso has succeeded Joy McIntyre as the organization’s board president.

Visit Sarasota County has named Jess Bertolini its director of web and digital engagement and Olivia Turpening has been promoted to community relations manager.

Pain management specialist Dr. Orlando Landrum has joined the team at Sarasota's RejuvenX.

 Florida Trend magazine has named Selby Gardens president and CEO Jennifer Rominiecki to its Florida 500 list of influential business leaders.

Sarasota resident Paul Lidskey has been appointed CEO of Diversified, a global technology solutions provider. 

HCA Florida Englewood Hospital announced today it has earned multiple five-star distinctions for exceptional clinical performance from Healthgrades, including cardiac care, orthopedic care, gastrointestinal care and critical care.

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System honored two physicians for exemplary service and announced its 2026 Chiefs of Staff for both the SMH-Sarasota and SMH-Venice campuses. Dr. Eyad Almallouhi, a neurointerventionalist, was named Sarasota Memorial’s 2025 Physician of the Year, while otolaryngologist Dr. Roger Shea received SMH’s 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award. 

Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, HCA Florida Englewood  and Sarasota Memorial Hospital were each awarded an “A” Hospital Safety Grade by The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit watchdog focused on patient safety.

Sarasota Memorial's 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 & World Report's annual “Best Nursing Homes” ratings.

Coastal Orthopedics' orthopedic surgeon Dr. Daniel Lamar was recently recognized as Physician of the Month by the nurses at HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital.

Clark Financial Partners recently announced that Annie Clark has earned specialized certification in 403(b) and 457(b) retirement plans.

The Manatee Chamber of Commerce has been recognized among the top chambers in Florida, earning recertification as a “Certified Plus” Chamber—the highest level of certification awarded by the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals. The chamber also received an FACP Communications Award for its "Preferred Business Directory and Community Guide." 

PLANit Sarasota recently presented its first annual Collaboration Award to Jennifer Johnston, director of community leadership at Gulf Coast Community Foundation, in honor of her longstanding support of the PLANit Sarasota network and its initiatives.

B&I Contractors, Inc., is proud to announce that Esteban Flores has earned NCCER Foreman Certification, a nationally recognized credential that highlights leadership, communication, and jobsite management skills
within the construction industry.

The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce recently announced its 2025-2026 board of directors. They are Jennifer O. Rominiecki, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens (chair);  Matt Brockway, Icard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm, Furen & Ginsburg, P.A. (chair-elect); Joe C. Hembree, Hembree & Associates, Inc. (immediate past chair); Rob Anderson, Lakewood Ranch Medical Center; Jeanne Armour, Regions Bank; Taylor Aultman, Willis Smith Construction, Inc.; Jeff Benninghoff, WWSB - ABC 7; Ian Black, Ian Black Real Estate; Terry Connor, Sarasota County School District; Dr. Michael Crosby, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium; Philip DiMaria, Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.; Patrick Duggan, Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP; David Evans, Sarasota Memorial Health Care System; Mya Giles, Tommy's Express Holdings; Kevin Gillen, SYNOVUS; Tommy Gregory, State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota; Jennifer Grondahl, Baltimore Orioles; Teri Hansen, Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation; Brian Hersh, Arts & Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County; Dr. Brett Kemker, University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee; DeAnna King, King HR Services Inc; John LaCivita, Willis Smith Construction, Inc; Phillip Lanham, Gulf Coast Community Foundation; Alvin Luu, STAR (Students Taking Active Roles) Student; Erin McLeod, Senior Friendship Centers; Aude-Eureka Mondé, Arts & Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County; Dennis Murphy, Gulfside Bank; Janet Pogar, Florida Blue; David Polimeni, RITE Technology ; Michael Quillen, Gecko’s Hospitality Group; Sinead Runyon, Express Employment Professionals; Drayton Saunders, Michael Saunders & Company; Elizabeth Stamoulis, Williams Parker Attorneys at Law; John Stump, The Bank of Tampa; Dr. Larry Thompson, Ringling College of Art and Design; Jason Toale, Robert Toale and Sons Funeral Homes; Eric Troyer, Kerkering, Barberio & Co.; Chris Voelker, BESO & State Street Eating House + Cocktails; Emily Walsh, Observer Media Group; and Stephenie Whitfield, Bank of America.

Tammy A. Zuknick, vice president of association banking for American Momentum Bank, has been elected to the Community Association Institute West Florida Chapter board of directors. 

Youthful Aging Home Care has named Brittany Kitchel its new director of clinical services.

Three Sarasota educators have been selected as finalists for Sarasota County Teacher of the Year: Becky Hoffman, fifth grade teacher at Pine View School, 5th grade teacher; Holly Pisaturo, art teacher at McIntosh Middle School; and Andy Harshman, Sarasota High School MaST Research program director.

Better Buildings, Inc.'s vice president and owner Jeanette Dean Richards has received her Florida Certified General Contractor license.

Impact100 SRQ recently announced the 10 nonprofit finalists for its 2025 Giving Year: Florida Cultural Group, WSLR+Fogartyville, Selah Freedom, Oyster River Ecology, Save Our Seabirds, Academy at Glengary, Inc., Manatee Children's Services, Hand Up To Victory and Loveland Center Inc.

Williams Parker has added Carson L. Oakley to the firm’s litigation practice as an associate.

The Sarasota Chamber recently announced several promotions: Pete Bartosik has been promoted to senior program manager, Leadership Sarasota & YPG; Isabella Alvarado has been promoted to membership and events asssociate, Zach Henkel has been promoted to director of membership investment, and Allie Petschke has been promoted to communications associate.