APPOINTMENTS & PROMOTIONS

. Carole Kleinberg has been appointed artistic director of the Banyan Theatre.  Kleinberg has directed over 70 plays, including award-winning productions of The Diary of Anne Frank and The Elephant Man. Local audiences enjoyed her productions of I Never Saw Another Butterfly and The World of Sholom Aleichem at The Players of Sarasota, Crossing Delancey at the Sarasota Jewish Theatre and the Lemon Bay Playhouse, and Mixed Emotions at the Island Players.

Carole Kleinberg

Carole conceived and directed the original staged readings of Movies that Changed My Life and Uncommon Woman: A Tribute to Wendy Wasserstein with the Women's Theatre Collaborative. Former positions include education director for the Asolo Repertory Theatre and professor of theater at Oakton Community College in Chicago..


. TideWell Hospice and Palliative Care welcomes to its medical staff Zenobia Brown, MD, MPH. Dr. Brown is a Diplomate of the American Board of Family Practice and the National Board of Medical Examiners.
    Dr. Brown brings to TideWell experience with the Sarasota County Health Department, where she served as Senior Physician and as Acting Medical Director, in addition to her service as attending physician, assistant clinical professor and home visit service coordinator with the New York Presbyterian Family Medicine Residency Program.

Zenobia Brown, M.D.

Dr. Brown is fluent in Spanish and has assumed leadership roles in community and civic organizations throughout Sarasota, Venice and North Port.

. Easter Seals Southwest Florida has appointed Kameron Partridge, Ph.D. as the new Vice President of Programs and Services. She is an expert in developmental and psychological disabilities treatment as well as a native Sarasotan.
    Partridge has been a long-time family member of Easter Seals her older brother Thad was born with both autism and Down syndrome.

. Nutrition Wellness Center welcomes Jessica J. Cudar, DOM, AP, a board certified, Florida-licensed Acupuncture Physician. The Center now offers acupuncture as its newest healing modality. Dr. James H. Martin, ND, DACBN, is Director of Nutrition Wellness Center. Cudar has been working with Dr. Martin for over 4 years, serving as a Nutritional Case Manager.

. Aspire Green Branding & Social Marketing has added a marketing and PR specialist, Candis DePalma. Candis earned a Bachelor’s degree in Advertising and Promotions from Western Michigan University in 2006.  After college she served in the AmeriCorps VISTA program at Habitat for Humanity in Pinellas County.

BUSINESS NEWS

. JustGents—Sarasota's Gent Essential BarberSpa opened its doors on March 3 and is located at 126 N. Orange Ave., in downtown Sarasota, across from City Hall.  Not a typical barbershop, JustGents offers salon and spa services for men including haircuts, therapeutic massage, hair removal, hot shaves, hand and foot detailing, facials, teeth whitening and even shoe shining for the busy executive.

JustGents has a masculine decor, a steam shower and sauna, 50" plasma TV and private pedicure rooms.The founder is Katherine Duggan. Call (941) 330-9100 or visit  www.just-gents.com.

. Children's World has moved from Bahia Vista St., where it has operated since it started 44 years ago. The new location is at 4525 Bee Ridge Rd. where it has doubled the size of its store.

Cynthia Holliday is President of Children's World which provides school uniforms to schools in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties and serves as the local council office for the Boy Scouts of America. Reach her at 955-6999.

ACCOLADES

. New Balance Sarasota was awarded the company's nation-wide Community Service Award for the New Balance Concept Store.
   
Owners David and Molly Jackson have chosen the Sarasota Family YMCA to be the recipient of the $500 charitable donation that the Jacksons received as part of their award.

New Balance Sarasota participated with the Sarasota Family YMCA in 2007 donating many hours to execute the 2007 Bridge Run IV and coordinate the 2008 Bridge Run V. They also provided marketing support to promote the Bridge Run event. The 2007 annual Bridge Run attracted 1750 participants and generated over $25,000 in donations for the Sarasota Family YMCA's Teen Center.

New Balance Sarasota supports and partners with nearly 100 charities and non-profits to generate community awareness, involvement and donations. s
 
. Pines of Sarasota honored Ann and Alfred Goldstein with the dedication of their new rehabilitation trail named after the Goldsteins and made possible by their recent $50,000 donation.  The dedication was on April 28 on the Pines campus located at 1501 N. Orange Avenue in Sarasota.
   
The new Ann and Alfred Goldstein Rehabilitation Trail will complement the Ann and Alfred Goldstein Rehabilitation/Therapy Center located in the new Skilled Nursing Facility at Pines.
   
The rehabilitation facility features a private entrance for short-term patients, a full-immersion aquatic pool and enhanced therapies for patients in need of care for joint replacement, fractures, strokes, cardiac rehabilitation, arthritis, back pain, spinal chord injuries, amputations, balance and equilibrium issues.

. WilsonMiller has announced that Betsy Benac, AICP, is this year's recipient of Leadership Manatee Alumni Association's Kent Schulz Distinguished Alumni Award. Benac serves on the Manasota Basin Board, Manatee Chamber Board, EDC Executive Committee and Girl Scouts of the Gulf Coast Board. She is also involved with the Kiwanis Club of Bradenton.
   
Benac, who has attained certification from the American Planning Association’s professional institute, the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), is the Regional Manager of WilsonMiller's Sarasota-based Development Planning & Approvals team. She has more than 25 years of experience as a land use planner, managing projects that require development review and permitting. She is also an experienced housing and community development planner and has facilitated extensive public participation efforts.
   
WilsonMiller, Inc. is a multidisciplinary planning, design, and engineering firm with a history of more than 50 years in professional consulting.   

. The 1st C.L.A.S.S. chapter of the American Business Women's Association announced its 2008 Woman of the Year, Dennise Berger. Berger is a charter member of the ABWA 1st C.L.A.S.S. Chapter and currently is serving as the organization's Membership Chair.

Dennise Berger

She is also a member of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Downtown Bradenton Rotary Club, Majority Member of the International Order of Job's Daughters, and has served on the Chamber's Hob Nob fundraiser committee.

Berger has worked in banking for over 20 years and is the Branch Manager/ Vice President at Southern Commerce Bank.

BOARD NEWS

. The nonprofit Public Display of Affection (PDA Productions, Inc.) has announced its new Board of Directors and new website, www.SarasotaPDA.com Founded in 2005 by Eric Massey and David Kramer, PDA has produced 5 fundraisers to date and raised more than $12,000 towards their mission of helping children in need, animals at risk and those most vulnerable in the Sarasota area.
   
The new Board for PDA is: Jesse Balaity, Todd Beckwith, Craig Calhoun, Amy Fordyce, Keffie Lancaster, Matt Orr, Stephanie Roberts, Zach Ross, Asli Uysal and Shannon Wight.
   
PDA provides event driven compassion to support other not for-profits. All proceeds minus the cost of the event are given to an identified charity that already is providing services to children, animals and those most vulnerable.      
   
Currently, PDA is planning its next event to find at least 5 new Big Brothers & Big Sisters at its Big Brother and Big Sisters Fundraiser on June 14 from 9 until 1:30 at Rustic Grill in Sarasota. For updates, tickets and details go to www.SarasotaPDA.com.

. The Sarasota County Arts Council has announced that Jean Trammell, president of The Venice Company and Venco Management, was elected president of the organization's Board of Directors at the Arts Council's Annual Meeting. Trammell, a longtime Venice resident and active community leader, is the first Board president from South County in the organization's 22-year history. Trammell has served on the Sarasota County Arts Council Board of Directors since 2005.

The 2008-2009 Sarasota County Arts Council Board of Directors slate of officers: President: Jean Trammell; First Vice-President:  Terry Romine; Second Vice-President: Sophia LaRusso; Secretary: René Sheade; Treasurer: Bob Israeloff.   

. Two new members have been added to New College Library Association board: Heather Clark is vice president and private client manager, Private Wealth Management, at U.S. Trust, Bank of America. She has served on the Pique-nique sur la Baie committee for six years.
   
As president of Abitar Contract Furnishings Shelley Lister is responsible for the business development of the company and oversees its operations. Lister chaired the Library Association's Pique-nique event for 2008.
   
Norma Savin is a former interior designer who moved to Sarasota after her husband, Sam, was named provost of New College of Florida in 2006.  Since 1991, she has had her own interior design business, Norma Goulder Savin Interiors, formerly located in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

. Paul Bowman has been re-elected as Chair of the board of the YMCA Foundation of Sarasota. Other officers elected are: Neil Moody, 1st Vice Chair; Kim Githler, 2nd Vice chair; David Band, Secretary; and Pam Daniel Treasurer.
    Trustees elected to another term are: Dale Berkowitz; Scott Collins;
Debbie Dannheisser; Robert Drabik; Sonya Glassberg; Larry Hietbrink; Janet Kane; Lee McGinness; Chris Moody; Gary Olson; Mary Ann Robinson; Donna Simmons; and Iris Starr. s
   
NONPROFIT NEWS

. Girls Incorporated of Sarasota County had many things to celebrate at their 20th annual Celebration Luncheon on April 16 at the Ritz-Carlton. This year’s Celebration Luncheon, chaired by Chris Pfahler, featured the presentations of the “She Knows Where She’s Going” and Board of Trustees’ “Visionary Award” honoring outstanding individuals for their contributions.
   
The “She Knows Where She’s Going” Award was presented to Susan Danis, Executive Director of the Sarasota Opera, and Judi Gallagher, a multi-media chef and culinary consultant business owner.  
   
The 2008 Board of Trustees’ “Visionary Award” winner was presented to Girls Inc. supporter Jaime Wallace. Jaime was the first chair of the Girls Incorporated’s “Celebration Luncheon” in 1989, has served as President of Girls Incorporated’s Foundation Board and served on the National Girls Incorporated Board of Trustees.
   
Alexis Smith is the Girls Inc. 2008 “Girl of the Year.” Alexis was also presented with the Girls Incorporated “National Young Woman of the year” (age 9-11 year old category) award.

Alexis Smith

In celebration of the 20 years of Celebration Luncheons the former honorees were called to the stage to join the girls. Over 50 past honorees were in attendance a
   
Girls Inc. Executive Director Stephania Feltz announced that Dawn Wiley, Sarasota Girls Inc. Outreach Coordinator was awarded the “National Program Staff of the Year” honor.  Nancy Cason was awarded the “National Alumnae of the Year”. Girls Incorporated of Sarasota County was the first recipient of the “Excellence in Action Award - Outstanding Affiliate of 2008.” The award was presented March 31 at the National Girls Incorporated conference in Newport Beach, CA. Girls Incorporated of Sarasota was the only agency to achieve this award from among 83 Girls Incorporated member organizations (77 in US, 6 in Canada).   

. Members of the staff of Fifth Third Bank spent a recent afternoon landscaping the property of Children First’s Orange Avenue facility.  The volunteers spent hours raking, laying mulch and planting flowers.                                        

Volunteers included: George TenPow, Chad Kappes,  Tom Moudy, Nancy Skurjunis, Amy Grant, John Bechtold, Joann Johnston, Reggie Wandling, Bryson Sanders, Cheryl Mussio, Brooke Raymond, Sandy Santilli, Rob Lindsey, and Erika Lindsey.
      
Founded in 1961, Children First has been serving Sarasota County for 47 years.  Each year the organization serves over 550 of our county’s neediest children, ages birth – five years-of-age.  Children First prepares children for kindergarten through their Early Head Start, Head Start and early childhood programs; as well as offering a variety of parenting programs.  For information, contact Angie Stringer at astringer@childrenfirst.net or 953-3877, ext. 124.

Send You're News to:
wcwnewspaper@aol.com