Matthew Bower, market executive; Scott Merritt, senior vice president and senior investment officer for Florida; and Chris McGee, portfolio manager, The Private Client Group at National City Corporation.

Ceiliah Epner, senior associate, HealthTrust.

Dr. Arthur Blumenthal, special exhibition co-curator; and Dr. Virginia Brilliant, assistant curator of European art, John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art.

Joe Stamp, promoted to project executive, Suffolk Construction.

Tamara Kamberis, promoted to assistant vice president, branch manager, First State Bank.

Dana Pinnix, audit officer, Orion Bank.

Kevin Cox, financial advisor, Morgan Stanley Global Wealth Management Group.

Louis M. Ursini III, partner, law firm of Ruden McCloskey.

Phil Chmieleski, executive vice president, Prudential Palms Realty.

Julia Mays, director of marketing and development, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

Sheila Brannan Longo, media and public relations manager, and Erik von Whipperman, art director, Grapevine Communications.

Jim Padovano, lead project manager, MyGreenBuildings.

Misty Servia, associate, King Engineering Associates.

Craig Berntsen, promotional product specialist, EmbroidMe of Sara-Tee.

William L. Soscia, M.D., cataract and lens replacement surgeon, Center for Sight’s new Manatee County office at 5219 E. S.R. 64.

Debbie McDowell, chief officer of operations, Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida.

Gary S. Comp, regional business unit manager of ecological and water resources; and Michael A.G. Burton, corporate leader of ecological and water resources, WilsonMiller.

Brian Holt, vice president and commercial banking officer; and Angela Reeves, assistant vice president and commercial banking officer, Sabal Palm Bank.

John Gardner, wine director and dining room manager, Crow’s Nest Restaurant.

Mike Moser, Jeff Handlin, Larry Colditz and Stephen Polachek, Starwood Land Ventures.

Melanie Luten, Fred E. Moore and William C. Robinson Jr., principals, law firm of Blalock, Walters, Held & Johnson, P.A.

Jimmy Stewart, director of sales, Gibraltar Homes.

Amanda Boots, wellness coordinator, Bay Village.

Katherine L. Songster, public relations manager, Longboat Key Club and Resort.

ACCOLADES

Brian Meurs has been named interim CEO of the Community Housing Trust of Sarasota.

Joe McClash has been elected chairman of the Manatee County Port Authority.

Jeffrey R. Stevens, Daniel Harris and Brett Sifrit of Kerkering Barberio & Co., CPAs, have obtained certification as certified public accountants, and Donna Baal has become a certified bookkeeper.

King Engineering Associates was ranked 38th on The Zweig Letter’s 2007 Hot Firms list.

Alfred Gordon, owner of Alfred Gordon Photography, tied for 2007 Photographer of the Year by the Bay Professional Photographers.

Brooke Chase Associates recognized Richard Miller as the leader in sales and Christopher Zappala as the leader in new business development in 2007.

Sarasota Memorial Hospital has received the American Stroke Association’s Get with the Guidelines Stroke Silver Performance Achievement Award for its high standard of stroke care.

Lou Marinaccio, president of MGA Insurance, is the new chair of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance.

The Sarasota Chapter of the Women’s Council of Realtors 2008 officers are: Cari Faanes, president; Janice Litke, president-elect; Theresa Morrow, vice president membership; Mary Conklin, treasurer; Karen Grant, recording secretary; and Tracy Bierman, corresponding secretary.

Captiva Beach Resort is the first Sarasota County property to be inducted into the Florida Green Lodging program of the Department of Environmental Protection.

Orion Bancorp ranked first for the third consecutive year in the Ewing Top 10 Community Bank list compiled by the securities and investment banking firm, Allen C. Ewing & Co.

Wilde Lexus has funded marketing materials for the Center for Autism Resources and Education, which opened Sarasota offices in January.

Laura Harto of Think Bigger Consulting Group received the 2007 Trainer of the Year award from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County’s Nonprofit Resource Center.

Kanes of Sarasota donated new furniture to Forty Carrots Family Center.

Julie A. Horstkamp of the law firm of Kirk-Pinkerton, P.A. has been appointed to the Florida Realtor-Attorney Joint Committee. Kirk-Pinkerton president and managing shareholder Norman Vaughan-Birch has been selected for inclusion in Law and Politics Publishing’s “Florida Super Lawyers” for 2008.

Michael E. Rissman Jr. of WilsonMiller has been elected vice president of the Florida Engineering Society, Myakka Chapter.

Oswald Trippe and Company named Vicente Medina and Chuck Lindback its 2007 Community Service Award winners.

Teresa A. Koncick of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art served as keynote speaker for the European Circus Association Symposium in Monte Carlo.

Moneyjingle.com and WilsonMiller have received certification in the Sarasota County Green Business Partnership.

Anexio became the 44th accredited provider globally through the Managed Service Providers Alliance.

Carlson Studio Architecture’s new corporate headquarters received the LEED CI (Commercial Interiors) Silver designation by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The Longboat Key Club and Resort has been awarded the prestigious AAA Four Diamond rating for the 25th consecutive year.

MOVING AND OPENING

The Manatee Chamber of Commerce and United Way of Manatee County have opened their mid-county building at 4215 Concept Court in Lakewood Ranch.

Gregg A. Binford has opened CityScapes International Realty Group at 1630 Ringling Blvd. in Sarasota.