Dr. Lars Hafner, president, Manatee Community College.

            Paul Cooper, senior associate, and Wayne Vert, associate, TRO Jung/Brannen.

            David Krage, vice president-commercial lender, First State Bank.

            W. Roy Owen, senior vice president and senior lending officer; Chris Westfall, promoted to assistant vice president-branch manager; Estrella Wilkinson, promoted to assistant branch manager; Mary Beth Foss, promoted to assistant branch manager; Mary Ellen Brennan, promoted to vice president-business development; and Susan Snyder, promoted to assistant vice president-branch manager, Freedom Bank.

            Jose Moreno, promoted to vice president-residential lending officer, First State Bank.

            Rick Barber, group vice president of mortgage lending, Gateway Bank of Southwest Florida (in organization).

            Cory J. Boydston, senior vice president, Starwood Land Ventures LLC.

            Denise F. Young, business development representative, Kraft Construction Company.

            Shawn Rhoton, promoted to event coordinator, and Catherine Unger, special events, the BeachHouse Restaurant.

            Lance Taylor, vice president-residential lending officer, Insignia Bank.

            Lee Thorpe, financial advisor-associate vice president, Morgan Keegan & Co.

            Kameron Partridge, Ph.D., vice president of programs and services, Easter Seals Southwest Florida.

            Sharon Petrik, executive manager, Serendipity Racquet Club.

            Kelly Boeve, design and interior finishes, Kiernan Remodeling & Design.

            Candis DePalma, marketing and PR specialist, Aspire, Green Branding & Social Marketing.

            Millie Cardenas, director of billing and compliance, Center for Sight.

ACCOLADES

            Thomas Kenyon of Florida Long Term Care Planners was awarded the 2008 National LTCi Sales Achievement Award by the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance.

            The BeachHouse and the Sandbar, both Chiles Group restaurants, were named 2008 best ceremony and reception sites, and Elaine’s Bridal Boutique was named best bridal salon in The Knot’s Best of Weddings magazine.

            Penny Hill has been recognized as the 2007 top volume producer nationwide by Chase, the mortgage division of JPMorgan Chase.

            Veronica Brandon Miller has joined the Take Stock in Children of Sarasota County board of directors.

             Carlson Studio Architecture and Beautiful Ponds received Environmental Business Awards from the Sarasota Audubon Society.

            Kim Martin of CS&L CPAs earned her certified public accountant license from the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

            Jedidiah Lippincott, Lashawn Frey, Fanny Backwithfulleda, Eric “Bernie” Burrell and Reto Maurer were named Five Star Employees for 2007 by The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota.

            Jesse Balaity, Todd Beckwith, Craig Calhoun, Amy Fordyce, Keffie Lancaster, Matt Orr, Stephanie Roberts, Zach Ross, Asli Uysal and Shannon Wright have joined the board of directors of the not-for-profit Public Display of Affection Productions.

            Heather Clark, Shelley Lister and Norma Savin have joined the board of directors of the New College Library Association.

            Sarasota Police Chief Peter Abbott has joined the board of directors of The Pines of Sarasota.

            Grant Castilow, co-owner of MyGreenBuildings, has become a U.S. Green Building Council green rater/field agent.

            Mike Ivko of Fawley Bryant Architects has become certified as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) accredited professional.

            University Park Country Club donated $1,000 to the Old Braden River Historical Society toward restoration of a Jigg’s Landing fishing cabin.

            The Suncoast Chapter of the Construction Specifications Institute has elected these officers: Bill Enderle, president; Jason Burke, president elect; Greg Hall, vice president; Doug Whitney, treasurer; Tammy Overgaard, secretary; and George Schaefer, Gary Flemming, Nathan J. Yoder and Ed Zastudil, directors.

            Florikan has received a U.S. patent for its polyurethane encapsulated fertilizer, marketed as Staged Nutrient Release fertilizer.

            DooleyMack Constructors has been selected to construct a 26,000-square-foot addition and renovations to the historic Saenger Theatre in Pensacola.

            Bee Ridge Lighting & Design, Jackson Hewitt Technology Services, Home Front Homes and Green Home Building Pro have been accepted into the Sarasota County Green Business Partnership.

            Jean Trammell of The Venice Company and Venco Management has been elected president of the Sarasota County Arts Council.

            Center for Sight is a nominee in the Wall Street Journal’s “Winning Workplaces” program, and administrator James Dawes authored two chapters in the newly released physician textbook, Mastering Refractive IOLs: The Art and Science.

            New Balance Sarasota received the first annual New Balance Athletic Shoe Community Service Award for its outstanding contributions to local charities.

            Betsy Benac of WilsonMiller received the Leadership Manatee Alumni Association’s Kent Schulz Distinguished Alumni Award.

            James (Jay) Heagerty of Wagner Realty received the CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) designation from the CCIM Institute.

            The Humane Society of Sarasota County received the highest possible rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent evaluator of charities.

            The Sarasota Professionals Chapter of the Ali Lassen’s Leads Club announces its new leadership team: David Spire, David Wilson, Janet Rogers, April Creech, Michelle Makeever, Linda Witt, Cheryl Tichacek, Pamela Kirscher and Warren Day.

            Stephen A. Smith & Associates won two ADDY Awards from the Suncoast Advertising Federation: a gold ADDY for its corporate identity system for Envera; and a silver ADDY for a full-page newspaper ad for daystar Communications.

            Over 300 local Comcast employees and their families helped improve the Gene Matthews Boys and Girls Club facility in North Port as part of their annual Comcast Cares Day.

MOVING AND OPENING

            RBC Centura Bank has completed the change of its name to RBC Bank (USA).

            Fitness Together has opened at 8740 S.R. 70 in Lakewood Ranch.

            InStride Therapy has broken ground on its new facility in Nokomis.

            The Wellness Community of Southwest Florida is using space at the Women’s Resource Center at 1926 Manatee Ave. W. for its Manatee County programs while its new Lakewood Ranch facility is being built.

            Karen Magee & Associates has moved to 1463 Main St. in Sarasota.

            Halflants + Pichette, Studio for Modern Architecture, has moved to 1381 Fifth St., and Allyn Gallup Contemporary Art has moved to 1419 Fifth St., both in the Rosemary District in Sarasota.

            Shannon Padgett and Brian Oeller have purchased Express Employment Professionals in Bradenton.

            Gator Concrete Engraving in Parrish has changed its name to ExperSeal.

            Manasota Flooring has merged its 14^th Street store in Bradenton with its store at 2510 First St. W., and has added a cabinetry and countertop showroom at its U.S. 301 store.

            Brian Ehrlich has launched the dedicated online community and guide to Sarasota, SarasotaLocal.com.

            Cupcakes A Go-Go has opened at 2079 Siesta Drive in Sarasota.

            The Edwards Law Firm has relocated to 1901 Morrill St. in Sarasota.

            George F. Young, Inc. has combined its Bradenton and Sarasota offices to 10540 Portal Crossing, Suite 105 in Lakewood Ranch.

            John Cannon Homes has formed John Cannon Homes Property Management Services to complete construction on stalled or foreclosed properties.

            Ray J. Alexander has purchased the Engels & Voelkers Florida international real estate franchise for Anna Maria island, Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton and Longboat Key.

             Pete Blews of Confluent Creative has launched a new small business Web site division, Rapid Results Websites.

            Kepecz Law Firm has moved to 2075 Main St., Suite 7 in Sarasota.

            Tony Morton and Mary Lupi have opened Florida Home Concierge in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

            The Web-based customer loyalty program, PointsCache, is offering free member registration in the Sarasota area.

            Perfect Neighbors has opened at 7353 International Place, Unit 309 in Sarasota.