Page 652 – 83 Degrees Media

Coordinated Party Fever Aims To Lure Fiber To Sarasota’s Google Island

●

March 30, 2010

Sarasota raged with Google fever in March for a chance to win Google Fiber. People were encouraged to vote for their favorite cities and respond to Google's RFIs (request for information) in an effort to be selected to receive Google's ultra-high speed broadband network. Google says its Google Fiber network will provide over 1 gigabit per second, fiber-to-home connections for between 50,000 and 500,000 users. Thanks to Sarasotans Matt Orr and Rich Swier, the I Want Google Fiber in Sarasota Facebook fan page was launched on Feb. 25, 2010. What began with only a couple hundred fans quickly grew (in high-speed fashion) to more 7,000 by the deadline week of March 22nd. "We devoted a lot of time to make this initiative work and it was worth it," says Orr, co-founder of The Hub and co-owner of Local Social. Orr says the community's excitement at the prospect of Google Fiber coming to Sarasota is exactly what made their campaign such a success. From writing a letter to Sergey Brin and Larry Page, co-founders of Google, to Mayor Richard Clapp swimming in a tank filled with bonnethead sharks, Sarasota was serious about getting on Google's short list. Sarasota even renamed popular City Island Google Island. Business leaders and companies in Sarasota including Mote Marine, The Hub, Ringling College of Art and Design, Local Social, and Boar's Head are showing support, along with community leaders.Orr says their initiative was a two-fold challenge. The first was getting Sarasota on Google's radar, and the second was educating the community on the benefits of Google Fiber in Sarasota."Having Google Fiber in Sarasota would probably be one of the most tremendous economic impacts we've seen," says Orr. "Just look at the jobs that it would create if Google possibly had a satellite office here in Sarasota, what that would communicate to the rest of the world. That Sarasota is a creative community and a player in the digital field. We have all the make-up here in Sarasota to make our creative class grow."The deadline to submit RFIs was Friday, March 26, and on Thursday, March 25, a free concert was held on Google Island with rising star, Lindsey Ray. Ray even made a special Google Fiber jingle.What happens next? We wait. It is expected that Google will select the winning city by the end of the year.For continued updates, check out the passionate Facebook fan page or click here and keep yourself posted!Writer: Nancy VaughnSource: Matt Orr, The Hub

Ken Rollins And Son Launch Art Consulting Company In St. Petersburg

By Nancy Vaughn

●

Architecture

●

March 30, 2010

Rollins Fine Art launches in St. Petersburg to provide fine art consultation and representation for artists nationwide. Led by father and son team, Ken and Noah A. Rollins, the firm represents over 150 artists working in various media and styles.Ken has served for 30 years as an art museum director for four museums in the Tampa Bay region including: The Deland Museum of Art, Polk Museum of Art in Lakeland, Gulf Coast Museum of Art in Largo, and finally at the Tampa Museum of Art. Noah is a Harvard-trained architect based in Tampa and is a LEED accredited professional with the U.S. Green Building Council."This is the first time we've had an opportunity to collaborate in a professional capacity," says Noah. "My 'day job' is as a designer in an international architecture firm, but it is entirely divorced from the work I do with my dad on Rollins Fine Art, so working with him provides me another creative outlet under a different structure." Noah says both his parents are visual artists. "My father worked in ceramics and my mother in fibers and metals jewelry, and I grew up around the visual and performing arts. My dad is extremely versed and experienced, so I constantly learn more from him." Rollins Fine Art will provide fine art placement support to architects, developers, interior designers, corporations and private art collectors. The duo represents painters, sculptors, digital artists, printmakers, photographers, and fine craft artists specializing in glass, wood, fiber and metal."We are unique in our ability to understand and solve architectural and design issues, integrating fine art and crafts or developing projects, beginning with schematic design through construction," says Ken.Rollins Fine Art is able to handle large-scale installations or collections going into incomplete projects.The most recent project for Rollins Fine Art's is the public art piece displayed at the Element condo tower in downtown Tampa. Collaborating with sculptor, Eric Higgs, the 60-foot-tall sculpture "Conversations" is installed at 12 different places on the Element's exterior. In the evening, 288 LED bulb lights illuminate the artwork, which is meant to serve as a "conversation" piece representing communication between individuals and nations. Ken advises that it also sets a precedence for sustainable lighting in public art.Writer: Nancy VaughnSource: Ken and Noah Rollins, Rollins Fine Art

AAA Auto Club South Rides The Recession, Posts Several Jobs

By Lisa Clementi

●

Innovation News

●

March 30, 2010

AAA Auto Club South, headquartered in Tampa with nearly 3,000 employees companywide, has a wide variety of professional level vacancies in the Tampa Bay region. Openings being filled in Tampa include positions in management, sales, marketing and publication production. "AAA Auto Club South weathered the recession well and continues to grow,'' says Nanci Odom, human resources VP."We have many exciting career opportunities available at www.AAA.com that cover a wide range of fields, from travel & insurance agents, call takers and service technicians to IT, accounting and marketing professionals to just name a few,'' Odom says. "AAA has been around for over 100 years and we'll be here for another 100 and more. AAA is relentless in our commitment to provide the highest level of service to our members and the best work environment for our employees." Founded in 1902 as the American Automobile Association, this association of independent clubs is a not-for-profit, fully tax-paying organization with more than 50 million members. Known originally for providing emergency road service, maps and travel publications, AAA has a wide range of travel services and member-benefit programs. Writer: Lisa Clementi Source: Nancy Odom, AAA Auto Club South

Bradenton Wireless Developer Receives $15 Million Commitment From Spire

By Matt Spencer

●

Buzz

●

March 23, 2010

Bradenton-based wireless communication site developer Tarpon Towers announced a $15 million equity commitment from New York-based private investment fund Spire Capital Partners.Tarpon Towers currently owns 85 towers located in 14 states that reach as far north as New York and as far west as California.Read the complete story.

American Institute Of Architects Honors Former Tampa Architect

By Matt Spencer

●

Architecture

●

March 23, 2010

Architect Christopher Kelley is one of nine recipients of The American Institute of Architects Young Architects Award for 2010. Kelley earned his Master in Architecture at the University of Florida and began working for Ruyle, Masters, Hayes + Jennewein Architects of Tampa in 1997. Kelley now works as an assistant studio director for Gensler in Washington, D.C.Read the complete story.

Tampa EMS VP Wins Award For Green Ambulance Initiative

By Matt Spencer

●

Buzz

●

March 23, 2010

Terence Ramotar, vice president of Transcare Ambulance Services in Tampa, is one of 10 national recipients of the Journal of Emergency Medical Services' Innovators in EMS 2009 Awards. Ramotar spearheaded a green initiative to reduce the electrical load of ambulances and keep equipment batteries charged. Ramotar is also the director of support services for Sunstar EMS in Pinellas County.Read the full announcement.

Ringling Museum Ranks Among Top American Art Institutions

By Matt Spencer

●

Arts

●

March 23, 2010

The Museums Special Section of The New York Times recently featured a piece on the John and Mable Ringling Museum in Sarasota.The article chronicles the museum's early days as a place for John Ringling of Ringling Brothers Circus and his wife, Mable, to display their prized art objects to its current position as one of the most significant museums in America, according to George Wachter, co-chairman of Sotheby's Old Master Paintings Worldwide.Read the complete story.

USF Polytechnic Professor Elected To Florida Gulf Coast Alzheimer’s Board

By Matt Spencer

●

Buzz

●

March 23, 2010

Dr. Aryn Bush of Lakeland has been elected to the board of directors of the Alzheimer's Association Florida Gulf Coast Chapter.Bush is an undergraduate instructor of psychology and gerontology at the University of South Florida Polytechnic. She is also the cognitive aging psychologist at the USF Polytech Rath Senior ConNECTions and Education Center.Read the complete release.

Sarasota Critic Brings Art Community To YouTube

By Matt Spencer

●

Arts

●

March 23, 2010

Art critic Joey Panek updates his website The Art Whisperer with You Tube webisodes that explore the vibrant arts community of Sarasota. Panek maintains operations via a grant from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation and the Sarasota Arts Council.The latest episode goes back stage during rehearsals for Rent at the Venice Theater.Visit the site.

Three Tampa Bay Firms Join Forces On Bradenton Construction Project

By Missy Kavanaugh

●

Development News

●

March 23, 2010

The Law Office of Lavely & Whyte P.A. has contracted Holland Construction to build its new corporate headquarters on Manatee Avenue East in Manatee County. The plans for the 4,000-square-foot office space will be designed by local architect team Moore2Design.The building is expected to be an aesthetic asset to the area. "The new building will really command a presence in this area near downtown Bradenton, says Craig Campbell, vice president for Holland Construction's Florida office. "Designed with a Mediterranean architectural style, the building will contain a very prominent clock tower, ensuring the building's visibility. We are looking forward to getting started on the construction."Holland was chosen due to a longstanding relationship between Steve Lavely and Holland's Vice President Craig Campbell. "I have known and worked with Craig for years, and am confident that he will bring his in-depth expertise and knowledge to our project, states Lavely.The construction company expects to break ground this spring, with completion planned for the fall. The company intends to subcontract work locally during the six-month construction phase.The project is a blending of local industries. While Holland Construction, previously Hostetter Construction, is based in Hanover, Penn. a Southwest office is located in Sarasota. Moore2Design is based in Palmetto and is comprised of husband-and-wife team Jon and Victoria Moore. The company's portfolio spans several industries, and features local building such as the Evolve Wellness Center and Day Spa in Palmetto, and the Countryside Christian Church in Clearwater. Lavely & White currently has offices in Bradenton, Sarasota and St. Petersburg. Four employees of the firm are expected to move into the new offices upon completion of the project.