Vision Blog
Other Good Folks, Colleagues and other Cool Things
 Dr. Gary Kompothecras of the free accident and injury helpline 1-800-ASK-GARY has again made a major contribution to those in needs, this time in support of the Special Olympics, a global nonprofit organization targeting the nearly 200 million people round the world who have intellectual disabilities, and specifically their annual “Polar Plunge” event in Kentucky. While locals raise money to compete for the right to jump into freezing cold water in the middle of February, Dr. Gary donated $5,000 as a co-sponsor of the event, which allowed other monies raised to go directly to year-round sports training and competition for those with disabilities.
Anna Beth Logan, special events director for Special Olympics Kentucky explains that Dr. Gary’s contribution “went directly to change over 6000 lives in central Kentucky. “ As usual, Dr. Gary was eager to help. “He jumped right on board,” says Logan. “When we were introduced he told me ‘I’d love to help you sometime.’ Especially in today’s market, when so many are in need, he really stepped up to the plate. We are very appreciative of his support.”
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Posted by in servian , Sarasota Ballet , new hire , new , Michael Shelton , Mayor , Mary Anne Servian , Iain Webb , hires , hired , City of Sarasota , City Commissioner , Business Director
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 Sarasota Ballet announces it has hired Mary Anne Servian to serve as the Business Director for the company. Servian has enjoyed a significant career consulting with municipalities and local governments to improve their management and operation practices. She is well known in Sarasota having been elected to serve as City Commissioner for the City of Sarasota from 2001-2007, during which time she also served as Vice Mayor and Mayor from 2004-2006.
The Sarasota Ballet has been experiencing a renaissance of artistic and audience growth in the three seasons since Iain Webb was appointed Artistic Director of the company in 2007. As part of the ongoing effort to strengthen the administrative structure in order to accommodate the needs of an expanding company, Servian will be responsible for special projects in operations and development.
“As we enter the fourth season of Iain Webb’s tenure, we must position ourselves work ever more efficiently and effectively, particularly in regard to the management of rising costs and the financial support required to present the highest level of artistic quality on stage,” says Michael Shelton, who has been serving as Managing Director since December 2010.
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Posted by Veronica in tour , Tampa , rihanna , Rated R , pop , music , live nation , Last Girl on Earth Tour , Ke$ha , hip-hop , 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre
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 Grammy-award winner Rihanna’s “Last Girl on Earth Tour” will hit Tampa at 7:30 p.m. on Fri., July 30 in the 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre at the Florida State Fairgrounds. The tour supports the multi-platinum artist’s new album “Rated R” and its hits like “Russian Roulette” and “Hard.” The tour is opened by Ke$ha, known for her infectious pop-rap tunes like “Tik Tok” and “Blah Blah Blah.”
Rihanna explained the tour's title in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, saying, "I like to think about myself as the last girl on earth because sometimes people make decisions based on the outlook of others and, you know, to me, my life is my life. It's my world, and I'm going to live it the way I want to. That's how I think about everything, that way I'm focused on me, and my work. It's a really narrow space, a focus."
The tour breaks new ground visually for Rihanna, with elaborate stage sets and elaborately bare costumes. Expect tanks, metal and loads of neon. Tour-mate Ke$ha describes her live show in an interview with WAPS as "rowdy and really fun, and hopefully dance-inducing." Order your tickets and get your dance on with Rihanna and Ke$ha at the 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre on Fri., July 30 by visiting livenation.com today.
 The Business Ethics Alliance (BEA) invites everyone doing business in southwest Florida to learn more about its mission to establish southwest Florida as a region known for high personal and corporate ethical standards at an after work Open House on Wednesday, 5:30 - 7:00 PM, August 18, 2010 at Robb & Stucky (7557 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota).
Cool Drinks, wine and light appetizers will be available free of charge. Reservations are requested and can be placed by email to info@beaSarasota.com
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Posted by in weights-based , Scott Olson , non-impact , Master PGA Professional , Les Mills Bodypump , Jex Wilson , golfers , free trial , exercise , conditioning program , class , Bath and Racquet Club
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 The Bath and Racquet Club of Sarasota has announced two exciting new fitness programs. The first is the introduction of new fitness phenomenon, Les Mills Bodypump, with a free session at 5:30 p.m. on Mon., Aug. 2. The Bath and Racquet Club are also offering a new six-week conditioning program for golfers that begins on Mon., July 26.
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Posted by Veronica in The Sarasota Tarpon Tournament , Tarpon Tourney , Suncoast Charities for Children , Sarasota , Luhrsen Law Group , Kompothecras , Jeff Luhrsen , Florida Autism Task Force , Dr. Gary , Chabad Kaplan Preschool , 1-800-ASK-GARY
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 The Sarasota Tarpon Tournament taking place in May and June of 2010 was very pleased to call Dr. Gary Kompothecras and his the free accident and injury helpline 1-800-ASK-GARY a title sponsor for their annual event this year. The “Tarpon Tourney” celebrated a milestone 80th year in 2010 and the addition of 1-800-ASK-GARY as presenting sponsor enabled them to contribute several thousand dollars to Suncoast Charities for Children, a local not-for-profit focusing on constructing facilities serving children with special needs.
Jeff Luhrsen, CEO of the Luhrsen Law Group initially approached Dr. Gary to ask for his support of the tournament. “It’s uncomfortable to ask people for money,” says Luhrsen, “but Gary didn’t have to be sold at all. Once I told him about the charity he said he’d do it before I even told him the cost. Gary and I have been close friends for a long time and I know he’s not afraid to say no. But he’s definitely about giving back any chance he has to do so. People have no idea what he does for the community.”
In this case, it includes backing the tournament, as Dr. Gary is known for his support of special needs children and corresponding organizations. Raising two autistic children, he is very aware of the additional challenges facing parents and children in these circumstances. Dr. Gary is always ready to lend a helping hand, evident in his support of organizations like the Chabad Kaplan Preschool and his participation on the Florida Autism Task Force.
 The Downtown Sarasota Alliance and New World Collaborative are hosting a free seminar on strategies to combine online/offline marketing and branding in the “new world” of digital PR. The Whole Foods Market Lifestyle Center (1451 1st Street) will host and provide coffee and light breakfast for the talk, starting at 8 a.m. on Fri., July 23.
The experts at New World Collaborative will share the latest and most effective techniques used by businesses to build brand awareness, overall visibility and action using tactics that are guided by well thought out strategy. “We are no longer in a world of ‘build it and they will come’,” explains New World founder and principal of Vision PR & Marketing Gayle Williams. “Small and large businesses alike must engage their audiences and build relationships by leveraging fully optimized website and strategic social media activity.”
Williams and New World co-founders Gabriel Marguglio of Destiny Technologies and Elizabeth Blair of Webjunkees will discuss SEO/SEM, digital PR, websites, social media marketing and more on Fri., July 23. This seminar is free for DSA members and $10 for non-members. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP to dsa@downtownsrq.com or call 366-7040.
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Posted by Veronica in Victoria Rowett , Top Secret Recording Studio , Tim Jerome , Steve Tatone , Slumdog Millionaire , Sarasota County , Sarasota , Sangria Tapas Bar , Once , Municipal Auditorium , Midnight Pass Productions , Mattison's , Kimber Cleveland , Juno , Jeanne Corcoran , Jay White , Jake's Tavern , ivory Lounge , indie , independent , Hotel Indigo , Hot August Night , Hampton Inn , Gold Rush BBQ , Glee , Film Commission , film , Economic Development , Danielle White , Dan Stoloff , Chris McCarty , Chester See , Beautiful Noise , Allman Bros Band
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 Midnight Pass Productions is out to change the face of local film, producing a slate of features in Sarasota for audiences worldwide over the next 36 months. The first, “Beautiful Noise,” a modern-day musical-drama, is scheduled to begin principle photography this August after a rousing benefit concert at the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium starring the multi-talented cast of the film.
Steve Tatone, a Sarasota resident since 1992, founded Midnight Pass Productions to finally realize his dream of making low-budget, high-quality feature length movies on Florida’s Suncoast. Tatone is the originator and co-producer of an upcoming multi-million dollar film about the rise, fall and redemption of a well-known ’70s hockey legend. Running with the momentum of this early success, Midnight Pass Productions began development of Tatone’s new script, a story about a down-on-his-luck former pop-rock star (full synopsis below).
Encouraged by the support of the Sarasota County Economic Development Council's Film Commission office, the Midnight Pass Productions team began approaching sponsors, actors and Hollywood veterans to build the necessary support to make this film, “Beautiful Noise,” a reality. Their first major casting find was Jay White, the “number one Neil Diamond performer in the world.” White previously appeared in Academy Award winning director Ron Howard’s critically acclaimed "Frost/Nixon" but “Beautiful Noise” is his first staring role in a feature film. While "Beautiful Noise" is a fictional story and has nothing to do with Diamond, the producers were extremely happy to land the dynamic Las Vegas showman for the male lead in the movie.
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Posted by Veronica in Working Cow Ice Cream , The Truetones , the Bowery Boys , Summertime Songfest , So Much More , Sarasota Chorus of the Keys , performing arts , Italian Ice , GPAC , Glenridge PAC , glenridge , Daniel Perales , center , Ben Turoff
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 The Glenridge PAC is presenting a family-friendly "Summertime Songfest" on Saturday, July 24, with several of Sarasota's favorite barbershop quartets. The Truetones, So Much More and the Bowery Boys, three quartets from the award-winning Sarasota Chorus of the Keys, will be singing their classic harmonies on this summer afternoon, followed by a meet-and-greet with the performers while GPAC theatre manager Ben Turoff personally scoops free Italian Ice for all attendees.
"Barbershop is always a great choice for light, summer fun. Afterwards I'll be dishing up Italian Ice for everyone. It's one of my favorite treats and it's so hard to find these days," says Turoff. GPAC has found it for you, from Florida's Working Cow Ice Cream company. Bring the kids to cool off with Barbershop music and Italian Ice on a hot summer afternoon at the Glenridge Performing Arts Center.
First let me say, I am not a Web developer. But I hire individuals and teams that develop knock-out, highly effective Web sites for my clients. If there is one thing I have learned its that you take a huge risk - and more often make an even bigger mistake - when you hire someone who does not have a multidisciplinary skill base.
What do I mean? Let me paint some pictures for you.
If you hire a "computer guy" who can code anything you want you might have all the bells and whistles OR you might end up with a dull template site that functions reasonably well. It might cost you a bundle, or it might be a $250 quick job, but it is unlikely to have the sophisticated design that will resonate with your graphic brand standards. Be careful, though, because all that custom code might be proprietary and then you are tied to that programmer for the life of your website.,
So, you hire a graphic designer that knows how to design a web site. OK. It will look GORGEOUS. But what about the content? Is it likely to have calls to action and urge a response (sales or whatever) from your readers? Will it be able to capture names and emails of your visitors? How about E-commerce or online donations? Maybe you are better off with the programmer? Or you can get these two to work together.
But there's that whole idea of the Web site as a marketing tool? You want it to pay for itself with online advertising and E-commerce. You certainly want to cpature the contact information for prospects. And if you found a marketing person - or even an Internet Marketing pro who knows about SEO (search engine optimization) - maybe you can really get some new customers out of it. But most marketing folks are neither programmers nor designers.
And what's that last skill set you think would be valuable here? You guessed it. PR. They way a PR pro sees it, a website is a new channel through which to communicate with various publics - clients, prospects, the broader community, the media, suppliers, investors, and the list goes on. What's even better is that you can easily customize and post information, photos, videos, etc. And don't get me started on the integration of social media with your website. It's a natural for PR professionals.
I urge you to eally look at your web developer or your web strategy team. Where are their strengths? Their weaknesses? Who do you need to bring in to get your Web site and web strategies in line and working optimally?
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