New World Collaborative, a group of digital marketing professionals, has opened a new office at 1266 First St., Suite 5, in downtown Sarasota.

This office will serve as an umbrella location for both the New World Collaborative and the three founders’ individual companies. The New World Collaborative formed in 2009 to provide comprehensive web development and internet strategies including SEO and social media marketing alongside digital public relations for clients, leveraging combined skills and educating the community on how to build their businesses without wasting money. Meet the founders:

Elizabeth Blair is president of Webjunkees, Inc., a company combining marketing strategy with award-winning creative to provide clients with not only a website, but a usable tool to save valuable company time while growing their business. Gabriel Marguglio is CEO of Destiny Technologies, which was founded in 2002 and focuses on website design, content management solutions and internet marketing. Finally, Gayle Williams is president of Vision PR & Marketing, a firm specializing in bridging the gap between traditional and digital PR/marketing for a diverse array of clients.

These three web and marketing professionals joined forces to combine their strong individual talents and achieve greater results for their clients as a result of truly working collaboratively on integrated digital and physical marketing and branding campaigns. Some of New World’s success stories include Sunshine from Darkness, Sarasota Ballet and Bach Elder Law. They will also continue to offer open-to-the-public seminars on best practices for SEO, online PR and social media marketing.

Local artist collective S/ART/Q announces its second “Print Party,” an annual event that gives the public a chance to interact with both art and artists. Formed in late 2008, S/ART/Q is a group of ten professional contemporary artists, their name underscoring their connection to the region (a take-off on the area’s three letter airport code “SRQ”) and the central role that art plays in all our lives, especially here on the cultural coast.

From 5 to 10 p.m. on Sat., Sept. 11, S/ART/Q will hold its free screen-printing party at Rosemary District “business incubator” the HuB (1421 Blvd. of the Arts, Sarasota) in collaboration with Clothesline gallery and boutique. Their first print party in August of 2009 drew nearly 1,000 people who brought shirts, skirts, placemats and everything in between to be screened live by the artists.

“Last year’s print party helped launch our organization,” explains S/ART/Q president and co-founder Tim Jaeger. “It is with the generous support of the community that S/ART/Q has been able to continue to provide unique and engaging arts experiences. The upcoming event is another great opportunity for Sarasota to come out, meet the artists and enjoy a really fun evening for all ages.”

Once again, each of the artists has created an original design for the event. Attendees may bring their own clothing items like t-shirts, though any item that can lie flat under the screen and will accept ink can be printed on. Choose your favorite design — or pick several! — each print is just $5. The public is encouraged to be creative, with some particularly cute dog clothes, baby tees and handbags resulting from last year’s event. There will also be blank t-shirts on hand for purchase. This is a free, family friendly event.

The New World Collaborative team will be appearing on Gloria Ponziano's radio show "Talking with Gloria" for the second time this Saturday, Aug. 7, from 9 to 11 a.m. Tune into 1280 AM if you are in Sarasota area or stream the show live online at WTMY.com!

Click here to download an MP3 of New World's last visit to Gloria's show and hear about strategies to combine online/offline marketing and branding in the “new world” of digital PR with tools like SEO/SEM and social media marketing. And be sure to listen in on Saturday as we take your questions and calls!

Attendance at the monthly forums hosted by the Business Ethics Alliance has been climbing steadily as word spreads about the relevance of the conversations taking place over lunch each month.

The series continues in August with a panel of successful small business leaders in our community discussing "Business Ethics and Integrity — the Bottom Line", 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. on Mon., Aug. 23, at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota (1000 Blvd. of the Arts, Sarasota).

The panelists are Kristen Horler, President, Baby Boot Camp; Jerry Marlar, Managing Partner, CPA Associates; and Alan Tannenbaum, Tannenbaum-Scro, Attorney and Senior Partner.

The luncheon program is $25.00 per person in advance, and $30 at the door. Payment online is available at www.beasarasota.com.  Questions can be addressed to info@beasarsota.com or by calling 941-387-5363.

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

The Sarasota Tarpon Tournament taking place in May and June of 2010 was very pleased to call Dr. Gary Kompothecras and his the free medical and lawyer referral service 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.

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.