Sarasota Chamber of Commerce hosts annual Leadership Awards
The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce will host the annual Celebrate Outstanding Leadership Awards on Aug. 13 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Michael’s On East in Sarasota.
This event honors graduates of the Leadership Sarasota program whose dedication, service, and impact continue to shape the community. The honorees include:
· Lifetime of Leadership Award – Renee Eppard.
· Impact in Action Award – Dennis Murphy.
· Leadership Sarasota Dedication Award – Kameron Hodgens.
“These awards showcase the remarkable leaders who drive meaningful change in Sarasota,” said Pete Bartosik, Leadership Sarasota and YPG manager. “Their leadership extends beyond their careers to make a lasting difference in the community.”
The Celebrate Outstanding Leadership Awards is also an opportunity for Leadership Sarasota alumni, Chamber members, and community leaders to reconnect, network, and be inspired by stories of service and vision. For more information or to register, visit sarasotachamber.com or contact Bartosik at pbartosik@sarasotachamber.com.
Chamber leader earns CCE
Heather Kasten, president an CEO of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, has been designated a Certified Chamber Executive by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.
The CCE program assesses and tests an applicant’s knowledge of core chamber management areas, including management, planning and development, membership, communications and revenue and operations.
Kasten is one of 26 chamber professionals from 19 states to earn the CCE designation in 2025. It is recognized as the highest professional designation in the chamber profession.
Childhood advocacy fellowship
Flora Oynick, curriculum and instruction manager at Children First, has been selected for the Florida Early Childhood Advocacy Fellowship, a statewide initiative led by the Children’s Forum to empower early childhood leaders.
The yearlong fellowship offers participants an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the legislative process, participate in the Children’s Forum in Tallahassee, and build relationships that strengthen their ability to advocate for high-quality early education and support for families.
Oynick, who has worked in the early childhood field for over three decades, oversees curriculum development and instructional support at Children First.
Williams Parker expansion
Sarasota law firm Williams Parker recently announced the expansion of its trusts & estates practice with the addition of Gianna M. Tomeo, Jaclyn E. Foster, and Emily J. Lethbridge.
Tomeo earned an LL.M. in taxation and J.D. from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, where she was honored with a Dean’s Merit Scholarship. Foster earned an LL.M. in taxation from the University of Florida Levin College of Law and J.D. from Stetson University College of Law. Lethbridge earned her LL.M. in taxation and J.D. from UF’s Levin College of Law.
Around and about
· Manatee Memorial Hospital has been named among U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-26 Best Hospitals edition as a high-performing hospital for abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, gynecological cancer, heart arrhythmia, and pacemaker implantation. This is the highest distinction a hospital can earn as part of U.S. News’ Best Hospitals Procedures & Conditions ratings.
· All Faiths Food Bank recently received $147,577 from seven funders to support its work to end hunger. Grants received include Heritage Oaks, $69,577, BackPack program and hurricane relief; Feeding America – Paychex, $10,000, general operations; Bank of America Charitable Foundation, $10,000, Mobile Pantry program; Isermann Foundation, $20,000, BackPack program; Dr. Samir M. Shafie Charitable Foundation, $30,000, Veterans’ Pantry; Sisterhood for Good, $5,000, BackPack program; and The Lake Club Women’s Giving Circle, $3,000, BackPack program.
· Senior Friendship Centers has received a $25,000 grant from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation through the L. Conway Channing Endowment Fund to support critical initiatives, including strategic planning, the 2026 Caregivers Forum, and Rainbow Connections, a new program for LGBTQ+ older adults. … Guardian Shepherd Home Watch has earned National Home Watch Association for the second year. Owner Shaun Lissow is a retired law enforcement officer who has lived and worked in Southwest Florida since 2006.
Compiled from news releases
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce hosts annual Leadership Awards
Reporting by Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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