New Hires and Promotions
Asolo Repertory Theatre has welcomed Margot L. Curry as its new finance and human resources director. Curry serves as a key member of Asolo Rep’s senior management team, closely collaborating with leadership in strategic decision making and operations. In this role, Curry will work to enhance Asolo Rep’s financial strength and stability through a diversified revenue model, as the organization continues to manage the impact of the pandemic.
Bank of America has named Erik Vatter president of Bank of America Sarasota-Manatee. As president, Vatter is responsible for connecting the banking and investment resources offered through the bank’s eight lines of business to people and companies across Sarasota/Manatee. He will also lead the effort to deploy Bank of America’s resources to address social concerns, strengthen economic opportunity, and build strong communities, as well as support the health, safety, and engagement of local employees.
Lakewood Ranch-based Halfacre Construction Company recently added Matt Ward as an assistant project manager to its growing team. In his new role as assistant project manager, Ward will support the coordination and management of projects, perform administrative tasks, including requests for proposals and requests for information, build estimates, facilitate communication between office and field staff and ensure projects are on schedule and within budget. Most recently, Ward was the project coordinator for Tommy’s Express Holdings.
Openings
ERES Companies, a commercial real estate firm, has announced the opening of its Sarasota office, located in the Sarasota City Center building at 1819 Main St., Suite 1000. The location will serve as the hub for ERES Capital, the organization’s private equity investment and development division.
Awards
Members of the Central West Coast chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (CWC-FPRA) made a strong showing in the FPRA’s Golden Image Awards, with recognition taking place during the 83rd Annual Conference in Orlando earlier this month. CWC-FPRA members Sharon Kunkel, APR, and Kim Livengood, APR, CPRC took top honors in two of the three professional divisions in addition to other awards earned by chapter members.
Internships
Americans for the Arts, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and the Cross College Alliance (CCA) recently announced the successful completion of the Diversity in Arts Leadership (DIAL) program in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Five interns in Sarasota/Manatee out of 39 total finalists nationwide were selected for the program, now in its 30th year, and participated in summer work placement at an arts and culture organization. Interns received a $4,500 pre-tax summer work stipend, 30-plus hours of professional development workshops, plus arts activities, facilitated discussions and more. They also receive access to the national DIAL intern cohort and robust DIAL alumni network.
The regional CCA DIAL intern program winners and the arts organizations they served with are Jordyn Caldwell, currently finishing her final year at George Mason University studying film and media, worked with The Sarasota Ballet; Lauren David, a New College of Florida senior minoring in museum studies and majors in environmental studies with a focus on urban studies and the environment, interned with Sarasota Art Museum; Yadira Gonzalez, a music student from the State College of Florida, planning to study music business at Florida Atlantic University, worked with Manatee Performing Arts Center; Jonathan Lee, a Guatemalan-American performing artist originally from Chicago based in Sarasota, and an incoming junior at New College of Florida studying theater and dance, interned with the CreArte Latino Cultural Center; and Sierra Schumann (they/them), a multimedia artist from Los Angeles County and a current student at the Ringling College of Art and Design majoring in illustration, served at Ringling Museum with the Historic Asolo Theatre.
