Movers and Shakers: Educators join South Manatee Business Coalition board

BRADENTON – Two educators have joined the board of the South Manatee Business Coalition, a nonprofit group devoted to bolstering economic prosperity throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties through enhanced online marketing and improved education and training.

The new board members are Dr. Mary Cantrell, director of the Manatee Technical Institute, and Dr. Amy Santos, Chair Business & Technology Department of the State College

of Florida. They join a 12-member board that already includes Robert Anderson, dean of the College of Business at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee.

“The addition of these board members furthers our ability to make the South Manatee Business Coalition a ‘one-stop’ resource for business services, education and training,” said Gregg Anderson, the coalition’s founder and newly elected chairman. “Education is a pivotal component of economic improvement, especially in this rapidly changing business climate.”

In addition to Anderson, owner of Digital Image Business Solutions, the coalition’s 2013 officers include Bob Fowinkle of Moore, Fowinkle & Schroer Insurance, elected treasure/finance committee chair; and William Beverly of BB&T Bank, elected secretary. Mark Dahle of Najmy Thompson is the coalition’s legal council.

Other board members chosen as committee heads include Ed Bailey, a Manatee County resident chosen as membership chair; Richard (King) Barnard of SCORE, chosen as the education and training committee chair; Philip Couture of Couture Financial, chosen as the foundation chair; and Joshua Matlock of Suncoast Workforce, chosen as the advisory committee chair. James LaManna, CPA, is the coalition’s accountant. Additional board members are Keith Banasiak of Waste Pro and Tom Peacock of Gilbane Construction.

The South Manatee Business Coalition is devoted to “helping businesses help themselves” by uniting member companies around the objectives of increased customer demand and revenue. For more information on the coalition, including how to become a member, visit www.smbusinesscoalition.org.