The Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County celebrated achievements of the past year and over the years at its annual meeting Tuesday.
“A few years ago, we weren’t this happy,” Mark Pritchett, president and CEO of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, said in introductory remarks, apparently referring to the Great Recession and tough recovery. “We’re in a much different place today.”
The EDC’s annual awards saluted two men who helped get the area to that place.
The 2017 Clyde Nixon Business Leadership Award was presented to Rod Hershberger, one of the founders of Sarasota County’s largest private employers and current chairman of the board of PGT Innovations. The award is given annually to an individual in Sarasota County who embodies the personal and business values demonstrated by Sun Hydraulics Corp.’s founder, Clyde Nixon.
Nixon was chairman of Sun Hydraulics until his death in April 2007. “He left behind a distinct legacy of lifetime achievement. He was known for his sense of humor, his astute business mind, his support of economic development and community involvement. ... He was a man of integrity and strong ethics, and treated everyone equally,” presenter Mark Bokorney of Sun Hydraulics said.
Hershberger co-founded PGT — short for Progressive Glass Technology — almost 40 years ago. The company manufactures impact-resistant doors and windows, posting $458 million in sales last year. It employs 2,800 in Florida, with nearly 2,100 working at its North Venice operation. Hershberger will step down as chief executive next month but remain as chairman.
In accepting the award, Hershberger promised a short speech because he doesn’t like public speaking. He was true to his word. “This is an honor. I knew Clyde Nixon,” Hershberger said before leaving the Hyatt Regency Sarasota stage.
The 2017 Ringling College Innovation by Design Award went to Adam Sulimirski, president and co-owner of Cruise Car Inc. The annual award was established in 2015 and is given to an individual who has used creativity in design to create a successful product and to solve market problems.
Cruise Car builds specialty electric golf carts and utility vehicles. The custom low-speed vehicles with renewable energy capabilities — some with solar panels on the roof — can carry up to 16 passengers. Some are built for wheelchairs, one’s an ambulance, some carry cargo and many are street legal where speed limits do not exceed 35 mph.
Larry Thompson, president of the Ringling College of Art and Design, said the innovation award went this year to a company in an industry “you wouldn’t think innovative” and “completed a customer-driven redesign” of every aspect of its products to satisfy clients.
Sulimirski summed up his thoughts briefly, too. “Thank you for this surprise,” he said.
Mark Huey, the EDC’s president and chief executive, cited several key victories in the organization’s business growth efforts.
FloorForce, a major player in software creation and digital marketing in the flooring industry, is moving its operations to downtown Sarasota from Boca Raton. The company plans to add 72 full-time employees over five years, with a $144,000 incentive package from the county on the line.
Single Stream Recyclers is also moving to Sarasota and expects to double its workforce by hiring 40 new employees. The private company sorts, bales and ships paper, cardboard, aluminum, plastics, metal, glass and other recyclables from residential curbside and commercial recycling collection.
Huey also noted that, since 2011, the EDC has helped create 2,900 jobs from 46 projects, and the organization projects an annual economic impact of $1.3 billion from business growth. More than 1 million square feet of new or vacant commercial space has been filled.
Rae Dowling of Florida Power & Light received the gavel as the 2017-2018 board chairman, taking over from Jim Kuhlman.
The annual gathering was originally scheduled for September but was postponed because of Hurricane Irma.