Corporate Report

TAMPA BAY
Marketing firm acquires Web design business
Panoptic Media Marketing Inc., a global ad agency and marketing firm with a U.S. office in Brooksville, acquired Clearwater-based GreatCircle Studios, a Web design and search optimization firm.

The acquisition will help Panoptic expand and develop its business-to-business advertising, a statement says. “It's a very exciting time for the company as we integrate the custom digital marketing and Web solutions offered by GreatCircle Studios into the Panoptic Media line up,” says Daniel Dyer, president of Panoptic Media Marketing.

Jason Stanard, former president of GreatCirle, will join Panoptic as a member of the board in a non-executive role. As part of the deal, Panoptic will retain the offices and staff from Clearwater and GreatCircle will continue to trade as a direct division. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Hotel developer reworks management team
McKibbon Hospitality, a Tampa-based hotel developer, owner and manager with dual headquarters in Tampa and Gainesville, Ga., made several changes to its corporate management team.

Overall, seven people were either added or promoted, according to a statement. The changes include:

Todd Kinney, regional vice president of operations. Kinney has worked with McKibbon since he 1997, when he managed the Courtyard Knoxville;
Kane Flanary, vice president of renovations. Flanary has been with the firm since 2009;
Lisa Caskey, renovations manager. Caskey brings more than 12 years hospitality experience, including project management, sales and design;
Jim Coyle, general counsel;
Aaron Calabrese, regional revenue manager;
Wes Townson, vice president of business development. Townson has been with McKibbon since 2003, when he joined as director of acquisitions;
Karl Oates, vice president of lifestyle hotels. Oates has been with the company since 2001 and will work with the development and design teams.
McKibbon Hospitality has built and managed properties for brands including Marriot, Hilton and Starwood, among others.

SARASOTA-MANATEE
Hospital board fills vacant seat
The Sarasota County Public Hospital Board selected William Noonan to fill a vacant seat.

Noonan was previously a community representative on the board's finance committee, according to a statement. He fills the seat vacated last month by Alex Miller, who stepped down to run for the District 72 Florida House seat.

Noonan's other local experience includes time as president of the Deer Creek Community Association's board and as community representative on the Palmer Ranch Master Association. He has lived in Sarasota since 2012.

Founded in 1925, the Sarasota Memorial Health Care System is governed by a nine-member hospital board. The health system has more than 800 physicians and 4,800 employees. It treats 800,000 patients each year.

Dental group announces five affiliations
Lakewood Ranch-based Dental Care Alliance is continuing its national growth with the affiliation of five new dental practices, a statement says.

Three of the five new practices will be in Florida, with one in Boca Raton, one in Fort Lauderdale and one in Orlando. The other two locations will be in Dalton, Ga., and Fairfax, Va.

Dental Care Alliance was founded in 1991. The organization supports about 240 affiliated dental practices across 12 states.

CHARLOTTE-LEE-COLLIER
Executive named to national retail post
The National Retail Federation named Chico's FAS executive Miki Berardelli chairwoman of its marketing council.

Berardelli, president of Chico's digital commerce and the company's chief marketing officer, will serve a two-year term, according to a statement. She succeeds Kathy Doyle Thomas, executive vice president and chief strategy officer for Half Price Books.

The federation established the council in 2013 for C-level and senior marketing executives and serves as the primary marketing and advertising voice of the retail industry. Berardelli joined Chico's in 2014 after having served as chief marketing officer for Tory Burch and senior vice president of marketing for Ralph Lauren.

“I'm looking forward to serving as the chairman of the NRF CMO Council,” says Berardelli in the statement. “It's an exciting time for retail marketers given the rapidly changing landscape and opportunities to deliver quality experiences that meet and exceed customer expectations.”

Fort Myers-based Chico's operates 1,518 stores in North America under the Chico's, White House | Black Market and Soma brands.

Economic development office launches program
The Lee County Economic Development Office launched its LEARN program April 22.

The program, Lee Entrepreneurs' Assistance Resource Network, will help bring small businesses and entrepreneurs together with supporting organizations to “promote the establishment, retention and expansion of businesses in Lee County,” a statement says.

LEARN has an online resource center to provide business owners with information, contacts and resources ranging from workforce development to social media to legal matters.

“LEARN creates a one-stop-shop for business owners and allows us to streamline the process of obtaining vital services to help them succeed,” says John Boland, executive director of the Lee County Economic Development Office, in a statement.