Alliance moves into new home

LAKEWOOD RANCH — With its move to a new permanent office last week, the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance finally has a home from which it can foster growth.

And soon, it will have a leader to project the vision for expansion.

Less than a week after alliance board members held their first meeting April 16 inside their new headquarters, Alliance Chairwoman Annette Gueli announced the alliance has selected a new executive director.

A local candidate accepted the position Tuesay morning, but her name had not been released as of press time Tuesday.

“We are thrilled to have hired a local resident who comes to us with a wealth of experience,” Gueli said. “She will start in May, and we are excited to make an official announcement introducing her to the community in the coming days.”

In December, Robin Parsons, who served as the organizations business development director for about seven years, resigned.

The new executive director will lead a nonprofit organization with 1,300 active members — growth that has required additional infrastructure to foster economic development.

Since its inception nearly 10 years ago, the alliance had operated out of Schroeder-Manatee Ranch’s headquarters on Covenant Way.

“We’re experiencing tremendous growth and expect that trend to continue,” Gueli said. “The new office was specifically designed to give every edge available to take our organization, our members and our community to new heights.”

The new office is located inside the corporate headquarters of MGA Insurance Group, the MGA Professional Center.

Lou Marinaccio, an alliance founder and board member and president of MGA Insurance, is leasing the space to the alliance.

Contact Josh Siegel at [email protected].