BUSINESS OBSERVER

+ Signature Sotheby’s adds new sales associate
Longtime Florida resident Debbie Gonzalez was announced as a new sales associate at Signature Sotheby’s International Realty.

Gonzalez, who has been a licensed real estate professional for 17 years, will focus on luxury real estate sales.

+ Aimee Cogan receives promotion
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney announced Aimee Cogan has been promoted to executive director in the firm’s wealth management office in Sarasota.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney provides brokerage and investment advisory services, financial and wealth planning, credit and lending, cash management, annuities and insurance, retirement and trust services.

+ Zwiwwel opens in downtown Sarasota
Zwiwwel, a fine dining restaurant featuring traditional German cuisine, recently opened on North Palm Avenue in downtown Sarasota.

The locally owned business currently is open from 5 to 9 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays; and 5 to 10 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays. Read more about Zwiwwel on page 9 of Diversions.

+ Signs Now Sarasota sponsors scholarship
Signs Now Sarasota owners Brian and Debbie Lamb recently announced the signage and graphics company’s sponsorship of a $2,000 graphic arts scholarship for a student at the Ringling School of Art and Design.

The scholarship is part of a program organized by parent company Signs Now, a division of Allegra Network LLC.

To inquire about the scholarships, email [email protected].

+ Nuevo Advertising wins American Package Award
Graphic Design USA presented Nuevo Advertising Group the 2012 American Package Design Award for its redesign of the packaging of WellSpring Pharmaceutical’s Micatin cream.

The redesign was intended to reposition Micatin within the Hispanic market.

+ Kerkering Barberio welcomes supervisor
Kerkering, Barberio & Co., announced Lindsey Schuster as the firm’s new tax supervisor.
Schuster received her bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of South Florida and is a Florida CPA.

“With Lindsey’s education and experience, she will add a great deal of value to our tax practice and our clients,” said Rob Lane, managing shareholder. “We are very happy to have Lindsey join the firm”
Kerkering, Barberio & Co. is one of the largest independent CPA firms in Southwest Florida. Kerkering, Barberio & Co. has two locations: one at 1990 Main St., Suite 801, Sarasota, and a second at 6320 Venture Drive, Suite 203, Lakewood Ranch.

SHIRA Dentz named writer-in-residence
New College of Florida announced poet Shira Dentz as the 2012 writer-in-residence. The 11-year-old program brings a published writer to campus each spring to teach classes and hold workshops for students interested in creative writing and give public readings in the community.

“The college is truly lucky to have Shira as our Visiting Writer this year,” said Robert Zamsky, assistant professor of English at New College. “She has an impressive range of expertise, and her own work is singularly exciting. I’m already hearing great things from students, and the semester’s just started.”