BUSINESS OBSERVER

+ Chamber gets new board of directors
The Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce’s new board of directors took office Thursday, July 11.

Yvonne Schloss, owner of Sunglass Express Optical on St. Armands Circle, is the new chairperson.

Other new members are Tammy Halsted, of St. Armands Travel, who will serve as small-business liaison; Pat Martin, of Pampered Movers of Sarasota LLC, who will serve as ambassador liaison; Longboat Key Club & Resort General Manager Jeff Mayers, who will serve as Economic Development Corp. liaison; and Assistant Town Manager Anne Ross.

Key resident Bob Gault, SunTrust branch manager Asima Palmer and Observer Group Publisher and CEO Matt Walsh will continue to serve on the board.

+ LaPensee Plumbing expands building
LaPensee Plumbing and Pools is expanding its building at 401 Manatee Ave., Holmes Beach. The company is adding 1,614 square feet to bring its building to 5,950 square feet.

“The storage expansion is nearing completion, and with the two stories of area, we will be able to bring in more product to better serve our customers,” said owner Karen LaPensee in a prepared statement.

The expansion will allow the company to separate the supplies it needs for each division and maintain ample product.

+ Steven John Penza joins Les Ciseaux
Steven John Penza has joined Les Ciseaux Salon & Spa on St. Armands Circle. He specializes in color and haircuts, including men’s cuts.

Penza trained at the Robert Fiance Cosmetology with John Louis David and Jon Sahag. He has more than 27 years of styling experience and previously worked at The Met Day Salon & Spa and John Carl Salon before becoming owner of Steven Jenae Salon in Little Silver, N.J.

+ SOS certified for green-business program
Save Our Seabirds is the first nonprofit wildlife rehabilitation-and-education organization to become certified for the Sarasota County Green Business Partnership.

The partnership is open to all Sarasota County businesses that are willing to make an extra effort to operate in an environmentally responsible manner by implementing verified core and elective GBP program standards in waste, energy and water-reduction measures while increasing recycling and conservation practices.