Faces of '15

Vanessa Baugh
No one hears more from residents about the pending growth in Lakewood Ranch and East County than Manatee County Commissioner and East County resident Vanessa Baugh.

Whether it’s about Mall at University Town Center traffic or seven-story building approvals coming near Lakewood Ranch Main Street, Baugh has heard it all. And she will continue to be in the crossroads of that conflict in 2015 as applications for housing developments, commercial growth and traffic continue to come forward as the economy continues to rebound.

In late 2014, she told residents opposed to the approval of a seven-story building that will be built behind Lakewood Ranch Cinemas that she represents the district the way she thinks it wants to be represented.

“I’m not your enemy,” Baugh said. “I live in the Country Club, my bread and butter is on Main Street — how I make my money. I understand how you feel. But I also represent the laws of the state of Florida. We have to do what the law says (on certain approvals).”

Richard Bedford
Richard Bedford assumed the role of vice president of planning for Lakewood Ranch developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch in October.

An architect by trade and longtime member of the Manatee County Planning Commission, Bedford now will lead SMR’s plans for growth.

In 2015, SMR will begin groundwork for its Villages of Lakewood Ranch South project and also will firm up design plans for portions of the project.

Bedford said he also will work to advance the construction of the Lakewood Ranch Boulevard and Lorraine Road extensions to Fruitville Road and assist SMR’s recent land purchases with planning and approvals, as needed.

Paul Blackketter
As president of Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Associates (SANCA), Paul Blackketter’s biggest job is, perhaps, to keep chaos somewhat organized.

The organization already has booked 40 events for fiscal year 2015, besting its projection of 33. And, in 2015, it will host the 2015 World Cup Pentathlon and the USRowing National Championships.

In 2015, Blackketter said SANCA will focus on its everyday community programs, such as adaptive rowing (especially for veterans) and training its volunteer base to be CPR-certified.

The organization also will work to encourage bicycling and walking to the park, and ensure visitors, regardless of their mode of travel, are safe.

“We feel like this is one of our mission statements,” Blackketter said. “We want this to be ground zero for this effort. It also helps make events run more efficiently.”

Kirk Boylston
As leader of Lakewood Ranch Commercial Realty, Kirk Boylston is tasked with growing Lakewood Ranch developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch’s commercial offerings.

He says he plans to secure more deals for commercial properties along State Road 70, in particular, as SMR master plans its 265-acre Lakewood Centre property, roughly at the northeast corner of S.R. 70 and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.

“We’ll keep identifying product types needed for the community and oversee corporate facilities in Lakewood Ranch,” Boylston said.

Boylston said the occupancy rate for office is low — about 4% — however, SMR will wait for rent rates to increase more before it would consider any speculative office development.

Mary Cantrell
Although new to the Manatee County School Board, East County resident Mary Cantrell is not afraid of delving into the issues.

Just two months into her new position, Cantrell is focused on embracing non-traditional classroom learning by catering to students’ unique needs. The result of educator flexibility with assignments and classroom culture will lead to the district’s overall goal of all schools receiving “A” grades at the end of each school year, she says.

“There’s no one-size-fits-all model for teaching,” Cantrell said. “We need to get students to embrace deeper-level thinking while also working with teachers to create lesson plans students like and understand.”

The former Manatee Technical Institute director also hopes to “bridge the gap” between district level officials and teachers in classrooms.

Cantrell says she plans to establish a closer working relationship with county principals and instructors by collaborating with teachers on ideas for lesson plans and other classroom activities.

David Fink
Throughout the 12 months David Fink occupies the chairman position of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance, he plans to prepare for the group’s future.

Fink says he’s helping the alliance become a “go-to resource” for business leaders by spearheading the launch of an online resource center that connects alliance members with links to tools, such as how to choose whether a new business owner should launch an LLC or another type of business.

The alliance’s website will have a tab or other indicator for the resource center, which Fink promises will be available in 2015.

By providing the resources to commonly asked questions, he believes members of the business community will soon have a more tangible way to see the value of their investment in the Alliance.

“We can impact the community in a really positive way with this project,” Fink said. “This will help set the foundation for the Alliance for the next 10 years.”

Rex Jensen
Rex Jensen, president and CEO of Lakewood Ranch developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, has big plans for the 28,000-acre property in 2015.

Not only will SMR begin building infrastructure for its long-awaited Villages of Lakewood Ranch South project and select which builders will develop on the property, but it also will begin design and construction on the 9-mile extension of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard from the project’s southern boundary to Fruitville Road.

“It’s a huge undertaking,” he said. “Probably one of the biggest in the area.”

SMR also will begin renovations to the Lakewood Ranch Athletic Center, and start construction of the Royal Lakes Clubhouse in first quarter 2015. Plus, SMR will market Lakewood Ranch further by opening an information center in The Mall at UTC. Jensen said two other big announcements are in the works, as well.

“It’s going to be a very busy 2015,” he said. “And that’s in addition to the normal stuff.”