SEVEN in 11: New year, new leadership

There aren’t many words that are perfect rhymes for 11. “Heaven” and “leaven” came to mind, but neither is appropriate for our annual special edition for the new year.

Following our “Eight in 2008,” “Nine to Define,” and “10 to Contend” editions in the last three years, we wanted something that held that same poetic quality.

This year, we welcome you to our “Seven in 11.” In the following pages, we offer in-depth profiles of seven leaders we believe will have significant influence in the East County in 2011.

Like the convenience store from which we took inspiration for this edition, our choices seemingly never lock their doors. They always are thinking, planning — always open for business. They’re not afraid of the unknown. Rather, they embrace the opportunity for change.

And as we forge ahead into 2011, these seven are precisely the kind of leaders we need for our community. We need innovation, freshness, newness. We hope you enjoy learning more about these seven — you certainly will be seeing more of them in The East County Observer this year. Click each name for our Seven in 11 profiles.

1. Bob Whitford. Although his name likely isn’t familiar to you now, Whitford will be the man behind one of the East County’s biggest newsmakers. After spending 22 years as the rowing coordinator and facilities manager for the California State University Aquatics Center, Whitford in February will become Sarasota County’s new park manager. Here, he will oversee the implementation of the new world-class rowing facility at Nathan Benderson Park. He wants the East County facility to be “the Rose Bowl of rowing,” and if there is anyone who can accomplish that lofty goal, it’s Whitford.

2. Vanessa Baugh. Most East County residents know Baugh as the owner of Vanessa Fine Jewelry on Lakewood Ranch Main Street. But in 2011, you likely will begin to see a whole new side of the entrepreneur. Baugh is seriously considering challenging Manatee County Commissioner Donna Hayes for her District 5 seat in 2012. She will make her final decision sometime in the next few weeks. If she does announce her candidacy, she may be the first with enough connections and grassroots momentum to seriously challenge Hayes since she was elected in 2004.

3. Randy Bezet. In March 2010, Bayside Community Church Pastor Randy Bezet welcomed the East County community to his church’s new home — a 54,000-square-foot behemoth on State Road 64. However, despite its size, Bayside already has reached capacity. Its four services attracted more than 3,800 attendees each week. However, rather than launch another campaign to expand, Bezet and his Bayside team are planning to open a campus in West Bradenton in February. In doing so, Bayside will become the first East County-based church to expand into another area.

4. Julie Aranibar. After unseating incumbent Jane Pfeilsticker on the Manatee County School Board, the longtime East County activist and school volunteer went right to work, attending her first meeting as a board member in November 2010. She brings a fresh perspective to the board and maintains that the district can trim its budget without compromising student education or cutting electives — all good news for East County parents.

5. Ken Sanborn. The Longboat Key resident dazzled the East County with some silver screen magic when he opened Sanborn Studios LLC in Lakewood Ranch last year. In May, the studio will begin filming its first TV series, “Miami 24/7,” throughout the area, bringing more than 100 jobs to the local market.

6. Greg Steube. Steube, who replaced Ron Reagan as the District 67 representative in the Florida House of Representatives, is the only person to be named to our “people to watch” list for the second year in a row. After a convincing victory in the general election last November, Steube is ready to put his platform into action. At the top of Steube’s list is finding ways to make regulations less burdensome to small businesses and decreasing taxes on small businesses.

7. Bobbi Larson. This month, Larson will assume the top post for the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance, one of the East County’s most influential organizations. It’s a big role, for sure, but Larson is no stranger to leadership. As CEO of the American Red Cross-Manatee Chapter, she is responsible for overseeing and managing the emergency assistance and training programs and services the Red Cross provides to the more than 33,000 people. And now, as alliance chair, Larson hopes to help bring new businesses to the East County while also creating opportunities for existing businesses to grow.