Business Observer

+ Gurley and Associates law firm earns top ranking
Sarasota law firm Gurley and Associates has been selected for inclusion in the 2012 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. The firm, which specializes in practice areas of construction law, surety law, commercial litigation and local and governmental law, achieved a first-tier ranking for the Tampa area in the categories of construction law and litigation-construction.

Best Lawyers in America collaborated with U.S. News and World Report to rank attorneys nationwide, based on a peer review survey comprising about 4 million confidential evaluations by top attorneys in the country.

Gurley and Associates’ founding member David Gurley has more than 25 years of experience as legal counsel on many of Florida’s major development projects. The firm also holds the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory’s highest attainable rating for legal services and ethics.

+ Suncoast Communities Blood Bank receives grant
The Gulf Coast Community Foundation has awarded Suncoast Communities Blood Bank $50,000 toward the purchase of a new bloodmobile.

With the blood bank’s recent expansion south (it now serves the Englewood Community Hospital and Fawcett Memorial in Port Charlotte), the new bloodmobile enables SCBB to add 200 annual blood drives to meet the increased need, which converts to approximately 3,000 additional pints of blood annually. Each donation can save up to three lives, and with the blood collection from the new bloodmobile, the organization can serve up to 9,000 more patients in area hospitals.

+ Salon Central celebrates grand opening
Salon Central held a red carpet fashion show at its grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony Nov. 10, at 419 Central Ave., in the Rosemary District. Guests checked out the latest colors, trends and fashion while sampling wine and hors d’oeuvres.

Salon Central of Sarasota owner Hope Poole has more than 25 years of experience and offers services such as hair, skin and nail care and tanning.

+ Mullet’s Aluminum Products awarded with excellence
For the fifth consecutive year in a row, Mullet’s Aluminum Products Inc. received the prestigious Aluminum Association of Florida’s 2011 Award of Excellence in three categories at the organization’s annual Aluminum, Hurricane and Home Improvement trade show and conference Nov. 11 and Nov. 12, at the Mystic Dunes Resort, in Celebration.

The three awards were for fabricated products and scopes of work — the perforated aluminum sails and truss system that surrounds the exterior of the facility; the panel railing system located in the primary foyer and in the exit stairways; and the canopies, walkway covers and carports completed by Mullet’s Aluminum at the new Palm Avenue parking garage.

In October, the garage also received an Award of Merit in the transportation category in ENR Magazine Southeast’s annual Best Projects of 2011.

+ ABWA All Achievers chapter recognizes its members
The All Achievers Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association presented its president, Lori Denny, with two awards at its meeting Nov. 10.

Denny, president of LEDS Computer and Network Solutions, received both the Woman of the Year Award and the Citizenship Award.

The All Achievers also presented its Achiever of the Month Award to one of its newest members, Missy Bontrager.

+ Coldwell Banker raises $6,000 for charity
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate CARES, the charitable arm of Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, distributed nearly $6,000 to 14 different non-profit charities in Sarasota and Manatee counties Nov. 9, at Art Center Sarasota.

Sales associates in the company’s downtown office nominated the charities that were chosen — most are organizations with which they are personally involved. The office’s CARES committee voted on how to distribute the funds, which were raised through the company’s annual raffle.

The following organizations were selected as recipients: All Faiths Food Bank, Art Center Sarasota, Boys and Girls Club of Sarasota, Cat Depot, Child Protection Center, Education Foundation, Forty Carrots, Greater SAR Junior Golf, Habitat for Humanity, Mental Health Community Center, SPARCC, United Cerebral Palsy, the Warren Foundation and Young Life.