BUSINESS PEOPLE: Chamber's outstanding leadership award to go to Manatee attorney
Manatee County businessman, attorney and community leader Robert “Bob” Blalock will receive the 6th Annual Robert P. Bartz Award for Outstanding Leadership at the Manatee Chamber of Commerce’s 60th Annual Dinner on Feb. 2 at the Bradenton Area Convention Center.
Created to recognize and inspire community leaders, the Bartz Award celebrates the legacy of the late Bob Bartz, who was president of the Manatee Chamber for almost 35 years, until his death in early 2017.
Blalock is described by colleagues as an icon in our community. His leadership on initiatives has resulted in catalytic efforts to enhance Manatee County’s economy and quality of life.
He has led the board of directors for organizations in Manatee County including the Manatee Chamber, United Way, Manatee Community Foundation, Manatee County Bar Association, New College of Florida Foundation and John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. He has been instrumental in local philanthropy as well.
Blalock received many accolades and distinctions during his career as an attorney with the Blalock Walters law firm, including AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, The Best Lawyers in America in the field of trusts and estates, being listed among Florida Super Lawyers, and named a Legal Legend by Legal Aid of Manasota.
The chamber dinner will also recognize outgoing Chairman of the Board Rick Bisio, The Educated Franchisee and incoming Chairman Jeff Podobnik, Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Club.
The community is invited. The event will be held from 5 to 9 p.m.
For more information and tickets, visit www.ManateeChamber.com/AnnualDinner or call the chamber at 941-748-3411.
AAMCO Transmissions & Total Car Care, at 2856 Clark Road, Sarasota, has hired Matt Owen as store manager.
Owen has over 19 years of experience in the automotive industry and holds numerous certifications from automotive industry leaders, such as ASE, Ford Motor Co., RVDA, BG, Alldata, General Motors, Repair Shop Solutions, Management Success, and Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.
AAMCO Transmissions & Total Car Care has been open in Sarasota for over 13 years in the same location, offering all aspects of automotive repair.
Sarasota Managing Partner and Vice Chair of Shumaker’s Management Committee Jennifer B. Compton has been elected chair of the Bay Park Conservancy board of directors.
Compton is one of the founding members of the Sarasota Bayfront Planning Organization and subsequently was secretary for the BPC. She is recognized for using her legal and leadership acumen to create a first-of-its-kind private/public partnership agreement between The Bay and the city of Sarasota.
This partnership was instrumental in supporting Bay Park Conservancy’s initiatives to develop the city-owned land along Sarasota Bay, establishing a cultural and economic legacy for the region while ensuring open, public access to the Bayfront.
The Bay opened the first phase of the park to the public in October 2022 with a 10-day Grand Opening.
With over 20 years practicing employment law counseling and litigation, Compton has a wealth of experience, which she attributes to the variety of clients she guides through the changes in law, the economy and the world.
Sarasota Memorial Hospital has appointed Kunal Saigal, MD, as medical director of radiation oncology services at the expanding Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute.
Dr. Saigal has overseen Sarasota Memorial radiation oncology services since SMH opened its first outpatient radiation oncology center, on University Parkway, in 2020. Since then, the Jellison Cancer Institute team has added advanced radiation oncology services to the cancer treatments available at the hospital’s Sarasota campus, with plans to expand and enhance those services as it completes the next phase of the Cancer Institute, an outpatient cancer pavilion that will begin construction early this year.
A radiation oncologist with Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Dr. Saigal is board certified in radiation oncology and fellowship trained in brachytherapy. He joined Sarasota Memorial’s oncology team in 2020 and helped launch SMH’s first outpatient radiation oncology center.
In his new role as medical director, Dr. Saigal will lead the radiation oncology service’s multidisciplinary team, all working together to develop individualized treatment plans with a holistic approach to cancer care.
He also will lead the new High-Dose-Rate brachytherapy service expansion at the main Sarasota campus and, along with radiation oncologist Matthew Biagioli, MD, administer HDR treatments to cancer patients.
As the next phases of the Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute progress, Dr. Saigal will play a critical role in the strategic planning and design of future outpatient cancer facilities that include radiation therapy.
Kelly Malloy is the new chief operating officer at HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital. She will lead emergency services, rehabilitation, pharmacy and cardiovascular services at the hospital.
Previously, Malloy was vice president of operations and interim CEO for HCA Florida Pasadena Hospital, in St. Petersburg. She has been with HCA Healthcare for more than a decade in both clinical and leadership positions.
She also previously was the administrative director of operations/associate administrator at HCA Florida Capital Hospital in Tallahassee.
Malloy has a Master of Business Administration with a focus in Healthcare Management from Western Governor’s University, a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Phoenix and an occupational therapy degree from the University of Louisiana.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Recognition for leadership and philanthropy, Bay Park chair elected
