Business Observer

+ Camp Better America nominated for top honor
Camp Better America was one of five nonprofits nominated in the Military Spouse and Family Support category of the fifth annual CLASSY Awards.

The CLASSY Awards is the largest social-impact awards ceremony in the U.S. They will be held May 2 and May 3.

Kathleen Gagg, co-founder of Camp Better America, is a Sarasota resident and director of lifestyle management for Pope Properties Inc. in Sarasota. Gagg has also previously teamed up with retired Marine Corps Col. John Saputo, owner and president of Gold Coast Eagle Distributing, to help launch a community initiative for Sarasota veterans.

“We are so honored and humbled to be recognized in a category with so many incredible organizations whose mission is to help military families,” said Gagg. “We feel it is our duty as Americans to do our part in helping return the salute to our military families.”

Camp Better America is a 501(c) 3 organization that hosts military families after the service member returns from war. Four-day camps are located at resort-like locations.

+ Soda Group joins Premier Sotheby’s
Real estate firm The Soda Group has joined Premier Sotheby’s International Realty.

 “We are very pleased to welcome The Soda Group and this new, dynamic team to our Plaza family, “ said Judy Green, president and CEO of Sotheby’s. “With more than 100 recorded transactions in 2013 and sales of more than $60 million, they have been a formidable sales force in Lakewood Ranch and across the Sarasota region. They are diligent, determined, detailed and dedicated to helping their customers achieve their real estate goals.”

The Soda Group’s eight-person team joining Sotheby’s includes Jim and Donna Soda, Stacy L. Haas-Goodwin, Mark and Kay Coon, Carrie Lamb, Donald McGayhey and Patti Tebo.

Premier Sotheby’s International Realty is located at The Plaza at Five Points, 50 Central Ave.

+ Eurotech Cabinetry featured in publication
The cover of the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s new “Kitchen Planning” volume of the Professional Resource Library features a kitchen by Eurotech Cabinetry, located at 1609 DeSoto Road, in Sarasota. The kitchen, designed by Tracey Scalzo, certified master kitchen and bath designer, took first place honors in the Small Kitchen Category and “The Best of Before and After” of the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s 2012 Design Competition. The same kitchen won HGTV’s “People’s Pick” award in 2012.