SARASOTA -- The Continental Group, a FirstService Residential Management company, has opened a new regional office at 444 Gulf of Mexico Drive in Longboat Key.

The new office will serve as a base for Continental's regional directors, portfolio managers and client service managers working with communities in the Bradenton-Sarasota region. The new waterfront office is located just north of St. Armand Circle.

As a manager of homeowner and condominium associations, The Continental Group represents more than 300 communities on Florida's Gulf Coast from Tampa to Naples. Continental's Bradenton-Sarasota client portfolio includes 30 community associations for residential properties.

"Having an office in Longboat Key supports our team's commitment to better serve our customers throughout the Sarasota-Bradenton region," said Joe Boldiga, Regional Director for The Continental Group.

In addition to centralizing Continental's regional operations, the new office will be a hub from which Continental team members can more easily go out into the community to interact and maintain ties with their clients.

Glide Interactive acquires Stronghouse

SARASOTA -- Glide Interactive recently acquired StrongHouse, a Sarasota-based website design and Internet marketing company. StrongHouse will now serve as a division of Glide Interactive and focus on building an online presence for small businesses.

StrongHouse was founded in 2011 by Connor Van Elswyk with the help of Creative Director Gregory Kaufman and has completed more than 250 web projects and currently manages more than 50 websites. StrongHouse also created proprietary marketing strategies for reputation management on Google and organic search engine growth.

Van Elswyk and Kaufman will join the Glide Interactive team while also continuing to be an integral part of the StrongHouse brand.

"We're very excited about our acquisition of StrongHouse," says Glide Interactive CEO John Carlson. "The talent and expertise they bring to Glide Interactive makes us a stronger company and increases our capacity as we continue to offer our clients state-of-the-art web design and marketing services."

Bank employees donate to local causes

Nearly 40 Gateway Bank employees contributed a total of $23,000 to charitable organizations in Sarasota and Bradenton in 2012. The donations do not reflect contributions by Gateway at the corporate level.

Employee donations primarily consisted of direct contributions to United Way, money raised through participation in walkathons, and collection site gatherings in each of Gateway's three branch locations.

Gateway Bank's employ

ee annual United Way pledges totaled $13,215 for 2012.

Another way Gateway employees raise money for the community is through participation in various fundraisers such as the American Heart Association's "Heart Walk," and American Diabetes Association's "Tour de Cure." Last year, more than $8,000 was raised through events that complement Gateway's corporate wellness program.

In addition, each month all three Gateway branches raise money for a different charity. Employees participate in "Blue Jean Fridays," and are allowed to wear jeans in exchange for a $5 charitable contribution. Collection boxes are placed in the branches so employees and clients can donate school supply items, food bank items and donations for our troops.

-- Herald staff reports