Business briefs, Dec. 9, 2015

Ex-insurance mogul buys 15 lots at The Concession

EAST MANATEE -- The founder of a Lakewood Ranch insurance company that sold in 2014 to a national firm is investing in luxury residential property.

Lou Marinaccio, former president of MGA Insurance Group, spent $2.4 million Nov. 30 to buy 15 building lots in The Concession, a gated, 1,200-acre luxury home community built around a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course in East Manatee. He made the purchase through Parkstone Estates, a company state records show that he and and Kevin Daves of Wichita, Kan., control.

The seller was a company controlled by Sarasota real estate investor John Peshkin, according to Manatee County property records. In February, Peshkin transferred 113 lots at The Concession between two companies he controls in a $6.3 million deal.

Marinaccio makes the lot purchase as Concession real estate is becoming scarce. According to a press release published last week by the community's real estate arm, 40 properties have sold inside the community in 2015. Sixteen homes were built on lots in the subdivision during the past 11 months. Now, 50 lots out of the original 236 remain for sale.

Marinaccio, a Lakewood Ranch resident, founded MGA in Chicago in 1989 along with his wife, Ann Marie.

Paul Blackketter to remain president of rowing park

UNIVERSITY PARK -- The Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Associates board, which operates Benderson Park, will keep Paul Blackketter in his position as president under the condition he attend regular counseling.

In early November, the board unanimously selected former FBI agent Kelly James Thomas to conduct an external investigation of a YouTube video in which Blackketter is seen screaming obscenities at a man. In October, Blackketter apologized for the video at a board meeting.

In November, Blackketter said he had seen a counselor, became aware of two trigger points and is working on finding a better work-life balance.

Meat Matters dinner uses sustainably raised meat

SARASOTA -- Chefs from the Drunken Poet Cafe, Louie's Modern, Mattison's, Indigenous, The Cottage, Made Restaurant and Michael's on East will host a dinner featuring sustainably raised meat.

The meal will take place Dec. 14 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Made Restaurant, 1990 Main St., Sarasota, according to a release from Geraldson Farms. Dishes will include bison, lamb, beef, pork and chicken from Turtle Beach Natural Foodservice. The dinner also will include a silent auction.

A portion of the proceeds will benefit Chefs Collaborative scholarship and education programs. The Chefs Collaborative is a nonprofit network with a mission to inspire, educate and celebrate chefs and food professionals seeking to build and improve food systems around the country.

Tickets are available at eventbrite.com/e/meat-matters-sarasota-tickets-19480267003.

-- Herald staff reports

This story was originally published December 8, 2015 at 9:22 PM with the headline "Business briefs, Dec. 9, 2015 ."