SARASOTA, FL – Shumaker Partner and Corporate, Tax and Transactions Regional Service Line Leader Benjamin (Ben) R. Hanan has been elected Chair of the Bradenton Area Economic Development Corporation (Bradenton Area EDC), where he will serve a one-year term for the 2023 calendar year. Ben has been a board member since 2017.
“Ben Hanan brings a wealth of business acumen from his professional career and a breadth of leadership experience from roles in numerous organizations in the community,” said Sharon Hillstrom, President and CEO of the Bradenton Area EDC. “In his time on our Board of Directors, he has demonstrated intelligence, insight, and a thoughtful approach to challenges and opportunities related to economic development. We are excited about what is in store for the year ahead at the EDC, and we enthusiastically welcome Ben to the role of board chair.”
The Bradenton Area EDC is recognized by the state of Florida as the lead economic development organization for the Bradenton Area’s nine communities located on the south side of Tampa Bay. The organization works to diversify the local economy by attracting and retaining high-wage jobs for area residents and connecting established businesses to the resources they need to succeed.
“The Bradenton Area EDC plays a significant role in the growth and diversification of the region in which we are fortunate to live,” said Ben. “I am proud to be associated with a group of top performers in the business of economic development.”
In his legal practice, Ben is known for masterfully managing details in even the most complex transactions. He is detailed and conscientious in his approach to problem solving and collaborates with clients in seeing a project through from start to finish. His principal areas of practice include business and estate planning. In addition, he served as the Managing Partner of the Sarasota Office for almost a decade and served for four years as Co-Chair of the Firm’s Management Committee.
As part of his business practice, Ben regularly counsels businesses and business owners on entity formation and funding; organizational and capital structure; joint ventures; mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures; and equity owner agreements. He is renowned for immersing himself in his clients’ businesses. Whether assisting a startup venture or counseling a well-established corporation with hundreds of employees, multiple locations, and revenues in excess of $100 million, Ben’s training as a certified public accountant (CPA), paired with his business acumen and proactive approach to the practice of law, enables him to offer keen insight into the legal and business issues and opportunities facing his clients.