Agent Gregory Zies and his wife, a director of nursing overseeing the two main medical and telemetry departments at Lakewood Ranch Medical, created specially designed T-shirts for her team.
As our area begins to open up, society phases into a new stage of overcoming this pandemic and we adjust once again to the latest norms, we look at inspiration and reminders of the heart of our community – its strength in unity.
As a company, we pride ourselves on the commitment we have for being deeply rooted in the pulse of our region. But over the past several weeks, through the chaos and confusion and concern, we have been inspired and humbled by the examples of proactive support from so many within our MSC family and have been sharing many of those acts on our blog.
Thoughtful, thankful cookies

Joanne Cier and other members of the Palmer Ranch team created personalized cookies for the healthcare workers of Palmer Ranch.
The listing coordinator for the Palmer Ranch office, Joanne Cier, along with several other staff and associates had planned to have personalized cookies made for the office as a celebration for a successful 2019. During COVID-19’s height, Joanne and the team decided it was more important to show local nursing staff at Sarasota Memorial Hospital they are appreciated and had the cookies personalized for them and delivered.
Packing snacks for students
Jo Ellyn Yturraspe, an agent with Main Street office, and her son Matthew, a senior at Pine View High School have been volunteering at the Food Bank of Manatee County and Meals on Wheels. The two-pack snacks and daily meals for students and families. “Now with schools being closed, the need has been greater than ever. It’s physically exhausting and a wonderful hardworking group,” Jo Ellyn said.
T-shirts for a ‘freaking essential’ team
Real estate agent Gregory Zies from the Bradenton office knows first-hand of the hard, dedicated, and tireless work of nurses in the area since his wife is one. She is a director of nursing overseeing the two main medical and telemetry departments at Lakewood Ranch Medical with more than 90 nurses on her staff. Gregory and his wife wanted to do something unique for the team and decided on specially designed t-shirts.
A local screen-printing business did the work in about two days, making 97 shirts with a fun catchphrase to show that the medical staff is essential. Gregory said his wife’s heart for her team is beyond measure and as a family, this is the least they could do for them.
Moving forward and coping with the “new normal” during and after a pandemic of this severity, it is fortunate we as a company, a family, and society can look to other’s acts of kindness for strength, hope, and aspiration. We could not be prouder or more grateful of our staff and associates, or of our community.
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