Education Foundation of Sarasota County Elects New Board Members

The Education Foundation of Sarasota County (EFSC) announced the addition of eight new members to the board of directors.

Robert C. Blattberg, Jeremy H. Chambers, Brock H. Leach, and Kara Saunders are new community members elected to serve three-year terms.

  Teacher representatives elected to serve on the board are Shane C. Swezey, teacher at Oak Park School and the 2019 Sarasota County Teacher of the Year, and Es Swihart, teacher at Riverview High School and the 2018 Sarasota County Teacher of the Year. 

  Student representatives elected to one-year terms are Kate Rumisek, senior at North Port High School, and Campbell Shaw, senior at Sarasota High School. 

  Blattberg, who holds a doctorate in industrial administration from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), is a published author and retired professor who has held professorships at CMU, Northwestern University, and the University of Chicago. He is a passionate advocate for youth education and has created and taught financial and personal literacy classes locally at high school and college levels. 

  Chambers is an entrepreneur and the owner of Innovative Dining LLC, a Sarasota-based catering business. A native of Scotland, Chambers studied at four international educational institutes and earned a diploma from Le Cordon Bleu London Culinary School. He is involved in numerous local youth and family support organizations.

  Leach, an executive consultant for Innovative Ministries, became an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister after 24 years as an executive with PepsiCo. He holds a master’s in finance and marketing as well as a master of divinity. Leach has broad experience as a volunteer and advocate for local and international nonprofit organizations.

  Saunders is the owner of KB Communications, a marketing and communications business based in Sarasota. A graduate of Johnson & Wales University, she has extensive experience in marketing and branding strategies in health care and wellness education. A mother and active community member, she is committed to long-term goals that support the enhancement of local education.

  The EFSC foundation board officers include Britt Riner, chair; Lisl Liang, vice chair; Linda Jellison, secretary; and Juan C. Villaveces, treasurer. Additional board members include Asim Chauhan, Nancy R. Harris and Kent Hayes. Jennifer Vigne is the EFSC president.