Foundation Announces 2021 Gulf Coast Leadership Institute Class

May 7, 2021 – Venice

Gulf Coast Community Foundation has selected 28 participants from across the region for its virtual 2021 Gulf Coast Leadership Institute. Through this annual initiative, the foundation provides intensive, high-quality leadership training designed to identify, develop, and connect a diverse and growing group of aspiring community leaders.

Class members will take part in six training sessions from May through June conducted by the acclaimed Leadership Development Institute of Eckerd College. Gulf Coast provides all training and resources at no cost to participants in exchange for their commitment to use their new skills to benefit the community.

The 28 participants selected for the 2021 Gulf Coast Leadership Institute are:

·         Erik J.  Arroyo, Attorney, Band, Gates & Dramis

·         Aly Busse, Associate Vice President for Education, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium

·         Cameron Deems, Director of Business Development, FYZICAL Venice

·         Aurilla (Dee Dee) Fusco, Principal Giving Officer, Jackson Laboratory 

·         Kendra Gemma, President, klg communications

·         Virginia Harshman, Manager, Marketing and Public Relations, The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art

·         Sharron Howard, Social Justice Chairperson, Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota

·         Paula Ippolito, community leader and volunteer

·         Svetlana Ivashchenko, Executive Director, Children’s Guardian Fund

·         Carrie Kashawlic, Business Operations Director, Hershorin Schiff Community Day School

·         Christine Kasten, President and CEO, The Venice Symphony

·         Maneesha Lal, Associate Director of Faculty Development/Associate Director of Corporate and Private Foundation Relations, New College of Florida

·         Joshua Matlock, EVP/Chief Operating Officer, CareerSource Suncoast

·         Fran McPoland, Vice President, Paper Recycling Coalition; Associate, Colling Swift & Hynes

·         Patrick McQuillan, Director of Development, Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation 

·         Ginger V. Miranda, Co-Founder and Community Engagement Director, North Port Forward

·         Regina Morris, Case Manager, Women’s Resource Center

·         Paul Murphy, Founder/Director, The Sarasota Vegan Society

·         Christine O’Brien, Executive Director, Venice Presbyterian Church

·         Derek Ober, Financial Advisor, Derek Ober – Northwestern Mutual

·         Richard Paolillo, Sales Manager, Landshore Enterprises

·         Jeannie Perales, Vice President for Museum Exhibits, Learning & Engagement, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

·         Sandra M. Petway, community leader, retired from Johnson & Johnson and Abbott Laboratories

·         Ramon Quintero, Environmental Health Community Planner, Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County 

·         Kelley Severns, Executive Director, Venice Youth Boating Association

·         Cheryl Schum, General Manager, Boca Beacon

·         Heather Todd, Executive Director, Teen Court of Sarasota

·         Andrea Watson, Development Director, Manatee County Girls Club

This is the 13th year that Gulf Coast Community Foundation has offered the Gulf Coast Leadership Institute. The 2020 Leadership Institute was canceled due to the COVID-19 public health crisis. For this year’s class, the foundation invited applicants for last year’s planned program to roll their applications forward and be considered for a new virtual format.

In all, over 300 community members have completed the training provided through this leadership-development initiative. Many continue to work together on civic initiatives and community-improvement projects as well as participate in learning and reunion opportunities offered to Gulf Coast Leadership Institute alumni.