Embracing Our Differences Welcomes New members to Board of Directors

Dennis McGillicuddy, co-founder and board chair of Embracing Our Differences, announced recently that the organization has welcomed Linda Poteat-Brown and Kaley Wisner to the organization’s board of directors.

Linda Poteat-Brown is the daughter of one of EOD’s founding members, Carol Poteat-Buchanan, who died in 2018. “Carol was a celebrated philanthropist, education advocate, and beloved champion of human rights,” says McGillicuddy. “She was a core part of who we are and what we stand for. We’re honored that Linda will continue her legacy and lend her own unique talents to Embracing Our Differences. Linda comes to us with a wealth of experience in the non-profit world and she’s passionate about serving the community.” He adds that the board is also delighted to welcome Kaley Wisner, a 10^th grade student at Pine View School. “Kaley has been attending Embracing Our Differences events and exhibits since she moved to Sarasota in third grade. She understands our mission and values and will be a great asset to our team,” says McGillicuddy.

Linda Poteat-Brown is the director of human resources at Easter Seals Southwest Florida and has nearly four decades of experience in the areas of marketing, event planning and human resources. She says she believes involvement is the only way to make change happen and has seen the successes achieved “when one gives freely of his or her time and talent. I watched my mother, over the course of her life, serve as a philanthropist, supporter and volunteer for many important issues, including women’s rights, politics, arts and education and much more.” Poteat-Brown co-founded and served as president of the Georgia chapter of the US National Committee for UN Women for 10 years and the chapter president representative for the National Board of Directors of UN Women from 2007 to 2011. A graduate of the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Leadership Sarasota class of 2018, Linda is also a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and DOVIA – Directors of Volunteers in Agencies. She has worked for both nonprofit and for-profit companies including Philip Morris, Avon and Bloomingdales. Before moving to Sarasota in 2015, Poteat-Brown worked in the human resources department at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta for 14 years.

Kaley Wisner, a 10^th-grade student at Pine View School is a member of The Boys & Girls Club’s STAR (Students Take Active Roles) Leadership Training program. She has attended Embracing Our Differences’ events and exhibits for the past eight years and has participated in the student docent program for the organization’s outdoor exhibit at Bayfront Park. Wisner has also submitted art and quotes for the exhibit. She participates in many school clubs, including Key Club, Speech and Debate, and National Honor Society. “I love to volunteer in my school and around Sarasota County and participate in community events,” says Wisner. “To be part of Embracing Our Differences is a great honor.”

Embracing Our Differences board of directors includes Dennis McGillicuddy, chair; Graci McGillicuddy, vice-chair; Richard Bergman, secretary/treasurer; and Larry Lev, Linda Poteat-Brown, John Weber, Sarah Wertheimer, Chief Judge Charles E. Williams and Kaley Wisner.

For more information about Embracing Our Differences, please call 941-404-5710 or visit www.embracingourdifferences.org.