Manatee Community Foundation Welcomes Four New Board Members

July 26, 2024 | Sarasota

Manatee Community Foundation announces the addition of four distinguished individuals to its board of directors. According to Bob (“Buzz”) Turner, MCF’s board chair, these new members “bring a wealth of experience, expertise, and passion for community service, further enriching MCF’s leadership. Their diverse backgrounds and deep commitment to philanthropy align seamlessly with Manatee Community Foundation’s mission to enhance the quality of life in Manatee County through strategic philanthropy.” The four new members are: Mike Moschella, Monaca S. Onstad, Dr. Jan Pullen and Kristen Truong.

Mike Moschella is president of Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida’s Sarasota market where he leads the commercial banking team and business development efforts in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Moschella previously served as market president for Hancock Whitney Bank. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Iowa; a Master of Business Administration in Finance from the University of South Carolina; and a certificate from the Graduate School of Banking from Louisiana State University. Moschella has made significant contributions to the local community through his leadership roles. He has held diverse positions on the boards of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County Foundation; Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County; Bradenton Area Economic Development Corporation; Manatee County Chamber of Commerce, and United Way.

Monaca S. Onstad is president and CEO of OnPlace and a nationally recognized community relations and lifestyle executive with a passion for building community in the residential and commercial real estate markets. She has more than 20 years of sales and operations experience in the real estate industry with the last several years focused on driving new home sales and leasing efforts through placemaking, community relations, and lifestyle programming. Onstad was recognized as the best lifestyle director in the U.S. in 2018 by the National Association of Home Builders Sales and Marketing Council and ranked among the top four lifestyle directors in the country in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. Onstad holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s degree in marketing. She and her husband live in the Lakewood Ranch area with their two sons.

Dr. Jan Pullen is an educational consultant and the retired head of school at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School, a role she held for 15 years, along with being associate head of school for six years. Pullen holds degrees from Florida State University (B.S.) and National Louis University (M.Ed.). In May 2013, she graduated with a doctorate (Ed.D.) in educational leadership and organization from the University of Pennsylvania. Pullen served as vice-president of the board of directors for the Florida Council of Independent Schools; and as a member of the board of directors of Global Outreach-Tanzania; the international organization Water Is Life; and the Global Alliance of Leading Edge Schools. Locally, she is a sustaining member of the Service Club of Manatee County and a member of Christ Episcopal Church. In addition to Pullen’s professional interests, she is a wife and mother of three grown children and the grandmother of six grandchildren.

Kristen Truong consults on federal government affairs to national associations, for-profits and non-profits. Practice areas include national education policy, workforce development, and public health focusing on federal appropriations, coalition-building and direct lobbying. In 2013, she received Manatee Community Foundation’s Young Spirit Award. As a member, committee chairperson, vice president and president of Bradenton Christian School’s Key Club, Truong has logged more than 750 hours of community service. She also served as the Key Club Florida District treasurer while attending Bradenton Christian Academy. She continues her service with Kiwanis and other community organizations. In her free time Truong enjoys travel, family, and enjoying cuisine from a multitude of restaurants she, her husband and friends explore

as “foodies.” Truong is a member of the Manatee Young Professionals and recently completed Leadership Manatee.

For more information about Manatee Community Foundation, visit www.ManateeCF.org.