Sarasota Chamber Announces Leadership Class of 2023 

July 26, 2022 – Sarasota

Leadership Sarasota, a program of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, is proud to announce the participants of the next upcoming class to graduate in 2023!

The 2023 Adult Leadership class includes: 

Heidi Bacharach, Fifth Third Bank
Richeal Bair, Observer Media Group
Travis Barrows, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties
Jeff Bergamo, HBK CPAs & Consultants
Kelly Borgia, Gulf Coast Community Foundation
Lamar Brantley, RITE Technology
Mary Butler, Mary Butler, LLC
Michael Calamaras, Northwestern Mutual
Kay Carrington, Community Foundation of Sarasota County
Sinead Carr, Express Employment Professionals
Desiree Casanova, Sarasota County Government
Amy Concilio, Williams Parker Attorneys at Law
Catherine Daniel, Morgan Stanley
Jennifer Danis, SouthTech
Matt DeMasi, Atlas Insurance
Andrew Douberly, Dickinson & Gibbons, P.A.
Kelly Edrmann, Nothing Bundt Cakes
Christine Frezza, Bloom Organics Day Spa & Boutique
Vaughn Garcia, S- One Holdings 
Will Geisdorf, Mariner Wealth Advisors
Sara Grivetti, Neuro Challenge Foundation
Lexie Guanchez, Boyd Insurance & Investment Services, Inc.
Bianca Harris, Education Foundation of Sarasota County, Inc.
Caitlin Hausinger, Willis Smith Construction, Inc.
Jordan Hoover Sr., Gilbane Building Company
James Hugglestone, Fawley Bryant Architecture
Jessica Johnston, Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center (SPARCC)
Matthew Kern, Hancock Whitney
DeAnna King, King HR Services Inc
Nick Kominos, Capstone Contractors, LLC
Lisa Krouse, Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County
Lori Leutwyler, Kerkering, Barberio & Co.
Alicia Lewis, Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP
Natalie Macaire King, Icard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm, Furen & Ginsburg, P.A.
Katie Matthewson, Grapevine Communications
Alfonso Montemayor II, Herald-Tribune Media Group
David Newton, Gulfside Bank
Shantel Norman, Visit Sarasota County
Shawn Patten, State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota
Diego Perilla, Lakewood Ranch Medical Center
Laura Purcell, Junior League of Sarasota
Bibiana Rodriguez, Centerstone
Eric Rodriguez, Regions Bank
Maria Schaedler – Luera, Atomica Arts LLC
Toyan Scott, Truist
Alyssa Simons, Children First
Kendra Simpkins, Operation Warrior Resolution
Kristen Theisen, The Florida Center for Early Childhood
Callie Weber, Tidewell Hospice
Alexander Wemyss, Sarasota Memorial Health Care System
Megan Wenger, Tidewell Foundation, Inc.
Tra Williams, Fleet Force Truck Driving School
Michelle Young, Michael Saunders & Company

The number of applicants continues to increase each year, with this year’s acceptance also at a record high of 53 participants.  Each applicant goes through a rigorous interview process with members of the Leadership Council, who are also Leadership Sarasota graduates.  “We are truly thrilled as to how this prestigious program continues to grow. Leadership Sarasota is an immersive experience of all things that affect our community and its future,” says Heather Kasten, President/CEO of the Sarasota Chamber and graduate of the Leadership Sarasota Class of 2014 and current class member of Leadership Florida. Congratulations to the Class of 2023!