The Stalwart Conservation of Stephen Cetrulo

By Ryan G. Van Cleave  |  Photo by Nancy Guth

Stephen Cetrulo has always been a nature lover—most weekends, you’ll find him out on the water, fishing, paddleboarding, or simply enjoying the beauty of the outdoors. Even as a child in New Jersey, he spent a lot of time at the neighborhood parks where he could “play baseball, football and lacrosse, and in winter playing pond hockey. I was out there all the time.” There were several parks in town which meant regardless of where you lived you were able to walk there and not be depended on a ride. His wife, Gigi, two daughters and son-in-law’s, too are equally passionate about being active outdoors. They all enjoy paddleboarding, surfing , fishing, and camping.

At a dinner function almost four years ago, Stephen—a financial consultant at Charles Schwab & Co.—had a chance to chat with one of his clients, Jim Westman, who was a board member at the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast. It didn’t take long for Stephen’s interest in nature to emerge, and Jim asked if he could introduce Stephen to Foundation President Christine Johnson. He did exactly that, and they were kindred spirits from the start. Soon after, Stephen joined the Foundation’s Board because his values were so in alignment with those of the organization.

“Christine Johnson is a phenomenal leader,” he says. “Much of the organization’s success is due to her passion around conservation. She’s extremely active and she’ll talk to anyone, anywhere, anytime about it.” So, too, will Jim, Steve, and the others on the board because they’re not just there in an honorary capacity—they joined to actually be involved and do the work. They are committed to making a difference today. “We just got back from an all-day retreat to work on our strategic vision,” Stephen says, because it’s not enough that they’ve saved 12,000+ acres so far and have strong educational programming. Yet there are more partners to make, land to save, and cultural identity to protect.

“I moved here 29 years ago,” Stephen says, “and Sarasota today looks far different than it did then. I have to keep asking myself: What can we do to make sure land we’ve identified as areas of importance will be around for my girls and their own kids? If you lose sight of that, you can’t get it back. We have a serious responsibility here, not just for ourselves but for future generations, too.” That’s what the Foundation is all about.

He’s exactly right. It’s easy to take our land for granted. One of the activities they did at that retreat was to imagine a parcel of land they drive past every day. Then they thought about driving past it tomorrow, and it’s now a parking lot. Thankfully, land such as 1,100 acres of Triangle Ranch got permanently protected in 2016 thanks to the efforts of the Foundation, and they have a top priority to protect Orange Hammock Ranch, too. “It’s a misconception that it has to be all or none,” Stephen explains. “I think that conservation is more about smart growth. We can’t prevent all growth from happening, but we can take a careful look at our surroundings and make strategic choices about conserving habitats, protecting shorelines and water access, and maintaining recreational areas.”

One of the things Stephen is most proud of is how the money donated to the Foundation gets amplified. “With some organizations,” he notes, “you give $1, and it’s only 60 or 70 cents that ends up going to the project you donated to. With the Conservation Foundation, based on how they acquire land, a $1 gift can turn into a $3 gift by the time they’re done. That’s a massive impact going to the cause you intended.”

Stephen and his wife, Gigi, live in a subdivision east of I-75, and they have deer families that come through their backyard nearly every day. “We also hear coyotes at night, and we’ve got eagles and bobcats, too. I really enjoy that,” Stephen says. “I don’t want to lose it.”

When asked what Christine Johnson probably thinks about his work with the Foundation, he sheepishly says, “I hope she says that Stephen always has a smile on his face, that he’s passionate about the work we’re doing, he’s energetic and has a voice, and he’s always willing to roll up his sleeves to help in any way needed.” That pretty much sums up the entire Board and all the fine people associated with the Foundation, too.

If YOU have that same “can do” attitude and are equally interested in helping the Foundation’s quest to save more natural land, reach out to them today. Through money, time, or expertise, there are ample opportunities to be part of protecting and conserving the natural beauty that defines the Gulf Coast.

FOR MORE INFORMATIONabout Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, please visit conservationfoundation.com or call 941.918.2100