Leadership Sarasota
Engaging, Developing, and Inspiring Community Leaders
Adult Leadership
Program Overview:
Leadership Sarasota, a program of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, offers an opportunity for those enthusiastic about and interested in the leadership and welfare of our community to go behind the scenes and see “how things work”. It is a chance to meet new people, make solid life-long friendships, and experience networking opportunities that might not otherwise be available.
It is about growth – growth in leadership and teamwork skills, and growth in both personal and professional self. Interactions and face-to-face discussions with community leaders, stimulate creative thinking and encourage class members to become more involved. The class adopts a class project leaving a lasting impact in the community.
Program Objectives:
- To identify and inspire future and current community leaders
- To develop leadership skills and qualities of participants through in-depth views of the county
- To stimulate communication among present and future leaders
- To assist those already in leadership roles to increase their access to additional positions of community leadership in an informed and responsible manner
- To motivate and encourage participants to assume leadership roles in community affairs
Class of 2027:
Kimberly Allison, Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation
Victoria Avila, HBKS Wealth Advisors
Liz Barker, School Board of Sarasota County
Jess Blagdon, Gulf Coast Community Foundation
Connie Boros, Humane Society of Sarasota County
Candy Brooks, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Carey, Tandem Construction
Jackie Carlson, SunCoast Blood Center
Casey Carter, Elling Eide Center Research Library and Preserve
John Chopka, Ringling College of Art and Design
Ashley Cole, Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP
Luke Darnell, Kerkering, Barberio & Co.
Christopher (Chris) Denise, Four Winds IT
Karla Detert, Atlas Insurance
Grier Ferguson, Church of the Redeemer
Mya Giles, Tommy's Express Holdings
Suzanne Hackman, Visit Sarasota County
Trey Hammett, The Bay Park Conservancy
Matt Hess, Gulfside Bank
Kevin Huebschman, PNC Bank
Jessica Janota, CBIZ CPAs P.C.
Fayth Jenkins, Innovation Academy SRQ
Trevor Johnson, Williams Parker
Sage Kamiya, City of Sarasota
Elizabeth Karp Hauser, Arthur S. Karp Family Foundation
Yulia Kuzenko, Merrill Lynch/Bank of America
Annie Landry, BoaLytics LLC
Melissa Laughlin, Rosemary District Association
LaShawn'te Lee, Children First, Inc.
Amy Leithauser, Gecko's Hospitality Group
Bradford Lemmons, Sarasota Memorial Health Care System
Bethany Lynch, American Cancer Society
Madeline Mangas, State College of Florida
Jillian McClure, Drybar Sarasota
Gary Meskil, Titan Placement Group
Diego Milara, Willis Smith Construction
Chris Miller, PCS Florida
Michael Moench, Keiser University
Brian Morrison, Sarasota Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller
Alyssa (Ali) Orme, Caldwell Trust Company
Jessica Polk, Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation
Nicole Rissler, Sarasota County Government
Marianne Sibille, Beetle Eye LLC
Anastasia Stefanou, Stefanou Law, PLLC
Melissa Warthen, The Pops Orchestra Bradenton and Sarasota
Leah West, Icard Merrill Cullis Timm Furen & Ginsburg, P.A.
Jessie Wilson, Wharton Smith Inc.
Cameron Wilson, Ian Black Real Estate
Candace Yaeger, The Rotary Club of Sarasota
Andrew Zimmerman, Regions Bank
Leadership Sarasota is...
"Where you want to be"
-Philip Tavill,
Class of 1993, Adult Leadership Chair for the Class of 2022
Jamie Kahns, Bank of America
William Skaggs, The Players Centre for Performing Arts
Lucia Panica, City of Sarasota
Thomas Williams, Education Foundation of Sarasota County - PLANit Sarasota
Youth Leadership
Program Overview:
Youth Leadership, a program of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, is an exciting and educational experience for rising high school juniors and seniors. Students learn about the diversity and complexities of the community accomplished through participation in a nine-month, structured experiential program that meets once a month during school hours, all while earning community service hours.
Students are encouraged to review their course load when deciding to apply for the Youth Leadership program as acceptance into the class means that attendance is mandatory.
Program Objectives:
- Identify rising high school juniors and seniors who are leaders or have demonstrated leadership potential.
- Give young people the knowledge, tools and contacts to create successful leaders.
- Instill and nurture a sense of social responsibility in our youth.
- Offer a forum for young leaders to express their needs, goals and opinions.
- Explore the diverse facets of Sarasota's social, government and business environments.
- Provide participants a chance to serve their community.
- Present young leaders with a rewarding and fun experience while exploring career options in the Sarasota area.
- This program is about the youths learning about their county and community in hopes that they stay in Sarasota and consider it as their future home.
Youth Leadership Class of 2026:
Neil Acharya, Pine View School
Christian Barrett, Pine View School
Clara Bloodworth, The Out-of-Door Academy
Boone Callaway, Riverview High School
Jackson Chapman, Sarasota High School
Kenley Crowley, Sarasota High School
Maddie Danko, Lakewood Ranch High School
Sophie Duell, The Out-of-Door Academy
Garrett Emrich, Sarasota Christian School
Kate Gingras, Riverview High School
Matthew Grajkowski, Venice High School
Parker Green, Booker High School
Kate Grosso, Riverview High School
Harper Hayworth, Riverview High School
Lillian Hersh, Riverview High School
Alex Karanjai, Pine View School
Ethan Kelty, Riverview High School
Liz Khodzhaieva, Pine View School
Selby Kirschner, Sarasota High School
Sarah Latta, Sarasota High School
Carsyn LeBlanc, Riverview High School
Jason Leek, Nelson Private
Maddie Lessig, Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School
Jack Lu, Pine View School
Liam McKay, Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School
Gabe Mehlum, Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School
Stella Misantone, Riverview High School
Aleana Moats, Palmetto High School
Brock Morgan, Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School
Lorenzo Olivieri, The Classical Academy of Sarasota
Will Piazza, Riverview High School
Leah Ramlackhan, Sarasota High School
Matthew Ray, Booker High School
Calista Ream, Pine View School
Chloe Steinhoff, Riverview High School
Bennett Stencik, Riverview High School
Emma Stovall, Sarasota High School
Maddy Taylor, Sarasota High School
Reef Teffenhart, Pine View School
Claire Toale, Sarasota High School
Savannah Torres, Sarasota High School
Nicole Trauger, Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School
Grant Troyer, Riverview High School
Savanna Vest, Booker High School
Kiona Wehlage, Pine View School
Sam Winship, Riverview High School
Oliver Woodbury, Suncoast Polytechnical High School
Youth Leadership is...
"Creating the future"
-Hilton Hudson,
Graduate of Youth Leadership Class of 2021
Rafeh K
Ella S
Engage Sarasota
Engage Sarasota is officially LIVE! 🎉 Registration is now open for this dynamic community orientation program designed for professionals eager to build meaningful business and civic connections while gaining a deeper understanding of the greater Sarasota community.
As a smaller, less time-intensive version of Leadership Sarasota, Engage Sarasota offers a valuable opportunity to connect with local leaders, broaden your community knowledge, and strengthen your network — all with a minimal investment of time and cost.
Through a monthly luncheon series, participants will explore the topics shaping our region, including healthcare, higher education, government, media, arts & culture, and economic development.
Program dates (Wednesdays, 12–1 PM):
• September 16 – Welcome Orientation
• October 21 – Healthcare Today and Tomorrow
• November 18 – Arts & Culture
• December 16 – Media Mania
• January 20 – Judging Today’s Court System
• February 17 – Higher Education
• March 17 – Constitutional Officers
• April 21 – Government Day
• May 19 – Economic Update
Program Overview:
Engage Sarasota is a community orientation program for executives and residents who are eager to establish business and civic relationships, meet area leaders, and want to fast-track their knowledge about the inner working of greater Sarasota – all with a minimum investment of time and money.
Participants Will:
- Broaden their working knowledge and understanding of the community via a monthly luncheon series with targeted topics at each program.
- Acquaint themselves with formal and informal decision-making channels and local leaders - the people who make things happen.
- Connect topics and meet people who will enrich their lives as business persons and residents.
"The Engage Sarasota Program ...
offers extremely valuable information from a wide variety of community sectors in a time efficient manner. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to more know about (or become more involved in) our community. Your Sarasota pride will greatly increase if you participate!"
-Tim Self,
Gulfside Bank
Leadership Alumni
Celebrate Outstanding Leadership Awards (COL):
Join us for our Celebrating Outstanding Leadership Awards on Wednesday, August 5, as we recognize exceptional Leadership Sarasota alumni whose leadership, service, and dedication have made a lasting impact on our community.
This annual event honors alumni in three distinguished categories:
• Lifetime of Leadership Award – Recognizing an individual whose career, community involvement, and lifelong commitment to leadership have left a lasting legacy.
• Impact in Action Award – Celebrating a leader who is currently driving meaningful change and making a significant impact in our community.
• Leadership Sarasota Dedication Award – Honoring an alumnus whose ongoing commitment and service have strengthened the Leadership Sarasota program.
NEW THIS YEAR: We are expanding our recognition of community leadership with two additional awards:
• Civic Champion Award – Recognizing an individual dedicated to serving the community through leadership in education, government, or the public sector.
• Community Catalyst Award – Honoring an individual whose philanthropy, volunteerism, and commitment to giving back have made a meaningful difference in the Sarasota community.
Please Note: Unlike the alumni awards, nominees for these two new categories do not need to be Leadership Sarasota graduates, allowing us to recognize exceptional leaders from across the broader community.
Know someone whose leadership is shaping Sarasota’s future—or feel inspired to nominate yourself? We encourage you to submit a nomination and help us celebrate those making a difference.
Nominations are open through June 22, 2026!
Last Year's Honorees:
Update Your Information:
Leadership Sarasota continues to update its alumni contact database for each class. Please take a moment to update your information, including a personal email and phone number to ensure we can stay connected if your employment or business details change.
All information provided will remain confidential and will only be shared with the Sarasota Chamber.
Insight Into Leadership Sarasota
Discover the profound impact of our Leadership Program through the voices of past alums! Hear firsthand accounts of how this transformative experience shaped their leadership journeys and left a lasting mark.
Thank You To Our Annual Sponsors
