Adult Leadership

Building Today's Leaders.

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

Applications are now closed. Please contact Sara Rachon for more information. Leadership Sarasota accepts applications from a diverse group of candidates including business leaders, professionals and academics, directors and staff of community service organizations and civic associations, managers from government agencies and community servants. 40-50 candidates are selected each year. Leadership Sarasota has over 1000 graduates.

CLASS OF 2023

Richeal Bair, Observer Media Group
Travis Barrows, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties
Heidi Bennington, Fifth Third Bank
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 Erdmann, 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

Leadership Sarasota is...

"Where you want to be"

-Philip Tavill,
Class of 1993, Adult Leadership Chair for the Class of 2022

Hear from participants of this year's class!

Jamie Kahns, Bank of America

Lucia Panica, City of Sarasota

William Skaggs, The Players Centre for Performing Arts

Thomas Williams, Education Foundation of Sarasota County- PLANit Sarasota