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

The application period for the 2023-2024 Leadership Sarasota Class has closed.

CLASS OF 2024

Evan Ackerman, Children First
Ariane Beauchamp, Child Protection Center, Inc.
Katrina Bing, Around the Way Transportation
Nick Bobbitt, Purmort & Martin Insurance Agency, LLC
Dylan Borden, Four Winds IT
Ev Bosque, Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation
Jill Bowen, Berlin Patten Ebling, PLLC
Rhonda Calahan, Queens of Domestic Violence Awareness Inc.
David Carey, Willis Smith Construction, Inc.
Will Chase, HBKS Wealth Advisors
Leona Collesano, CAN Community Health
Mike Dumer, Sarasota County Government
Sarah Firstenberger, Community Foundation of Sarasota County
Rodney Ford, Coca-Cola Beverages Florida
Jess Fronckowiak, J2 Solutions, Inc.
Jason Good, Ringling College of Art and Design
Jill Grinnell, Town Square Sarasota
Jane Grogg, Sarasota County Government
Tyler Hagan, Day Hagan Asset Management
Ken Hargreaves, WealthGen Advisors
Clovia Harris, C&D Homemaker & Companion Service
David Heedy, Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP
Erin Hentrich, Kerkering, Barberio & Co.
Kimbrell Hines, Williams Parker Attorneys at Law
Michael Iltis, Iltis Lending Group, Inc.
Gabriela Kaniuga, Tandem Construction

Alison Kanter, El Tropicale Vacation Rentals
Sarah Lyons, S.Ly Architecture
Christina Maksoud, MakSchu LLC
Dara Mazzola, Northwestern Mutual
Melissa McCoy, Sarasota Ballet of Florida, Inc.
Adrian McPherson, RI5E Sports Performance
Jamie Miller, Innovative Advertising
Chip Murphy, Michael Saunders & Company
Marrie Neumer, USF Sarasota - Manatee
Caroline Nigro, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota
and DeSoto Counties
Meghan O'Connell, Icard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm,
Furen & Ginsburg, P.A.
Jacquelyn O'Shaughnessy, HarborChase of Sarasota
Nicole Parker, Bank of America/Merrill Lynch
Veronica Perrelli, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
Jenn Poppen, SouthState Bank
Kris Pritchard, Simple Network Consulting
Dan Sidler, The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce
Gareth Stevenson, RITE Technology
Teal Strammer, HBK CPAs & Consultants
Veronica Thames, Manatee Community Foundation
Elizabeth Topp, Child Protection Center, Inc.
Wendy Walsh, Regions Bank - Southgate
Cameron Watt, Sarasota Memorial Health Care System
Michael Williams, Tweeds Custom Suits

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