Twenty Complete Summer 2018 Gulf Coast Board Institute

Twenty volunteer board members with nonprofit organizations across the Gulf Coast region have completed the Summer 2018 Gulf Coast Board Institute.

The participants took part in four full-day, interactive educational experiences that covered key nonprofit board governance topics and issues. The class completed its final session and celebrated its graduation on Friday, August 3.

"I could not be happier with my experience at the Gulf Coast Board Institute," said Jeff Kattrein, who serves on the board of the Sarasota Young Professionals Group. "The institute has helped me to think differently about my role on the the board and has armed me with a number of ideas that will immediately improve our organization."

Gulf Coast Board Institute provides high-level board-governance training for new and veteran nonprofit board members. The Board Institute was created and is funded by Gulf Coast Community Foundation as part of its focus on building a vital nonprofit community with the capacity to respond to emerging issues. All training and resources are provided at no cost to participants in exchange for their commitment to advocate for good board governance within current and future board service roles. 

“Good board governance is the foundation of a strong and impactful nonprofit organization,” said Dr. Mark S. Pritchett, President|CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation. “This training leverages the grants and other investments that Gulf Coast makes in our nonprofit partners to support their critical work in our region.”

Gulf Coast will offer the next session of its Board Institute in October. Applications for the Fall 2018 Board Institute are now available. The deadline to submit a completed application is August 24.

"I strongly recommend that anyone who aims to improve our community through nonprofit board service participate—both you and the organization you serve will benefit immensely," added Kattrein.

These 20 board members completed the Summer 2018 Gulf Coast Board Institute:

•    Judith Braham, Sertoma Club of Venice; Gulfcoast Women in Networking

•    Cathy Bryant, Action Together Suncoast

•    Charles Denton, Family Promise of South Sarasota County

•    Pascale Edouard, Gulfcoast South Area Health Education Center; Manatee Bridging the Gap

•    Francine Goldberg, ALSO Youth

•    Gigi Huberman, Asolo Repertory Theatre; Jewish Family and Children’s Service of the Suncoast

•    Laurie Huebner, Loveland Village

•    Debra Jones, NAMI Sarasota County

•    Jeff Kattrein, Sarasota Young Professionals Group

•    Lisa Krebs Knepp, Meals on Wheels of Sarasota

•    Lisl Liang, Education Foundation of Sarasota County; Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce 

•    Jean Martin, Ringling College of Art and Design

•    Larry Patton, Venice Chorale; Key Chorale

•    Alicia King Robinson, Rotary Futures College Resource Center; The Venice Symphony

•    Mary Smedley, Englewood Florida Chamber of Commerce 

•    Daniel Smith, Sarasota County Aging Network

•    Patrick Walker, Truly Valued

•    Tom Walker, WSLR; Florida Consumer Action Network

•    Christopher Wilson, Sarasota Architectural Foundation

•    Keenan Wooten, Manatee Community Action Agency; Learn to Fish; Manatee Community Federal Credit Union