Welcoming the 2025 Gulf Coast Leadership Institute Class

Gulf Coast Community Foundation (Gulf Coast) is pleased to announce the selection of the 2025 Gulf Coast Leadership Institute. Through this annual program, Gulf Coast partners with the Leadership Development Institute of Eckerd College to provide intensive, high-quality leadership training designed to identify, develop, and connect a diverse and growing group of aspiring community leaders.

Participants take part in six training sessions from May through June at Gulf Coast’s downtown Sarasota Philanthropy Center. The result is a network of skilled, action-oriented leaders who are committed to using their new skills to help transform their communities through service.

The participants selected for the 2025 Gulf Coast Leadership Institute are:

Kristine Aristide, American Heart Association

Jeanne Armour, Regions Mortgage

Ruba Audeh, Ruba Audeh Inc.

Jess Blagdon, Children First

Asha Campbell, Jrpreneur Brunch Inc.

Theresa Cusimano, JD, Project 180

Dr. Essence Deming-Rivers, Deming-Rivers Social Club

Ashley Foote, NAMI Sarasota/Manatee Counties

Angelica Guidry, Michael Saunders & Co.

Bianca Harris, Harris Consulting

Kristin Hoffman, Ph.D, All Star Children's Foundation

Amy Huddleston, Valerie's House

Angelica Hull, Arts & Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County

Kristina Isaia, Safe Children Coalition - Sarasota & DeSoto Counties

Sara Kane, Sarasota County

Kari-Jo Koshes, DutchCrafters Amish Furniture

Dana Leblanc, The Safe Children Coalition

Ashley Ljesevic, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast

Christina Maksoud, MakSchu Productions

Trish McNamee, Education Foundation of Sarasota County

Joshua Mellits, Jewish National Fund - USA

Dan Minor, Harvest House

Taylor Neighbors, Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness

Alma Ovalle, United Way Suncoast

Maria Schaedler-Luera, Lifeline Productions

Cassidy Statler-Hiatt, Southface Institute

Belle Stikeleather, Behavioral Teaching Solutions

Since the program’s inception in 2006, over 400 community members have completed the training, and many continue to work together on civic initiatives and community improvement projects.

For more information on the program, please visit GulfCoastCF.org/GCLI.