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.
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