Board Announced for Sarasota Bayfront Planning Organization

The next phase of a community-driven effort to create a master plan for nearly 42 acres of city-owned land on Sarasota’s Bayfront officially begins today with the announcement of the board of directors for the Sarasota Bayfront Planning Organization.

The nine-person, all-volunteer board will provide governance and oversight of the SBPO, a newly formed entity that builds on the foundational work of the community-based Sarasota Bayfront 20:20 organization.

Over the past three years, Sarasota Bayfront 20:20 has led the establishment of the vision and guiding principles desired by the Sarasota community for development of the bayfront site. Now, the nonprofit SBPO is charged with guiding a professional, comprehensive master-planning process for this development that reflects the community’s desire for a family friendly green space that also provides an exceptional home to Sarasota’s arts and cultural organizations.

Community-led Transformation of Sarasota Bayfront

The new board members recognize the uniqueness of this opportunity to create a bayfront that reflects the Sarasota community’s values and vision. Each board member resides in the Sarasota community, and all funds needed to support the planning effort are privately raised from the community. No governmental funds are being used. 

Sarasota Bayfront 20:20 established a fund at Gulf Coast to accept charitable donations to support creation of the bayfront master plan. Donate here by selecting “Sarasota Bayfront 20:20” from the list of options.

"First-rate Team" of Directors

Board members of the Sarasota Bayfront Planning Organization are:
•    Thomas “Tom” Barwin, City Manager, City of Sarasota
•    Allen “Al” Carlson, retired President and CEO, Sun Hydraulics, and recently named regional director for University of Florida’s Innovation Station Sarasota County
•    Jennifer Compton, attorney and partner for the Sarasota office of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP
•    E. Keith DuBose, attorney and shareholder, Matthews Eastmoore law firm
•    Michael Klauber, president and founder, Michael’s on East 
•    A.G. Lafley, former CEO and chairman, Procter & Gamble
•    Robert “Rob” J. Lane, CPA, managing shareholder, Kerkering Barberio
•    Cathy Layton, retired Sarasota commercial real estate broker
•    Cynthia P. McCague, director, Pier 1 Imports, and former senior executive with Coca-Cola

According to an editorial in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune: "All of the members are high achievers and, most important, have made substantial contributions to the civic life of their communities."