Mote’s AVP of Communications accepted into Gulf Coast Leadership Institute
Stacy Alexander, Assistant Vice President for Community Relations & Communications at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, is one of 26 aspiring and experienced community leaders from across the region who were selected to participate in Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s 2016 Gulf Coast Leadership Institute.
The Gulf Coast Leadership Institute is designed to prepare the area’s current and potential leaders for the future.
The class members will take part in an intensive, two-month leadership-development program led by faculty from the nationally recognized J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development, a public service unit of the University of Georgia. Gulf Coast is providing all training and resources to participants at no cost in exchange for their commitment to use their new skills to benefit their community.
“As a community leader, I aspire to inspire others to continue to grow by doing more, learning more and becoming more,” Alexander said. “This is especially true when it comes to our marine environment. I want to educate those around me about how vital our marine resources are to our future, how we at Mote, driven by research and education, create a better environment for ourselves and our children and hopefully spark marine stewardship in our community here in Sarasota and beyond.”
Alexander is responsible for developing and managing Mote’s digital strategies, including oversight of www.mote.org, collaborative marketing and public relations campaigns for the Aquarium and Lab, and the Lab’s community relations activities. She serves as a Florida Public Relations Association board member, a Past-president of the Sarasota County Gator Club and a current member of the Communications Committee for Visit Florida. She is also a graduate of the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Class of 2012.
“I am grateful for this opportunity, and I look forward to expanding my skills and learning how to become a better leader,” Alexander said.
Since its first two classes of the North Port Leadership Institute beginning in 2006, Gulf Coast Community Foundation has expanded its program to the wider region and trained nearly 250 community members through its annual Leadership Institute.
“Leadership is the foundation of community,” said Mark Pritchett, President and CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation. “We want to empower these proactive community members with the skills and knowledge they need to help transform our region through their service.”
The other 25 participants selected for the 2016 Gulf Coast Leadership Institute are:
- Janet Buley, Financial Advisor, Wells Fargo Advisors
- Lee Hayes Byron, Sustainability Manager, Sarasota County
- Roger Capote, Director of Events, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
- Nikki Curran, Owner, Hitched and Honey, and Community Outreach Director, Mattison’s Restaurants and Catering
- Patrick Duggan, Senior Assistant General Counsel, Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office
- Stephen Fancher, Financial Advisor, Merrill Lynch
- Michael Fear, Customer Service/Outreach Coordinator, City of North Port
- Alexander Floethe, Managing Partner, S’macks Burgers & Shakes
- Megan Greenberg, Owner, semisweetness
- Lauren Hersh, Director of Donor Engagement, Sarasota Orchestra
- Carrie Hussey, Executive Director, United Way of Charlotte County
- Daniela Koci, President/CEO, Loveland Center
- Lee Kotwicki, Director of Workforce Solutions, State College of Florida
- Richard C. Lawrence, Shareholder, Williams Parker – Attorneys at Law
- Sheila Lee, Commercial Assistant, Stonegate Bank
- Edward Lin, Founder and CEO, HealO Medical, LLC
- Cornelle Maxfield, Finance Analyst, Tropicana Products
- Silvanna Medina, Banking Center Manager, Sabadell Bank & Trust
- William L. Mehserle Jr., Partner, Financial Advisor, Pinkerton Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors
- Pete Petersen, CEO, Dealers United
- Tom Rees, Project Manager, Halfacre Construction Company
- Kelly Romanoff, Projects Manager, Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation
- Chris Sharek, President, Sharek Solutions
- Rob Weiss, Financial Advisor, First Vice President, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
- Brenna Wilhm, Director of Education, Embracing Our Differences
