Gulf Coast Community Foundation (Gulf Coast) is pleased to announce the selection of the 2026 Gulf Coast Leadership Institute (GCLI).
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 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 2026 Gulf Coast Leadership Institute are:
- Rolanda Antoine, The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
- Carolina Bartolomei, Children First, Inc.
- Mary Butler, Newtown Business Council
- Nafi Cunningham, Empath Tidewell Hospice
- Erin Elsenheimer, City of North Port
- Melissa Ferlazzo, Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center (SPARCC)
- Iylin Agovida-Flock, Filipino American Society, Inc. DMSI
- Kassidy Gardner, Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation
- Dr. Leslie F. Harrell, Truly Valued, Inc
- Allison Imre, Grapevine Communications
- Shelby Isaacson, Typus Group LLC
- Ronica Anise Jackson, Town of Longboat Key
- Branan Jacobs, MagnifyGood
- Jamie Kattrein, Girls Inc. of Sarasota County
- Rob Kehs, SRQ VETS Inc
- Ebony King, Access Granted Now and the Téa Bayonne Choates Foundation - Girl, LIVE!
- Hollie Mowry, Sarasota Orchestra
- Patty Murray, Lightspeed Voice
- Autumn Solomon-Phillips, FlowPartner LLC
- Rebekah Prieto, Parenting Matters
- David Paniagua, Literacy Council of Sarasota
- Doricha Sales, The Sarasota Ballet
- Mikhail A. Scott, Indelible
- Saara Ullery, Awakened Wellness Experience
- Samantha Wassmer, Suncoast Waterkeeper
Since the program’s inception in 2006, over 425 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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