Announcing Team Growth

We are proud to announce the promotion of Kelly Borgia to Director of Brand Engagement, the selection of Carol Martin Brown, MBA, CPA as Chief Financial Officer, and the addition of Emily Joslin as Philanthropic Advisor.

“Kelly, Carol, and Emily bring unique strengths and community insight to fuel exceptional donor experiences and deepened community impact. I am excited about our team members in their new roles at Gulf Coast Community Foundation, as the qualities and experiences that Kelly, Carol, and Emily bring will benefit our community and Foundation for years to come. With our dynamic and dedicated team, we are fully prepared to deliver outstanding support to our donors and the community we serve," said Gulf Coast’s President | CEO Phillip Lanham.

Borgia joined our team in 2018 after working for 10 years at Asolo Repertory Theatre as their Production Stage Manager. In her six-plus-year career at Gulf Coast, Borgia has served as a Philanthropic Administrator on the Philanthropy Team, Strategic Engagement Manager on the Brand Strategy and Experience Team, and as of July 2024, she has now been promoted to Director of Brand Engagement. In her new role, Borgia will oversee our strategic communication efforts, ensuring alignment with the our goals and enhancing brand visibility and loyalty. She will manage partnerships, coordinate major grants, and lead event planning.

“From establishing impactful relationships with our phenomenal donors, to playing a significant role on the Brand Strategy and Experience Team, I am thrilled Gulf Coast has given me this opportunity, recognizing my commitment to our mission to transform our region through bold and proactive philanthropy,” shared Borgia. “Gulf Coast invests in continuing education and encourages professional growth for its employees, and that is an invaluable investment for emerging leaders.”

Martin Brown, a certified public accountant, joins the team with 30 years of financial leadership experience in the social sector and investments industry, most recently spending six years at the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg as their Chief Financial and Administrative Officer. She was also Chief Financial Officer for Innovative Education at the University of South Florida, Transamerica Fund Advisors, and The New Teacher Project, a national nonprofit based in Brooklyn, New York. Early in her career, she worked in Big Four accounting at Ernst & Young in New York with financial service clients, and in financial management roles at Morgan Stanley Trust Company and J.P. Morgan Chase Investor Services. She is passionate about Gulf Coast’s mission-driven work and making a meaningful impact in the community. In her new role, Martin Brown will work with the Board and staff to create and monitor policies that strengthen our Foundation, its investment portfolio, its spending, and its internal controls, providing key information to inform our future.

Joslin joined the team in August 2024 after serving as Associate Director of Development for the Circle Program at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, overseeing the museum’s highest level of membership, developing relationships with donors, and offering unique stewardship experiences over the last two years. A senior-level executive with 25 plus years of experience in finance, philanthropy, marketing, and media, she works directly with donors to realize their philanthropic goals and maximize their impact in her Gulf Coast Philanthropic Advisor role. Prior to moving to Sarasota, she worked in New York City, leading marketing strategies and creating bespoke programs for ultra-high-net-worth clients at UBS Financial Services, Barclays PLC, and Lehman Brothers. She also founded her own children's philanthropy program, Compass Kids, that engaged over 200 children and raised over $250,000 for local organizations serving children and animals in New York, which led the Robin Hood Foundation, New York City’s largest poverty-fighting organization, to consult with her to create Robin Hood Kids. Robin Hood Kids is a unique philanthropy program for families with children ages 4-12 that is currently running successfully as a part of Robin Hood’s Family Philanthropy offerings. Joslin’s extensive experience working with philanthropists and her ability to create unique opportunities that speak directly to their passions make her an exciting fit for our team and our donors.