Gulf Coast Community Foundation has selected 24 participants from across the region for its 2019 Gulf Coast Leadership Institute. The class members will take part in seven training sessions from late April through late June, conducted by the Leadership Development Institute of Eckerd College. Gulf Coast provides all training and resources at no cost to participants in exchange for their commitment to use their new skills to benefit the community. The 24 participants selected for the 2019 Gulf Coast Leadership Institute include: Olympia Baylou, founder of Blooming Impressions FL; Nicole Britton, director of development for The Twig Cares; Gregory Cruz, field director for GRSG Company; Michele Demperio, director of business development for Sweet Sparkman Architects; Alyssa Goudy, production manager for The Players Centre for Performing Arts, Kathy Jordan, director of major gifst for WUSF Public Media, Jessie Lapek, center director for Pregnancy Solutions, Mary Ellen Mancini, director of development for Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center; Mark Smith, director of marketing at The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art; and more.

This is the 12th year of Gulf Coast Leadership Institute, which was preceded by two classes of the foundation’s North Port Leadership Institute. In all, more than 300 community members have completed the training provided through this leadership-development initiative.

Gulf Coast Leadership Institute