Three Gulf Coast Community Foundation (Gulf Coast) staff members were recently selected for both regional and national leadership programs. Erin Minor, Vice President, Community Leadership, has been announced as part of the 2026-27 cohort of CFLeads’ Executive Leadership Institute (ELI) for VPs. The year-long learning opportunity focuses exclusively on building skills and exchanging ideas with peers in the national community leadership space. Elizabeth Welch, J.D., Director, Professional Advisor Relationships, was named to Leadership Venice’s 2026 class by the Venice Area Chamber of Commerce, and Jess Blagdon, Grants and Evaluation Officer, was selected for Leadership Sarasota’s 2027 class by the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce. Both of these chamber-run programs are designed to deepen participants’ understanding of their communities, connect them with local leaders, and strengthen their ability to serve as engaged community partners.