Gulf Coast Community Foundation announces members of 2025 Leadership Institute class

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Training conducted in downtown Sarasota

The members of the Gulf Coast Leadership Institute’s 2025 class gather before their intensive leadership training begins at the Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s Sarasota Philanthropy Center. Contributed photo

The Gulf Coast Community Foundation has announced the selection of the 2025 Gulf Coast Leadership Institute class members.

Through this annual program, the Foundation “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 aspiring community leaders,” a news release explains.

Participants take part in six training sessions from May through June at Gulf Coast’s downtown Sarasota Philanthropy Center, the release notes. “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 release adds.

The participants selected for the 2025 Gulf Coast Leadership Institute are as follows:

  • Kristine Aristide, American Heart Association.
  • Jeanne Armour, Regions Mortgage.
  • Ruba Audeh, Ruba Audeh Inc.
  • Jess Blagdon,Children First.
  • Asha Campbell, Jrpreneur Brunch Inc.
  • Theresa Cusimano, JD, Project 180.
  • Dr. Essence Deming-Rivers, Deming-Rivers Social Club.
  • Ashley Foote,NAMI Sarasota/Manatee Counties.
  • Angelica Guidry, Michael Saunders & Co.
  • Bianca Harris, Harris Consulting.
  • Kristin Hoffman, All Star Children’s Foundation.
  • Amy Huddleston, Valerie’s House.
  • Angelica Hull, Arts & Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County.
  • Kristina Isaia, Safe Children Coalition — Sarasota & DeSoto counties
  • Sara Kane, Sarasota County Government.
  • Kari-Jo Koshes, DutchCrafters Amish Furniture.
  • Dana Leblanc, Safe Children Coalition.
  • Ashley Ljesevic, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast.
  • Christina Maksoud, MakSchu Productions.
  • Trish McNamee, Education Foundation of Sarasota County.
  • Joshua Mellits, Jewish National Fund-USA.
  • Dan Minor, Harvest House.
  • Taylor Neighbors, Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness.
  • Alma Ovalle, United Way Suncoast.
  • Maria Schaedler-Luera, Lifeline Productions.
  • Cassidy Statler-Hiatt, Southface Institute.
  • Belle Stikeleather, Behavioral Teaching Solutions.

Since the program’s inception in 2006, the release notes, more than 400 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, visit GulfCoastCF.org/GCLI.