Good luck to Leadership Manatee’s Class of 2026-27.
A Manatee Chamber Foundation program in partnership with Bradenton Kiwanis, Leadership Manatee is designed to identify and cultivate emerging and established leaders after a competitive application process, then expose them to challenges and opportunities shaping life in Manatee County.
The program has more than 1,500 graduates since it began in 1982.
This class includes Audrey Abraham, One Stop Housing LLC; Ana Aristizabal, UnidosNow; Jermaine Ashley, Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County; Jackie Berkey, JP Morgan Chase; Johanna Beville, Manatee County Community Services Department; Madison Bittner, NDC Construction Company; Melissa Carman, Goodwill Manasota; Dr. Heather Crawford, Harbor Chiropractic;
Carol Czerwinski, LECOM; Steve Daniels, Leadership Performance Group LLC; Lucinda Derrick, Carr Riggs and Ingram; Chris Deshaies, Bradenton Police Department; Jake Dotson, Mosaic; and Sean Dwyer, Manatee County Public Safety.
Then there are Deb Estes, Manatee School District; Jessica Forristall, Forristall Enterprises; Greg Gilmore, Peace River Electric; Janice Gore, Mauldin and Jenkins LLC; Drena Green, Manatee County Girls Club; Sherry Harris, Cogent Bank; Kyle Hogan, Bradenton Marauders; Jamie Howell, Solve Maternity Homes; Jay Johnson, West Manatee Fire Rescue; Chrissy Kavanagh, Manatee School District; Tonya Kida, Manatee Chamber of Commerce; Morgan Kimber, Oysters Rock Hospitality; Kara Koenig, Manatee County Property Management; Lou Licata, Manatee County Sheriff's Office; and Matt Liebert, Blalock Walters, P.A.
There’s also Jen Linzy, Manatee Clerk of the Circuit Court; Colleen Maynard, MTC; Stephanie McKinnon, Terracon; Heather Nicklaus, Step Up Suncoast; Dave Norris, SouthState Bank; Jay Perez, Blooming Landscapes and Turf Management; Nikki Phelan, Concierge Financial Advisor LLC; Stephanie Pierre-Charles, Manatee County Development Services; Monica Rider, MCR Health; Maria Rodriguez-Gnos, Turning Points; Chad Rossetti, Willis Smith Construction; Sara Sasada, Manatee County Tax Collector; Joe Sicking, North River Fire District; Jamie Tracy, SCF; Annabre Veal, Waste Pro; and Erin Watson, Game On Nation.
· Amber Hatch, a fifth-grade teacher at Ballard Elementary, started her 20th year as an educator.
· That’s 32 years for Palmetto High principal Monica DeLesline.
· And Kimlyn Wilson, a third-grade teacher at Sea Breeze Elementary, has begun her 37th and final year as an educator.
· Much respect to eight RNs at Sarasota Memorial Hospital who just graduated with Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees from the Florida State University College of Nursing.
They are Katrin Diana, DNP, MSN, RN, CPHQ; Susan Fallis, DNP, MSN, RN; Georgina Farrell, DNP, MSN, RN, CPHQ; Rebecca Feeley, DNP, MSN, RN, CNOR; Lisa Hinds, DNP, MSN, RN, CCRN; Nicole McClain, DNP, MBA, MSN, RN, MRCM; Cindy Taylor, DNP, MSN, RN, CNML; and Katie Williams, DNP, MSN, RN, NEA-BC.
· Alex and Ray Morris named son RayRay’s baby brother Jacob.
· Yvonne Markiewicz is 39. Again.
· And Ellie Fuesser is 29. Again.
· Major B.G. Dixon retired after 38 years with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
· And Bryan and Summer Smith-Pope celebrated their Silver Anniversary.
Vin’s People runs Sundays. Email Vin Mannix at vinspeople@gmail.com. Or call 941-962-5944.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: VIN'S PEOPLE: Meet the new Leadership Manatee class members
