Meet the Team

The Board

Chair

Jennifer Compton

Jennifer Compton is Attorney and Managing Partner for the Sarasota office of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP, a national business law firm with more than 240 attorneys, with focus in employment law, counseling, and litigation. She is a lifelong Sarasota resident and serves on the board and executive committee of The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, acting as their legal counsel. She’s also chair of Girls Inc. of Sarasota County.

Treasurer

Robert Lane

Robert “Rob” J. Lane is a CPA and Managing Shareholder of Kerkering Barberio. His practice areas include Audit, Advisory, and Assurance, Enterprise Risk Management, Nonprofit Organization Services and Succession Planning. He is responsible for audits and reviews of entities such as nonprofit organizations, general contractors, and manufacturers.

Secretary

Emily Walsh

Emily Walsh is publisher of Observers – East County Observer, Longboat Observer, Sarasota Observer, Siesta Key Observer, Season magazine, LWR Life magazine and YourObserver.com. She leads the company’s overall digital strategy and operations. She has also been active in the community, most notably as a chair of fundraising events for nonprofit charities.

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Ex-Officio

Kyle Battie

Kyle Scott Battie grew up in District 1 and graduated from Sarasota High School. He has a long family history in the community. His mother, Mrs. A Jean Battie taught in the Sarasota County School System for thirty (30) years and His father Henry “Hank” Battie, was, at the time, one of the few African American entrepreneurs to establish a business downtown Sarasota at the old Quay. Growing up around his father’s shop and later working in hospitality, Kyle Battie learned firsthand the challenges facing local business owners and working families in the city of Sarasota. Kyle Battie moved back to Sarasota eight years ago and now he hosts a local television show on ABC 7, while striving to make a difference in District 1.

Board Member

Ian Black

Ian Black, CCIM, has been a prominent fixture in the Sarasota-Manatee real estate market since the early 1980s. He founded Ian Black Real Estate, a commercial real estate services firm based in Sarasota, in 2003. Local real estate developers respect Ian’s creativity and integrity in the real estate business, as well as his commitment to the betterment of the community. Those qualities have earned Ian some of the most prestigious brokerage assignments in the area. He is also very active in the community and serves on the board of directors for the Sarasota African-American Cultural Coalition and the Sarasota Chamber.

Ex-Officio

Steve Botelho

Steve Botelho, ICMA-CM, serves as Deputy County Administrator and Chief Financial Management Officer for Sarasota County Government. Botelho joined Sarasota County Government in 2005 as a debt analyst and later became the Budget Director. In 2012 he became the county’s Chief Financial Management Officer, a position he continued to hold when he was appointed Assistant County Administrator in March 2014.Botelho is a Credentialed Manager (ICMA) and a full member in good standing with that association. Under his management, Sarasota County continued to be recognized with the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award which is the award is the highest professional recognition in governmental budgeting and is presented by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA).Botelho, a 1999 graduate of the University of South Florida, began his financial career as an advisor with the global financial services firm Morgan Stanley. During his tenure with the firm, Botelho earned various financial accreditations and licenses. Botelho has called Sarasota home since 1993.

Board Member

Carlos de Quesada

Continuing his 25+ years of business, managerial, and finance work, in October 2011, Carlos de Quesada founded Vera Cruz Advisory, LLC focused on providing financial advisory and strategic consulting services. It serves nonprofits by providing financial business practice consulting and implementation support.

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Board Member

Keith DuBose

Keith Dubose is an attorney and shareholder with the Matthews Eastmoore law firm. He’s involved in many areas of practice the law firm including personal injury, professional malpractice, and commercial litigation. As a lifelong Sarasota resident, Keith is active in our community and champions programs benefiting youth, especially early childhood school readiness.

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Board Member

Tony Gamelin

Gamelin is a seasoned finance and accounting executive with a broad base of experience and the ability to balance goals, strategies, and operating budgets with best-in-class execution.

For over 25 years, Gamelin has performed CFO-level services with non-profit and private companies across a wide range of industries including retail, construction and professional services. Tony also served as CFO at Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

Tony currently serves as a board member and finance committee chair of the Safe Children Coalition. He volunteers his time as a Bridge A Life co-founder and team leader for a long-term ministry and humanitarian project in Uganda.

Board Member

Charles Hines

Charles has been practicing law in Sarasota County since 1990, and in addition to his legal background, he has owned a regional medical supply company in Southwest Florida, and has served on the Sarasota County Commission since 2012, (twice as its Chairman). Charles has also served on the West Coast Inland Navigation District, a four-county special taxing district, (twice as its Chairman). Since 2012, he has been an active member of the Florida Association of Counties, (a State-wide organization), serving in various leadership roles, on its Board of Directors and on multiple advisory committees.

Charles has demonstrated strong leadership skills and the ability to build consensus among his peers and colleagues in order to accomplish significant projects and policy changes benefitting the residents of Sarasota County and his clients. He has shown logical and creative thinking toward issues affecting his legal clients, his personal business interests, Sarasota County and the State of Florida. For 30 years he has served his community through volunteering his expertise with multiple non-profits and civic organizations. He has been recognized for his management abilities and strategic contributions, and several times has been tasked with bringing an organization out of significant financial difficulties to again prosper and contribute to improving the community.

Charles was elected to County Commission in 2012, and won his next term in 2016 without political opposition. He has helped lead and set policy for Sarasota County, which has approximately 2,300 employees, a budget of over One Billion dollars, and a population of more than 417,000 residents. In addition, he has served as a Board Member on the following regional organizations: Gulf Coast Consortium – BP Oil Spill/Restore Act, Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, Southwest Regional Planning Council, Charlotte Harbor Estuary Program, and the Sarasota/Manatee County Metropolitan Planning Organization.

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Board Member

Jeff Jackson

Jeff Jackson is President and CEO of PGT Innovations, a leading manufacturer of premium windows and doors. Jeff is a Certified Public Accountant with prior management experience at The Hershey Company, Coca-Cola, and KPMG, among others. Jeff is a committed community advocate and serves as Board Chair for the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority. Jeff and the PGT Innovations team are helping end human trafficking in the state of Florida.

Board Member

Jennifer Jorgensen

Jennifer Jorgensen is currently the City of Sarasota Governmental Relations Manager. She previously worked for the Walt Disney Company as Manager, Vendor Management and Business Affairs Manager. Jennifer has her Juris Doctor from the University of Nebraska. She also worked as Legal Counsel and Lobbyist for the Nebraska School Board Association and held various leadership and fundraising positions in higher education and the non-profit sector.

Board Member

Michael Klauber

Michael Klauber is President and Founder of Michael’s on East. As an almost 50-year resident of Sarasota, Michael is a seasoned, award-winning restaurateur and wine professional experience in the hospitality industry, real estate, financial management, and community outreach.

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Board Member

Mark Pritchett

Mark is known throughout Florida as a respected leader in business, philanthropy, and public policy.  For over thirty years, Mark has worked with governors, CEOs and philanthropists to advance Florida into a future that provides opportunities for everyone.  Most recently, he retired as President/ CEO at Gulf Coast Community Foundation where he led his team to record philanthropic giving and granting while successfully executing initiatives that will transform the greater Sarasota region for generations.  As an early proponent of The Bay, Mark is excited to serve on the board and continue his support for this beautiful park for all.

Board Member

Leslie Turner

Leslie is a board member for Ohio-based FirstEnergy Corporation. She recently retired as Senior Vice-President and General Counsel for The Hershey Company and previously held the position of General Counsel for Coca-Cola North America. Her 30 plus years of experience in strategic planning, multi-stakeholder considerations and collaborative decision-making include her tenure as a Washington D.C. based law partner and a U.S. Senate confirmed appointee at the U.S. Department of the Interior under then-Secretary Bruce Babbitt. Deeply committed to developing the pipeline of diverse leaders, Leslie’s board service includes Georgetown University, Georgetown University Law Center, and the HBCU Stillman College. Previous board participation includes the next generation leadership work of the Student Conservation Association, the social justice initiatives of Georgia Appleseed and the equity and fairness work of the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs. Active in the community where she resides, Leslie is a founding member of the local Sarasota nonprofit, Impact 100SRQ and provided advisory support to another local nonprofit, Miracle Swimming.

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The Team

Founding CEO

A.G. Lafley

A.G. Lafley is the Founding CEO of the Bay Park Conservancy.

Lafley is the former CEO and Chairman of Procter & Gamble. Today, he advises CEOs on business and innovation strategy. He serves on several Start-up boards.

While his primary interest is business, Lafley shifted his personal leadership attention to private/ public partnerships to accomplish major civic goals. In Cincinnati, Lafley chaired Cincinnati Center City Development Corp (3CDC) from inception in 2004 until 2010. Over the past 20 years, 3CDC has invested $2.5 billion in the redevelopment of the downtown area.

In 2016, Lafley joined the planning effort to transform 53-acres of city-owned land on Sarasota Bay into a signature public park. Today, Lafley leads the team that designs, develops, manages, operates and programs the park known as “The Bay.”

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Chief Financial Officer

Steve Germaine

Steve is the Chief Financial Officer for The Bay team. He is a well-rounded finance and accounting executive who has the ability to integrate organizational goals and strategies with operating budgets resulting in world-class execution. For the past 20 years he has served as Controller and then VP Finance/CFO of the largest division of Timex Corporation. His prior financial experience was with both large and midsize publicly and privately held companies in various manufacturing sectors. He also has served as the Treasurer for various non-profit organizations throughout his life which have supported children, college athletics, church and community.

Senior Human Resources Consultant

Ron Hamilton

Ron Hamilton is the Human Resources Consultant for The Bay team. He is a former HR executive at a Fortune 500 financial services company. He has also been a HR Consultant for over 20 years working with large international companies, as well as smaller non-profits like Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee and Jewish Family and Children Services. Ron is an Adjunct Professor at Webster University.

Director of Operations

Derick Kitson

Derick Kitson is the Director of Park Operations responsible for managing, maintaining and expanding everything relating to park operations. Derick holds an extensive professional background in the execution of entertainment events from the production side as well as the operational side. 

Kitson, a certified Facility Management Professional, spent the last eight years working with the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall as Director of Technical Production & Facility Manager and later as General Manager. During that time, Kitson managed all operations and oversaw facilities, technical and production, safety and security, patron relations, IT, and risk management. 

Director of Advancement

Trey Hammett

Trey Hammett is the Director of Advancement responsible for leading fundraising efforts with foundation partners, major donors, the business community and friends whose support enable The Bay park to be kept in tip-top shape and provide programming that is free and welcoming, open and accessible to all. After a long career in Atlanta, Trey, a Venice native, has returned home now residing in Sarasota. He has a background in business and organizational development, particularly with large community organizations, such as the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, the NFL and the PGA Tour.  In his spare time Trey continues to volunteer with several non-profit causes benefiting education and Alzheimer’s research.  As a recovering competitive golfer, he loves staying involved with game and serves as Vice Chairman of The Tour Championship at historic East Lake Golf Club.

Director of Park Guest Experience

Diana Shaheen

Diana is the Director of Park Guest Experience. She puts her two-plus-decade career at Procter & Gamble to work at The Bay as she and her team curate 600+ free events in the park every year and create engaging marketing and communications that bring The Bay brand to life and bring people of all ages and backgrounds to the park again and again.

Activation & Programming Manager

Frances Bermudez

Frances joins the Bay Park Conservancy Team as part of the Activation Team aiming to elevate park goers’ experience and exceed their expectations. Her career includes over 10 years of experience serving the public as part of Sarasota County government in the civic space of public libraries; Potomac Overlook Park in Arlington, Virginia, and The Conservatory Park in Manatee County.
Having recently earned her master’s degree in Public Administration with an interest in Public-Private-Partnerships, Frances considers the Bay Park’s extensive collaboration between the visionary citizens of Sarasota, the city, the County, and local philanthropy to be exemplary – a model for enhancing communities.
“It is the deliberate attention, emphasis, and prioritization of listening to the voices of the community that has led us to realize Phase I’s Common Ground, Civic Green, the ecological restoration and enhancement of the Mangrove bayou. And that is just the beginning of this beautiful park we call The Bay. There is so much more to come!”

Rentals & Programming Manager

John Ochoa

John Ochoa is the Rentals & Programming Manager for the Bay Park Conservancy, bringing over 5 years of experience in Parks & Recreation and Special Events from his previous roles with the City of Sarasota. With a background in public service and strong customer service skills, he aims to create a unique and seamless experience for customers interested in hosting events at the park’s diverse and historic venues. Additionally, Ochoa will contribute to activating The Bay and collaborate with staff to plan and execute signature events, welcoming activities, and free community programs.

Digital Communications Manager

Sydney Baulier

Sydney Baulier is the Digital Communications Manager overseeing The Bay’s digital communication channels and ensuring a cohesive and engaging presence through social media, email campaigns, and other platforms to ensure current and future park guests are informed, excited and up-to-date on what’s happening at The Bay.  Originally from Texas, she graduated from The University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, moved to Sarasota for the beautiful beaches, and began working with The Bay through partner-marketing agency, ATLARGE. Sydney is excited to now be a full-time member of The Bay team to help increase overall awareness of all the amazing benefits of The Bay. She loves spending time outdoors at the park, running or alongside her dog, Mac.

Facilities and Maintenance Technician

Randy Weil

Randy Weil is the Facilities and Maintenance Technician for The Bay team. Randy joins the team with more than 25 years of general maintenance experience and has a wide range of skills and talents including electrical, mechanical, plumbing, woodworking and even home building. He’s also a licensed EMT. Randy is excited to be part of The Bay team and see first-hand how the park will grow and what it will become in the years ahead.

Groundskeeper/Landscaper

Yosvany Chavez Quintero

Yosvany Chavez Quintero is a Groundskeeper and Landscaper on The Bay team. Yosvany is originally from Caibarién, a small fishing town in the province of Villa Clara, Cuba. There he was a dedicated Elementary and High School teacher of English. Now, in his spare time, Yosvany finds joy in being with his two sons doing anything and everything together. Yosvany loves The Bay and remarks “the park is beautiful… and I enjoy keeping it that way!”

Landscape Technician

Alec Wilhelm

Alec is a landscape technician on The Bay team bringing a great deal of experience as one of four brothers all involved in the greens industry in the Sarasota area, and as one of the last graduates of the Horticulture and Landscaping program at Sarasota County Technical Institute. Growing up, Alec remembers helping out with the grounds around the original Chidsey Library as a part of his family’s business. As a Sarasota native, he feels a strong sense of pride in having the opportunity to work on a project he has watched grow since he was a child and looks forward to being a part of a development that is shaping the future of Sarasota.