Board of Directors
The mission of the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County is to grow, diversify and sustain the economy of Sarasota County while enhancing our unique natural and cultural environment.

Joe C. Hembree
Chair
Vice President, Hembree & Associates Inc.

Mark Irwin
Vice Chair
Market President, Truist

Shaun P. Merriman
Treasurer
Regional President – West Florida, SouthState Bank

Erin Cigich
Secretary
CEO, Perform[cb]

Charlie Murphy
Past Chair
Executive Vice President/Market President, The Bank of Tampa

Brent Boydston
At Large Member
SVP, Corporate Sales & Innovation, PGT Innovations

Kirk Boylston
At-Large Member
President, Lakewood Ranch Commercial Realty

Larry Fineberg
At-Large Member
ED, Industrial Office Warehouse, Benderson Development Company, LLC

Dr. Todd Fritch
At-Large Member
EVP and Provost, State College of Florida

Brett Henson
At-Large Member
Partner, Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP

Dr. Karen Holbrook
At-Large Member
Regional Chancellor, University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee

Devaney Iglesias
At-Large Member
NW Area Manager, Florida Power & Light

Art Lambert
At-Large Member
President & CEO, S-One Holdings Corp.

Joe McKenna
At Large Member
President & CEO, Sarasota Orchestra

Mark Pritchett
At-Large Member
President and CEO, Gulf Coast Community Foundation

Drayton Saunders
At-Large Member
President, Michael Saunders & Company

Scott Sensenbrenner
At-Large Member
Chief Executive Officer, Enzymedica

Rick Severance
At-Large Member
President, Wellen Park

Byron Shinn
At-Large Member
Partner-In-Charge, Carr, Riggs & Ingram

Heather Williams
At-Large Member
Shareholder, Kerkering Barberio & Co.

Dr. Bill Woodson
Dean of Outreach, Office of Outreach and Inclusive Excellence
New College of Florida

Mayor Erik Arroyo
City of Sarasota

Commissioner Nancy C. Detert
Sarasota County

Commissioner Penelope “Penny” Gold
The Town of Longboat Key

Commissioner Jill Luke
City of North Port

Vice Mayor Nick Pachota
City of Venice

Zachary Buffington, Esq.
Board Counsel
Partner, Williams Parker Harrison Dietz & Getzen
Invest in Sarasota County
The EDC of Sarasota County diversifies our local economy and helps create jobs for Floridians. Investing in the EDC empowers us to grow our economy and attract more business to our region.