High-profile exec gets new gig

SARASOTA — Prominent local executive Laura Spencer, onetime CEO of Tervis Tumbler, has been named chief financial officer of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.

Spencer had most recently been CFO at Sarasota-based JCI Jones Chemicals. Before that, Spencer was with Venice-based Tervis, a $100 million drinkware manufacturer that has grown rapidly over the past decade. Spencer held several leadership roles at Tervis over 14 years, including CFO. She was the firm's CEO from 2006 to 2010, when annual revenues grew 213%, from $24 million to $75 million. Spencer began her career as an accountant.

“With Laura's long-standing reputation in our community, as well as her depth of experience and knowledge, I am confident she will make significant contributions to the Community Foundation,” Community Foundation of Sarasota County President and CEO Roxie Jerde says in a release. “As an essential member of our senior leadership team, Laura brings considerable expertise to the foundation and we will all benefit from her proven track record and exemplary combination of financial acumen, business judgment, professional skills and integrity.”

Spencer is the second prominent Sarasota resident to take a leadership position with a local community foundation recently. Earlier this week the Venice-based Gulf Coast Community Foundation named Sarasota County Commissioner Jon Thaxton director of community investment. Thaxton, who ran an unsuccessful primary campaign for Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections earlier this year, will join the foundation full-time in November, when his term ends. He will work with donors and other community leaders in his position, according to a release.