Foundation selects board members

VENICE — The Gulf Coast Community Foundation board of directors has elected three new board members to a three-year term.

Anne Essner, Tracy Knight and Susan Sofia began their term in March.

Essner volunteers for Mote Marine Laboratory and Sarasota Orchestra. She is a board member of Sarasota Architectural Foundation and Sarasota County Rowing Club. She previously worked in the publishing and pharmaceutical industries.

Knight is the founder and managing director of the marketing and advertising company Knight Marketing. She was recently appointed by Florida Gov. Rick Scott to serve on the district board of trustees for State College of Florida.

Sofia serves on the Sarasota Orchestra board and the Young Presidents' Organization Florida Sun Coast Gold Chapter board. She previously worked for Wachovia Bank and Trust Company and taught school in Columbus, Ohio.

The other board members are Judy Cahn, Lisa Carlton, Scott Collins, Janis Fawn, James Gallogly, Pauline Joerger, Ben Hanan, Phil Humann, Jay McHargue, Anand Pallegar, Mark Pritchett, Michael Saunders, Joe Stephan, Bayne Stevenson and Tommy Taylor.