Transformative waterfront project shifts leadership roles

SARASOTA — The Sarasota Bayfront Planning Organization has begun its transition to The Bay Conservancy.

According to a press release, the Conservancy is the entity the City of Sarasota will rely on to implement the recently approved master plan of the city’s 53-acre Bayfront site. The Conservancy will be the successor nonprofit of the SBPO.

A.G. Lafley, past chairman of SBPO, will assume a newly created position of startup CEO for the Conservancy. Lafley will focus on fundraising, organization planning and resources, commercial and business operating strategies, and community outreach. He will serve through 2019, the release states. 

Lafley will work with Bill Waddill, who will continue to serve as managing director of the Conservancy. Waddill's role focuses on design, planning, development and construction of The Bay, beginning with phase one, which was approved by the City Commission in September. 

Both will work with the Sarasota City Commission and city management, the release adds. 

The Conservancy’s first meeting will be Jan. 15. It is working with the city on a long-term partnership agreement that establishes the Conservancy as the development, operations and private funding partner with the city in the build-out and management of the park at The Bay. 

Officers elected for the Conservancy are Chairwoman Cathy Layton; Secretary Jennifer Compton; and Treasurer Rob Lane. Other board members transitioning into the Conservancy are Keith DuBose, Michael Klauber and Cynthia McCague. 

“AG, Bill and I, and all of the board have been working closely as a team," says Layton in the statement. "We all are committed to true impact, so each of us stepping forward into implementation as a team felt natural."