Nonprofit hires new executive, elects board leaders

VENICE — The Gulf Coast Community Foundation named Veronica Thames to a new role of senior vice president for talent and innovation and COO. The board of directors also elected Judy Cahn as chair and Scott Collins as vice chair.

According to a press release, Thames will start in her position in early August.

Cahn and Collins will serve one-year terms as officers. The board also recently reelected member Janis Fawn to a three-year term, the release states. Board terms start July 1.

Thames is currently the vice president of human resources at Blake Medical Center in Bradenton, where she's been since 2006. She's responsible for operations and personnel management of 1,300 employees. Thames also served as Blake’s logistics officer during Hurricane Irma. 

“Veronica knows how to put together high-performing teams and empower them to get results," says Gulf Coast Community Foundation President and CEO Mark Pritchett in the statement. "That will enhance not only our staff team here at Gulf Coast, but also our collaborative regional initiatives.”

Cahn is a community volunteer and philanthropist. She previously worked in investment banking for 35 years, and has been a Gulf Coast Community Foundation board member since 2011. For the past two years, she was vice chair. 

Collins, on the board since 2010, is president and founder of Sarasota-based Fiduciary Wealth Advisors. He chairs the governance committee and has also chaired the board’s audit and community investment committees.

Other members of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation board for 2018-19 include: Anne Essner, David Green, Rod Hershberger, Pauline Joerger, Tracy Knight, Anand Pallegar, Mark Pritchett, Michael Saunders, Susan Sofia, Joe Stephan, Bayne Stevenson and Tommy Taylor.  

The Gulf Coast Community Foundation was created in 1995 through the sale of Venice Hospital. More than 700 families have established funds there. The organization has invested over $280 million in grants in health and human services, civic and economic development, education, arts and culture, and the environment.