Nonprofit that manages park names new chair, board members

SARASOTA — Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Associates, a nonprofit created to manage Nathan Benderson Park, announced the election of Ronald Shapo as chair of the board of directors and the selection of two new directors, Randy Mallitz and Michael Taaffe. 

Nathan Benderson Park is a 600-acre public park that also serves as a venue for regional, national and international events, such as the World Rowing Championships, NCAA Championships and the Olympic Pentathlon Trials.

Shapo began his career as an accountant, spent two decades primarily as a trial attorney handling business issues and served as an attorney for companies in transactions and projects totaling billions of dollars, with an emphasis on real estate, public/private partnerships and corporate/finance, according to a press release. He retired from the law firm of Holland and Knight LLP in 2017 and currently serves as a mediator and arbitrator.

“Nathan Benderson Park should be celebrated as a community jewel!” Shapo says in a statement. “In five short years, we are off to a great start. As chair, my goal is to help SANCA look to the future, seize opportunities and build upon the strong foundation we have created to date.”

A partner with Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick LLP, Michael Taaffe is a trial attorney and director of Shumaker’s Broker-Dealer and Data Breach Groups. He has a lifelong involvement with rowing, including as a founding member and coach of Sarasota Crew.

Co-founder and principal of the Mallitz Investment Group, Randy Mallitz served as president and CEO of divisions of Aearo Technologies for 16 years in the U.S. and Asia, during which he built the company’s sales to $600 million, according to a press release. Prior to that, he was CEO of Kardon Industries for 16 years.