Nonprofit names three new board members

United Way Suncoast named three new board members to the Manatee area board for the 2019 term: Cheri Coryea, Karen Droz and Cynthia Saunders. 

Coryea is acting county administrator for Manatee County Government. Droz is senior vice president and senior development consultant for Fifth Third Bank. Saunders is superintendent of the School District of Manatee County. 

In Manatee County, United Way Suncoast is focused on early literacy and is the lead partner for the Suncoast Campaign for Grade Level Reading, according to a press release. 

“Our boards work closely with businesses, nonprofits, government, media and community to ensure that our children and families who need us the most have a pathway to thrivability," says United Way Suncoast Manatee Area President Bronwyn Beightol in the statement. 

Coryea has 30 years of experience with 28 years in management with Manatee County. She became interim deputy county administrator in 2017. She was previously department director of neighborhood services for 10 years, the release states. 

Droz is an executive coach at Fifth Third Bank. She is a human resources and organizational development executive with over 25 years of experience with companies such as AT&T, Arthur Andersen and PepsiCo. She has also led her own consulting practice and is a founding partner of a cloud-based software business. 

Saunders has more than 28 years of experience in education. Prior to her role as superintendent, Saunders served as deputy superintendent of instructional services in Manatee County. She was also executive director of secondary schools from 2013 to 2015.

Coryea, Droz and Saunders join current Manatee Area Board members Debbie Tapp (chair), Tim Henning (vice chair), Bruce Body, Jacki Dezelski, Barbara Johnson, Bob Thompson, Bill Webster and Denise Williams. 

United Way Suncoast staff, volunteers and community partners serve DeSoto, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pinellas and Sarasota counties.