Nonprofit names new president, CEO

SARASOTA — The Step Up Suncoast board of directors recently selected Amy Yount Tittle as the agency’s next president and CEO. 

The appointment was unanimously approved during Step Up Suncoast’s annual board meeting June 24. Yount Tittle will replace retiring president and CEO Barbara Patten Sept. 1.

“Amy has a deep commitment to the mission of community action and to those who work every day to help people change their lives,” says Patten in a release. “She has demonstrated over the years her respect and appreciation for the talents of our Step Up Suncoast staff. Amy will lead with vision, kindness, passion and integrity.” 

The Board chose Yount Tittle to lead the organization after conducting a nationwide search, which yielded a mix of out-of-state, Florida-based and internal candidates, the release states. Yount Tittle has been part of the organization for over 19 years, most recently as the agency’s CFO. 

“My focus as president and CEO of Step Up Suncoast will be to build upon our foundation of excellence throughout our business operations to further strengthen and grow our organization in order to optimize outcomes for the benefit of our clients, employees and community,” says Yount Tittle. 

Step Up Suncoast is a nonprofit that provides critical services to the people of Manatee, Hardee, Desoto, Sarasota and Charlotte counties, according to the release. The organization has some $3 million in assets.

Board President Charlie Kennedy says, “The board selected Amy based on her financial expertise as a CPA, her institutional knowledge of Step Up Suncoast as our long-serving CFO, her credentials as a Certified Community Action professional and her ability to lead a large, diverse organization through empowering employees and our clients, with respect and dignity.”