Bay Park adds CFO to the mix

A chief financial officer has been added to The Bay Park Conservancy, the nonprofit responsible for bringing a bayfront gathering place, in park form, to Sarasota Bay. 

The organization is overseeing 53 acres owned by the city of Sarasota that’s being designed as a $150 million park expected to take seven to 10 years to complete. The new CFO, Tony Gamelin, brings over 25 years of experience to the table including time at the Gulf Coast Community Foundation as CFO, according to a statement.  

“I’m delighted to join The Bay Park Conservancy at this time when the new park has just opened to 50,000 guests,” Gamelin says in a release. “I’m excited to join this dynamic team and to use my experience and skills to further the operation and performance of this transformational civic and community initiative.”

The public was welcomed to the first completed phase of the park, which includes over 14 acres of restored greenspace, mangroves, shorelines and wetlands, through a 10-day grand opening. The second phase of three is expected to begin mid-2023. 

In the new position, Gamelin is expected to report to A.G. Lafley, founding CEO, as well as collaborate with Rob Lane, board treasurer, and the finance committee. Gamelin will also work on development and implementation with COO Bill Waddill and on park management and maintenance with Derick Kitson, and The Bay Park Conservancy partners at Fontana and Stutler Enterprises.

“At The Bay, we know the importance of sustainable park development and operations, underpinned by strong financial systems and controls,” Lafley says in a release. “Tony is the right person at the right time, with the capability and experience to lead finances, train management staff, and put the systems and controls in place needed to manage and operate the 14 acres of park that opened less than a month ago.”