This is a column of gratitude to a City Manager who has shown amazing leadership in the City of Sarasota. It is a public thank you for all of the hard work, late hours and time away from his family while he restored trust with many segments of the community and city government. Thank you, Marlon Brown, for your leadership, forward-thinking and fiscal care.

I do not want this column weaponized by those for or against elected Mayor as a reflection on the city’s form of government. This column should be taken at face value, a column of thanks, in a month where we should be expressing gratitude, for the progress in this city since Mr. Brown has become City Manager.

The City of Sarasota has experienced a renaissance in government this past year despite COVID. We are very lucky to have a City Commission that had the foresight to appoint a City Manager that understands his role, exercises balanced judgment and listens to everyone before he makes decisions. You may not like his decision, but even then, you respect it, because you know you got a fair shake with him.

Whether it be neighborhood groups, business organizations, civic groups or individual citizens and businesses, most, if not all, are appreciative of the work of Marlon Brown and city staff under his leadership. He has led well this past year and he has not been afraid to tackle tough issues. He also understands his role as City Manager to implement commission policy and does not use his title to impose his own policy.

Marlon brings a great history but a fresh approach to Sarasota City Government that is inclusive, thoughtful and most of all, open to opinions. I have seen a remarkable difference not just in the business community, but with the general citizenry. To this day, it is not uncommon for a citizen to come to me as a former elected official with a problem and a request for guidance in government. When I refer a citizen to city government, I have found that the way things are handled in the city has changed this past year, and the city itself has become more responsive and responsible.

Fiscally, the city just saw its first tax cut in decades under Mr. Brown’s leadership. Instead of working to grow government and staff or get his favorite projects completed, Mr. Brown has thought about the working-class neighborhoods and the businesses who are continuing to struggle due to supply chain and COVID related issues.

It is always important to recognize good work when we see it, and the city commission was very wise in their appointment of Marlon Brown to City Manager. Mr. Brown, this is a very public thank you for all you have done for all of the citizens and businesses of the city. We don’t always agree, but we agree that you love the City of Sarasota and you have made a difference for everyone.

Christine Robinson is executive director of The Argus Foundation. 

Image courtesy Twitter.

The future vitality and strength of our community is dependent on the leaders we begin to develop today. At the State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota, our institution plays a unique role in the process of introducing students to leadership activities that build their skills and commitment to our community.

I recently had the pleasure of addressing the subject of leader development while participating in a panel discussion hosted by the Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative on the Black Experience in the Arts in Higher Education at the Florida Studio Theater. Amidst a compelling discussion of the black experience in the arts at our institutions with Cross College Alliance leaders, academics, administrators and students, I was asked how we can ensure equitable leadership opportunities at the highest levels of our institutions. I believe the answer to that question is on our campuses today – we need to grow our own leaders.

We are growing the next generation of leaders at our institution. The future leaders of our businesses, college and community are enrolled with us today. We see students from all aspects of our community on campus every day gaining experience in the classroom and life. The students who begin their educational career at SCF are going to come back to us. We are creating that next generation of leaders by providing leadership opportunities in student government, clubs, athletics, theater and musical productions, or serving on committees that guide our institution. We want to inspire and grow those leaders, especially those from our female and under-represented student populations.

This is not a new role for SCF. Throughout our history – as Manatee Junior College, Manatee Community College and now SCF – our college has helped to inspire and develop leaders in our community. At the SCF Foundation’s scholarship luncheon earlier this month, I was able to look out from the podium and see our proud alumni – people who started with us, finished their education and returned to Manatee and Sarasota Counties to take on leadership roles across our community. They continue to support the college they started with to ensure that the leadership pipeline continues.

One pillar of SCF’s Boldly Leading 2021-26 Strategic Plan is our ability to be the community’s academic cornerstone as the only institution in our region with a full college experience. SCF offers athletics, fine and performing arts and a wide range of clubs and associations – all areas that provide students with the opportunity to develop leadership skills that can translate directly to their future. This fall, we have 35 active clubs between our Bradenton and Venice Campuses and student government associations representing our two largest campuses.

Students take on responsibility when they lead our clubs, teams and associations. They gain experience managing a group to collectively achieve goals that move their organization forward and enhance their college experience. These are valuable experiences that students build on throughout their higher education and benefit them as they enter the workforce.

SCF is our community’s college and we share in our collective success. We will continue to make every effort to inspire and grow the future leaders our community and college needs – they are already here with us. 

Dr. Carol Probstfeld is president of State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. 

Something wonderful is taking shape in our region that will beautify and unite Sarasota for generations to come.

The Bay—a sustainable public park and artistic hub of 53 acres of City-owned land along Sarasota Bay—is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring together Sarasota’s cultural heritage and natural assets for the enjoyment of all our citizens and visitors.

At the City of Sarasota Commission meeting on Nov. 15, city commissioners unanimously approved a revised partnership agreement between The Bay and the City that will streamline the approval process to save money and speed completion of the park. We couldn’t be more pleased with this vote.

Our support for The Bay continues as strong as ever. We are grateful that the City will continue to support forward movement of this project. We believe The Bay dreams are coming true. This project is a model for how philanthropy can help organize and power a community dream into a real-world result.

In a recent op-ed in the Herald-Tribune, five philanthropic leaders with five foundations (Teri A Hansen, Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation; Roxie Jerde, Community Foundation of Sarasota County; myself, Gulf Coast Community Foundation; Debra Jacobs, The Patterson Foundation; and Carol Butera, William G. and Marie Selby Foundation), penned our full support for this partnership agreement. Our organizations hold many different missions; we steward the legacies of different benefactors, both living and deceased; and we may use different strategies to achieve our respective priorities. But as charitable foundations that call Sarasota home, we understand the values and purpose that go toward building a thriving community. So as our organizations work together collaboratively on many important and inspirational community initiatives, there is a unique and special way that we come together to support The Bay.

The revised partnership agreement will eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy and duplication of permitting. The result? A more efficient process that could cut years off the processing time for The Bay and save upwards of tens of millions of dollars in costs. The savings comes in the form of being able to complete construction sooner and not having time, money or value lost. The money saved can now be used for additional environmental projects that will improve the water quality and wildlife habitat in Sarasota Bay. The sooner this happens, the sooner The Bay can be completed and a real vision for all to enjoy.

Join us in celebrating this milestone for The Bay, our region, and generations of citizens and visitors to come.

Mark Pritchett is President and CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation. 

Photo courtesy GCCF.