This week, President and CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Dr. Dr. Mark S. Pritchett announced his plan to retire in 2023. Pritchett joined Gulf Coast in 2008 as Vice President of Community Investment and was named President|CEO in 2015.

With Pritchett at the helm, Gulf Coast has provided strategic and financial support to pioneering projects such as The Legacy Trail, The Bay, and the COVID-19 Response Initiative. He has led historically impactful initiatives in the region including: 911 Reform, CareerEdge, and STEMSmart, which revolutionized how math and science and eventually language arts and social studies is taught in middle school.

Although he has worked for 55 rewarding and productive years in a variety of careers; Pritchett looks back at his years at Gulf Coast as some of the most fulfilling. “One of the most rewarding initiatives was the 911 Reform work which I completed my first year at Gulf Coast in 2008-2009,” he tells us. “The Denise Amber Lee story was tragic and heart wrenching. Her kidnapping and murder made national headlines and was featured on shows like Dateline and 48 Hours. It was an honor to work with widower Nathan Lee, his family, and law enforcement professionals to help him turn a tragedy into a national training network for 911 operators and responders. We did groundbreaking research, public policy work, lobbying, and helped him get his own foundation up and running. This is just an amazing story and shows the power of a community foundation to impact positive change not only locally, but statewide and nationally.”

Under Pritchett’s leadership and together with donors, Gulf Coast’s asset growth and philanthropy is at an all-time high. It has seen growth of nearly $360 million in new gifts since he became CEO while grants to nonprofits increased by $342 million. Pritchett played a significant leadership role in two successful initiatives: Florida’s 2000 post-election reforms and the process to resolve homeowner damage disputes from the 2004-2005 catastrophic hurricane seasons.

“Gulf Coast is peaking and we have never been stronger across all measures,” says Pritchett. “We have an exceptionally talented team, passionate board, and some exciting goals we want to accomplish over the next 3-5 years. I have been planning my retirement since COVID and now is the perfect time for that next leader to take Gulf Coast to that next level.” As a retiree, he looks forward to visits with family and friends, hiking near his Colorado home, and traveling with his love, Gina Taylor.

“I am fully committed to supporting our board, our team and to help our next leader fully succeed,” adds Pritchett. “I am most grateful for the opportunity to have served the Sarasota region and communities throughout Florida. My motivation has always been about vision, passion and determination to make this world a better place. Work doesn’t get better than that.” 

Pictured: Dr. Mark S. Pritchett, President | CEO, Gulf Coast Community Foundation. Photo courtesy of Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

To learn more, visit

Resilient Retreat welcomes its newest board member, Joy Miller, Ph.D., an internationally-known licensed psychotherapist, professional trainer, and author of seven books. Dr. Miller is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and a Certified Master Addictions Counselor. She has been featured on Oprah Winfrey and many other syndicated talk shows. Most recently, she volunteers her time creating the international Resiliency Forum, which is the largest resiliency conference in the world. She is currently a Director of the Board at Resilient Retreat. Focused on personal empowerment and promoting strategies to enhance resiliency, Dr. Miller’s Resiliency Forum brings together inspirational speakers, empowering clinicians, talented artists, life-changing authors, and noted professionals, all dedicated to enhancing our ability to bounce back and thrive. In 2021, 7000+ participants from 111 countries around the world joined together to focus on strategies to enhance their resiliency in an ever-changing world. 37 celebrities shared their voice and vision for personal empowerment in a 4-hour webinar. Resilient Retreat has been selected as one of the charity partners featured during the webinar, which provides opportunities to donate directly to Resilient Retreat. Anyone is invited to join the free webinar on Friday, September 9th from 12 – 4 pm EST. Find out more about Resiliency 2022 at https://resiliencyandhappiness.com. 

The Bay Park Conservancy (BPC), the non-profit organization responsible for overseeing the transformation of 53-acres of city-owned land along Sarasota’s bayfront into a world-class public park, has reached another significant milestone. Thanks to generous community donors, The Bay has raised a second $5 million from private sources, triggering a second $1 million match from The Patterson Foundation’s current challenge match.This additional match marks the second major milestone in The Patterson Foundation’s challenge for the $24 million capital campaign announced in July 2021, which has now generated over $12 million from private philanthropic, community sources, and matches. This brings the capital campaign to the halfway point with 18 months left in the campaign. All of the funds will be used to develop and build new public park space at the Bay. In July of 2021, The Patterson Foundation announced its continuing support for The Bay by committing up to $4 million in matching funds to catalyze private donations to complete development of the first phase of the park. Each time private philanthropy donates $5 million through 2023, The Patterson Foundation will provide a $1 million match, up to a total contribution of $4 million — resulting in a $24 million investment into The Bay. The current challenge match follows a previous $5 million challenge match provided by The Patterson Foundation, which donors achieved in May of 2021. The $5 million in matching dollars helped catalyze a $20 million total investment by private philanthropy into Phase 1. This is the second major milestone in the current challenge match. This additional $12 million takes the total raised from community, private, and local government sources to over $36 million, with additional private and government commitments not included. 

Nine Icard Merrill attorneys have been selected to the list of 2022 Florida Super Lawyers  and Rising Stars. Super Lawyers is a Thomson Reuters rating service of outstanding lawyers with less than five percent of lawyers in the state selected each year to receive this honor. Icard Merrill attorneys selected to the list of 2022 Super Lawyers are Drew Clayton, Securities Litigation; Thomas F. Icard, Jr., Construction Litigation; William W. Merrill III, Land Use & Zoning; Alyssa M.
Nohren, Real Estate; and Telese L. Zuberer, Real Estate. Attorneys named to the list of 2022 Florida Rising Stars are Natalie G. Coldiron, Real Estate; Worth Graham, Securities Litigation; Bianca N. Manos, Family Law; and Jordan Riccardi, Estate Planning & Probate. Super Lawyers selects attorneys using a patented multiphase selection process. Peer nominations and evaluations are combined with independent research. The annual selections are made using a rigorous process, including a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area. The result is a credible, comprehensive, and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys. 

To learn more, visit

Sweet Sparkman Architecture & Interiors—a local design firm that brings a contemporary Florida Modern style to its projects—recently unveiled six new projects in six consecutive weeks, expanding the firm’s portfolio of public designs. Though the six consecutive ribbon cuttings represent a milestone for the company, its partners continue looking to the future as they solidify a reputation for collaboration, community stewardship and consensus-building. The projects, which span a broad array of industries in the public sector, include:Dearborn Plaza Bandshell , Charlotte County Fire Station #10, C. V. Walton Racquet Center at G.T. Bray Park, Robert L. Anderson and South County Courts, Cape Coral Fire Station 12 and Lincoln Aquatic Center. 

To learn more, visit