Gulf Coast Community Foundation is in a transformative, exciting time with the announcement of our incoming President and CEO Phillip P. Lanham joining the foundation on June 1. We sat down with Board Chair David Green to get his perspective on this thrilling new chapter for Gulf Coast and our region. 

Q: What attracted you to Gulf Coast Community Foundation?
Green: “Gulf Coast passionately believes in the leadership model of doing bold and proactive things for our community. We engage our donors and their ability to make meaningful donations in our initiatives.  But our key role comes from really understanding the critical issues affecting our community and prioritizing issues where we as an organization can make the greatest impact. Part of the magic formula or secret sauce is our team working with our community’s constituents and elected officials on key issues while forgoing taking the credit for success. Gulf Coast is more interested in the result than getting the credit. We are a trusted partner and that is so critical. I feel our incoming President|CEO Phillip Lanham with his personality and perspective easily fits into this leadership model.”

Q: How did Gulf Coast’s incoming President|CEO Phillip Lanham impress you? 
Green: “Meeting with Phillip felt almost immediately like you were conversing with a longtime, close friend. He has this wonderful humanistic value that is so important especially when looking at the leadership of a nonprofit. Because Gulf Coast has such an important culture of collaboration, civility, and truly listening for the best interest of the individual and organization, I immediately felt that Phillip would be a great fit. Phillip’s background as chief philanthropy officer at Greater Cincinnati Foundation gives enormous credence in his ability to develop relationships with donors, nonprofits, and community leaders.”

What are some of Phillip’s greatest qualities?
Green: “Phillip is a leader. He is a listener. He is a strategic collaborator. And he is a creative force with the goal of making a difference. He now joins an organization, both a leadership team and staff that is poised to create the future. While Phillip embraces the philosophy and leadership model that Gulf Coast represents, he also demonstrates his desire to take us to a new level, and along with the team, forge new ground that will enhance and ensure Gulf Coast’s leadership position for many years to come.”

Green shared that Phillip is a family man with two terrific sons and a wonderful wife who is an entrepreneur. Green feels that Phillip embodies some of the key characteristics of the American dream of a family. Phillip, even with his intense schedule and responsibilities, has rarely missed a football game for his sons. “A great leader has to have a work-life balance between the commitment to the organization and commitment to their family,” said Green.

Q: How do you feel about Gulf Coast’s future? 
Green: “There is no doubt in my mind that Gulf Coast is in the strongest position it has ever been to continue to make a dramatic and transformational influence on our community. What a perfect time to make the CEO transition. Mark (Pritchett) has been an outstanding leader and now steps into retirement, the next chapter of his wonderful life. It’s the perfect time for an exceptional candidate to take the helm of a great organization. I’m very confident that Phillip’s leadership with Mark’s mentorship and the leadership team’s support will make this transition very successful.”

Rachel Denton of is a marketing associate for the Gulf Coast Community Foundation. David Green is Chair of the Board of Directors of Gulf Coast Community Foundation.  

Photo courtesy Gulf Coast: David Green, Phillip P. Lanham

There is a national narrative right now questioning the value of higher education, the role of community colleges, and the process of enrollment and retention of students. What does a degree really offer? Should college enrollment be that difficult?

Yet, many of us know from personal experience of having “been there, done that” that any higher education, including an undergraduate degree, affords us more personal time, higher pay and professional opportunities. This became evident for a recent State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota outstanding graduate finalist, Blake, who shared he worked on tugboats, putting in long hours with strenuous labor as he entered the workforce right after high school. Eventually, he realized if he was going to work that hard, it might as well be toward getting a college degree, and he graduated this Spring from SCF with an associate degree and two Python Programming certifications.

Studies show that individuals who obtain college degrees have, over their lifetime, more wealth, a wider support network of peers, enhanced skillsets, resiliency during a recession, and the ability to reinvent themselves throughout their careers.

These studies also reflect that college graduates make wiser choices for saving, borrowing, and investing money; buying homes; and planning for retirement. There is an adage, “You can’t know what no one’s told you.” Or, more apropos in this scenario, “what no one’s taught you.” 

Students learn critical thinking and come to appreciate the importance of the interdependencies of the liberal arts, finance, statistics, and, most critically, social skills. Ask any higher education professional, and they will tell you that the more a student is engaged and socializes, the more likely they will succeed.

Earning a degree is hard work and requires persistence from a student and their support network. As with any industry, there are rules and regulations that make up a complex infrastructure. However, at SCF, we adapt each year to make higher education accessible to students despite family, financial or learning barriers. 

Battalion Chief for Sarasota County Emergency Services, Miguel Garcia ’11, ’18, shares that “SCF has made him a better firefighter, paramedic, officer, neighbor, husband and father!” He credits the college will honing his verbal, written and research skills and opening a network of local connections that have helped his professional development. But, most importantly, he’s learned patience, compassion and perseverance.

As our education system evolves to adapt to the new socio-economic norms and industry needs, we must maintain sight of the historical importance and value of what education offers. We should also not polarize the meaning of its value to serve a short-term purpose. We should work together as a community and with our local and state legislators each year to improve the system. 

SCF offers several programs that aim to increase access catered to the student. Through financial assistance, student life programs, and community collaboration programs such as our “College Reach Out Program,” 2+2 partnerships with state universities, collegiate schools, honors programs, “Bridge to Baccalaureate,” and dual enrollment, students of any age at any point in their higher education journey have an opportunity to start or continue their education affordably.

At SCF, we know not everyone will attend college. However, we believe everyone should be able to do so and to pursue careers that motivate and fulfill them, serve our community, and positively impact our society.

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