Dear Friends of MCF,

I am pleased to share that Manatee Community Foundation’s board of directors has selected Veronica Thames as the next Executive Director. Veronica’s exceptional qualities and dedication to our community make her the unanimous choice for this role. Her passion for Manatee County, deep commitment to philanthropy, and extensive knowledge of community foundations impressed us and made her the clear choice to lead the Foundation into the next chapter.

Veronica will join MCF on August 24th, bringing with her a wealth of experience from her previous position as SVP and Chief Operating Officer at Gulf Coast Community Foundation, as well as an extensive history in operations and human resources in the healthcare industry and beyond. (CLICK HERE to see Veronica’s brief bio).

In addition to her qualifications, Veronica’s deep roots in the Manatee community played a significant role in her selection. She was a longtime leader at Blake Medical Center, resides in east Manatee, has a child enrolled at Saint Stephens and her spouse works at the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. And like me, Veronica is a Leadership Manatee alumnus!

To get to know her a little better, CLICK HERE to read a letter from Veronica.

As we embark on this new chapter, I would also like to express our deepest gratitude to Jennifer Abbott for her invaluable contributions as Interim Executive Director during this transition. Jennifer looks forward to returning to her role as Director of Philanthropy alongside Alicia Chalmers and Simone Peterson, who form the core of MCF’s dedicated and talented team. We owe them a tremendous amount of thanks for their continued commitment.

In our 25^th year, Manatee Community Foundation has such a rich history to build upon. We are confident that Veronica and the MCF team, along with our board, donors, community partners and nonprofits, will lead us towards even greater impact and accomplishments. 

Please join me in warmly welcoming Veronica as our new leader. We look forward to working together with you as we strive to strengthen and enhance our community.

Warm regards,

Buzz Turner,

Incoming Chair, MCF Board of Directors

Chair, Search Committee