2017–2018 NEWLY ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS

HERTA CUNEO was born in Munich, Germany, to a world-famous family of professional animal trainers and circus performers. She established her own reputation as one of the greatest bear trainers of her generation, and was the first to train a white tiger to ride on an elephant! Following in her father's footsteps, Herta and her performing bears were featured in the center ring on the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey show. She continued to perform until her retirement in 1978.

ROBERT D. HUNTER was raised in New York. Bob received his bachelor’s degree from Manhattan College and MBA from Columbia University. He spent 28 years with Chase Manhattan in New York and London. He retired in 2003 as CEO of Barclays Bank Private Clients and returned to the U.S. from London. He and his wife Marie moved to Sarasota in 2006 and became full-time residents in 2009. Bob has served on numerous commercial and non-profit boards and is currently an active Docent at the Ringling Museum of Art and a Guardian Ad Litem for the State of Florida.

THOMAS F. ICARD, JR. has been a shareholder and Vice President of the Icard Merrill law firm in Sarasota since 1995. He is a former partner with the Carlton Fields law firm in Tampa, a past President of the Hillsborough County Bar Association and a past Chair of the Forum on Construction Law of the American Bar Association. He is also a member (by invitation) of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals. Tom is an alum of Leadership Florida, a past Chair of the Riverview High School Foundation and has served since 2004 on the Board of Directors of Tampa based Bay Area Legal Services, Inc. He received his BA from Mercer University in 1970 and law degree from The Florida State University in 1973.

DR. LISA MERRITT, a physiatrist in Sarasota, received her medical degree from Howard University after completing undergraduate studies at Georgetown University with honors and has been in practice for more than 25 years. She underwent training in Family and Community Medicine at the University of California at San Francisco, and completed her residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Dr. Merritt is a graduate of the faculty development program at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta. She is a member of numerous professional organizations, including AAPMR (the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation) and NMA (the National Medical Association), and is Executive Director of the Multicultural Health Institute.

DR. SARAH H. PAPPAS was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, spent the early years of her life in Havana, Cuba, and Mexico City, then moved with her family to the United States. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Penn State University, her Master's from the University of South Florida, and her doctorate from Nova Southeastern University. Her experience in Florida's higher education system includes 44 years at three community colleges and the University of Central Florida. She served as president of State College of Florida from 1997–2008, and as President of the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation from 2008-2017.

EDWARD M. SWAN, JR. , CFA received a BA from Tufts University and an MBA from the Wharton School. He also attended a director development program at the Kellogg School (Northwestern University), and was a captain in the US Air Force. Ed has over 35 years of experience in institutional investment management, marketing and enterprise management. Many of the nation’s largest pension funds were among his clients. Ed has experience on both corporate and not for profit boards and a long-standing interest in the arts and community service. He has been a furniture maker for over 35 years and is currently a volunteer, managing a program at Booker High School.