Board of Directors

Steering the Course: Meet Our Board of Directors

At the helm of Nathan Benderson Park’s vision and initiatives is our dedicated Board of Directors. Comprising local leaders who share a passion for community growth and recreational prosperity, our board plays an instrumental role in guiding the park’s operations, projects, and strategic direction. Their commitment to making Nathan Benderson Park a world-class facility resonates through every inch of our verdant landscapes and inviting waters.

Michael Taaffe, J.D.

Michael Taaffe, J.D.

Chairman of the Board

Taaffe is a preeminent trial attorney and director of Shumaker’s Broker-Dealer and Data Breach Groups. He has a lifelong involvement with rowing, including service as a founding member and coach of Sarasota Crew, which he led to several regional, state and national championships.

Joanne Fava, D.C.

Joanne Fava, D.C.

Secretary

Fava has overseen the medical side of the park since the beginning. She also helms a successful sports medicine practice.In 2024, she received the Volunteer of the Year Leadership Award and was award the SCOTY award by the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Medicine.

Curtis Jordan

Curtis Jordan

Chairman Elect

Jordan has more than 30 years of experience as an elite international and intercollegiate coach, most recently with USRowing. Jordan coached the U.S. men’s coxed four in 1988 and 1992, the men’s four and bronze-medal lightweight four in 1996, and the lightweight men’s four in 2000.

Ron Cutsinger

Ron Cutsinger

Director

Cutsinger, a Sarasota County commissioner, has been a financial advisor and is the owner and managing director of Waypoint Wealth Management, a full-service financial services firm, for nearly 30 years. He is an active water sports enthusiast.

Linda De Mello

Linda De Mello

Director

Linda’s career is distinguished by her leadership of complex, dynamic, and diverse organizations and communities in the fields of healthcare, career and workforce development, and higher education.  Linda recently served as the Manager of the Cross College Alliance (CCA), a remarkable 21st Century partnership of five universities and colleges in Sarasota Manatee committed to leveraging the assets of each institution to collaboratively enhance the learning opportunities for all students, the excellence of the region’s workforce, and the quality of life available to all members of the community.

Molly Jackson

Molly Jackson

Director

Jackson serves on the board of The Gulf Coast CEO Forum, and served on the board for Girls Inc. for the last 6 years. She often shares her talent and expertise from her retail banking/finance where she served as a vice president for a premier private banking operation, extensive retailing experience, and omni-channel marketing perspective to not only help grow and expand their retail businesses but to also support the community and many non-profit organizations.

Louis Kosiba

Louis Kosiba

Director

Louis Kosiba’s experience includes work with the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (1988-2017) Manager Field Services (1988-1990), General Counsel (1990-2001), Executive Director (2001-2017), Teacher’s Retirement System (1983-1988) General Counsel Florida Commitment, 2017 Retired and moved to Lakewood Ranch, 2018 Co-Treasurer for “Vote Yes For The Legacy Trail Extension”, a political action committee ( Sarasota County), 2019 President of The Friends of The Legacy Trail, 2020 Treasurer for “ Vote Yes for Water and Land”, a political action committee ( Manatee County ), 2020 Campaign Steering Committee member for Wildlife Center of Southwest Florida.

Jay Riley

Jay Riley

Director

Riley is the Senior Director of Corporate Partnerships and External Affairs for the Office of External Affairs and Government Relations, University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee; works with current and potential partners across all USF campuses to strategically identify and access the institution’s vast resources. He works closely with students, faculty and staff to effectively manage mutually beneficial partnerships between the university and stakeholders.

Ryan Thompson

Ryan Thompson

Director

Thompson is a Sarasota native who has ties to NBP since inception having participated in the first unofficial race on the unimproved excavation pit in the early 2000s as a member of Sarasota Scullers Youth Rowing Program. Thompson is a Vice President and Shareholder at J.L. Bainbridge – Family Wealth Advisors and is board member at multiple local nonprofits.