Sandy Gilbert, is a graduate of Cornell University with a B.A. in Economics. He is a retired publishing executive who worked for TIME and Smithsonian Magazines in New York for 35 years gaining extensive experience in marketing and communications while conducting business with corporations all over the world. Since retirement, he has served as the Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Board on Longboat Key, President of the Public Interest Committee, Chairman of the Long Range Planning Committee at Tara Golf & Country Club, Chairman of the Community Affairs Committee of the Tara Master Association and he has been a contributing writer on government affairs for the Longboat Key Observer. In his spare time, Sandy enjoys playing golf, gardening and snorkeling and diving in our coastal waters.

Sherry Coles, Treasurer, graduated from Fordham University with an MBA in Finance and the University of Cincinnati with a BBA in accounting. Her professional work began as a taxpayer research correspondent with the IRS and ended up as a lead investigator with FDIC, closing insolvent banks during the financial crisis. In New York City, Sherry had a number of positions ranging from auditor to private banking sales: Arthur Anderson, JP Morgan, Citibank, Bank of New York and Wells Fargo. Since her IRS days, Sherry continues working with tax clients serving both personal and business tax needs.

Nonprofit involvement includes having served on several boards from Treasurer to fund raising. Board involvement : The Woman’s Campaign School at Yale University, Center Against Domestic Violence in Brooklyn, Women In Management, Sarasota Newcomers Club, Palmaire Women’s Club, Solutions To Avoid Red Tide, Broadmoor Pines HOA, and the Golf Pointe HOA in Sarasota. Sherry actively volunteers in her local communities working with the Humane Society, Greyhound Rescue, The Healing Foundation, The Exchange and Designing Women’s Boutique. In her spare time, Sherry travels the world, cooks for friends and attempts to play golf.

Ed was born in Lakeland, Florida, to the late Governor Lawton Chiles and Rhea Chiles. A passion for all things Floridian was instilled in him at an early age. An avid outdoorsman, his fondest memories include hunting the Florida woods with his father and gathering around the table to enjoy local game, seafood, and Southern favorites. He continued the family legacy by graduating from the University of Florida.

Ed owned and operated three iconic waterfront restaurants: The Sandbar (1979), Mar Vista (1990), and The Beach House (1993)—becoming a leader in sustainable tourism by championing locally sourced Florida fare.

A longtime advocate for environmental solutions, Ed has worked with the United Nations World Tourism Organization and helped advance coastal and agricultural initiatives across Florida and the Gulf region.

Alongside investing his time on boards that advance environmental stewardship and circular systems, Ed plans to spend his last lap using his efforts on biological farming at Gamble Creek Farm—one of only five REAL Organic farms in Florida. His focus is on building high-quality soil, restoring ecological balance, and supporting resilient local ecosystems.

A devoted fly-fisher and hunter, Ed resides with his wife Tina in Anna Maria and enjoys spending summer months in Montana. His two daughters, Ashley and Christin, and grandson Chiles, continue to inspire his commitment to taking immediate action to protect our environment and natural resources for future generations.

Dr. Kirkpatrick has been the Executive Director for GCOOS since 2014. Prior to taking the management position at GCOOS, she was a member of the Board of Directors. She has over 35 years of experience in human and environmental epidemiology focusing on harmful algal blooms and human health. She has over 40 peer reviewed publications, is the co-chair of the National Harmful Algal Bloom steering committee, and the co-chair for the IOOC glider task team.

Dr. Barbour is an Aquatic Ecologist. He was the 2014 recipient of the International Environmental Stewardship Award given by a scientific society represented by 62 countries. This award was given because of his efforts in assisting EPA in updating the Biological and Physical Integrity components of the U.S. Clean Water Act and participating with scientists from the European Union to develop their biological protocol of their Water Framework Directive. He has been a member of the Heritage Oaks Healthy Lakes Initiative since its inception 5 years ago and has consulted with other Associations and Sarasota County EPD. He is currently an Adjunct Senior Scientist with Mote Marine Laboratory.

Ronda is originally from Colorado and relocated to Florida in the 1980s. She received her bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, and went on to build a long career as a critical care nurse in the region while maintaining a strong commitment to coastal conservation and environmental education.

Ronda currently serves as Executive Director of Sarasota Bay Watch. Her strengths include building strong local networks of volunteers and donors and collaborating closely with scientists, conservationists, and community partners to support bay restoration and protection while mentoring the next generation of environmental stewards.

Charles C. Reith, is a restoration ecologist with 45 years of experience restoring ecological productivity to distressed land and waters. His span of activity has included the development and implementation of restoration and, where necessary, decontamination plans for deserts, wetlands, prairies and forests in 20 countries on five continents. He has been a professor at four universities and worked as a technical and management consultant to corporations, municipalities, and government ministries. In Sarasota, Charles has supported START’s participation in the Healthy Ponds Collaborative and he has planned and planted ten high-performance microforests, small forests that divert prodigious volumes of stormwater from potential flooding or nonpoint source pollution and provide other ecological benefits such as carbon sequestration, cooling against urban heat island, and provision of wildlife habitat. He serves on the board of his own community and the Palmer Ranch Master Association, and he has advised countless local communities on how to improve the ecological health of their horticultural and native landscapes.

Charles has a PHD in Ecology from the University of New Mexico and has published dozens of technical articles and three books, including Principles and Methods of Reclamation Science.

Dr. Hueter is a professional marine scientist with more than five decades of experience specializing in the biology, fisheries, and conservation of sharks. Bob has been a Floridian since 1970, earning his Bachelor’s in Biology and Master’s in Marine Biology from the University of Miami and his Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Florida. He has published more than 200 scientific papers and has served on numerous panels and advisory boards, and he has testified three times before the U.S Congress in hearings on shark issues. Although Bob has conducted research on every continent except Antarctica, much of his work has been focused in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and along the southwest Florida coast. After a 33-year career directing shark research at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Bob retired from Mote in December 2020, to continue as Chief Scientist, and more recently Senior Advisor for Science & Academics, for the nonprofit research organization OCEARCH. Since 2018, Bob has led efforts in Sarasota’s Meadows community to improve and enhance their stormwater pond system, as chair of the Meadows Water & Wildlife Committee. In August 2025, Bob and his wife Allie moved to the Mote Ranch community in Manatee County where he hopes to continue his efforts to eco-beautify the region’s system of ponds, lakes and rivers.

Colleen graduated with a B.A. from Boston College and a M.Ed. from Seton Hall University. Prior to moving to Florida from N.J., she worked for many years as a Division Director in Bergen County government. In that position she managed addiction and DUI programs in the criminal justice system. While living in N.J. she served on many Boards including Chairing the Board of Directors of the Bergen County Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse and Spring House for Women. She was also appointed to a statewide task force whose job it was to revamp the DUI education and treatment system in N.J. She served for many years on the Bergen County Highway Safety Board and was the Vice-President of the N.J. Association of Intoxicated Driver Resource Centers. Colleen is presently employed by START as the Office Manager. In that capacity she manages the membership database, writes the monthly newsletter, keeps the START website updated, oversees all grant correspondence and communication with members and the public.