Children First, Inc., the exclusive provider of Head Start and Early Head Start services in Sarasota County, is excited to welcome the new slate of board leadership for 2021. Liz Stamoulis, partner at Williams Parker Harrison Dietz & Getzen, Linda Monda, community philanthropist with a special focus on education, children, and families, and Joe Stephan, former Vice President for the National Cash Register Corporation’s international division, have all been named to the 2021 Board of Directors. 

The three new members will serve as key pillars of support for the agency as it celebrates the 60th anniversary of its founding, all bringing a wealth of expertise in their respective fields. Stamoulis was recently recognized as the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce 2020 Young Professional of the Year and has been named a Florida Super Lawyers Rising Star for the past three years. Monda has helped create pathways and opportunities for those in need through a distinguished record of supporting initiatives such as grade-level reading, scholarships, and ending homelessness. Stephan has lived all over the world and has become a staple of support in the Sarasota community through serving on the Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s Board of Directors. They join the rest of the board in providing governance experience that will help Children First continue to provide the highest quality of comprehensive and family services to our community’s most vulnerable.  

Katherine Martucci, retired educator, will serve as Board Chair. Michael Keebaugh, former President of Intelligence and Information Systems at The Raytheon Company, is now Chair Emeritus. Jacqueline Ray was welcomed as Vice Chair, Katrina Otchet as Treasurer, and Keith Johnson as Secretary.