Staff & Board of Directors
Staff
Annie Berkness (she/her)
Executive Director
Lauren Harris (they/them)
Administrative & Donor Relations Coordinator
Jamie Smith (he/him)
Youth Programs Manager
David Mannino (he/him)
Community Engagement & Youth Support Coordinator
Board of Directors
President
Lana Bruce (she/her) - Lana previously served on the ALSO Youth Board for six years, concluding her term in 2022. Since then, she has remained an active volunteer on our committees helping to plan events like our Annual Inclusive Prom and our Art Exhibit & Auction. Lana spent more than 20 years working as a manager for the Sarasota County Government before retiring in 2019. Outside of volunteering and work, Lana shares her time with her wife, Bonnie!
Vice-President
Renee Autumn Ray (she/her) - Renee Ray was raised in Jacksonville, Florida, and Birmingham, Alabama, but found Sarasota to be the place she wished to return to during the pandemic with her wife and her dogs at her side. Renee received her master's degree at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, where she studied urban planning. She has since used this knowledge to develop her career as a strategist for a startup company that uses artificial intelligence to improve transit systems. While Renee travels often for her work, she still has made volunteering for ALSO Youth a priority. When Renee is not traveling for work or volunteering for ALSO Youth, she is most likely to be found birding, riding her bicycle around the city, or reading mysteries in her pool.
Secretary
Mark Cole (he/him) - Mark holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Auburn University and a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre from the University of Minnesota. After an early career as an actor and stage manager in New York, Mark began a new adventure in nonprofit management and fundraising with stints at Miami City Ballet, Arizona Theatre Company and Miami Dade College. He currently provides fundraising strategy to nonprofits seeking to fund their missions. Mark moved to Sarasota with his husband John and their husky Dash in 2021. Previous board service includes New World School for the Arts, Philanthropy Miami and the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Treasurer
Matthew Mitchell (he/him) - Matthew is a resident of Sarasota, Florida since 2021, and proud to be part of a 4th generation of family members that have been coming to Sarasota for almost 50 years. Matthew originally hails from the Midwest, born in Iowa and growing up in Chicago. On the professional front, Matthew is an advisor, investor, and educator to Food and Beverage start ups, venture capital firms, and university students. Prior to semi-retiring, he had long-term international career with the Coca-Cola Company. While there, he worked in over 20 countries via diverse roles in M&A, Corporate Strategy, R&D and Finance. Most recently he was the SVP of Emerging Growth, a group he created and founded in Tokyo, Japan. In his free time, he is an avid runner, traveler, and proud supporter of Duke University Basketball (his alma mater). He also has an MBA from the University of South Carolina.
Board Members at Large
Craig Kaplan (he/him)-Craig graduated from Rowan University with a B.A. in Marketing and Communications. Previously, he served on the Board of ALSO Youth as Secretary. In addition, he is also involved in the Sarasota community with a passion for environmental causes. Prior to moving to Sarasota, FL 3 years ago, Craig was also very involved in LGBTQ+ causes in NYC & helped HRC in Washington DC raise media awareness via his position at USA Today. Craig Kaplan worked in national media sales for almost 30 years for and most recently works for an advertising technology company. Craig has been involved with multiple technology start-up companies over the past few years.
Beth Roth (she/her) - Beth is originally from Massachusetts, and attended the University of New Hampshire where she earned her bachelor's degree in English. Beth served on the development board at the University of New Hampshire's College of Life Science & Agriculture, was a 4-H leader for many years, and has consistently been an active community member throughout her life. Beth joined ALSO Youth as a volunteer at the beginning of 2022 and decided to join the board in 2023.
Mike Keane (he/him) - Mike is a man of the world! He started his life on the west coast of the U.S., then traveled to Germany during his time in the Army. Mike completed his Bachelor's degree in Computer Science at Seton Hall in New Jersey, then obtained his MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Phoenix. His career has spanned various companies in Connecticut, New York, and Florida in IT auditing, Project Management, and data privacy. Mike is thrilled to have been able to finish his career in Florida, and to retire in Sarasota in 2021. He joined ALSO Youth as a volunteer in 2022 and joined the board in 2023.
Steve Bennet (he/him) - Steve is the owner of GBF Fitness in Sarasota, working as an ISSA-certified personal trainer and nutritionist, as well as an ICF-certified life coach. Inspired by his own journey of losing over 100 pounds and maintaining long-term sobriety, his mission is to help people discover that fitness can be supportive, inclusive, and even fun. Steve is passionate about creating spaces where LGBTQ+ individuals feel safe, seen, and empowered to care for their health. He believes strong communities are built by lifting one another up, which is why he's proud to serve on the ALSO Youth Board of Directors. When he's not coaching clients, you'll usually find him playing with his dog, Remy, traveling with his husband, Scott, working out, or exploring new adventures and challenges around Florida and beyond.
Caitlin Brunk (she/they) - Caitlin is the Operations Manager at the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation, where they are passionate about building systems and processes that help organizations thrive and stay focused on their mission. Their professional background includes roles with Florida State Parks, Lee County Parks & Recreation, and ALSO Youth. A lifelong Floridian, Caitlin grew up in Central Florida, attended college in Fort Myers, worked throughout the state, and now proudly calls Sarasota home. Outside of work, they enjoy hiking, painting, studying entomology, learning new words, and volunteering with ALSO Youth. Caitlin is honored to serve on the ALSO Youth Board of Directors after experiencing firsthand the life-changing impact of finding community through the organization. With a lifelong passion for working with youth, they are committed to ensuring LGBTQ+ young people have access to the resources, support, and sense of belonging that every person deserves.
Leanndra Yates (she/her) - Leanndra is an educator, author, advocate, and founder of Exclusive Insights, where she empowers families to successfully navigate educational systems and access the resources their children need to thrive. Leanndra earned her BA in Elementary Education and BA in Special Education from Goshen College, and an MA in Educational Leadership from Wright State University. Although she has called Sarasota home for the past five years, her grandparents purchased property here over 30 years ago, making Sarasota her second home throughout her childhood. It was always her dream to raise her own family in this community. Leanndra is passionate about creating safe, inclusive spaces where every young person feels seen, supported, and empowered. She is honored to serve on the ALSO Youth Board.
Don't miss any of our news!
Sign up for our newsletter and our annual report!



