PARK PLAYERS

Outside of the headlines, many others in Sarasota played important roles in the formation of The Bay. The list includes:

VIRGINIA HALEY

The Visit Sarasota County president, along with Gulf Coast Community Foundation executive Jon Thaxton and Michael’s on East co-owner Michael Klauber, made up what many behind The Bay refer to as the Three Musketeers of the early days of the project.

DEBRA JACOBS

The CEO of The Patterson Foundation, Jacobs provided advice and inspiration to Michael Klauber and others in the beginning days. The foundation’s multiple sixfigure donations also paced the giving of other foundations and groups, say Lafley and Klauber.

SHAUN MERRIMAN

Retired banking executive and founder of Gateway Bank, he recruited several people early on to be part of The Bay.

SHANTEL NORMAN

Now VSC group director of sales, Norman, say several with The Bay, was the glue who kept everything together in the early days. That’s especially true for when the group was holding multiple neighborhood meetings a month.

JASON SWIFT

President of Jon F. Swift, which handled construction of The Bay. The Bay Park Conservancy CEO A. G. Lafley says Swift’s calm under pressure, such as when Hurricane Ian pounded the region, was an example for everyone in the project.