Our Team

Brad Baker is a distinguished leader, strategist, and entrepreneur with a proven track record of guiding companies through rapid growth and innovation. Over the course of his career, he has launched and managed multiple technology, real estate, and development ventures, including founding NetLine Communications, one of Florida’s first frame relay networks, and serving as CEO of Nexus Biometrics, a leading fingerprint biometric company focused on child safety. His entrepreneurial expertise also extends to real estate and housing development, where he is currently creating sustainable, green communities and workforce housing projects in Florida, including a community of tiny homes and a retail strip center in North Port. Mr. Baker holds multiple credentials, including LEED AP BD+C, a Florida Class B Commercial Contractor license, and a Florida Real Estate Broker’s License.

Mr. Baker’s public service career is equally notable. He was appointed by Governor Jeb Bush as Executive Director of the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, overseeing nearly $1 billion in state grants to promote affordable housing. Later, Governor Jeff Colyer appointed him Deputy Secretary of the Kansas Department of Commerce, where he brought entrepreneurial thinking and strategic leadership to state economic initiatives, including projects in aviation. In Washington, D.C., Mr. Baker helped promulgate Section 42 of the IRC into the Federal Register, promoting affordable tax credit housing, and subsequently developed several $25 million tax credit housing projects in Kansas City.

An early pioneer in technology and finance, Mr. Baker began his career by founding a chain of computer stores in Southwest Florida, followed by taking Tech:Time, Inc. public on NASDAQ. He later sold his Internet Service Provider to Comcast, helping launch their cable modem business. In 1988, at age 28, he became one of the youngest White House Fellows ever appointed, serving as Special Assistant to the Treasury Secretary, and was later named to the Executive Board of the Resolution Trust Corporation, overseeing the $400 billion thrift banking industry rescue. Throughout his career, he has received national recognition, including being named one of the top 100 entrepreneurs in the United States by the Young Entrepreneurs Organization and “Floridian to Watch in the Next 10 Years” by Florida Trend magazine.

Beyond business and public service, Mr. Baker is deeply involved in community and aviation initiatives. He is an elected Board Member for Sarasota Memorial Hospital and serves on numerous boards, including New College (Past), the Sarasota Airport Advisory Board, Venice Habitat for Humanity’s Corporate Development Committee (Past Director) and the NBAA CAM Governing Board (Past), and was appointed to the AABI governing board for aviation education. An instrument-rated private pilot and avid traveler, he has visited over 160 countries and logged more than 3 million lifetime airline miles. Mr. Baker combines his professional achievements, public service, and global perspective to create impactful, sustainable solutions in business, community development, and aviation.

Brad Baker, President

Debbie DeLeon has spent over 35 years in public service within Manatee County working directly with neighborhoods and in the human services field. She began her career as an Intake and Eligibility Worker and eventually administered all the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) programs. Worked for many years as a Case Manager in the Aging and Adult Services division and then as a Medical Benefits Specialist. Administered the Palmetto/North Manatee County Enterprise Zone program.

Debbie manages the Neighborhood Connections Division. She has established the protocol for assisting the over 2,500 neighborhoods within the County. She was instrumental in creating the first mapping of all the neighborhoods, developed the Neighborhood Connections newsletter and the Neighborhood Enhancement Grant. She works directly with neighborhoods such as Rubonia, Washington Gardens, Samoset, Whitfield and Bayshore Gardens.

Debbie is fluent in Spanish and is a vital part of the neighborhood team. She actively coordinates with other community agencies and organizations to assist neighborhoods become a better place to live, work and play.

Debbie DeLeon - Board Member

Alison Hewitt - Board Member

Alison A. Hewitt is a seasoned nonprofit strategist, organizational development consultant, and public affairs leader with more than 25 years of experience strengthening community organizations, government initiatives, and mission-driven enterprises across Florida. As Founder and Principal of Alison A. Hewitt & Associates, she specializes in 501(c)(3) creation and development, board training, nonprofit infrastructure design, and the cultivation of sustainable partnerships. She has guided numerous organizations through IRS 1023 applications, strategic planning, grant identification, policy creation, and marketing and communications strategies that elevate visibility, strengthen community trust, and enhance organizational impact.

Before launching her consulting practice, Hewitt served as Director of Marketing and Public Affairs for the Florida Department of Health in Duval County, where she led major public health communications initiatives—including campaigns for Zika, HIV/AIDS, rabies, and Legionnaires’ disease—and served as Public Information Officer during emergency management events. Her career also includes leadership roles such as Executive Director of the Central Economic Development Center in Manatee County, President and Founder of Creative Community Solutions, and Executive Director of the Office of Urban Opportunity in the Executive Office of the Governor. Earlier, as Special Assistant to Governor Jeb Bush and a governmental consultant, she represented the Governor across 19 counties, built legislative strategies, managed public relations initiatives, and supported statewide community revitalization programs.

Hewitt’s influence extends into civic and economic leadership roles statewide. She has served as Chair of Keep Florida Beautiful, participated in Enterprise Florida’s long-range planning taskforce, and held positions on numerous advisory councils and boards. In addition, she is a gubernatorial appointee and former Chair and Vice Chair of the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART), and she served on the Executive Committee of the American Public Transportation Association. She continues to contribute her expertise as a board member of Advantage Capital Partners, supporting investment initiatives that expand economic opportunity in historically underserved communities. A graduate of Florida A&M University with a degree in Political Science, Hewitt remains deeply committed to empowering organizations, strengthening neighborhoods, and advancing equitable community development throughout Florida.

Tanya Lukowiak – Executive Director

A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point with a B.S. in Civil Engineering and a minor in International Relations, Tanya Lukowiak has built a distinguished, service-driven career spanning military leadership, municipal government, nonprofit management, and specialized expertise in affordable housing and community development. With more than three decades of experience, she has consistently demonstrated the ability to lead complex programs, build consensus among diverse stakeholders, and deliver measurable results across public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Her early career as a U.S. Army Field Artillery Officer laid the foundation for her strengths in personnel management, strategic planning, and operational excellence—skills that have defined her professional trajectory.

Over the course of more than 16 years in local government, Lukowiak served the City of Newark, the Newark Department of Health and Human Services, and later the City of Palmetto, where she directed the Community Redevelopment Agency and served as City Grants Coordinator. In these roles, she managed multimillion-dollar budgets, secured over $8 million in grant funding, designed redevelopment plans, coordinated transportation and land-use initiatives, and facilitated the creation of attainable housing programs in partnership with government agencies, nonprofits, and community groups. Her work included supervising multidisciplinary teams, managing federally funded grants, leading neighborhood revitalization efforts, developing senior and workforce housing, and implementing policy and infrastructure improvements that strengthened economic development and community resilience.

Since 2009, Tanya has served as the Executive Director of the Community Housing Trust of Sarasota County, Inc., where she leads initiatives to expand affordable, workforce, and senior housing opportunities. She has increased the organization’s land trust holdings, overseen real estate acquisitions and rehabilitation, negotiated public land donations, completed Federal and State grant applications, enforced HUD and CDBG compliance, and stewarded long-term homeowner relationships to ensure lasting affordability. Simultaneously, she has maintained a successful independent consulting practice, preparing winning grant applications—exceeding $4 million in 2024 alone—alongside strategic proposals, project management services, and board-level guidance for nonprofit and for-profit clients. Her service extends deeply into the community through leadership roles with youth programs, economic development boards, recovery centers, planning commissions, and congressional selection committees.

In her current role as Business Development Coordinator for EarthBalance Corporation, Lukowiak identifies and evaluates bid opportunities, develops competitive proposals, and supports strategic growth for the company’s ecological restoration and environmental services. In 2024, she and a colleague submitted more than $124 million in proposals, securing $42.5 million in awards—a 34% success rate. Fluent in Spanish and known for her strengths in communication, problem solving, fundraising, and public speaking, she brings to every project a rare combination of technical expertise, community focus, and mission-driven leadership. Her career reflects an unwavering commitment to strengthening communities, expanding access to housing, and advancing collaborative solutions that uplift individuals, families, and local economies.

Robert Lincoln – Volunteer Legal Counsel

Robert K. Lincoln concentrates his practice in the areas of land use law and local government litigation. He is one of select number of attorneys certified by the Florida Bar in City, County and Local Government Law. Prior to opening the Firm, Mr. Lincoln spent almost a decade leading the land use litigation practice in one of the area's largest law firms. He provides trial and appellate court representation and consultation services to public and private clients in state, federal and administrative litigation matters. Mr. Lincoln’s litigation experience, academic scholarship, and planning background distinctively serve to comprehensively protect the long-range interests of the clients he represents in obtaining zoning, planning and development regulatory approvals involving the most complex land use and local government matters.

Rod Hershberger – Board Member Emeritus

Rod Hershberger has played an integral role in shaping and enriching Sarasota over the years.

In 1980, he co-founded VinylTech, a vinyl porch enclosure manufacturing company, with Paul Hostetler. The duo began producing products in Venice, Florida, with just three employees. By 1987, Hershberger and Hostetler recognized the growing need within the Florida market for a reliable window supplier, and they established a new division, known as Progressive Glass Technology (PGT), to manufacture windows and doors.

After witnessing the devastation caused to homes by Hurricane Andrew in 1992, Hershberger and the PGT team set out to manufacture a window product that would be as strong as a block wall, which could be used to protect homes from catastrophic damage during such storms. Under Hershberger’s leadership, PGT became the first company to offer a full suite of impact-resistant window and door products and is known today as the nation’s leading manufacturer of impact-resistant windows and doors. It has been one of the largest employers in Sarasota County for decades.

After retiring from PGT in 2017, Hershberger served as the non-employee chairman of the board for PGT Innovations, parent company of several window and door brands, including PGT Custom Windows and Doors. Following MITER Brands’ acquisition of PGT in 2024, he was later appointed to MITER Brands’ board.

Outside of the company, Hershberger is a member and past chair of the Florida Building Commission and currently serves on several other boards in and around Venice, Florida, including the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, board member and past chair; Argus Foundation, board member and past chair; Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance, board member and past chair; and Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, trustee.

His passion for philanthropy has driven him to support numerous local causes, including Sarasota Christian School, Children’s First, Argus Foundation, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, FGIA, and Bayside Church. Rod was recently recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award from The Argus Foundation, as not only a testament to his remarkable career, but the meaningful ways he has helped shape the community.

Robert Lincoln - Volunteer Legal

Rod Hershberger - Board Member Emeritus

Alison Hewitt - Board Member

Garee Nace - Board Member

Diane Cominotti - Board Member

Donna Washko - Board Member

Mike Sancho - Board Member

Diane Cominotti, Director, Planning

Department, Sarasota County Schools

Experienced Planner with a demonstrated history of working in the education management industry. Strong professional skilled in ArcGIS, WordPress, Management, Office Administration, Social Media, and Research.

Michael Sancho - Board Member

Michael A. Sancho is an accomplished nonprofit executive and the President and Founder of Excellence in Action Consulting Services, LLC. With a career dedicated to youth development, organizational leadership, and operational excellence, he has provided strategic support to nonprofit organizations and youth-serving programs nationwide. His consulting work draws on decades of experience overseeing complex operations, developing high-impact programs, strengthening staff capacity, and building community partnerships that advance organizational missions.

Before establishing his consulting firm, Mr. Sancho served in senior leadership roles within the Boys & Girls Clubs movement for more than two decades. As Chief Executive Officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County, he oversaw strategic planning, compliance, community relations, and a multimillion-dollar budget while cultivating strong relationships with local leaders and the Board of Directors. His prior roles—including Vice President of Operations for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Martin County and Vice President of Program Services for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newark—showcase his expertise in program development, grant management, youth outcomes, staff development, and large-scale operational oversight. His leadership contributed to significant organizational growth, national program awards, and innovative technology initiatives that expanded youth engagement and achievement.

Mr. Sancho’s professional accomplishments include numerous regional and national recognitions, such as the Herman S. Prescott Award and the Contribution to the Profession Award. He is a member of the Academy of Boys & Girls Club Professionals, a former National Training Associate for Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and an experienced facilitator and presenter at national conferences. His commitment to professional excellence is further supported by advanced leadership training, technology certifications, and extensive continuing education. In addition to his executive work, he has served on multiple community boards and advisory councils, demonstrating his dedication to strengthening youth services, community development, and organizational impact.