BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Good Beginnings That Last A Lifetime
Board of Trustees – June 1, 2026 – May 31, 2027
Officers
Benjamin (Ben) Jones, CFP®, AIF® is a managing director at Mariner Wealth Advisors.
Ben has been managing assets for private individuals, families and charitable organizations since 2005. Prior to joining Mariner Wealth Advisors, he served as president, principal and chief investment officer at Allegiant Private Advisors. He continues to lead the Sarasota office while also supporting Mariner Wealth Advisors’ growth in the region. Ben and his team provide holistic and comprehensive wealth management solutions to help clients reach their financial goals.
Over the years, Ben has been active in the community through local nonprofit organizations and professional associations including the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance, Young Leaders Alliance, the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and the Forty Carrots Family Center. Ben is an alumnus of Leadership Sarasota.
Ben was named to Forbes’ Best-In-State Wealth Advisors list, ranking #40 in Florida in 2019. He was also ranked #191 on the Forbes’ 2020 Top Next-Gen Wealth Advisors list. He holds a dual degree in Economics and East Asian Studies from Bates College. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional and holds the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® designation.
Ben proudly serves on the board of directors and is the treasurer for Forty Carrots Family Center. He and his wife, Erin, are the proud parents of two children, Andrew and Lauren, both of whom are graduates of the Forty Carrots Preschool. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis and is an avid Red Sox fan.
The Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisors ranking by SHOOK Research is based on an algorithm of qualitative criteria, gained through due diligence interviews, and quantitative data. Those advisors that are considered have a minimum of seven years’ experience, and the algorithm weights factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and those that encompass best practices in their approach to working with clients. Portfolio performance is not a criteria due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Neither Forbes nor SHOOK receive a fee in exchange for rankings.
The 2020 Top Next-Gen list included 500 rising advisors who help managed over $1 trillion in client assets. Each advisor was nominated by their firm, then vetted and ranked by SHOOK Research. Advisors do not pay a fee for placement on the list, which is independently determined by Shook Research. For advisors already on a ranking, there is a fee to be highlighted in bold. For more information related to the award, visit https://www.forbes.com/top-next-gen-advisors/#7b7678996df0.
These awards and the due-diligence process conducted are not indicative of the advisor’s future performance and there is no guarantee of future investment success Your experience may vary. You are encouraged to conduct your own research to determine if the advisor is right for you. Portfolio performance is not a criterion due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. SHOOK does not receive a fee in exchange for rankings.
Tony Glover is a recently retired financial services executive who is highly skilled at people leadership, fixing big problems, driving positive change, and building meaningful relationships.
With extensive experience managing large profit centers, Tony has held leadership positions in four of the world’s largest financial institutions, resulting in billions of dollars of growth. His more than 35 years of progressive leadership with the American Express Company, J.P. Morgan Chase, HSBC Bank and Visa Inc. reflect an impeccable record of strong fiscal performance, consistently surpassing corporate goals in growing revenue and market share. Most recently, he served as a Global Payments Executive at Visa Inc. where he lead Visa’s global relationship with major financial institution and developed new cobrand card relationships.
Along with his financial expertise, Tony is well regarded as a highly effective communicator and connector, with seasoned people skills and the unique ability to build great teams. A leader of “heart and mind,” he is known for creating safe and open cultures, and empowering team members to find meaning in their individual roles and collective mission.
Tony has served in an array of functionally broad roles, from finance to human resources, marketing to general management, and has built an extensive, high-level network of leaders and influencers. Distinctive skills include applying analytical skills to address major business challenges; managing sales, operations, bank branches, and call centers; and bringing global teams together to reach shared goals.
Tony is devoted to developing leadership talent. He has contributed his expertise to several executive councils and advisory boards inside and outside of the companies where he was employed. Tony has served on many Non-for-profit boards in Officer and Executive Committee capacities. From 2006 to 2023 he served on the Board of Directors (including terms as Treasurer, Secretary and Vice Board Chair) of Sphinx Org., a group devoted to transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts. He is also a member of the Executive Leadership Council, a global organization known for advancing the careers of Black professionals in business and public affairs. Tony has received numerous honors and awards including being honored by the Greater New York YMCA as a Black Achiever in industry.
Tony received a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Florida A&M University. He has four adult daughters and resides in Sarasota, Florida with his wife Adela.
Jackie Griese is a Professional Realtor with Michael Saunders & Company. She holds the Accredited Buyer’s Representation (ABR®) and is a graduate of the University of Evansville. She possesses over 30 years of leadership and sales experience and previously, she was instrumental in creating a startup business with her husband that grew into a multimillion-dollar, multifaceted operation servicing Fortune 500 companies in the financial services, plastics, healthcare and utility industries. Today, Jackie works to understand her client’s lifestyle goals, budgets, and what matters most when considering relocation to the beautiful Gulf Coast of Florida. Her clients learn very quickly she is diligent about ensuring a smooth, seamless and worry-free transition when relocating to the Gulf Coast; the next place she hopes they call home! Jackie is an active volunteer in the community as she has worked with Child Protection Center, Venice Area Chamber of Commerce, United Way, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ohio Valley. She is currently a Steering Committee Member of the Van Wezel Foundation.
Members
Kevin Cooper is President|CEO at The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce. Prior to his current role, Cooper was Director of Community Investment for Gulf Coast Community Foundation where he helped oversee grant administration and initiatives. His previous experience also includes having been Vice President for Public Policy and Sarasota Tomorrow Initiatives at The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and, before that, Executive Director for the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce. Cooper was a sergeant in the United States Army National Guard, and his service included a tour of duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He earned his undergraduate degree in Marketing from Kent State University and an MBA from Florida State University. Cooper is active in the community, serving on a number of advisory boards.
Kevin is married to his wife, Missy, and together they parent a daughter, Violet, and a son, Cohen.
Valerie Dall’Acqua
Born in a Chicago suburb, Valerie pursued a degree in Marketing and Communications at Elmhurst College, followed by graduate studies at Northwestern University. Her career path led her into executive management positions in relationship marketing, internet advertising and optimization. Managing multi-million-dollar accounts for several national retail clients, honing her skills in strategic planning and revenue projections, Valerie’s last position as Vice President of Marketing for a venture capital backed start-up allowed her to branch out on her own and pursue other interests as an independent real estate consultant.
In her 17-plus years of experience in marketing and data analysis, Valerie became known for her exceptional business savvy and innovative approach to problem solving. These skills have been a tremendous value in her success. Valerie launched her second career after relocating to Annapolis, Maryland. There she quickly became one of the area’s top real estate professionals. Lured by the semitropical charm of Florida’s Gulf Coast, Valerie and her husband Charles relocated to the Sarasota area and reside on Casey Key where her experience and expertise has solidified over 15+ years. Valerie provides her clients with the trust and confidence needed when navigating the challenges of Sarasota’s competitive real estate market, in waterfront property development, building and sales. In her spare time, Valerie enjoys time with family, reading, cooking, travel, Pure Barre and Pilates.
Puja Dhanraj is a Sarasota native and proud alumna of Pine View School, where she studied from 4th to 12th grade before graduating in 1998. She then ventured to the Northeast to attend the University of Pennsylvania and the Wharton School, earning a B.A. in International Studies and a B.S. in Economics. Puja was one of just eight undergraduate students selected to matriculate directly into Wharton’s graduate program, where she went on to earn her MBA in 2003.
Puja began her career in New York City as a real estate investment banker at UBS before joining Warburg Pincus, a global private equity firm. During her decade-plus tenure there, she played a key role in raising over $44 billion for the firm’s private equity funds as a Director in the Fundraising and Investor Relations Group.
In 2020, Puja returned to Sarasota and now serves as Head of Investor Relations at Align Private Capital an investment firm based in the area. Committed to giving back, she has been deeply involved in her community, previously serving as President of the PTA for Landmark Preschool in Westport, Connecticut, and as a member of the Board of Trustees at the Westport Public Library. She is currently a Board Member of the Pine View Association (PVA) in Osprey, FL, where she also served as President from 2023 to 2025.
Dawn Doughty is originally from the Washington DC area, grew up in Maryland and lived in Northern Virginia until moving to Sarasota in 2008. Dawn retired from Chevy Chase Bank in 1996 to stay at home with her two daughters. While working for Chevy Chase Bank she served as the executive assistant to the General Auditor, managed a four division Audit Department and later moved to the Home Equity Division as a loan officer/underwriter and a subordination specialist.
After her retirement in 1996, Dawn was an active volunteer while living in Northern Virginia, serving as President of the Great Falls Women’s Club and President of the Great Falls Women’s Club Scholarship Board. For these organizations, she planned several fundraising events to benefit scholarship programs for high school graduates in Northern Virginia. She also helped launch a successful building campaign for a new firehouse for the Great Falls Volunteer Fire Department.
Dawn and her husband, Dennis moved to Casey Key in 2008. Since then she has served on the Casey Key Association board as Membership Co-Chair, Secretary and is a current Vice President overseeing various projects for the association. Dawn received her introduction to Forty Carrots Family Center four years ago when she took on the role of Wine Co-chair for their annual Wine, Women & Shoes fundraiser. Her duties as Wine Co-chair have allowed her to establish great working relationships with wineries, distributors and retail partners and manage the 1500 bottles of wine donated to be poured over the 3-day event each year.
Dawn is passionate about volunteering, children, and families, enjoys fine wine, golf and traveling the world with her husband.
A long, winding road brought Jag Grewal to Sarasota 21 years ago. Born in West Malaysia, he finished elementary school and the family then moved to Singapore. At 14, they immigrated to Australia, where Jag completed high school at 16 and won a scholarship to the University of South Australia. After successfully completing a rigorous degree program in Electrical Engineering, Jag decided to join his father’s property development company and learned the business. In the late 90’s, his entrepreneurial spirit brought him to America. After a short stint in Arizona in property development, Jag discovered Sarasota as he was flying to Africa on a mission assignment. He completed that assignment and moved to Sarasota in December 2000.
Jag is married with four children and enjoys squash and golfing, when time permits. Prior to forming a partnership with Ian Black at Ian Black Real Estate, Jag had been with Coldwell Banker Commercial and was recognized as one of the top 5 producers worldwide, since the firm purchased Arvida Realty in 2001. Mr. Grewal has been involved in a multitude of transactions from investment grade and development to industrial properties, as well as representing Real Estate Investment Trusts, such as The Lightstone Group, iStar Financial, Starbucks, Walgreens and Prime Retail.
A well respected commercial real estate broker, Jag has completed sales and leases over $500M in this region and has earned numerous distinctions throughout his career including:
- Past President of the Commercial Investment Division – an organization that serves all of the commercial real estate practitioners /affiliates in Sarasota County
- Prestigious Commercial Realtor of the Year, awarded by his peers in December 2007
- Obtained CCIM designation in March 2015, awarded by the Certified Commercial Investment Member Institute.
- 2015-2020 Board Member of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance
- Board Member of the Bradenton Area EDC
R. Hal Johnson, Ph.D.
Hal Johnson grew up in England and Connecticut. He started his career as a computer programmer at IBM in suburban New York and Paris, France during summers in college. He earned a BA in Economics from Vassar College and a Ph.D. in Psychology from Temple University, where he was awarded a full, three year scholarship. His focus was on family therapy. While there, he supervised Master’s program students in training to become counselors. He also conducted a fully-controlled research study of the effectiveness of a pre therapy preparation module for families who were just beginning family therapy. The study suggested benefits in both length of participation and final outcome success.
Following graduate school, Dr. Johnson served as a licensed staff Psychologist at a public mental health clinic in suburban New York. He worked closely with dysfunctional families to address critical problems, by helping parents to more effectively manage their children. At the same time, he developed a successful private practice in family, marital, and individual therapy in Connecticut.
Dr. Johnson was recruited to join the business consulting firm RHR International, where he worked with corporate clients to select and develop senior executives and their teams to improve organizational performance. Later he helped lead the talent management process at PepsiCo, ADT and other large corporations. At ADT, he was in charge of ADT University. He worked extensively throughout the U.S. and in Europe, South Africa, and Asia. When he retired from full-time employment, Dr. Johnson had strategic responsibility for leadership development for Tyco International’s global workforce of 250,000 employees.
Dr. Johnson and his wife, Jane Leipold, live in Sarasota, where they recently built an award-winning home. He served on the HOA Board for his previous community. Hal and Jane spend summers in Stonington, Connecticut.
Eric Kaplan is a resident of Sarasota and an attorney admitted to practice in Florida, New York and New Jersey. He holds his CPA license in New York, and his professional practice emphasis is real estate, banking, taxation, philanthropy and entertainment. He is a Trustee of the Louis & Gloria Philanthropic Trust, and is the vice chair of the Jewish Family & Children’s Services of the Suncoast. Eric is also Board member and chair of the audit committee of Sarasota Private Trust Company, a Board Member of the Boys & Girls Club of Sarasota, and the Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation. He has been married for 40 years to his wife Marcia, and has three adult children and four grandchildren.
Bob Lewandowski has a background in Human Resources, Health Management and Real Estate. Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Bob hold degrees in Psychology and Industrial Relations from Loyola University of Chicago. He retired in 2015 and has volunteered locally at the Loveland Center in Venice.
He and his wife Terry have 2 adult children, Katie and Mark. In his quiet time he enjoys golf, fishing, boating and the arts.
Melanie Nealis has over 25 years of progressively responsible executive experience as a Chief Legal and Compliance Officer in both public and private global companies. Melanie most recently served as the Chief Legal Officer and Secretary of Artera Services, LLC, a $2.5B energy construction services company with over 10,000 employees. Her prior experience includes serving as the Chief Legal and Compliance Officer of Helios Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: HLIO), Deputy General Counsel at Roper Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: ROP), and Senior Corporate Counsel at Nordson Corporation (NASDAQ: NDSN). She began her legal practice at the national law firm of Baker and Hostetler LLP.
Ms. Nealis has a deep breadth of experience running legal functions of all shapes and sizes, as well as managing compliance, insurance, risk, human resources, and ESG in her prior roles. She graduated with a BSBA in Human Resources, summa cum laude, from Xavier University and with a Juris Doctorate from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, with honors. Ms. Nealis is admitted to the bar in good standing in the states of Ohio and Georgia.
In her community, Ms. Nealis has been a regular volunteer for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and has served on the HR Committee of the Society’s board. She has helped organize and lead a team for the Society’s annual walk for over twenty years and volunteers at the event. Ms. Nealis supports and volunteers at the Academy at Glengary in Sarasota. She also regularly volunteers at Pine View School and serves as the Vice President of the Pine View Band Boosters.
I am a litigation Partner at Shumaker. My law practice focuses on complex business litigation, representing businesses, owners, and shareholders in various matters involving corporate governance issues, stock and asset purchase agreements, and general business disputes. Before joining Shumaker, I served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Joel DeVore of the Oregon Court of Appeals. I believe my personal and professional background will allow me to effectively serve the Forty Carrots board and support its strategic goals.
As a Sarasota native, I have a deep commitment to our community. I am a product of local schools, having attended Ashton Elementary, Sarasota Middle, Riverview High, and New Gate Montessori. My younger brother, also a Sarasota native, currently practices as an endodontist in Tampa. I have served on the Big Brothers Big Sisters Community Board since 2022 and am currently participating in Leadership Sarasota, Class of 2026.
My wife, Mishya, is a local nurse practitioner at a nonprofit. Together, we have a wonderfully blended family that includes our 16-month-old son, a baby girl on the way, and two older children, ages 10 and 13.
Our family values align directly with the core mission of Forty Carrots. We prioritize intentional parenting, shared time, and real-world experiences. We maintain an effectively screen-free home, reserving screens only for occasional family movie nights. Daily family dinners are a strict priority. To foster genuine connection and draw our older children into conversation, we rotate through board games, trivia, and a stack of discussion cards we keep at the dinner table. Our goal is to maintain an engaged and connected household. Outside of my professional commitments, I enjoy cooking, traveling, boating, playing guitar to our toddler, Alex (while he tries to sing along), and spending as much time as I can with my family.
Henry Lebaron (Barry) Preston has partnered in the restoration of seven historic mills in New England, has developed, built or rehabbed and managed more than 600 homes – condominiums and rentals – in seven communities in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, and has developed three retail marketplaces.
In 2011, Mr. Preston and Michael Giuliano, with John Childs, founded Preston Giuliano Capital Partners, a private investment fund acquiring, repositioning and managing distressed and value add properties in south and central Florida. Mr Preston currently serves as a Managing Director. The firm has acquired and managed 3.077 units in 15 properties in Tampa, Naples, Sarasota, Clearwater, Jacksonville, Ft. Lauderdale, Hollywood, Boynton Beach, Lakeland and Jupiter, Florida.
These undertakings have a combined value of more than $600 million.
Since 1986, Mr. Preston has been Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Armory Revival Company, which has completed and operates transformational historic renovation projects in Providence, including the Rising Sun Mills and Calender Mills in the Valley District (160 market rate apartments and 135,000 sf of office space), the Pearl Street Lofts (61 loft apartments, condominiums and commercial spaces), and more than 130 apartments and commercial spaces in buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in the re-developing historic neighborhoods of Providence. Armory has developed 3 new residential communities in Rhode Island and has just completed a 59 unit net zero energy using affordable apartment building in Tiverton, RI.
Mr. Preston’s development as a businessman and human being has been enriched through leadership positions in a number of community organizations. He is past president (1982-85) and a founding member of the Board of Trustees (1980-1994) of the Providence Preservation Society Revolving Fund, Board member of the Providence Preservation Society (President 1994-96), founding Trustee of the RIGHA Foundation (1996-2014), member of the Community Advisory Board of Sovereign Bank Community Development Corporation) (2004-2012), Board Member of the Non-Violence Institute (2006-2023), President of the Board of the Suncoast School for Innovative Studies (2021-2026) and Co-President of the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation (2018-present).
Mr. Preston earned his law degree from the University of Chicago (JD’72); graduated from Yale University (B. A. ’65); and served as a Captain in the U. S. Marine Corps (1965-1968; Bronze Star, Purple Heart). He has been married for 56 years and has 3 children.
Alan Ross opened Suncoast Orthotics & Prosthetics, Inc. in 1981 to serve the needs of the amputee population in the Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte County areas. He served as Chairman of the National Exam Development Committee for the National Certification Board in Orthotics & Prosthetics and was Chairman of the Florida Licensure Committee seeking to develop a Licensure Bill to regulate the provision of orthotic and prosthetic care in the State of Florida. In 2013 he sold his business to the Hanger Clinic, a national leader in orthotic and prosthetic care and continues to serve as Clinic Manager. He is married with two grown children.
Susan R. Sakhai is a Senior Trust Advisor on the Wealth Advisory Team in our Sarasota, Florida office and is the Senior Fiduciary Officer for Northwest Florida region of Northern Trust. Susan serves as a point of contact and service provider for existing and newly developed client relationships, with a focus on estate planning and wealth transfer strategies. Susan also works closely with her clients to develop and administer customized financial planning including deposit, credit, investments, wealth transfer and business succession planning.
EDUCATION
Susan received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science, cum laude, from Vanderbilt University and a Juris Doctor Degree from Emory University School of Law. While practicing law in California, she was a California Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law.
EXPERTISE
Susan has over 18 years of experience in the area of trusts and estates. Prior to joining Northern Trust, Susan was a practicing attorney with Henderson, Caverly, Pum & Charney, in San Diego, California. She worked with high net worth clients to implement sophisticated estate plans, provide advice regarding wealth transfer strategies and administer complex trust administrations.
INTERESTS
Susan she lives with her husband in Sarasota, Florida with their two sons. Susan enjoys sporting events, boating and golfing.
3 THINGS PEOPLE ASK ME
•What happens if I should be incapacitated?
•Why should I consider a Corporate Trustee?
•How should I balance the level of wealth I pass between family and charity?
Joleen Searles
As a founding partner of Searles, Sheppard & Gornitsky, Joleen helped shape the firm’s commitment to providing clients the best possible guidance, support, and knowledge to satisfy their legal needs. Joleen employs an in-depth knowledge of the estate planning field to design plans that offer clients the peace of mind that they and their heirs will be taken care of in the best way possible. She believes that, regardless of their situation, everyone should have some manner of estate plan. Joleen enjoys working with each client to craft the most optimal plan for them, no matter how simple or complex that plan might be. Joleen manages the firm’s ultra- high net worth practice utilizing numerous advanced multifaceted planning solutions to help those clients navigate the many unique estate complexities and tax challenges they face. Additionally, Joleen oversees the firm’s estate settlement and probate practice, assisting those who have lost loved ones through the process of settling the estate. Joleen couples her breadth of knowledge with a warm, friendly personality that puts clients and advisors at ease, even when discussing topics that are often disconcerting. Growing up an Army brat, living all over the world – across the likes of Texas, North Carolina, California, Japan, Alabama, Virginia, New York, Germany, and the list goes on, Joleen learned early to relate to people from a variety of backgrounds. She believes this enables her to look at every situation from different perspectives in order to achieve the best possible results for her clients. Joleen looks at every plan as a puzzle unique to that person and loves the opportunity to assist every client in attaining the ideal outcome. Joleen teaches continuing education seminars for financial advisors, attorneys, and other professionals for about estate planning, wealth preservation, estate settlement, and updates regarding the latest changes in the law that impact estates and taxes. Joleen has a B.A. from the University of Virginia, a J.D. from Hofstra University, and an LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Miami. She is licensed to practice law in Florida, New York, and Tennessee.
Susan Travers is an experienced non-profit fundraiser, volunteer coordinator, and event planner. For over 25 years she has worked with worthy organizations to support their missions of helping those in need within the community. Susan believes that one person can make a huge difference in the lives of many.
For 7 years Susan was a volunteer/mentor in the National Charity League, a Mother-Daughter philanthropic organization, focused on community service, social development and cultural experience. She, along with her daughter, completed over 500 hours of hands on community service in support of Ronald McDonald House, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, and Senior Services, just to name a few.
Susan was involved for 18 years with Country Club of the South Charity Guild, a 100% all-volunteer organization that raises funds and provides grants to over 50 Atlanta area non-profits who support families and children in need. Beginning as Volunteer Coordinator, then VP of PR/Marketing, VP of Fundraising, among other rolls, Co-President, the organization has raised over $4 million dollars for worthy causes.
Additionally, in 2015, Susan was the Co-Chair of the “Atlanta is Grateful” fundraiser, which netted $235K for Your Grateful Nation, dedicated to helping Special Forces Operators (Navy Seals, Green Berets, and Delta Force) transition to the executive level job market. Responsibilities included identifying, contacting, obtaining commitments from potential financial partners/supporters, as well as oversight and management of all details regarding the “Atlanta Is
Grateful” event.
Currently, Susan is Co-Chair for the Van Wezel Foundation Gala, whose mission is to “create a world class performing arts center that enriches the community, support arts education and inspire young minds”. The funds raised through this event will enable over 30,000 students and their families to have access to the arts that would not otherwise be reached due to financial limitations.
Susan and her husband Jim will be married for 35 years April 9, they have 4 grown children and 5 grandchildren, one more on the way. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Marketing from the University of Illinois.
Emeriti
Kim Githler
Jeff Steinwachs and his wife Ellen moved to Sarasota in 1997. Their passion for Forty Carrots Family Center began in 2003 with the birth of their first child. As new parents and as a growing family, they enrolled in and learned from the parenting classes at Forty Carrots with their three children. In addition, their children all attended the preschool at Forty Carrots. Here, Jeff learned how Forty Carrots reaches beyond its doors to so many families in our community. Wanting to help the organization further its mission of strengthening families, Jeff served as a Forty Carrots Trustee, acting as Treasurer, and as a member of the Finance Committee. He now serves as a Trustee Emeritus and continues to support the organization.