BIOS

DANIEL BECHTOLD

Information pending.

MATT BURNETT

Matt first visited Sarasota in 1979, visiting with his grandparents who had recently moved from the Northeast. In 1981, Matt's first year of college at the California Maritime Academy, his parents moved from New Jersey to Siesta Kay after falling in love with the area. He stayed with his parents on college breaks through the early 1980s. During one of these visits, Matt met his future wife Julie who lived in South Gate. Matt and his wife relocated from California to Sarasota in 1990, moving closer to family and planting roots on Siesta Key. They have a 6-year-old son Alexander. Matt has a B.S. in Marine Engineering and works as a Chief Engineer for General Dynamics in the Marine Operations Division. He and his family love the beach and water activities around Siesta Key as well as the beauty of the island. Matt has become involved with the SKA out of concern for increases in population density and protection of our environment.

RON FLYNN

Ron and his wife Ildiko moved full-time to Siesta Key in 1997 and until then were part-time residents since 1984. Ron and Ildiko have been married since 1970. Ron is currently in the real estate business on Siesta Key with Coldwell Banker. He recently completed a five-year contract with Lucent Technologies, Inc. as a Telecommunications Engineering Consultant. Ron opted for an early retirement of 29 years with the AT&T Corporation in various engineering management positions in New Jersey, New York, and Georgia. He served six years active duty in the U.S. Army in various assignments worldwide, to include the Satellite Communications Agency; the Army Security Agency in Turkey and South East Asia (Vietnam); a special assignment in France; and special assignments with the Dutch Royal Air Force in the Netherlands, and with the British Royal Air Force in Germany. He attended Mercy College, White Plains, New York: Business Management and Norfolk College of William and Mary: Norfolk, Virginia: Electronic Engineering under Virginia Tech (VPI). Hobbies include boating, fishing, photography, computers, electronics, martial arts, and Ron wants to get back into scuba diving. He is currently serving as President on the Board of Directors of the Tortoise Estates Homeowner's Association.

DEET JONKER

Deet and his wife, Lynn, have been full-time residents on the Key since 1995, and yearly visitors and property owners since 1985. Deet is a retired entertainment executive. He held various management TV production positions with the ABC-TV network for 33 years. During his tenure at ABC, he won an Emmy Award for Individual Achievement for the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. He retired in 1995 from Radio City Music Hall where he was the Senior Vice President of Production and Executive Producer for the Radio City Christmas Show and various other live stage presentations. As a free lance producer, Deet was engaged by the Republican National Committee to co-produce the last three Republican Conventions. He is currently the President of the Siesta Isles Homeowner's Association, an Advisory Board member at the Van Wezel, and is Vice President of the Siesta Key Greater Sarasota Republican Club.

ANN KAPLAN

Ann and her husband, Rich, moved to Siesta Key in 2000 after spending 20 years on the coast of California raising 3 children. Ann and Rich both worked as fashion design and marketing executives for Levi Strauss, where they met. The Kaplan family chose Siesta Key because of its casual, tropical atmosphere and scenic beauty. Having been very active in community service for more than 20 years, Ann joined SKA to help preserve the natural environment and wildlife habitat that attracted her to this unique barrier island. Ann is a strong advocate for common sense and sustainability of natural resources in land use planning, protection of tree canopy, wildlife and waterways. She is also president of the Sarasota County Council of Neighborhood Assns. (C.O.N.A.), founder of The Alliance for Siesta Key's Future (T.A.S.K.), and Citizens for Sensible Growth member. Ann and Rich own Siesta Sol, an organic interior design and fashion design company.

JOYCE KOUBA

Joyce was born in Pennsylvania, raised in California, and is a graduate of UCLA. She has lived in many of the United States, most recently Virginia, as well as abroad. Joyce is now an independent consultant after 20 plus years in the computer industry. Joyce's professional background also includes extensive experience in training and writing. Joyce and her husband, Joe, retired to Siesta Key in 1998 after exploring the Florida west coast. They proactively work to preserve the wonderful quality of life on Siesta Key. They also volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and enjoy sailing and photography. Joyce has been appointed a Guardian ad Litem. You will frequently find Joyce in her garden, traveling, and enjoying friends and her family of three sons and twin grandchildren.

LOURDES RAMIREZ

Lourdes Ramirez became a full-time resident of Siesta Key in 1999 after spending all her vacations on Siesta for 10 years. Lourdes has an MBA from Iona College. She owns a retail business called Isle of Avalon located on Cooper Creek Blvd., University Park. She spends her free time volunteering on SKA because of her determination to preserve the neighborhoods.

ROBERT SCHENNUM

Robert has been a resident of Siesta Key since 1964. He is originally from the Chicago area. He received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Southern California in 1958; worked in Madison, WI, for three years before coming to Sarasota in 1961; worked with Jack West and Ralph Twitchel for six years. Robert was architect's representative for the Taliesin Association of Architects during construction of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. He received his Florida license in 1972 and has practiced architecture here ever since. Although semi-retired, he is still actively engaged in the design of luxury homes and commercial structures from his studio on Siesta Key. Robert is particularly concerned with zoning problems as the Key becomes more congested and would like to see Midnight Pass opened and is in favor of incorporation for Siesta Key so that there can be better control of problems and needs.

ROBERT TRIPP

A native of Detroit, MI, Bob graduated from the University of Detroit and Wayne State University. Following service in the U.S. Army, Bob began his interest in community activities by being elected to the Plymouth, MI, School Board. In 1961, he joined Eastern Airlines and advanced through a series of increasingly more responsible positions in Engineering/Aircraft Maintenance, Purchasing and Inventory Management culminating in his retirement as System Manager- Support Operations Latin America. Following his retirement, he relocated with his late wife Mary to Sarasota/Siesta Key. Bob currently is on the Sarasota County Planning Commission, having served as Chairman and having been reappointed to his third term. Additionally, he serves on the Sarasota County Citizens Tax Oversight Committee, representing Siesta Key. Prior responsibilities include President-Siesta Key Condominium Council for 6 years; President-Sandpiper Beach Club; Treasurer-Castel Del Mare Condo (where he lives). Recently, he was appointed to the Bay Village Board of Directors. Bob hopes his membership in SKA will continue to improve the lifestyle and vitality of Siesta Key.

PAUL G. VAN DEVENTER

Paul and his wife Michelle have been visiting Siesta Key since 1994 and made it their permanent residence in 1999. They have a 5 year old daughter. Paul has a Masters from MIT and is a business consultant with Infosys Technologies.

PETER VAN ROEKENS

Peter and his wife Nancy first came to Siesta Key in 1974 and purchased property. They both retired and became full-time residents in 2000. Peter was a Director of Multivendor Systems Engineering at Digital Equipment Corp. and then VP at Compaq Computer. In his early career, he started and ran two service companies in Pennsylvania. He is a past President of Siesta Key Association and current President of Terrace East Condominium Association. Peter is the Chairman of the Boaters' Coalition whose members extend from Clearwater to Naples. In addition, he is a member of the Regatta Committee and co-chair of the Sailing Committee at Sarasota Yacht Club. Peter and Nancy have been married 47 years and have two children and four grandchildren — including seven-year-old triplets.

BOB WAECHTER

Robert and his wife Jane moved to Siesta Key in the fall of 1977 when they purchased a home on Peacock Rd. They still live in that same home. Bob and Jane have one child, a daughter, Joanna, currently attending the University of Central Florida. Originally from New York City, Bob is a Navy veteran, a graduate of the College of Staten Island, past Director of the Staten Island Board of Realtors and a retired New York City Firefighter. Upon moving to Siesta Key Bob became very involved in community affairs. He is a past Director of SKA having served eight years on the Board of Directors, two as President and one as Vice President. He was very involved in the Siesta Key Zoning Overlay District, sitting on the Zoning Overlay Committee for two years and the Community Planning Committee prior to that. He is President of the Midnight Pass Society, a federally recognized environmental organization dedicated to the restoration of the natural marine environment in Little Sarasota Bay by reopening Midnight Pass, closed by two homeowners in 1983. In 2000 he was elected to the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority and was subsequently reappointed to that position by the Governor in 2002, serving twice as Chairman. He represents the Airport Authority on the Sarasota Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization. In the past Bob has served on the Neighborhood Initiative Grants Committee and the Sarasota County Parks and Recreation Master Planning Committee. He is Vice-Chairman of the Republican Party of Sarasota County and is on the Board of Directors of the Sarasota Civic League and the Sarasota Pines Foundation. Bob and Jane operate two businesses in Sarasota: Luminair Dome Ceilings, in business installing ceiling lighting systems in Sarasota for over 25 years, and R&J Commercial Management, an industrial acquisition, renovation and management firm.

GAYLE WARDNER

Gayle moved to Siesta Key in 1998. Since the 1970s she has been a volunteer for many organizations whose efforts have centered around tree protection, maintaining healthy urban forests, endangered species protection, air, water and noise pollution, and habitat protection. She is a staunch supporter of the World Wildlife Fund, the Nature Conservancy and other organizations that promote saving habitats for species in peril. Gayle received her Bachelor's Degree from the University of North Carolina. She is interested in preserving and enhancing the quality of life on Siesta Key, not only for mankind, but for all species that exist in what has become a very fragile ecosystem. Red tide is a big concern to Gayle, one that cannot and should not be “fixed” by the bandaid approach. Resources from city, county and state are needed immediately to find exacerbating causes and enhancers of red tide. She feels SKA understands the most important issues facing the Key and wants to help in improving and maintaining the quality of life for everyone who truly appreciates the gem we have in Siesta Key.