Board members of Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Association

The nonprofit Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Association was established to oversee the day-to-day operation of Nathan Benderson Park. The board includes community leaders from Manatee and Sarasota counties.

Board members:

n Paul Blackketter: CEO of Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Association. U.S. Army veteran, B.A. in urban planning, University of South Florida.

n Randy Benderson: President & CEO of Benderson Development, one of the largest private commercial real estate developers in the United States.

n Robert J. Delaney, owner, Delaney Consultants: Leadership consultant, trainer, and public speaker; Recognized as one of the NBA's most respected referees; M.A. in Leadership from St. Mary's College of California; and a B.S. in Criminology from New Jersey City University; Author of several books; including "Covert: My Years Infiltrating the Mob; and Surviving the Shadows...A Journey of Hope into Post Traumatic Stress."

n Bill Robinson: President and co-owner of Fit2Run. Former president/owner - Robby's Sports; GM - Champs Sports; Owner - The Treehouse ($12,000,000 landscape distribution centers sold to John Deere where it grew into a $300,000,000 business); developer - The Loop of Northwest Bradenton (a private, gated home community); owner, The Treeleader (a 300-acre landscape business in Manatee County); and founder of Robinson Preserve Park.

n Ron Shapo: formerly an accountant/bank director; now an attorney, whose legal career has spanned more than 40 years. B.B.A., Cum Laude, Accounting and Government, University of Miami; J.D., Cum Laude, University of Miami.

n Advisors to the board: Ed Hunzeker, Manatee County administrator, and Randall Reid, Sarasota County administrator.