25-26 Board
MICHAEL HARTLEY
Executive Producer + President
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Michael T. Hartley, CFP® is the Chairman of DKE, Inc, Comprehensive Wealth Counsel, with over 35 years experience in portfolio design and investment management. He was named a Fellow of the Family Firm Institute in 2018. Michael has an extensive background in philanthropy and served on boards of Venice area charitable organizations including the YMCA and Village on the Isle. He served multiple terms as the Chair of the Venice Planning Commission. His book, “Master Plan: Integrating Your Financial Planning, Legal and Estate Planning, and Life Planning,” is used by estate planners and investment advisors nationwide. Michael was the co-founder and funder of the non-profit Venice Institute for Performing Arts that that operates the $15 million Venice Performing Arts Center and currently serves as President of the Board of Directors.
BONNIE HARTLEY
Secretary/Treasurer
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Bonnie Brown Hartley, Ph.D., is President of Transition Dynamics Inc, and specializes in leveraging change in enterprise. She is a Fellow in the Family Firm Institute and holds their certificate in family wealth advising. In 2010 she and husband, Michael T. Hartley, released the two-CD series, “Think Ahead.” Her books, “Sudden Death” and “Unexpected Wealth,” were published in 2006. In 2009, she co-au-thored “Family Wealth Transition Planning.” Bonnie co-founded and funded the Venice Institute for Performing Arts with her husband, Michael Hartley, in 2016 and recently served as Executive Director for several years.
TOM EDWARDS
Board Member
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Tom Edwards is a dedicated advocate for academic excellence, student welfare, and community impact. Elected to the Sarasota County School Board in 2020 and re-elected in 2024, he consistently puts students and their educational experience first.
With more than 40 years of entrepreneurial experience and 11 years advocating for small businesses at the New York State General Assembly, Tom brings proven leadership to public service. In 2025, he was named Executive Director of Project Pride SRQ, helping guide its expanded focus on community impact and inclusion.
An avid Masters rower, Tom is a co-founder of the Newtown Rowing Initiative, which introduces rowing to Title I students, and serves on the board of the Sarasota Scullers.
PETER FAZIO
Board Member
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Peter Fazio is an entrepreneur and technical professional with a long-standing commitment to business leadership and community service. Originally from Avalon, New Jersey, he relocated to Sarasota, Florida in 1999 and now resides on Casey Key.
He is the founder of Avalon Electronics, where he spent over 20 years engineering and servicing commercial audio-visual systems, and later served as an operating partner at Renaissance Motor Cars in Sarasota for two decades, retiring in 2024. A Certified Electronic Technician, Commercial Pilot, 100-Ton U.S. Coast Guard Captain, and Eagle Scout, Peter has also served on numerous nonprofit and civic boards. He enjoys flying, fishing, boating, and supporting the arts, including the Venice Institute for Performing Arts.
BEATRICE HOLT
Board Member
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Bea Holt has been an active community volunteer with numerous Venice-area nonprofits since relocating to Southwest Florida in 2004. She currently serves on the VIPA and VABI Boards and supports organizations focused on the arts, conservation, and women’s rights. Her guiding purpose is simple: ‘Make the world a better place.’
JOY SATTERLEE
Board Member
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Joy Satterlee retired in December 2023 as Executive Director of the Art and Culture Center/Hollywood after 21 years of service. During her tenure, the organization presented premier contemporary art exhibitions with related programming, robust educational programming for children and adults, and managed a 500-seat theater. The Center, which opened its doors in 1975, is the third-oldest arts organization in Broward County.
A magna cum laude graduate of Florida International University, Joy completed Harvard Business School’s Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management and the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship Nonprofit Executive Program at Florida State University. Previously, she worked for a Fortune 500 company. She and her husband of more than 40 years reside in Venice, Florida, where she remains involved with numerous arts, cultural, and civic organizations while enjoying domestic and international travel.
Staff
DEREK BLANKENSHIP
Executive Director
ERIN BLANKENSHIP
Director of Academic and Administrative Services
ELI JASON
Director of Community Outreach
DAVID HERSHEY
Director of Artistic Operations
YVETTE WASSERMAN
Director of Marketing and Creative
JOEL SMITH
Technical Director
LAUREN MATURO
Box Office Assistant
25-26 Apprentices
Sayaka
Senior Apprentice
Siena
Senior Lead Apprentice
Ella
Senior Lead Apprentice
Apple
Senior Apprentice
Hannah
Senior Apprentice
Seger
Senior Lead Apprentice
Lillian
Junior Apprentice
Emily
Junior Apprentice
Emma
Junior Apprentice
Eli
Junior Apprentice
Abigail
Junior Apprentice
Hunter
Junior Apprentice
Rylee
Junior Apprentice
AV, Marketing & Intern Team
Brian
Senior/AV Lead Apprentice
Emily
Senior AV Apprentice
Emma
Junior AV Apprentice
Melina
Senior Marketing Apprentice
Estella
Graduate Intern
RENO MANNE
Executive Director 2021-2023
Reno Manne passed away on Friday, March 3, 2023. Mr. Manne joined VIPA for its first season in the fall of 2016 as the head of security. He was appointed Director of Operations in 2020 and Executive director in 2021. He learned the functions of every VIPA department, and helped design and implement volunteer, apprentice, and intern training programs. Mr. Manne was an accomplished leader with a real passion for bringing the arts to our community. He was an invaluable asset to the organization and his legacy continues to benefit VIPA and the broader arts community. He is missed.
Board Members:
Michael Hartley
Bonnie Hartley
Tom Edwards
Peter Fazio
Beatrice Holt
Joy Satterlee
VIPA FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENTS:
2016-2017
Miles Mowry
Casey Trascik
2017-2018
David Monagas
Brittany Smith
2018-2019
Evan Ackerman
Kelsey Simpson
2019-2020
Jonathan Case
2021-2022
John Hearon
2022-2023
David Wing
2023-2024
Christopher Riley
2024-2025
Rebecca Hartzell
VIPA APPRENTICE FELLOW RECIPIENTS:
2016-2017
Anthony Desalvia
Talia Ursel
2017-2018
Andrew Eason
Crystal Fox
2018-2019
Megan Roos
Jonathan Fenton
2019-2020
Fiona Coffey
Elijah Jason
2021-2022
Alex Coyne
Cidney Johnson
2022-2023
Joshua Franck
Aubrey Hunter
2023-2024
Emma McGill
Mars Vance
2024-2025
Sean Leake
Estella Villalba
