Community Foundation Tampa Bay has elected Linda O. Simmons as chair of its board of trustees for a two-year term, effective July 1, 2025. Simmons will be joined by three new board members: Bob Blanchard, Jr., Greg Rosica and Janice Ferman Straske.
“We are honored that Linda will continue to lend her time to the Foundation as board chair,” said Marlene Spalten, president and CEO of Community Foundation Tampa Bay. “Her years of service to both the Community Foundation and the broader Tampa Bay community make her a natural fit for the role. We’re grateful for her – and our new and existing members’ – dedication to creating lasting impact in the region.”
Simmons has served on Community Foundation’s board of trustees since 2019, previously holding roles as treasurer and secretary. She enjoyed a successful career in banking and currently serves as president and primary shareholder at R.R. Simmons Design & Construction. As an active member of the Tampa Bay community, she currently serves on the board of the University of South Florida Foundation and has previously served on the boards of the University of South Florida Alumni Association and United Way Suncoast, among other organizations, providing her expertise and leadership across the region.
“I’m looking forward to working alongside new and existing board members to strengthen our community through philanthropic investments,” said Simmons. “My past 6 years on the board have equipped me with the insight and experience to welcome our new members and guide our efforts as we address regional needs.”
The new board members include:
• Bob Blanchard, Jr. is chairman and CEO of WRB Enterprises, a diversified holding company, and a founding partner of WRB Serra, an investment firm focused on renewable energy. He has contributed his time to several local organizations, including The University of Tampa, Tampa Metropolitan YMCA, The Bank of Tampa and Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation.
• Greg Rosica is a retired partner at Ernst & Young. He previously served as chair of Community Foundation’s board from 2012-2014 and on its investment committee for eight years. Rosica is also active with The Fresh Air Fund, University of Florida and Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation.
• Janice Ferman Straske is Director at Ferman Motor Company and a dedicated philanthropist with deep roots in Tampa. She has served on the board of trustees for Berkeley Preparatory School, the vestry of St. John’s Episcopal Church, and the Commission on Ministry for the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida. Through her leadership in the Ferman Community Partnership, she supports numerous local causes. She was also honored as Gasparilla Queen LXXIX
Simmons steps into the role of board chair, bringing her passion and leadership to the helm, while Blanchard, Rosica, and Straske join the board of trustees—a dynamic group of local leaders and philanthropists committed to making a lasting impact in the Tampa Bay community.
About Community Foundation Tampa Bay
Community Foundation Tampa Bay is the leading philanthropic investor in Tampa Bay. Founded in 1990, Community Foundation Tampa Bay connects philanthropists, nonprofits, business and community leaders for fundamental change in Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties. Over the past 35 years, Community Foundation Tampa Bay and its donors have fostered collaboration, sought creative solutions and invested more than $450 million in nonprofit organizations to help our community thrive.
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