Erin McLeod

Erin is President & CEO for the Friendship Centers, a regional nonprofit with a $17M+ annual budget that has served seniors, families, caregivers and promoting health, dignity and quality of life throughout the journey of aging since 1973. She started with the organization in 2004 as director of communications, became chief operating officer in 2006, senior VP in 2012, and was appointed as the organization’s second only president and CEO in January 2016.

Erin holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations from the University of Florida and has completed nonprofit management and development/fundraising coursework. She has a broad experience career base in consulting, healthcare, hospitality, public speaking and nonprofit.

A Sarasota resident for 36 years, she currently serves as a trustee for the Florida Council on Aging, a board member of the Charitable Gift Planners of Southwest Florida, on the Advisory Boards of Visit Sarasota, and the Junior League of Sarasota Community.

Past leadership roles have been as chair of the Sarasota County Seniors Advisory Council, and member of the Economic Development Council, president of the local chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association and on the state FPRA board, the Habitat for Humanity Sarasota board, Sarasota County COAD, Community Alliance and advisory and leadership roles for a variety of other community organizations.