INSIDE NBP REC DAYS! ALL ABOUT FAMILIES NEW CEO NAMED FOR PARK OPERATOR NBP REC DAYS! IS ALL ABOUT FAMILIES DRAGON BOAT NATIONALS DATE SET SUMMER CAMP EXTENDED TO FILL NEED AUGUST 2020 A PUBLICATION OF SUNCOAST AQUATIC NATURE CENTER ASSOCIATES BOGO RENTALS! For the months of August and September, reserve a kayak, SUP, pedal pontoon boat or single scull rental and get the second one free. Email [email protected] to schedule today — just say you have the Sarasota Big Pass! NEWS SANCA TAPS A NEW CEO COURTESY PHOTO COURTESY Tomás Herrera-Mishler, new CEO and president 3 NEW CEO HERRERA-MISHLER WILL CONCENTRATE ON FUNDRAISING; RODRIGUEZ BECOMES COO AND CONTINUES TO MANAGE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS By DOUGLAS E. JESSMER experiences for disadvantaged individuals and Nathan Benderson Park recent immigrants, building a staff of about 40 percent with minority backgrounds. The he nonprofit that operates Nathan parks are now considered one of the city’s chief Benderson Park, the region’s premier recreational, environmental and aesthetic assets, Tinternational sports facility, is led by a new and are maintained at best-in-class levels. chief executive. “Nathan Benderson Park is a special community Tomás Herrera-Mishler will assume a new role asset in Sarasota and an internationally Aug. 3 as president and CEO of Suncoast Aquatic recognized rowing facility,” Herrera-Mishler Nature Center Associates, which manages the said. “I am excited to be leading this venture to park for Sarasota County. Herrera-Mishler will build and operate the finest park in our region, focus on long-term strategic planning, community serving guests and residents through high- engagement and fundraising. quality recreational amenities, fitness, events and SANCA’s CEO and president, programs in a beautiful park setting.” Stephen V. Rodriguez, will Herrera-Mishler was hired by the SANCA continue as the chief operating board after the park’s fundraising functions were officer. He will be responsible moved to SANCA from the Nathan Benderson for the day-to-day operations of Community Park Foundation. SANCA and the park. “The park is entering a new phase of growth Herrera-Mishler comes to and has tremendous potential to increase its Sarasota from San Diego, where Stephen V. facilities, programs and utilization to improve he was the inaugural CEO Rodriguez the quality of life in our community,” SANCA and president of Balboa Park moves to the Chairman Ronald Shapo said. “We are very Conservancy. In this role, he new position pleased that Tomás has agreed to assume the generated $18 million over five of chief mantle of leadership of the park as we move years through a combination of operating forward. His unique background and skill set will private donors, foundations and officer. be invaluable in helping us achieve our goals government funding. and maximize our future growth in a fiscally Before that, he was CEO and responsible and environmentally sensitive president from 2008-14 of the Buffalo (N.Y.) manner.” Olmsted Parks Conservancy, one of the nation’s Rodriguez, longtime leader at the park, top public/private park partnerships. Herrera- welcomed Herrera-Mishler: “I look forward to Mishler helped to secure almost $30 million working alongside Tomás, who shares a passion for capital-improvement projects toward the for public spaces and service to the community. implementation of the park system’s master plan, This will make for a team that will continue to which has been called “visionary.” He oversaw drive the park forward and develop a first-class partnerships to provide green industry work community asset for all.” 4 Herrera-Mishler has also worked as the New leader to build executive director of the Awbury Arboretum in Philadelphia, Airlie Gardens in Wilmington, on growth and success N.C., and the Massachusetts Horticultural SANCA makes this organizational change Society in Boston. because of growth, financial stability and He began his career in Florida as a profitability achieved, and also because of growth registered landscape architect at the noted in programs, events and team training. In 2019, firm of Wallace Roberts Todd in Coral Gables, operating programs, events and team training where he worked on the master plans for sessions kept the park busy 352 days. The park’s the Ringling Museum and the Civic Center momentum includes: in Sarasota. Herrera-Mishler has designed • An annual overall economic impact of more projects across the United States, the than $30 million for the past three fiscal years. Caribbean, his native country, Mexico, and • Programs that bring the community together Mallorca, Spain. One of his most notable for wellness, recreation and education, which projects is the master plan for the National drew nearly 2,500 participants to the park in Conservation Center in Costa Rica. 2019, more than doubling in size since 2017. Herrera-Mishler served as co-chair of the • An increasing number of events, which nearly American Society of Landscape Architects tripled to more than 130 events in fiscal year Parks and Recreation Professional Practice 2019. Events brought nearly 608,000 visitors Group, and on the boards of the Buffalo over the last six years, along with an economic and Erie County Botanical Gardens and impact to the region of almost $206 million. the National Association of Olmsted Parks. • Team training visits tripling in number from 2017 He belongs to the World Urban Parks to 2019, with 77 training visits from December Organization and the City Parks Alliance. to June. He is a member of the prestigious Lambda • Profitability at the park, which also grew Alpha International, a global land economic significantly. Working capital doubled over the society. He is a founding board member of the past two years, and profitability of events and Western New York Environmental Alliance. programs diversified SANCA’s revenue. Herrera-Mishler has received many awards Over the past several years, SANCA secured and accolades throughout his career, and was or played host to many events, including three named Preservation Hero 2013 by the Library consecutive World Rowing competitions of American Historic Landscapes. He is most in 2017-2019, the 2019-21 USRowing Youth proud of his 2020 Bob Marley Peace Award National Championships, the 2018, 2021 and given in recognition of his efforts to promote 2022 NCAA college rowing championships, the equity, diversity and inclusion throughout his 2017, 2018 and 2020 ITU World Cup Triathlons career. and Paratriathlons, the 2020 U.S. Dragon Boat Herrera-Mishler holds a master’s degree in Federation National Championships and the landscape architecture and regional planning, 2021 International Dragon Boat Federation Club with a specialization in urban design, from the Crew World Championships. Other events have University of Michigan. l included numerous circuses, fairs, festivals, running events, fundraisers and more. 5 NBP HOKU HELE PADDLE SPORTS NEW TEAM MAKES ITS PRESENCE KNOWN The newest addition to NBP’s stable of teams is not just for dragon boat paddlers wanting to stay in shape during the pandemic, though they certainly have the opportunity. It’s a chance for individuals to hit the water as singles, doubles and even groups of six, to compete against others across the state, the nation and the world. It’s NBP Hoku Hele, and it’s been making waves for a while now. Get involved Coach Annely Thorstad reports that the team — Want to be a competitor, pit crew named for the Hawaiian phrase for “wandering stars” member or fan? Contact Coach Annely — is competing both in-person and virtually in the last Thorstad at [email protected]. few months. NBP Hoku Hele is part of the NBPerks! Virtual events will be raced at NBP, she said. paddling package, and dragon boat And people who’d like to come out and cheer on team members can join the team for an the competitors, or even man a water station, are additional $15 per month on top of their encouraged to do so. NBPerks membership. “Some of the races you have to replenish water, so you need a pit crew because you don’t have the PHOTOS COURTESY ANNELY THORSTAD FOR SANCA Annely Thorstad, Jen Hipson, Kim Kuipers, Rochelle Costello, Neil Martindale and Roberta Martindale placed 51st out of 233 six-person outrigger canoe entries in the November 2019 Another Dam Race. 6 6 water stops,” she said. “So we’ll organize pit crews and we’ll do cheering sections to have someone out there egging you on.” A couple of the big races this year went virtual, presenting an opportunity to do the competition locally — including the Molokai 2 Oahu 16-miler in July, which had 1,700 paddlers. “Instead of being able to go and paddle in Hawaii this year, which was one of our big ones, and the other one was the gorge in Washington, they’re virtual races, so we’re going to do them here,” Thorstad said. There are still in-person races going on, though. “There’s still races happening within the state. It just depends on where we’re at with COVID and what county we’re in,” Thorstad Gary Roby took a first place in August for said. “Since we can do singles, it’s pretty his first race, the Philadelphia Outrigger good. When you go to the races, they’re really Canoe Club Waterman’s Challenge. careful. Everyone’s really good about social distancing, and once you’re on the water, you can’t get close to each other, anyway.” Dragon boat paddlers who still want competition are taking up outrigger canoes and stand-up paddleboards, and joining races, she said. The canoes are a great way to condition for dragon-boat paddling. “It’s really important to have something to train for, to have a goal,” she said.