We are so excited to celebrate and honor this year’s Sarasota Wonder Women, Teri A Hansen, Emily Walsh, and Janice Zarro, at the Renaissance Legacy Luncheon. The Renaissance Legacy Luncheon is about celebrating the accomplishments of these women that have made outstanding contributions in our community. Read on to learn more about these three exceptional women.

Meet Teri A Hansen

Teri A Hansen manages the daily work of the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation as it strives to make a difference in Sarasota and beyond. The Barancik Foundation was established by Chuck and Margie Barancik in 2014, and Teri was hired as its first employee in July 2015.

Teri has more than 25 years of experience in philanthropic leadership. Prior to joining the Barancik Foundation, she was president and CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation. During her 13-year tenure the foundation awarded nearly $200 million in grants and initiatives. She was vice president for gift planning and donor relations at The Cleveland Foundation, the oldest and one of the largest community foundations in the United States. She also worked as vice president of external relations for Central Indiana Community Foundation and was the founding president of Legacy Fund of Hamilton County (Indiana).

Teri volunteers her leadership nationally, statewide, and regionally. Currently, she serves on the Ringling College of Art and Design board and its trustee committee, the Florida Philanthropic Network board, where she is secretary/treasurer, and the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce board. Her previous board leadership includes, Council on Foundations and its public policy committee, chairing the Council on Foundations Community Foundation Leadership Team, chairing Community Foundations of Florida’s board, and serving on Florida Chamber Foundation’s board and investment committee. She was also on the Sarasota County Economic Development Corporation board and USF Sarasota-Manatee Community Leadership Council.

Teri is honored frequently for her professional and personal contributions to the community. She received the International Women’s Forum “Women Who Make a Difference Award;” State College of Florida President’s Award of Distinction; Tampa Bay Partnership Chair’s Cup for Excellence in Regionalism; Girls Inc. of Sarasota County “She Knows Where She’s Going” Award; and AJC Civic Achievement Award. Teri was named a “Best Boss” by 941CEO magazine, one of the “50 Most Powerful People on the Gulf Coast” by Gulf Coast Business Review, and to SRQ Magazine’s Women in Business Leadership Circle.

A San Diego native, Teri earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from San Diego State University. Upon graduating, she served as a public affairs officer in the U.S. Air Force. Teri is an alumnus of Harvard Business School, having completed its Advanced Management Program.

 

Meet Emily Walsh

Emily Walsh is the Publisher of the Longboat, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key Observers; Season and LWR Life magazines and YourObserver.com with the Observer Media Group, a family-owned multimedia company that publishes 13 newspapers, three magazines, eight websites and multiple social and video channels in Florida. Previously, Emily ran the Observer’s digital operations for seven years and as Social Editor for eight years. Emily also was a professional ballerina with the Sarasota Ballet from 1995 to 2000. Emily serves as a member of the Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center Board of Directors; serves on the Ringling College Library Association Board of Directors as 2018 Town Hall Chair; serves on the Board of Directors of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and on the Kiwanis Club of Sarasota Foundation board. Emily is member of Leadership Florida Cornerstone Class XXXIV. Emily’s awards and achievements include winning Girls Inc.’s “She Knows Where She’s Going” award in 2006, being named one of Sarasota Magazine’s “100 Most Powerful People” in Sarasota in 2007, Editor & Publisher’s “25 Under 35: The Next Generation of Publishing Leaders” in 2012, First Step of Sarasota’s “Caring Heart of the Year” in 2012 and the American Jewish Committee’s Civic Achievement Award in 2016. Emily’s most proud achievement is her seven-year old son, Rhys Parry.

 

Meet Janice Zarro

Janice Zarro is a lawyer, consultant, former corporate and not-for-profit executive. Her expertise includes leadership, government affairs and governance. She is the former Executive Director of the Women’s Resource Center of Sarasota County, working with women seeking employment Affairs Worldwide for Mallinckrodt Inc. and Vice President for Federal and State Government Affairs for Avon Product Inc. She is a former Counsel to both the Judiciary Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives and to the U.S. Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources. She is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Venice Symphony, the Designing Women Boutique & Estate Services and a member of the Advisory Committee of Canandaigua National Trust Company. She is past President of the International Women’s Forum Florida Suncoast, past member of the Board of Trustees of Doctor Hospital and the Co-Chair of the Venice Yacht Club Charitable Foundation. In 2013 she received the International Women’s Forum Women Who Make a Difference Award and was also inducted in the Sarasota Florida Community Video Archives Hall of Fame. She received a J.D. from Chicago Kent College of Law and a B.A. from Rutgers University.