SARASOTA, Fla. – August 6, 2021 – The Southwest Florida Chapter of the American Red Cross, based in Sarasota, has welcomed new leadership to the Chapter, including a new executive director, volunteer board officers and several board members.

STAFF LEADERSHIP

Chris Purnell has been named Executive Director of the Southwest Florida Chapter, serving Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Manatee and Sarasota Counties. She started her career with the Red Cross in 2005 as a volunteer board member for the same Chapter, and has since held a variety of leadership roles including the last four years as Central Florida’s Regional Volunteer Services Officer.

Her Red Cross career has included many national disaster responses where she has grown her knowledge and skills in staff services and workforce engagement. Purnell has a passion for helping her community which has also included a professional role as the Corporate Relations Director for the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County, and volunteer roles with other local nonprofit organizations. 

Purnell and her husband live in the Bradenton area. She has two grown children, a son-in law and two grandchildren. She succeeds Megarie D. van Sickle in the role, who retired in June after 22 years of service.

NEW BOARD OFFICERS AND MEMBERS

The Southwest Florida Chapter also installed new board officers and members at its Annual Meeting in July. Board officers serve two-year terms, and new members serve three-year terms, up to nine years. All members reside in one of the counties the Chapter serves.

• Amada Kison has been named Chair. She is an attorney with the firm of Bentley Law, a commercial litigation law firm serving Southwest Florida.
• C. Garrett Moore has been named Secretary. He is a financial advisor and founder of Moore Financial Management, Inc. in Bradenton.
• Dotti Girardi is a new board member. She is a vice president and trust officer with Crews Bank & Trust, a family-owned community bank with locations in Arcadia and Sarasota.
• Charles "Chuck" Jacobson is a new board member. He is a vice president and general manager of Aqua Plumbing and Air serving Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice and surrounding areas.
• Alan L. Perez, Esq., is a new board member. He is personal injury trial lawyer with the Mallard Law Firm in Sarasota.

The Southwest Florida Chapter of the American Red Cross serves Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Manatee and Sarasota Counties and is located at 2001 Cantu Ct. in Sarasota. The Executive Director is Chris Purnell who joined the Red Cross in 2005. The Southwest Florida Chapter is one of five that comprise the American Red Cross of Central Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands Region, serving 19 Florida counties and the Virgin Islands territories of St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John and Water Island. For more information, visit redcross.org/centralflorida. Also find us on Facebook and Twitter.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

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