Laurel Civic - A History of Empowering Our Community
Leadership
Board of Directors
After much prayer and thoughtful consideration, Dane became a partner at Hallmark Business Brokers, Inc. in January 2015. In August 2016, Dane had the fortune to buyout his partner at Hallmark and became the sole owner of the business.
In addition to helping business owners transition their business to a new owner, Dane focuses his time on working with business owners to build value in their business prior to transition to new ownership.
Dane prides himself on building relationships with people by caring, listening, and being honest.
In his spare time, you can find Dane volunteering for Sertoma Club of Venice, serving on the boards for the Venice area Chamber of Commerce, Family Promise of South Sarasota County, Laurel Civic Association, Big and Brothers Big Sisters of the Suncoast. Dane is also an avid sports fan and enjoys playing hockey, softball, and golf. Some of his favorite hobbies include woodworking, building furniture, and cooking.
As a father of three children, Dane’s burning desire is to be the person he wants his children to become.
Dane DeSantis, Originally from Bloomfield, New Jersey (20 minutes west of NYC), Dane now calls Sarasota, FL, home. Dane worked in the corporate world for 18 years, selling software to manufacturing and distribution companies all over the world. Throughout those 18 years, Dane always wanted to be an entrepreneur, but never knew what type of business to open.
Dane DeSantis - Board Chair
Terri and her husband raised their daughter through the Venice school system, where they enjoyed watching her grow and prosper through education and sports. Their daughter went on to graduate from the University of South Florida. Terri now enjoys being a grandparent to two beautiful grandchildren residing in Tampa, Florida.
Several years ago, Terri wanted to give back more to her community while continuing to run her business and serving on other business-related boards. Another board member told her about Laurel Civic and invited her to serve. After accepting this opportunity, she soon learned the unique value Laurel Civic brought to the south Sarasota Community and knew she was in the right place. Laurel Civic brought the needs of parents and children together. Terri could see that helping only an adult or a child was only half of the formula. The services Laurel Civic provides help to promote success and empowerment for families. Helping the family unit brings dignity and the ability to change an unsuccessful cycle into a positive one. Terri is glad to be a part of the bright future for Laurel Civic.
Terri Ramey was born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and after attending the University of Chattanooga, Tennessee, she left almost 40 years ago. She found the quiet little town of Venice, where she settled with her husband to begin a new life. Terri started in the banking industry and was a proud employee of the First National Bank of Venice. She enjoys long-time friendships with the special people who worked there. She moved on to the insurance industry and ultimately bought an agency, which she has owned for over 21 years.
Terri Ramey - Vice Chair
Deb Beach is a retired CPA and a graduate of Iowa State University. She became a Florida resident in 2014, after retiring from a career practicing in Nebraska and Iowa. While raising her two children, the family followed her husband’s career and moved several times. She has a passion for people, and in each new home she became very involved in the community and organizations that helped others, including serving as treasurer on multiple boards. In her free time
Deb Beach - Treasurer
Deb enjoys golfing, traveling, walking, gardening, card and board games, but most importantly spending time with her children, their spouses and two granddaughters ages four and eight months.
While contemplating what organization to volunteer for in Florida, a friend on the board mentioned Laurel Civic was looking for a member with an accounting background. I knew about the organization from playing in golf fundraisers and after research and prayer decided Laurel Civic was a great fit! I also enjoy volunteering with the kids besides serving on the board.
Dennis is Co-Owner with wife Linda of Venice Olive Oil Company, two local gourmet grocery stores featuring olive oils from around the world and balsamic vinegar from Modena, Italy. Dennis moved to the local area in 2013 after a 30-year naval career. When asked in 2019 to become a board member and seeing the immediate need, Dennis jumped at the opportunity to give back to the community that both he and Linda have adopted and grown fond of. Dennis is extremely excited to be a part of Laurel Civic for the tremendous work it does within the local community.
Dennis Turner - Secretary
Following a career in private practice, John served nearly ten years in the U.S. Public Health Care System. He served as Chief Dental Officer for the Community Health Center of Cape Cod. He also served as the Dental Director, and clinical professor of the Public Health Externship Programs on Cape Cod for both Harvard University and Boston University.
John and his wife Margie have been involved with fundraising activities for Laurel Civic since 2012. Inspired by the many volunteers of Laurel Civic, who help educate and shape so many lives, John became a board member in 2017. He served as Board Chair from 2019 to June, 2023.
John received his Doctor of Dental Surgery from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. During his nearly 30 years of private practice, John served as Vice-Chair of the Oral Surgery Department at Nashoba Hospital in Ayer, Massachusetts. John also served as President of the Wachusett District Dental Society. John created and initiated the GHAP Dental program, which provided access to dental care for low income, uninsured families. John also founded the dental clinic at Burbank Hospital in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, which provided free dental care to the underserved.
John Mancini - Immediate Past Chair
Volunteering has always been a big part of my life, and that love brought me to Laurel Civic. I started as a volunteer in the classroom and on the tennis courts before COVID in 2019. Soon I was asked and then given the blessing of serving on the board of Laurel Civic. At this time, I am excited and honored to be a part of the mission of Laurel Civic. The possibilities of serving this community are boundless and I am committed to being a part of that vision.
The joy for teaching and supporting the growth of children and young adults came late in my career. After graduating from The Ohio State University in Public Relations, a family move to Michigan while I was 8 months pregnant made me rethink the direction of my career.
I took a job as a school secretary, which led to my getting a teaching degree. This is when I realized working with children in all capacities was and is a fulfilling life choice. After 22 extremely happy years of teaching, I decided it was time to retire, move to Venice and continue playing tennis “full time.”
Gwen Vinson - Director
Aundria Castleberry retired in 2022 from All Faiths Food Bank for the past 23 years, as Director of Donor Relations. Her passion is to always be a support to families, children, seniors, and veterans in helping to provide healthy solutions to end hunger in our community. Originally from Miami Florida where she attended both Miami Dade College and Eckerd College. Aundria has lived in Sarasota County for the past 44 years. Prior to working at All Faiths Food Bank, she continued her banking career in Sarasota for 15 years. With many mergers in the industry, she left and pursued a career with the Sarasota County School system and taught life skill classes to at risk students, that would otherwise not engage in mainstream academics at school.
Aundria Castleberry - Director
Aundria currently lives in Venice Florida for the past 24 years and is a commissioner and former Chair on the board of the Venice Housing Authority, appointed by the mayor. At the original housing authority, Aundria created a “Girl Talk” outreach program that began in 2006 to teach life skills to the young ladies living on Grove Street. After serving close to 20 years on the board of commissioners, Aundria has now made a Legacy for herself where the City of Venice has dedicated a street in her honor, named Castleberry Court after rebuilding senior and family housing on both Grove Terrace and her named street.
Aundria’s additional passion is to join forces with family and close friends in their pursuit of happiness as she has discovered with her husband Johnny (Pete) who both love to travel and explore the wonderful countryside of our United States. She has been given the name by her family and many in her community “the glue” that makes everything stick.
Aundria shares a blended family of 3 adult daughters, 1 adult son, along with 3 granddaughters with her husband Johnny and have taken into their hearts a combination of a dozen godchildren, nieces, and nephews to add to their joy of living and giving.
Present affiliations - Commissioner, Venice Housing Authority, Sertoma Club of Venice, Embracing our Differences, Ambassador and Co-Chair-20th Anniversary Celebration. Laurel Civic Gala Committee.
Former Affiliation- Association for Fundraising Professionals (AFP)-Board of Directors, Sarasota Women’s Alliance, member, and former President, Betty Schoenbaum Celebration Committee Member, Community Foundation-Giving Matters, Steward and Trustee Boards for her Church, Selby Foundation Celebration Committee Member
Aundria has volunteered with many other originations in Sarasota County and continues to serve. Several members on the board of Laurel Civic have been persistent over the past 10 years, encouraging Aundria to serve on the board, which she agreed to after retiring in 2022.
Having his own league and role models from dedicated coaches and volunteers was important in developing youth to become active citizens. In addition, he knew fundraising was one of the major components for the success of the non-profit organization and his league. Supporting his wife, Johnny created a “Boys to Men” outreach program beginning in 2006 at the original Venice Housing Authority and watched the growth of the young boys into young men.
Family is Johnny’s world, and after the birth of his first granddaughter, to follow with several other granddaughters, and grandnieces, he stepped down as leader of the league and became a full-time grandfather and husband, supporting his wife in all her endeavors.
When Johnny is not enjoying his family, you can find him volunteering in the community with Sertoma Club of Venice and using his photography skills to support other civic organizations.
Being a team player, Johnny is thrilled to join the board of Laurel Civic with his wife.
Johnny Castleberry attended the University of Central Florida and completed his career at Federal Express for almost 40 years in 2021. Johnny was born and raised in Sarasota, Florida, where he was a star athlete at Sarasota High School.
Coaching football and supporting the youth is something Johnny has done for over 25 years. In 2002, Johnny developed two Little League Football teams for more than 10 years with 200 youth to teach them not only the game of football, but taught his players about responsibility, coming to practice and games on time, and being ready to work hard (just as they need to do to transition into adulthood).
Johnny (Pete) Castleberry - Director
Staff
Deacon Peter is a New Jersey native, where he resided with his wife until he retired as a Captain of Police after 30 years in law enforcement. He has two adult daughters and a lovable dog. In 2009, he and his wife of 37 years, moved to North Myrtle Beach, SC, where they resided for ten years.
During this time, Peter served as a Pastoral Associate at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, where he started an outreach ministry that included financial assistance, a soup kitchen, and a client choice food pantry. Peter’s passion is to serve the poor and has served as Executive Director (ED) for North Strand Helping Hands & the Community Kitchen of Myrtle Beach. Peter served as the ED for Community Kitchen from September 2013 to October 2019.
Peter moved to Venice, Florida, with his wife in October of 2019. After a short retirement, he decided that retirement for him was overrated and that he wanted to do more in assisting those who struggled to overcome challenges. He worked for the All Faiths Food Bank in Sarasota for a year as their Agency Relations Manager before coming to Laurel Civic.
Peter received his Master’s Degree from Seton Hall University, summa cum laude in Education with a specialization in Human Resource Management and Leadership. He graduated from the Fairleigh Dickinson University, Public Administration Institute, as a Certified Public Manager in 2002. He is also a graduate of the NJ State Chiefs of Police Association - West Point Command & Leadership Program. Peter was ordained in 2003 at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, in Paterson, New Jersey, after successfully completing his formation and theological /diaconal studies.
Peter M. Casamento, M.A.
President & Executive Director
Alicia Williams
Director of Youth Programs
Alicia Williams joined Laurel Civic in July of 2022. She is a native of South Florida and has lived around the world for the last 28 years as a military spouse. She has a B.S. degree in Criminal Justice, with a minor in psychology/business. Her graduate studies are also in criminology and psychology. She has spent over 15 years of her professional career working within the nonprofit sector, managing under the Education and Human Services umbrella, working with the youth and adults’ populations providing management services.
Alicia’s passion is empowering and constructing opportunities for youth in the community to help them grow, develop, and mature in reaching their full potential as young men and young women.
Alicia enjoys spending time with family.
Alicia is the proud wife to (Ret. Major) Joseph Williams and proud mom of 2 remarkable boys, Joseph Jr. and Johnell.
Our History
We help the children and families we serve get closer to the goal of self-sufficiency each day with the help of grants, donations, volunteers, and collaborations.
In 1969, local volunteers, led by community activist Sandra Sims Terry, formed Laurel Civic Association to bring much needed development to the Laurel area. Their actions brought water to homes, lights to streets, affordable housing to empty lots and changes that helped develop the area.
More than fifty years later, Laurel Civic still works to provide development to the community, but instead of roads and lights, the focus is on innovative programming for children and adults to help them meet challenges now and offer opportunities for the future. Laurel Civic has grown to serve all of Sarasota County, with an emphasis on South County.
Our Youth Programs focus on the need for equal educational and societal opportunities for all.
This means that we provide:
Food for children so they are not hungry, and can concentrate on other priorities like school work.
Support with homework so they can learn in a welcoming and safe environment.
Positive social experiences so they respect themselves and others, and learn confidence through achievement.
Likewise, we believe disenfranchised adults may need help to meet life’s challenges. We also provide access to services to prevent hunger and homelessness and empower families to learn skills that lead to self-sufficiency.
In addition to financial assistance, today’s families need social, academic, and nutritional help. We use a 2-Generation approach to ensure children and adults receive the prevention and/or intervention services they require.
Our Adult Programs offer:
Support for low-income families with resources to prevent homelessness.
Bi-monthly client choice food distributions. USDA food available.
Assistance with utility and rental bills, and budget management instruction.
Job training
Computer access and guidance to apply for government programs like food stamps, Medicaid, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
Financial literacy and growth through our Hand Up! Program.
Each year, Laurel Civic programs provide services to more than 1,000 adults and 500 children, generating measurable results that help empower families, youth, and communities.
