New CEO/president selected for SANCA in Sarasota

Stephen Rodriguez, an executive with the Florida Sports Foundation, has been selected as the new president and CEO of the Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Associates, the nonprofit that manages Nathan Benderson Park.

Rodriguez, who will take over in August, has more than 25 years of event marketing and management experience along with 13 years of experience in the sports industry. According to a release, he will oversee all aspects of the park's operations and management.

The announcement was made on Wednesday by the SANCA board of directors. “Stephen’s expertise in sports promotion combined with his background marketing the State of Florida as a premier sports destination meshes impeccably with SANCA’s mission,” said Board Chairman Bill Robinson in a release.  “Paul created NBP, Bob has maintained it, and we are confident Stephen will propel it in into the future!”

Rodriguez has spent the past 18 years at the Florida Sports Foundaion and has been a senior vice president since 2010. He has been the director of the Sunshine State Games and the Florida State Games.

“I look forward to working with the SANCA staff and board, as well as the Sarasota County Government, in taking Nathan Benderson Park to the world stage," Rodriguez said.

The 2017 World Rowing Championships will be held at Nathan Benderson Park from Sept. 24-Oct. 1.

Rodriguez will replace Rosedale's Bob Sullivan, who announced in May he has giving up the job after only 10 months. "When I came on board, it never was going to be for 10 to 15 years," Sullivan said.

Sullivan planned on taking SANCA though the World Rowing Championships so SANCA would have plenty of time to find a new president and CEO.