Charitable Foundation of the Islands Announces Changes to Leadership
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For Immediate Release
January 14, 2024
Contact: Claire Lynch
communications@sancapcfi.org
The Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI) will see several changes in 2024 as the Board’s Executive Committee transitions to a new slate of officers, including Chip Roach (Board Chair), Lisa Riordan (Board Vice Chair and Chair-Elect), John Morse (Secretary), and Doug Congress (Treasurer).
CFI’s Board Chair since 2018, Charles (Chip) Roach, will continue in this role through the end of 2024. He will then transition to Immediate Past Board Chair in 2025. Roach, a native of suburban Philadelphia and a graduate of Notre Dame, has an extensive background in real estate. He also served on the board of the Captiva Chapel by the Sea and recently completed his service on the Board of the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation. He and his wife of 60 years, Nancy, have been Sanibel residents since 2007.
“As a result of Hurricane Ian more than a year ago, the needs of Sanibel and Captiva Islands have shifted. Being a nimble organization, CFI will pivot accordingly to meet those needs,” Roach said. “Philanthropy, leadership and collaboration among our nonprofits will continue to be our focus, with some additional attention to economic revitalization as we strive to assist the business community through the Chamber of Commerce.” Since Hurricane Ian, CFI has awarded over $1.5M in grants to Southwest Florida nonprofits including Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, F.I.S.H. of SanCap, Community Housing and Resources (CHR), “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society, the Sanibel School and the SanCap Chamber of Commerce. The philanthropy, leadership and collaboration CFI provides was particularly needed in the year that followed Hurricane Ian and will continue to make an impact in the months and years to come.
Lisa Riordan, who previously served as CFI Board Secretary, replaces Melissa Congress who recently completed a decade of service. Riordan also holds the title of “Chair-Elect” for 2025 which will make her the Foundation’s first woman Chair, as well as the first Captivian to serve in this role. She also chairs the Nonprofit Education and Engagement Committee. Riordan spent many years in the communications industry before beginning her 25-year career in labor representation. A New York native, she has been a Captiva resident since 2012 and serves on the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Board. She has served as the Chair of the Captiva Civic Association, currently chairs its Land Use Committee and is president of the CCA Foundation Board.
"Lisa has proven to be an effective advocate not only for our nonprofit partners, but for the business and residential communities as well," said Roach. "I look forward to working closely with her throughout 2024 and passing the torch to her very capable hands in 2025."
John Morse, who will be stepping into the role of Board Secretary, also chairs CFI’s Nominating and Governance Committee. Morse practiced corporate and real estate law for 49 years, having recently retired. He currently serves on the Boards of F.I.S.H. of Sanibel-Captiva (returning this year as its Board Chair), as well as the F.I.S.H. of Sanibel-Captiva Foundation), the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation (and has served as President or Board Chair of all three organizations). Morse and his wife Kay have been full-time Sanibel residents since 2005.
Doug Congress will remain as CFI Treasurer for a second three-year term. With over 30 years of experience serving as an executive officer and owner of several businesses, Congress’s background includes business operations, finance, administration, and public accounting. He has also served on the Sanibel School Foundation Board, the Board of the Kiwanis Club of Sanibel, the Board of the Bonita Springs Chamber of Commerce and was elected to City Council and served as Vice-Mayor of the City of Sanibel.
There will also be several changes to the leadership of CFI’s committees: Jeff Muddell will take over as Fundraising Committee Chair for recently retired and founding board member Tony Lapi. Rachel Pierce will take on the role of Marketing Committee Chair, replacing Tom Libonate who remains on the Board. Bob Wiesemann will continue to serve as Grants Committee Chair. Eric Pfeifer of Pfeifer Reality will take on the role of Chair for the newly formed Economic Revitalization Committee. Additional Board members include Michael Bennett, Sam Boren King, Chauncey Goss, Jane Majeski, and Al Hanser (Chairman Emeritus).
Dolly Farrell, Executive Director of CFI said, "The leadership team of CFI embodies all that is good about Sanibel and Captiva. Individually their exceptional experience and skills provide innovative leadership and creativity to our work. Collectively they are smart, dedicated, and willing to do what it takes to make sure our community thrives. Without them, CFI wouldn't be the force that it is today."
For more information about the CFI Board of Directors, visit https://www.charitablefoundationoftheislands.org/leadership-team .
About Charitable Foundation of the Islands: (MyCFI.org)
The mission of the Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI) is to inspire philanthropy, leadership,
and collaboration for the vitality of the Islands community. CFI has served the Sanibel and Captiva communities since the 1990s through the Francis Bailey Society and was officially incorporated as a 501(c)(3) organization in 2011. For more information, visit MyCFI.org