Board Members

PRESIDENT (2007) Jim Cooper, Rotonda West

A resident of Rotonda West, Jim recently retired after more than 15 years, as the charter CEO/Executive Director of the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority.

His education includes an MA in Human Relations and MBA in Business. He is a Past President of the Rotary Club of Placida, served 7 years on the Sarasota County Environmentally Sensitive Lands Preservation Board, 6 yrs with the Sarasota County Myakka River Protections & Oversight Board, 2 years with the Placida Area Planning Board & Vision Group, 4 years on the County’s Boca Grande Area Planning Board, served 3 times on the Charlotte County Assembly. He is a past President of West County Republicans and currently President of Protect our Watersheds.

Jim retired in June 1993 from the US Air Force with the rank of Colonel. When he retired, he was the Base Commander at Mt. Home AFB in Idaho and the pentagon’s leader conducting an on-time requisite NEPA Environmental Impact Statement which successfully enabled the Air Force to bring a new mission to Idaho, as part of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, combining precision strike fighter and bomber aircraft at one base entitled the 366th Gunfighters Composite Wing. Jim was the Chair of the LBC 2006 and 2007 Annual Toast to the Coast fundraisers.

Malcolm Collingwood (2020) Windward, Placida

Malcolm has lived in SouthWest Florida since 2013 and is a graduate of Victoria University, New Zealand with a degree in Commerce and Administration. He has lived in both the UK and US, working in the professional services industry, mostly with Ernst Young, where he had a varied career as an auditor, management consultant, and technology executive, including the role of Global Chief Technology Officer. Malcolm was an active member of the Wyoming Presbyterian Church in Millburn, New Jersey where was both an elder and Treasurer. He now volunteers his time to a number of local non-profit organizations.

John McCurley (2016) Englewood

John McCurley is currently serving as a member of the board of directors for Lemon Bay Conservancy and as our 2nd Vice President.

 John is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati with a degree in Business Marketing.  He was employed for 33 years by the 3M Company, working in various sales management and Sr. Account management positions.

John was involved in local government in Mason, Ohio from 1989 t0 2005. He served for 16 years on City Council and Planning Commission, with four of those years as Mayor.  (At that time Mason was the fastest growing city in Ohio.)

John has also served on various civic and local school committees in Warren County, Ohio.   He is an active member and past President of Kiwanis Club, and past President of the Board of The Sanctuary at Cape Haze Condo Assoc.  John was a key organizer and participant in the opposition to development of the Wildflower Golf Course, which is now Lemon Bay Conservancy’s Wildflower Preserve.

John first became a Florida property owner in 1989 and has maintained a residence in our area since 2008.

VICE PRESIDENT (2015) Irene Slattery, Englewood

Irene is a Native New Yorker from Westchester County and has been a SW Florida resident for 40 plus years. She obtained her degree in Business Administration from S.U.N.Y. Cobleskill before moving to Englewood in 1979.

A familiar face in the banking industry, Irene has 35 plus years banking experience in the Englewood community.

Irene volunteers her time and talents to many local non-profits. Irene currently serves as Vice President for the Lemon Bay Conservancy and has been a committee member for the Lemon Bay Conservancy’s annual Toast-to-the-Coast fundraiser for the past several years. She is currently a 25 plus year active member of the local organization BPW (Business and Professional Women), the Englewood Florida Chamber of Commerce serving on various committees, a supporter of Dollars For Mammograms, Inc., and has her Real Estate Salesperson’s license.

Eva Furner (2012) Cape Haze

Eva Furner is a resident of Cape Haze, a retired IBM leader, an active birder, a sea turtle patrol volunteer, and an accomplished nature photographer. Her varied career at IBM included professional and management positions in systems engineering, customer education, new product development, market analysis, and marketing strategy and planning. Eva holds a BA from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from the University of Miami.

Eva is the Chair of our Wildflower Preserve Committee, working with our LBC volunteers on implementation projects and on long-range preserve planning. Eva also co-chairs the LBC Grants Committee.

Sidney Buffman “Buffy” Crampton (2018) Manasota Key

Buffy Crampton is a former President of Lemon Bay Conservancy who graciously agreed to rejoin the board of directors in 2017.

Buffy is a long time activist involved locally in environmental projects and programs. She grew up in Englewood, Florida on Manasota Key attending Englewood Elementary School and Out-of-Door Academy in Sarasota. She received a BS in Biology and Elementary Science Education from Beloit College in Wisconsin. She taught at the Mystic Aquarium in CT and the American Museum of Natural History Natural Sciences Department in New York City before returning to Florida in the 1980’s.

She has served on the Englewood Water District Board of Supervisors (an elected position), as Florida Branch Director of the American Literal Society, and as a volunteer for the Manasota Key Sea Turtle Patrol.  Buffy helped initiate the Coastal Cleanup in Sarasota County. has taught in elementary schools for the Venice Audubon Society Bird Program. and has conducted local classes and walks on the coastal environment.

After sending her daughter to local schools and off to college in Philadelphia, she has been running her family’s resort business, the Manasota Beach Club, on Manasota Key. She has helped expand the business to a year-round resort and opened it up to local groups for annual events and fundraisers.  At the Club, she hosts a seasonal Monday Lecture Luncheon Program focusing on environmental topics. Families have come back to vacation at the Manasota Beach Club for five generations because of the special natural setting, low key atmosphere, and all-inclusive plans.

Buffy comments that it is an honor to serve again with LBC and be a part of the important environmental projects in the area, and to try to create a sustainable ecological business for the future of Manasota Key, Lemon Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.