Board of Directors

Vernon DeSear – Chair

Vernon DeSear is Chief Executive Officer of the Manatee Memorial Foundation. He served for 25 years on the Senior Management Group at Manatee Memorial Hospital prior to retirement in 2020. He is currently on the Board of Directors of the Manatee Education Foundation, member of the Manatee County Tourist Development Council and Immediate Past Chair of the Downtown Development Authority. He is a graduate of Stetson University with a BA in Psychology and earned a Master’s in Education from the University of Louisville. Vernon was honored to be a member of the 29th class of Leadership Florida.

John C. Diem – Vice Chair

John grew up in Bradenton and is a graduate of the University of Florida. He is part owner of Southern Ag, a wholesale supplier of growth and control products to the turf and horticultural industries. Generations of his family have been active with the Manatee Players since it’s inception and it has always been a part of his life that he likes to share with others. He lives in Bradenton with his wife Kim and has two adult children Johnny and Courtney. He especially enjoys time on the water and is active with other professional horticultural association boards.

John Tucker, Jr. – Treasurer

John and his wife Diane moved to Bradenton in 1988. John is a retired financial advisor from Edward Jones Investments. He has a BS from Auburn University and an MBA from The George Washington University. John is a past president of the Bradenton Country Club and he has been on the Board of Directors for the Kiwanis Club of Bradenton and the Kiwanis Club of Bradenton Foundation. John and Diane reside in Palmetto.

Susan Romine – Secretary

Susan has been a patron of The Manatee Players for over 30 years. In addition to supporting the Manatee Performing Arts Center, she has served as an officer on the boards of the Asolo Angels, Powel Crosley Foundation, Sarasota Ballet Association, Theatre Odyssey, Palm-Aire Women’s Club, and the Palm Aire Communities Council. Susan and her husband, Terry, respect and support the artists who appear in our venues. Break A Leg!

Jack Hawkins – Member

Jack Hawkins has been a lifelong resident of Bradenton since 1958 – over 60 years. After receiving his law degree from Ole Miss Law School in 1978, he returned to Bradenton with his wife, Paula, and they have resided in Bradenton since that time. Jack is a Partner in the law firm Grimes Hawkins Gladfelter and Galvano, P.L. Jack has been active in many charitable and non-profit boards over the years, serving as president or board chair of the
following organizations: Manatee County Bar Association, Kiwanis Club of Bradenton, Just for Girls, the Bradenton Kiwanis Foundation (twice) and the Boys and Girls Club of Bradenton.

John Hroncich – Member

Biography will be available soon.

Mickey Palmer – Member

Mickey Palmer was born and raised in Bradenton and attended local public schools. He has been a member of the Florida Bar for over 40 years and was the County Attorney for Manatee County for the last nine years of his full-time career. Presently, he practices law on a part-time basis with the Bradenton-based law firm Grimes Hawkins Gladfelter and Galvano. Mickey obtained his bachelor’s degree in business management from Florida State University and his juris doctor from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. He is a member and past President of the Manatee County Bar Association, a past board member of the Gulf Coast South Health Education Center, a past board member, President and tutor for the Manatee County Literacy Council, and is a former member of the Bradenton Rotary Club. Mickey has one adult son, Evan, who has excelled in the local culinary business.

Dr. Melvin Price – Member

Dr. Price is from Philadelphia, PA. He attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is currently a Podiatrist specializing in Foot & Ankle surgery. He serves as a VP of Medical Affairs for MCR Health. He also serves on the Diabetes Advisory Council for the State of Florida.

Dr. Price enjoys playing the saxophone and has performed at the Manatee Performing Arts Center many times. He lives in Bradenton with his wife Phyllis and has two adult children and three grandchildren.

Randall Rentfro, Ph.D – Member

Randall (Randy) Rentfro grew up in Illinois and moved to Florida when he met his husband (former Board Chair Ron Lennon). He earned a Ph.D. in Accounting and spent most of his career as an accounting professor, with positions at his undergraduate alma mater Millikin University, Florida Atlantic University, Nova Southeastern University, and finally at The University of Tampa. He also served as a Millikin University trustee for nine years, where he worked with his fellow board members to build the long-promised Center for Theatre and Dance to house Millikin’s highly regarded programs in musical theatre and technical theatre. Having acquired a love for theatre in high school, Randy performed onstage and worked backstage for many plays during high school, college, and for few years in community theatre until he began teaching (and performing on a different kind of stage). After retiring from teaching, he come back to the stage for the first time in 40 years, here at the Manatee Performing Arts Center in 2021. Randy volunteers in the Box Office and serves on the Finance Committee of the Board of Directors. He is proud of his affiliation with the Florida Cultural Group, Manatee Performing Arts Center, and the Manatee Players. We are lucky to have this amazing arts center and such wonderful arts programming right here in the heart of Manatee County.

Robert Ritch – Member

Robert Ritch is an expert in finance, marketing and turning around distressed businesses. Rob started his career as a Security Specialist with the US Navy; he left this position in 1994 after receiving a career-ending injury. Rob then began security consulting and performing business and due diligence evaluations. He took this experience and knowledge and began purchasing and investing in business ventures. Rob has invested in and managed a wide range of industries.

Rob has served on the Board of Directors of both public and private companies and currently manages Ritch Ventures.

Peter Ruscoe – Member

Peter and his wife Mary Martha have been Manatee County Residents for more than 4 decades. After discovering Manatee Players, they promptly became season ticket holders. Peter is a retired computer professional, working in the UK, Chile, Brazil and the United States. His last job was right here in Bradenton. He is a local actor, having appeared in a number of productions with Manatee Players, The Island Players and The Players of Sarasota. He has a passion for the arts – especially dramatic, and is honored to be part of the magnificent vision of The Florida Cultural Group.

Carol Sciarrabba – Member

Carol, recently retired, began her career at Hartwick College in Upstate NY. Prior to moving to Florida, during her tenure at Hartwick, her professional career consisted of Director of Computer Operations and Director of Human Resources. Continuing to pursue her career goals, she became Manager of Benefits for Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals which was then acquired by Tyco International. She later moved to the Carolinas and started her career with Edward Jones, during which time she was awarded the opportunity of becoming a limited partner of the firm. Carol has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Organizational Management. On a more personal note, I have always loved the theater and would go to NYC for Broadway shows. I have thoroughly enjoyed the caliber of performances at Manatee Performing Arts, and look forward to being part of the team and fulfilling my position on the board.

James Thielen – Member

Jim and his late wife, Meredith, moved to Manatee County from Illinois in 2002. He has been in the IT / Cybersecurity industry for 40+ years working for companies like Discover Card, Sears Technology Services, IBM and AT&T. Jim currently is a project manager within AT&T managing encryption services but is in the process of retiring in early 2024. Besides his corporate work he also has been a dedicated supporter of non-profits over the years.

Jim currently serves as an officer and executive board member of Southwest Florida Council, BSA plus is a member of the Boy Scouts of America’s national council serving 15 local councils in the southeast by mentoring, guiding, and assisting them to be successful non-profits to serve more youth. Jim’s other non-profit work includes AT&T Pioneers, an employee group that serves the local community they work and live in, Bradenton Kiwanis and is an Executive Board member of the Early American Pattern Glass Society.

Jim and his partner, Kathie, truly enjoys the Manatee Performing Arts Center and is a long-time supporter of theater. He looks forward to being able to work with the volunteers and staff to achieve the organization’s mission and goals.

Jim Wolfe – Member

Jim Wolfe grew up in Ohio, and has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Dayton and an M.S. in Chemical Engineering from Lehigh University. With a passion for innovation and creativity, Jim has held a range of senior level Technical, Business Development and Marketing leadership positions for global companies such as Unilever, Church and Dwight, Firmenich and Takasago. Jim retired to the Bradenton area in 2017.

In addition to Jim’s business experience, he has close to 50 years experience working with Community Theaters in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and now Florida. He has prior theater Board experience having served as VP of Productions, and then as VP of Marketing for Town and Country Players in Bucks Country, PA.  Since 2017, Jim has been an enthusiastic supporter of Manatee Performing Arts Center/ He  has appeared in numerous MPAC productions including The Music Man and Sunset Boulevard during the 2022-2023 season.