Aviva names new board officers as fiscal year begins

Aviva in Sarasota has named a new slate of Board of Trustees officers as the community starts its new fiscal year. The leadership change follows the end of Eric Fox’s term as chairman and comes as the senior living community looks to build on fundraising gains and resident engagement.

Why it matters: - Aviva’s Board of Trustees helps guide the senior living community’s vision, mission and operations. - The new officer team takes over as Aviva enters a new fiscal year and continues a leadership transition at the board level. - Strong board leadership matters because Aviva says the board and staff together shape the community’s direction.

What happened: - Aviva welcomed a new slate of officers to its Board of Trustees in Sarasota, Florida. - Eric Fox completed his term as chairman and will continue in an ex-officio capacity. - Alan Goldner stepped into the role of chairman. - Fran Braverman became vice chair. - Debbie Yonker became secretary. - Michael Richker continues as treasurer on the Executive Committee.

The details: - Fox’s chairmanship included fundraising progress, including a $1 million donation from Larry Greenspon. - Fox also worked to strengthen connections between Aviva’s board and residents. - Fox was a regular presence at Aviva programs and events and pushed for residents and staff to know more board members, not just leadership. - Goldner has served on the Aviva Board of Trustees for the past two years. - Goldner brings more than 30 years of business and finance experience. - Before retiring, Goldner led United Supply Corp., a New Jersey-based distributor of school supplies, toys and home office supplies. - Goldner also supports the Israel Tennis and Education Centers, which introduces Israeli teens to tennis. - Braverman is a licensed social worker with experience in person-centered care. - Braverman spent much of her career as a geriatric social worker at Family Services Woodfield in Bridgeport, Connecticut. - Braverman also served as executive director of the Women’s Employment Resource Center of New Haven. - After moving to Sarasota, Braverman volunteered with a weekly lunch group for adults with dementia at JFCS. - Braverman serves as a board director for the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee and co-chairs its Jewish Film Festival. - Yonker recently rejoined the board, but her connection to Aviva began in 2008 when she moved her mother to Kobernick. - Yonker previously served five years on the Board of Trustees. - Yonker is active in Sarasota’s arts community as a board member of the Asolo Theatre and the Sarasota Ballet. - Yonker was named a Lion of Judah by the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee. - Yonker is a member of Temple Emanu-El’s Cornerstone Society.

Between the lines: - Aviva is leaning on leaders with deep ties to Sarasota, Jewish community organizations and aging-services experience. - The board mix suggests a focus on fundraising, resident engagement and community relationships as Aviva moves into a new year. - Goldner, Braverman and Yonker each bring outside board and civic experience that can broaden Aviva’s connections beyond the senior living campus.

What's next: - The new officers will help carry forward Aviva’s more than 32-year legacy. - The Executive Committee will work with President and CEO Jay Solomon and Aviva’s executive leadership team. - Aviva’s board will continue shaping the community’s direction as the fiscal year gets underway.

The bottom line: - Aviva has reset its board leadership with a mix of continuity and new faces, aiming to sustain momentum in fundraising, resident engagement and community leadership.