William M. Blevins and Dr. Clay Motley have joined Collaboratory’s Governing Team as Trustees.
Blevins is President and CEO of Gulf Coast Business Bank and a 37-year banking veteran. He graduated from West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and Economics and received his MBA in Finance and Accounting from Louisiana State University. He holds a Certified Cash Management (CCM) designation from the Association for Financial Professionals and has earned his series 7, and 63 licenses. He has worked with a wide range of clients from one million in sales to two hundred million in sales by providing solutions with credit, deposit, investments, financial planning, leasing, retirement services and treasury services. Blevins has been involved in a number of community organizations including the March of Dimes, United Way, American Red Cross, Salvation Army and more.
Dr. Motley is Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences and a Professor of English at FGCU. He is a native Kentuckian who also lived for ten years in South Carolina before making his way to Southwest Florida. Since 2004, he has held leadership roles in honors programs and colleges at three different universities, and his primary professional responsibilities at FGCU focus on leading the College of Arts & Sciences. His scholarship focuses on the culture of the US South, such as its popular music and religion. He teaches on the history of popular American music, is currently writing a book-length music history of Clarksdale, Mississippi and frequently presents and publishes on topics related to the Mississippi Delta. He is a member of the National Collegiate Honors Council and the Society for the Study of Southern Literature.
“We welcome Bill and Clay to our exceptional team of trustees,” said Dr. Dawn Belamarich, president and CEO of Collaboratory. “Their broad experience as well as their deep community ties will benefit Collaboratory as we move forward with our coalition work and mission.”
ABOUT COLLABORATORY
Collaboratory is a regional community foundation with an evolved mission committed to coordinating the solving of Southwest Florida’s major social problems by 2040. Not alone, but with everyone—the entire community working together across all five counties: Lee, Hendry, Glades, Charlotte and Collier.
Collaboratory provides community leadership, raises and coordinates funding, and disburses funds to organizations that are helping solve the problems our donors and the community have identified as priorities. Collaboratory also provides capacity building with training and resources for regional partners. Given the complexities of the social challenges in our region, Collaboratory ensures we are all working together and that every generous donor achieves the biggest impact with their funds. By using and sharing data to track progress, we ensure that donor dollars are best invested to move the needle on improving social issues.
Connection and collaboration are at the heart of our mission. Since 1976, we have made over $120 million in grants to individuals and organizations across the region to enhance the quality of life for current and future generations. It is upon that legacy of a commitment to community we will collectively achieve our 2040 goal. To learn more and get involved, call 239-274-5900 or visit www.collaboratory.org.
