About Us

Ernestine Taylor

Chair

Ernestine Taylor is an Air Force Veteran who became homeless and received a Section 8 Voucher. Once stably housed, she and her daughter enrolled in and completed the Family Self Sufficient program. This program helped them both complete degree programs and increase earned income, which propelled them toward economic independence and housing self-sufficiency, culminating in her graduating off of voucher assistance. Now another family in need is being housed with Ms. Taylor’s former voucher. Ms. Taylor has served as volunteer for AmeriCorps Vista with Legal Aid of Manasota and Senior Friendship Center. She was also a Guardian ad Litem for the Twelfth Circuit. Ms. Taylor has over 14 years employment experience with various non-profit organizations in Sarasota County dedicated to serving family, children and seniors. Ms. Taylor is honored for the opportunity to serve on a Board that seeks to help families flourish and live affordably in our community. She supports and encourages residents of public housing and Section 8 to increase their earned income and progress toward economic independence and housing self-sufficiency.

John Colón

Vice Chair

John A. Colón is the Managing Partner of Sanderling Partners. He has spent over 30 years managing investments for his clients and has been duly recognized by several prominent firms. Mr. Colón most recently served as a Senior Vice President-Investments at Wells Fargo Advisors in downtown Sarasota. Prior to joining Wells Fargo Advisors, Mr. Colón spent more than a decade at Morgan Stanley in New York. While there he attained the rank of First Vice President, and was tapped to open the Locust Valley, NY office of the firm which he managed for several years.

Outside of the office, Mr. Colón has been active in his community both locally and at the state level. He has served as a Gubernatorial appointee on the State Board of Education, and the Manatee County Schoolboard. Mr. Colón has also been a Commissioner of the Sarasota Housing Authority since 2005 and has served as its chairman 4 times over the years. He currently serves on the Board of Sarasota Teen Court, Manatee Tiger Bay and the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling Board of Directors.

Jack Meredith

Jack Meredith has over 35 years’ experience in architecture and construction and has a strong passion for order and supporting the human experience in his work. His interest in architecture began in the mid-1980s when he was a young carpenter designing, building, and constructing residential and commercial projects as a licensed contractor. After working as a contractor, he decided to pursue a career in architecture and pursued his architecture degree at Boston Architectural Center (BAC). The studios at BAC challenge normative architectural practices and materials, encouraging the use of innovation with restraint. This approach profoundly influenced his work both during college, and throughout his career. Jack currently serves as Director of Harvard Jolly Architecture’s Sarasota office where he works full time having overall accountability for the Harvard Jolly team by providing essential leadership.

In addition to his professional and educational experience Jack is dedicated to urban renewal and minimizing the impact of gentrification throughout urban communities. He’s committed in developing strategies to maintain the Sarasota Housing authorities’ mission to “providing quality affordable housing to enhance the lives of residents and promoting their independence.”

When Jack is not working or volunteering, he enjoys spending time with his family: he is blissfully married to Terri and has four children.

G. Duane Finger

Gerald Duane Finger is retired from Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority where he served 31 years as Planning and Development Manager, Relocation Assistant, Director of Redevelopment and HOPE VI Coordinator. Duane was first appointed to the SHA Board of Commissioners in November 2004, and reappointed in April 2005, and served as Chairman. Duane was reappointed to the new, post-HUD receivership Commission in July 2008 and served as Chairman from 2008-2010, and also served as Chairman of Development Committee from 2010-2011. Currently, Duane serves on the Development Committee.

Nicole Roman

Nicole Roman is a current resident of Sarasota Housing Authority. She relocated to Sarasota, FL from upstate NY in 2019 with a plan to give her children the joy she recalled having as a child living in Florida. Nicole has over 15 years in the staffing industry and is currently a Multi-Branch Operations Specialist with People Ready Skilled Trades. She is looking forward to utilizing her skills and expertise for the betterment of the community. Nicole is also a dedicated, proud, extremely busy mom of 6 who is humbly grateful for this opportunity to serve on the board to support and encourage residents of the housing authority.

David Morgan

Board Meeting Packets

Board Meeting Minutes