KAREN MIDLAM
President
Karen was born in Venice Hospital and raised in the Bay Point neighborhood of Nokomis. She attended Nokomis Elementary, Venice Junior High School, and is a graduate of Venice High School. She obtained her certificate at Sarasota County Vocational-Technical School in the Legal Assistant Program and passed a nationally-recognized exam to earn her Certified Paralegal designation. She is also a Florida Certified Paralegal, a Florida Registered Paralegal, and holds a Florida real estate license. Karen has worked in the legal field almost 30 years and is currently employed by Lutz, Bobo & Telfair, P.A., a law firm in downtown Sarasota, handling real estate closings. She has been on the boards of the Southwest Florida Paralegal Association and the Venice Area Old Timers Picnic and is currently on the Paralegal Advisory Council for Attorneys’ Title Fund Services, LLC.
Karen and her husband, Earl, watch over Venice’s first fire truck, Old Betsy, a 1926 American LaFrance pumper, attending events with Old Betsy around the city and in parades.
IRVIN LEWIN
Vice President
Irvin is a native of Detroit MI. and later spent 5 years attending professional school in Cleveland, OH. After residency training he was a practicing Podiatrist in Cincinnati, OH. for 34 years. As an avid bicyclist, he has been an active volunteer in several non-profit organizations that either promoted cycling as a healthy and social sport or used group cycling events as fund-raising opportunities. Organizations that used his skills for fund-raising purposes include the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. He was a Board of Directors member for the Cincinnati Cycling Club for 5 years, creating and managing cycling events for the club of 1200 members.
After retirement, looking for engaging and satisfying volunteering opportunities distinctly different from the world of medicine and bicycles, he has found a place within the history and preservation community of Venice. He is a docent at the Venice Heritage Inc. supported Venice Museum and Archives, the 1927 Venice Historic Train Depot Museum and at the Venice Circus Train Car Museum. He is honored to have been asked to expand his volunteering role with Venice Heritage Inc. by serving on their Board of Directors and as a member of their Marketing Committee.
Outside of his volunteerism, Irvin greatly enjoys spending the extra time that retirement allows with his wife Peg and his spoiled Australian Shepherd dog, Gabby. You will notice him on long walks or bike rides around town. Life is good!
DOROTHY KORWEK
Treasurer
A resident of Venice since 1983, Korwek is a former member of the Venice City Council and former Director of Historical Resources for the City of Venice. She is the author and editor of several books on Venice area history.
TERI LYNN OSTROVIAK
Secretary
In 2018, Teri moved to Venice from Fairfax Virginia outside of Washington DC. Originally from Kansas, Teri spent time collecting college degrees, traveling, living in different states and outside the US borders. She admits to having a love for history and interesting places. While at a business meeting, a man mentioned that Venice Florida might be of interest as it was an arty town with an interesting history. Teri and her husband, Jeff, came down while on their way to look at Naples and were smitten by how fun and interesting Venice was. So Naples lost out to Venice as their Florida home. Currently, Teri actively volunteers at Venice Museum, Venice Theater (where her dog, Picasso, is an actor), Spanish Point, and Marie Selby. If Teri had Ruby slippers, she would not click them to return to Kansas, but wear them proudly on the streets of Venice!
JEAN TRAMMELL
Director
Jean has been a Venice resident since 1967 and has been involved in a number of community organizations. She is also a founding member of Venice Heritage, as well as a past President. Jean’s local affiliations include; Vice President: The Venice Company, Secretary: DKE Inc., President: Ehrhart Family Foundation, Blogger, Venice Magazine, 35 years of volunteer experience with Venice Theatre, Venice MainStreet, Venice Art Center, Triangle Inn Association, Venice Area Historical Society, Venice Area Beautification Inc., Friends of the Venice Library, Arts Council of Sarasota County, TEDB, EDC, City of Venice Advisory Boards for Historic Preservation and Public Art.
DONNA DEEKS BOLDT
Director
Donna was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her Family moved to Atlanta in 1972, the same year her grandparents bought their home in Venice Florida. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a Management and Economics degree. After a short stint with Upjohn, she went to work at an entry level position with her Family Chemical Distribution Company. She worked her way up through the ranks, over the next 20 years, where she became the 3rd generation President of Deeks & Co., Inc. During her time with Deeks, she served on the National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) Board, later serving as the Southeast Regional President. She was awarded the National Distributor of the Year in 2011. She has served on various non-profit boards, from Churches and HOA’s to Women’s Shelter’s and Camp Alleghany for Girls.
Donna sold the family company in 2018, after starting a Cottage Company who brought Diamond Dotz® to the America’s. In 2018 Donna and her Husband Jim moved fulltime into the family home that her grandparents had bought in 1972. Following in her grandfather and Father’s footsteps Jim and Donna joined the Venice Yacht Club. In 2019 Donna was the 2nd Female Commodore in 71 years that served her full term of 5 years. She currently serves as chairperson of the Finance Committee and is a member of the Emergency Preparedness Committee, Long Range Planning Committee, and Building Committee.
Jim and Donna have 5 children and 6 grandchildren to date. All the next generations love to visit Venice. They are proud sponsors of the Venice Theater and are involved in the community in many ways, most currently with Jim serving as Vice Mayor.
HARRY KLINKHAMER
Ex-Officio
Harry Klinkhamer is the Historical Resources Manager for the City of Venice, supervising its Division of Historical Resources. In that role, he manages the Venice Museum, Julia Cousins Laning and Dale Laning Archives & Research Center, and the forthcoming Lord-Higel House and Old Betsy Museum. He is also the city’s historic preservation officer and oversees the city’s public art.
Prior to coming to Venice in 2017, Klinkhamer worked for the Forest Preserve District of Will County in the Chicago suburbs operating the Isle a la Cache Museum. He also was a program officer for the American Association for State and Local History. Klinkhamer holds a M.A. in Public History from Loyola University of Chicago and nearly completed a Ph.D. in Public History and Environmental History from Middle Tennessee State University. He has also taught at Tennessee State University, Lewis University, and College of DuPage.
Klinkhamer is also the author of several publications, including “Urbs in Solitudinem” (The City in A Wilderness) published in the George Wright Forum, and From Levittown to Leave it to Beaver: Interpreting Mid-Twentieth Century Suburbia.
RONNIE FERNANDEZ
Ex-Officio
Ronnie is originally from Fort Worth, Texas and moved to Venice in June 2014. He has been an experienced banker for 19 years. Through working at a local community bank in Venice, he is able to meet many members of the community. Ronnie has a passion for history and even started out as a history major in college. He and his wife, Tiffany, fell in love with the history of Venice and started their own business offering historic walking tours here in Venice. The walking tours encourage locals and tourists to become interested in Venice history. Ronnie was happy to extend his involvement in the historic Venice community by serving on the VHI board as president. FUN FACT: Ronnie and Tiffany have 4 fur-babies; 2 yellow labs: Maisy and Malibu and 2 cats: Mango and Mojito.