Over Six Decades of Community Engagement
The Sarasota County Council of Neighborhood Associations (CONA) was incorporated on November 8, 1961.
As an all-volunteer nonprofit, Its mission is to provide a unified, nonpartisan voice for homeowner, condominium, and neighborhood associations across Sarasota County.
Meet the CONA Board
Lourdes Ramirez
President
Affiliated Association:
Lourdes Ramirez is a 26-year resident of Sarasota. Her over 20 year experience with Siesta Key's zoning helped with the successful litigation against Sarasota County in 2023 for violations of the County's Comprehensive Plan.
Lourdes has served on various civic organizations on Siesta Key and founded the Barrier Island League in 2009. She was president of CONA (Sarasota County Council of Neighborhood Associations from 2011-14.
Lourdes won three Citizen of the Year awards (2012, 2014, and 2024)
Melanie Goddard
Vice President
Affiliated Association:
Marquee en Ville Condo Association
Melanie has been a Sarasota resident for over 12 years and during that time has served as Vice President of CONA and President of the Gulf Gate Community Association. Currently she serves as Vice President on the Marquee en Ville Condo Association Board.
Melanie was a resident of the Boston area (Massachusetts) for over 35 years, during which time she participated in numerous civic organizations in both an elected and volunteer capacity.
Mary Butler
Secretary
Affiliated Association:
Amaryllis Park Neighborhood Association
Mary Butler is President of Amaryllis Park Neighborhood Association in the Newtown Historic District, a historic register neighborhood with over 700 contributing structures, making it Florida's largest African American historic district.
She is a native of Sarasota, born and raised in Newtown. Owner of Mary Butler, LLC a commercial cleaning company established in 2018, she is the 2020 recipient of Opportunities for All small and minority business owner’s grant. Graduate of 2023 Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Leadership Sarasota and USF 2022 Mentor Protege Program.
She is the currently serving as chair of Newtown Business Council, and is a member of Professional Business Women of North Sarasota, Suncoast Women of Action, Newtown Community Clean-up, The Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations of Sarasota, Selby Gardens Advisory Board, and Newtown Easter Parade Committee.
Ron Kashden
Treasurer
Affiliated Association:
Laurel Park Neighborhood Association
Ron is a 14-year resident of Sarasota and a Certified Public Accountant. He was the founder of a software company specializing in fund accounting, and recently ran for Sarasota City Commissioner.
He is currently a member of of the board of the Laurel Park Neighborhood Association ("LPNA") and has previously served as Treasurer and Secretary of the LPNA.
He previously served as the Secretary for the Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations (“CCNA”), and currently serves as the Chairman of the CCNA Air Quality Committee
Ron is also a member of the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation, and owns a national historic register home in downtown Sarasota. He is treasurer of the organization restoring the historic Colson Hotel.