Our Board of Trustees
Mary E. Jarrell RN, BSN, HCRM
Administrative Trustee
Born at Manatee Memorial Hospital, Mary is a native of Manatee County. Mary Parker was her grandfather’s sister and was like a grandmother to her. Mary spent considerable time with Ms. Parker and the Bishops as she was growing up, including celebrating holidays, birthdays, and special occasions together. Mary Parker’s nursing career influenced young Mary, and after graduating from the University of Florida, she later graduated with her nursing degree from what was then the Manatee Junior College School of Nursing, now the State College of Florida. Ms. Parker lived independently through her 100th birthday, but after fracturing her pelvis, Mary became her nurse and companion until her passing at 108 years old in 2020.
Robert (Bob) Blalock, Esq.
Chair
Bob Blalock, a Manatee County native and graduate of Princeton University, practiced law at Blalock Walters in the areas of estate planning, real estate, and business. He has been active in civic affairs serving as Chair of the 12th Judicial Circuit Judicial Qualifications committee, a Trustee of New College of Florida and the Manatee Community Foundation. He has also chaired of a variety of entities including the Manatee Chamber of Commerce, Bradenton Area Economic Development Corporation, Manatee Estate Planning Council, Manatee Players, the Sarasota Orchestra and the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. Bob was a close personal friend as well as legal representative for Mary Parker and assisted her for years with foundation funding requests and site visits
Barbara M. Jennings
Trustee
Barbara M. Jennings is a community volunteer with extensive, valuable experience working with local Manatee County non-profit organizations. Barbara is a retired businesswoman and university administrator who came to Bradenton from Ohio. She has earned university degrees in three separate fields – education, urban studies, and law. Her multi-disciplinary background is especially valued as the Foundation continues to strategically focus on best meeting its mission and goals to build a better community.
Burdette (Bud) Parent, CPA
Trustee
Having grown up in Bradenton, Bud was aware of the Bishops and Mary Parker and the generous contributions they made to so many causes. When he began working at Dick Pratt’s firm in the early 1960’s he became personally acquainted with Mary. He worked closely with Mary over the years in assisting with the operation of her foundation and also with the Bishop Foundation. He continued as Mary’s personal accountant and friend until her passing in 2020.
Mary L. Ruiz
Trustee
Mary L. Ruiz is CEO of Ruiz Strategic Advisors, a management consultancy specializing in strategic planning for growth companies and nonprofit agencies. She is a senior healthcare executive and a respected leader in impacting public behavioral health policy. She worked as Chief Strategy Officer of Centerstone of America, a multi-state behavioral health system based in Nashville, TN. From 1996-2016, she served as CEO of Centerstone of Florida, a hospital and outpatient behavioral health system headquartered in Bradenton. Mary chairs the Board of Trustees of New College of Florida, the public liberal arts honors college the state university system. She is past president of the International Women’s Forum of Southwest Florida, a global invitation-only group of preeminent women leaders.
William Bechstein
Carlo Lombardi
Corporate Trustee
Since 1953, Bishop Parker Foundation has been pleased to partner with Wilmington Trust, our corporate trustee. Wilmington Trust is represented by William Bechstein and Carlo Lombardi.
Our Staff
Wendy Deming
Chief Executive Officer
As CEO of Bishop-Parker Foundation since February 2024, Wendy Deming leads its efforts to strengthen the Manatee County community. A seasoned nonprofit executive with more than 25 years of experience in the independent sector, Wendy has been at the center of bold and transformative change throughout her career. Prior to joining the Bishop-Parker Foundation, Wendy served for five years as COO and Corporate Secretary at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. Before joining the Gardens, Wendy served as COO and Corporate Secretary at Gulf Coast Community Foundation, where she was a member of the team for nearly 18 years. She has extensive experience managing nonprofit operations during times of exponential growth and serving as a trusted advisor to executive and board leadership. Wendy earned an MBA from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA and a BA in Accounting from Furman University in Greenville, SC.
Amber Lamerson
Director of Community Impact
As Director of Community Impact at Bishop-Parker Foundation, Amber Lamerson leads the Foundation’s community-facing efforts, building trust, aligning partners, and creating pathways for collective action to strengthen Manatee County. A nonprofit professional with more than a decade of experience in philanthropy and the independent sector, Amber has supported organizations through periods of growth and transformation across the region.
Before joining Bishop-Parker Foundation, she founded and led a nonprofit consulting firm, guiding small and mid-sized organizations in developing sustainable fundraising strategies and strengthening their operations. She also served in advancement and philanthropic advising roles at Gulf Coast Community Foundation, The Bay Park Conservancy, and Forty Carrots Family Center, reflecting her passion for connecting generosity with opportunity and ensuring philanthropy meets community needs. Amber earned a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Tennessee.
