Welcome Jim Metzler as Board Chair, Ellen Sloan as Board Vice Chair

FISH OF SANCAP is pleased to announce James Metzler, PhD as Board Chair and Ellen Sloan, PhD as Board Vice Chair. Metzler joined the FISH Board in 2020 as Assistant Treasurer and, later that year, Treasurer.  He earned his PhD in Mathematics from Boston University and was on the faculty for Drew, Bentley and Northeastern universities. He also worked for the National Security Agency, AT&T, NYNEX, Prime Computer, Digital Equipment Corporation, and The Yankee Group and was responsible for software development, mathematical modelling of computer networks, product management, and running a consulting organization.   During the last half of his career, Jim operated his own company focusing on helping Fortune 500 companies successfully negotiate technology transitions.  Jim and his wife, Sarah Ashton, have been full time residents of Sanibel since 2001.  Sarah is the Board Chair of the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society’s where Jim is the co-chair and representative to the Everglades Coalition.

States Jim, “On behalf of our Board of Directors and staff, I want to thank each of you for your support of FISH. We wouldn’t be celebrating our 40^th anniversary without your ongoing support. I particularly want to thank Sheridan Snell, the Past Board Chair for her many years of dedicated service.”

“Over the last 40 years, FISH has evolved dramatically both in terms the services we provide and the people we serve,” continues Jim. “FISH provides a range of services to people from the very young, to the very old, including  hundreds of vaccines that FISH provided last year, most of which went to seniors who otherwise wouldn’t have been able to be vaccinated. FISH was able to offer those vaccines, by leveraging a wide set of partners including, but not limited to, the Rotary Club of Sanibel-Captiva, the City of Sanibel Police and Fire Departments, Parish Nurses, the Sanibel Community House and FISH volunteers. I strongly believe that working together as a community we will continue to provide the services that are needed by so many and which help to make these islands the special place they are.”

Sloan joined the FISH Board in 2020 and was elected this year to the Vice Chair position.  She has been an Episcopal priest for 18 years, and most recently retired from St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church on Sanibel Island after serving for ten years as its first female Rector. Prior to coming to Sanibel, Ellen served as Chaplain and Dean of Community at The General Theological Seminary in New York City. She has a previous 25-year history in the field of education – teaching first in the United States and then assuming teaching and administrative responsibilities in Maracaibo, Venezuela and subsequently The Netherlands in the field of English As a Second Language.  Upon her return stateside, Ellen was appointed as the first female Director of Accreditation (in the 100 years of the organization’s history) at the New England Association of Schools and Colleges in the Boston area. There she was responsible for creating and facilitating an accrediting process for over 350 schools (K-8). In addition, she acted as Associate Director for the accreditation process of 65 schools in Europe. Ellen earned a BS in Education from Plymouth State University, an MA in History from Dartmouth College, an M.Div (Master’s in Divinity) from The General Theological Seminary, and a PhD in Administration and Organizational Development from the University of Connecticut. Upon the completion of her PhD, Ellen became a professor at the University of Connecticut’s Graduate School of Education and taught courses in research, leadership development, and organizational development – also acting as the Director of the Principal Preparation Program at UConn. 

 “I am looking forward to working with Jim and Ellen as they lead the FISH organization,” states Maggi Feiner, President & CEO, FISH. “Both Jim and Ellen bring a wide arrange of business and professional expertise, as well as in-depth knowledge of our community.  Their passion for our neighbors will enhance our mission and sustainability.”

Please join FISH in welcoming Jim Metzler and Ellen Sloan as Chair and Vice Chair.