Community Spotlight: Manatee Glens Adds Three to Board of Directors

BRADENTON – Manatee Glens has added three distinguished individuals to its board of directors: Jennifer Bencie, M.D., MSA; Timothy Knowles and Colleen Thayer, APR, CPRC. The Board is responsible for setting and reviewing the mission of Manatee Glens as well as guiding its annual budget, capital plans and investment strategy.

Dr. Bencie is the Administrator for the Florida Department of Health in Manatee County. She oversees a $10 million budget and staff of 175. She is responsible for the health and safety of the people of Manatee County. In this position, she collaborates with community partners to address critical public health issues and is responsible for core public health services and environmental health monitoring. Dr. Bencie has served in various other public health positions throughout the state. She is active in many civic organizations and has presented before prestigious groups on contemporary health concerns. She is currently a board member of the International Women’s Forum and the Sarasota-Manatee Ivy League Club.

Mr. Knowles is a principal in the law firm Porges, Hamlin, Knowles, & Hawk, P.A. His practice is concentrated in real estate, banking and business transactions. He is a Bradenton native who graduated from Manatee High School and attended Manatee Community College then received a BS in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from Webb Institute of Naval Architecture, in Glen Cove, NY.  Mr. Knowles spent 5 years as a consulting Naval Architect with John Mc Mullen & Associates in Washington, DC before attending law school.   Mr. Knowles graduated from Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Fla. and is a member of the Manatee County Bar Association. He is a current member and past board president of Boys and Girls Clubs of Manatee County, Inc., and past member and chair of the Manatee County Historical Commission and Manatee Historical Commission, and is the current president of the Florida Alliance for Boys & Girls Clubs, Inc.

Ms. Thayer is Bureau Chief, Public Affairs for the Southwest Florida Water Management District where she oversees the external affairs, communications and board and executive services sections and is responsible for state and federal legislative activities and advocacy. Prior to this she was the Director of Community & Legislative Relations at Coastal Behavioral Healthcare. There she was responsible for design and implementation of effective government relations and communications. She has her Masters in Management and Leadership from Webster University, holds her Accreditation in Public Relations and is a Certified Public Relations Counselor, is active in the Florida Public Relations Association and is a board member of the Circus Arts Conservatory, Sarasota.