Philanthropy

Alexandra Armstrong is a trailblazer in financial planning, with a career marked by numerous achievements and contributions. A native of Washington, DC, Alexandra spent most of her life in the nation's capital. After graduating from college. she began her career in a regional NYSE firm, rising from an entry-level position to become an NYSE registered representative. In 1977, Alexandra became one of the first women in the country to achieve the status of Certified Financial Planner. Her pioneering spirit led her to found her own nationally recognized financial planning firm in Washington DC in 1983.

In 1993, she co-authored "On Your Own: A Widow's Passage to Emotional and Financial Well-Being" with Mary Donahue which is now in its sixth edition and is available on Audible. In 2020, Alexandra also coauthored “Your Next Chapter: A Woman’s Guide To A Successful Retirement.”

Alexandra's professional influence extended beyond her business. She was the first female Chair of the International Association of Financial Planners, a predecessor to the Financial Planning Association. Her leadership skills were recognized in various non profit organizations, including as the first female president of the Boy Scouts of America, National Capital Area Council. Additionally, Alexandra served on the national board of Reading Is Fundamental for over 20 years, where she held the treasurer position. She was the first female chair of the Foundation for Financial Planning where she served for thirty years. She is Chair Elect of the Boys and Girls Club of Sarasota and Desoto Counties Foundation Board.

In 2020, Alexandra moved to Plymouth Harbor in Sarasota, Florida where she serves on the Finance Committee and chairs the Dining Committee. She joined the Plymouth Harbor Foundation Board in 2025, bringing her extensive experience and dedication to the community. Her career is a testament to her pioneering spirit, leadership, and commitment to making a positive impact.

Warren Bacon is a banking executive with broad ranging accomplishments in commercial and consumer lending, domestic and international risk management, staff development and project design and completion. He has experience at several banks including TD Bank North, Bank of Boston and Continental Illinois National Bank and Trust Company. Warren’s leadership also includes the development of minority owned enterprises through strategic consulting and pairing with contract opportunities – first as Chief Operating Officer of The Initiative For A New Economy, a Boston based privately funded non-profit, and then as Director for the Boston Region of the US Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency. He also has extensive experience on several non-profit boards in Boston. Warren holds a Bachelor’s in Economics from Oberlin College and an MBA in Finance from the University of Chicago. As a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, he has served as Finance Committee chair and Moderator. Warren enjoys bicycle vacations, gourmet cooking, collecting good music and exploring Sarasota’s arts and culture. He and his wife, Barbara Smith-Bacon, are permanent Sarasota residents and look forward to frequent visits from their two adult children.

Elli is the Co-Founder and Owner of Sunways Senior Living Concierge, a free senior placement and concierge service headquartered in Sarasota that serves the Suncoast. Elli is passionate about advocating for the senior community and family caregivers on their journey. She’s also very involved in the local Sarasota philanthropic community as a past President of Designing Daughters (now Donors of Distinction) which supports many local non-profits in our community. Elli enjoys spending time outside with her family and loves cooking and holistic health.

Marie Belcher is a distinguished professional with a remarkable career in the insurance industry. Raised in Buffalo, New York, she graduated with a B.S. with Distinction in industrial relations and finance from the State University of New York in Buffalo in 1969, where she was also elected to Beta Gamma Sigma. Despite the challenges women faced in management roles at the time, Marie began her career at Aetna in the mailroom. Her talent and determination quickly propelled her through the ranks, eventually becoming Vice President for Property-Casualty Underwriting. After leaving Aetna in 1991, Marie continued to excel, becoming senior vice-president of another insurance company. She later co-founded an executive search firm specializing in senior financial positions, which she and her husband, Tom, ran until 2001. Marie’s career extended beyond the corporate world. She dedicated her time to volunteering and working with a local author and philanthropist, running a private foundation until her final retirement in 2010. Her professional journey is a testament to her resilience and expertise. In 2013, Marie moved to Plymouth Harbor, where she became an active community member. She joined the Plymouth Harbor Foundation Board in 2019, bringing her extensive experience and knowledge to the organization. Marie continues to enjoy a vibrant life with merchandising responsibilities in The Fund Shop and engaging in fiber arts, painting, Mah Jongg, bridge, wellness activities, and travel.

Kathy Hendricks spent the last 25 years of her legal career with Northern Trust Company, retiring in 2009 as a Vice President and Managing Director in Trust Administration. Kathy holds a degree with Honors in Humanities from Purdue University and a Juris Doctorate from DePaul University, College of Law. She practiced law for several years before joining The Northern Trust Company, Chicago, in November of 1984 as a senior tax analyst in Estate Tax Services. She served as a Trust and Financial Services senior administrator at the Northern Trust Bank’s offices in Oak Brook, Illinois, until her transfer to Sarasota in 1994. Kathy has a long history of volunteerism and leadership, including involvement in several Community Theaters, Trustee for the Bernard and Mildred Doyle Charitable Trust and Russell Foundation, and volunteer for Tidewell Hospice and Children First, Inc. She has served as President of the Plymouth Harbor Residents Association and on the Board of Trustees and currently sits on the Board of Directors of Resurrection House.

Rebecca Sachs is a retired attorney who practiced as an active partner in New Jersey and Florida for 37 years, before retiring in 2016. She practiced in the area of first-party coverage and litigation. Ms. Sachs was a recognized lecturer and author of programs presented by the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, the Property Loss Research Bureau, the Loss Executives Association, the ABA Property Insurance Committee and the Windstorm Association. She has been elected as a fellow of the American Bar Association, named to the Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers by Martindale-Hubbell™, named as one of Florida’s Super Lawyers in Insurance Coverage and named to the Sarasota and Manatee Counties and the Tampa Bay Top Lawyers lists from 2012 to 2015 prior to her retirement. Rebecca and her husband, Frank, are avid boaters and golfers and live at Sara Bay Country Club. They have three sons, as well as six grandchildren ranging from the ages of 14 to 25.

As a financial advisor since 1985, Judith has helped families prepare for the most important things in their lives – college for children and grandchildren, planning and funding retirement, and building contingencies for life’s unforeseen surprises. As the senior partner of The Schwartzbaum Urfer Group at Morgan Stanley in Sarasota, Judith and her team focus on all aspects of wealth for their clients. She provides highly personalized and comprehensive wealth management strategies which includes financial planning, charitable giving strategies, estate, trust and tax coordination with the client’s attorney and CPA, risk management and family wealth education. Judith has been named to Forbes “Top 250 Women Wealth Advisors”, Forbes “Top Wealth Advisors Best in State and Top Women Wealth Advisors Best in State” 2018-2023 and “Top Teams" 2023. She grew up in Wisconsin, received a BA from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, and an MA from The University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. Having vacationed in Sarasota since a teenager, Judith relocated to Sarasota in 1994. Plymouth Harbor is very familiar to Judith as both her mother and husband, Dr. Leonard Schwartzbaum, received excellent skilled nursing and end of life care at Plymouth Harbor’s Smith Care Center. Between 2013 and 2018 Len’s Service Dog Bella would visit Len every weekend. Bella, a Black Lab, loved being outside with Len and visiting the other Smith Care Center residents.

Craig M. Steinhoff, CPA, CITP, is the Principal-in-Charge at HBK CPAs & Consultants in Sarasota, Florida. HBK is the 45th largest accounting firm in the U.S., according to Accounting Today’s 2023 top 100 firms. Craig specializes in tax and accounting for private companies in construction, manufacturing, entertainment, retail, non-profits, and employee benefit plans. He leads HBK’s Client Accounting & Advisory Services and technology niche, providing guidance on IT and general computer control reviews for audits and SOC engagements. Craig has been with HBK since 2007, holding various positions, and previously worked at Schneider Downs & Co., Inc. and BKR Longanbach Giusti, LLC. He holds a B.A. in Accounting from Capital University. Craig is active in several volunteer leadership roles and committees, including The Argus Foundation and American Institute of CPAs. He lives in Sarasota with his wife, Joelle, and daughters, Lauren and Chloe.

Jeff Weatherhead is the current President and Chief Executive Officer of Plymouth Harbor. Jeff has over 28 years of experience in the retirement community sector, encompassing sales, marketing, nursing home administration, community operations, and more. His educational career includes a bachelor’s degree in Interpersonal and Public Communications from Bowling Green State University and a master’s degree in Health Services Administration from Xavier University. Jeff is deeply passionate about furthering Plymouth Harbor’s mission of creating the most positive aging experience possible. He remains active in the local community and in organizations such as the Plymouth Harbor Foundation, and he serves as a coach in the Larry Minnix Leadership Academy for LeadingAge. Jeff enjoys spending time with his family: his wife, Leslie, two children, three grandchildren, and his Siberian Husky named Storm (found during Hurricane Irma).