COTI BOARD OF DIRECTORS
as of 3-30-2025

ARIELLE COHEN

Education: BS Communications, University of Miami; JD, Texas Wesleyan University School of Law (now Texas A&M University School of Law). Member, State Bar of Texas. Employment: Director of Operations at manufacturer’s representative firm focusing on children’s toy sales; Formerly worked as a practicing attorney in Texas in different roles - Litigation attorney at employment law firm representing clients in employment matters including Title VII, FLSA, ADA, and Non-Compete claims; Staff attorney on large project related to asbestos claims. Sanibel Activities: Member of the 2025 Charitable Foundation of the Islands Leadership Class; Member of the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation.

PAULA FRIEDMAN

Education: BS, Biology, BA, Art History, Dartmouth College; PhD, Molecular Biology, Columbia University. Employment: Research scientist for 30 years in the fields of Molecular Oncology and Pharmacogenomics at Abbott Laboratories; at University of Chicago as Head of Translational Research for the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, then as Associate Director of the Center for Personalized Therapeutics; and at Northwestern University as Senior Research Scientist at the Center for Pharmacogenomics. Started a private art gallery in Chicago and a public art gallery in Great Barrington, MA. Sanibel Activities: Moved to Sanibel in 2016. Member, Zonta; Volunteer, FISH, CHR.

MITCHELL KOPPELMAN - Land Use / City Governance Chair

Education: BS, Chemistry Stony Brook University (1972), PhD, Chemistry, Virginia Tech (1976). Employment: Worked in the Minerals Industry for over 36 years, initially for the Georgia Kaolin Company and then for Minerals Technologies Inc. providing service in R&D (VP global R&D), Marketing, Business Management (P&L responsibilities for a $300M. North American business) and retiring from MTI after 12 years as VP Strategic Planning (strategic plan development for all businesses, Mergers & Acquisitions and Licensing). Currently serving on Boards for the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (chair elect), and Virginia Tech College of Science and Department of Chemistry, Mayor's Flooding Abatement Committee in Seaside Park, N.J., and Sanibel Activities: Regular, vocal attendee at Sanibel Council, and Planning Board meetings since 2022

WILLIAM MILLAR - PRESIDENT - Transportation Chair

Education: Northwestern University B.A. Geography, University of Iowa M.A. Urban and Regional Planning specializing in urban transportation policy analysis.

Employment: Lancaster (PA) County Planning Commission transportation planner, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation developer of statewide public transit programs, Port Authority of Allegheny County (Pittsburgh’s principal public transit provider) CEO, American Public Transportation Association CEO. Active in several Sanibel organizations including serving as a Ding Darling Wildlife Society board member.

LISA ANN MILLER

Education: BS, Biology, Saint Joseph’s University; MD, Medical College of Pennsylvania; Residency, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lenox Hill Hospital, NY. Employment: private practice in Obstetrics/Gynecology for 23 years, Hackensack, NJ. Volunteer physician, Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative (NJ); United Way Gynecology Clinic (Ft Myers); Partners for Breast Cancer Care Clinic (Ft Myers); Neighborhood Health Clinic, (Naples). Secretary, Board of Directors, FISH of SanCap; Member, AngelFish Steering Committee; Member, CHR fundraising committee; Member, Sanibel Bike Club; Member, Santiva Islanders.

BOB MOORE - VICE PRESIDENT - Adaptation, Mitigation and Resilience Chair

Education: Non-traditional, life-long learning path including studies in psychology, organizational behavior, and personal transformation. Employment: Retired Senior Vice President Health Management Resources (HMR). Led external and internal training function and program development of lifestyle health programs for Boston-based healthcare company. Managed team that trained more than 10,000 healthcare professionals, developed digitally supported consumer health programs, and ran internal communications and team building trainings. Established learning center to support workplace diversity. Currently co-chair of the Sanibel-Captiva Renewable Energy Working Group and San-Cap Resilience—both are coalitions of local civic, business, conservation, municipal, and academic organizations (including COTI). Serves on steering committee of the Southwest Florida Eco-Alliance. Is a trained member of the Climate Reality Project Leadership Corps and is co-founder of the Lee County Chapter of Climate Reality.

KAREN PATI

Education: BS and MBA, Business, Indiana University. Employment: 40+ years in food industry management: Jewel Foods, Fresh Express, Chiquita, and NatureSweet. Notable volunteer activities include board positions with the Harry Chapin Food Bank, Human Trafficking Awareness Partnerships, the Zonta Club of Sanibel Captiva, including with Zonta International as District Governor, currently Zonta Club Vice President and Advocacy chair. 

CARL (BUD) REINHOLD - TREASURER

Education: B.A., Journalism, Marquette University. Employment: U.S. Air Force Active Duty and Reserve Duty; advertising and public relations executive for several organizations and political campaigns; Legislative Director, U.S. Congress; executive of the Redevelopment Authority and the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee; investment advisor and financial manager with over $50m in management; currently certified arbitrator. 

CHET SADLER - Membership Chair

Education: BS from University of Colorado in Chemical Engineering and International Business. Employment: Worked in the Plastic and Rubber manufacturing business for three of the largest rubber companies in the world, Goodyear, Gates Rubber company and Standard products. Held numerous positions from technical and quality manager to plant manager and director. Started a successful plastic recycling business in Iowa and Florida. Moved to Sanibel 28 years ago continuing the business of recruiting plastic engineers for large companies. Sanibel Activities: Past President and current Secretary of the Sanibel Captiva Rotary Club; Past Treasurer Committee of the Islands; Past President of the Sanibel Fish Club; President & Treasurer of the Democratic Club of the Islands; and past State House District 76 Chairman for Lee County Democratic Party and currently Sanibel precinct 105 Precinct Leader.

PAUL TRITAIK

Education: BS, Conservation & Resource Development - Fish & Wildlife Management, University of Maryland. Employment: Worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Endangered Species Propagation program in Laurel, MD; Outdoor Recreation Planner at Okefenokee NWR in Folkston, GA; Wildlife Refuge Manager at Bond Swamp NWR in Macon, GA; Wildlife Refuge Manager at Pelican Island NWR and Archie Carr NWR in Vero Beach, FL; and retired as Wildlife Refuge Manager at J.N. “Ding” Darling NWR Complex. Established Tritaik Consulting for environmental consulting services for clients including the City of Sanibel and Captiva Erosion Prevention District. Sanibel Activities: Scoutmaster, Sanibel Troop 1740; Board Member, Sanibel-Captiva Audubon Society; Board Member-elect, Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club; Member, "Ding” Darling Wildlife Society, SCCF, CROW, Bailey’s-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium.

ANGI SEMMLER WELCH

Education: MBA; BA in Journalism; Technical degree in Automotive Technology. Employment: Partner, Business Advisor, Director of Sales & Partnerships with Cultivate Advisors; former founder and president of Jumpdog Marketing; more than two decades of experience in small business strategy and growth. Sanibel Activities: President-Elect and Grants Committee Chair for the SanCap Kiwanis Club; serves on the Sanibel Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee; volunteer for the Community Housing & Resources (CHR) fund-raising committee.