Ivy League Club
Sarasota and Manatee Counties
The Ivy League Club of Sarasota and Manatee Counties is an active group of alumni from all eight Ivy League schools who just happen to live in the beautiful Gulf Coast area of Florida.
2023 - 2024 Season Membership
Please consider joining or renewing your membership in the Ivy League Club. Our current fiscal year runs from November 2023 through October 2024. We also offer a Young Alumni membership tier. Members who were under 30 years of age as of November 1, 2023 will pay dues at the rate of $25.00. Members over 30 will renew at our regular annual membership rate of $50.00.
Use the links below to renew or activate your membership in the Club.
Please consider joining or renewing your membership in the Ivy League Club. Our current fiscal year runs from November 2023 through October 2024. We also offer a Young Alumni membership tier. Members who were under 30 years of age as of November 1, 2023 will pay dues at the rate of $25.00. Members over 30 will renew at our regular annual membership rate of $50.00.
Use the links below to renew or activate your membership in the Club.
SPEAKER LUNCHEON
Tuesday, March 19th, 2024 at 12pm at the Sarasota Yacht Club on Sarasota Bay
We will hold our next luncheon meeting of the Ivy League Club on March 19th, 2024 @ SYC
Our speaker will be Robert F. Bunting, CEO and Chairman of the Climate Adaptation Center, (CAC), who will discuss how CAC is bridging the gap between state of the art scientific research and public sector understanding of our changing climate.
SPEAKER BIO:
Robert F. Bunting, CEO and Chairman of the Climate Adaptation Center (CAC), Inc., is a scientist, serial entrepreneur, and educator. He moves easily between private enterprise, government, and academic spheres, making him a true “bridge” person and uniquely qualified to lead the CAC. He is the CEO of Waterstone Strategies, a consulting firm that helps its early stage high technology clients to “plan and execute” their business and funding strategies. Waterstone has helped its clients in securing over $300,000,000 in new capital. Clients included Pathogen Systems, Raytheon, DigitalGlobe, Intermap Technologies and many others. Waterstone uses its extensive background in business management, intellectual property development, product commercialization, international marketing and sales and organizational development to strategically help companies plan for corporate growth.
Mr. Bunting served as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Pathogen Systems Inc. (dba Crystal Diagnostics) from 2005 until 2011. The mid-stage company is commercializing liquid crystal technology in the field of rapid microbe detection. Bob helped create this company in 2005 and during his service raised about $11M in financing.
At DigitalGlobe, Mr. Bunting recruited a new CEO, and led the Waterstone Strategies team in redefining the company through a new commercially oriented business plan. He played a key role in the company “restart” by helping secure a more than $200M investment from Morgan Stanley. The company was listed on the NYSE under the ticker DGI in 2008. DigitalGlobe’s high-resolution satellite imagery is an important part of Google Earth and Google Maps.
Earlier, Mr. Bunting joined the Canadian aerospace company MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates (MDA), Ltd., where he created a new U.S. subsidiary, booking more than $85M of new contracts between 1992 and 1997. He arranged successful relationships between MDA and a number of leading U.S. aerospace companies, setting the groundwork for ultimately leading to MDA’s acquisition of DigitalGlobe and Space Systems Loral before integrating its U.S. and Canadian operations, creating Maxar Technologies.
Prior to joining MDA, Bunting was Chief Operating Officer and co-founder of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) Foundation, which oversees the commercialization of all intellectual property generated by the world-renowned National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado. He was also a Vice President at UCAR, founder of the Corporate Affiliates Program and a member of the UCAR management committee.
Earlier, he was a Lead Forecaster for the NOAA National Weather Service and Scientist at NCAR and participated in global weather and climate programs.
Recently, Mr. Bunting taught Entrepreneurship as a faculty member at the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business, where Bob was able to share his experience and knowledge in an effort to help young entrepreneurs succeed. At St. Louis University, Meramec College, Washington University, Indiana Purdue University at Indianapolis, and Metro State College (Denver), Mr. Bunting taught college level courses in atmospheric science. He also appeared frequently as a meteorologist on radio and television including at KMOX in St. Louis, the NBC Today Show, and Channel 2 in Denver.
Bunting served on the Board of Directors for the Colorado Music Festival for 22 years. He is presently on the Advisory Board of the University of Colorado College of Music. He also served on the Advisory Board for the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business and is the CAC Chairman of the Board.
Mr. Bunting holds BS and MS degrees in Atmospheric Science from St. Louis University.
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The location for our luncheon is the Sarasota Yacht Club in downtown Sarasota. Parking is available in the lot adjacent and underneath the building, accessible through the open gate to the right of the entrance. Valet parking may also be offered, depending on the size of our group. We will be hosted on the main floor in the dining area across from the bar.
Lunch will consist of a plated entree with sides and a dessert. Water, tea and coffee are included as well. The cost is $40 / person. Spouses and guests are welcome. Please use the link below to RSVP and pay.
RSVP HERE for March 19, 2024 Speaker Luncheon
Alternatively, members may mail a check for $40.00 per person made payable to "Ivy League Club" to: Ivy League Club, P. O. Box 2845, Sarasota, FL 34230-2845.
Questions or issues? Contact Manda Jordan at mandajordan7000@gmail.com.
About the club
The Ivy League Club was established in 1957. Today, members get together for monthly luncheon meetings with guest speakers and annual events such as ballet, opera, spring and fall evening socials, and spring training baseball games.
In addition to club activities, the club's Scholarship Fund provides grants to current Ivy League students who require financial aid support.
If you attended any of the Ivies, please learn about applying for membership now!
In addition to club activities, the club's Scholarship Fund provides grants to current Ivy League students who require financial aid support.
If you attended any of the Ivies, please learn about applying for membership now!