1. September 19, 2016
To Whom It May Concern:
I have had the pleasure of working with Paul Blackketter for the past seven years as he lead the
effort to turn an isolated, unattractive mining lake into the only internationally qualified rowing
facility in North America, known today as Nathan Benderson Park.
Through countless public meetings to elected officials, civic groups and neighborhood
associations, I have watched Paul’s outstanding presentation skills as he shared his passion for
the rowing project and built tremendous community support for the creation of this unique
public space. With Paul leading the charge, we were able to make Nathan Benderson Park a
reality despite Sarasota being one of the hardest hit communities at the height of the recession.
I have also traveled with Paul to three different continents where he made instant friends and
won converts to the notion of Sarasota as the home of international rowing. Because of Paul’s
military background, he was very comfortable in the formal protocol of the international sports
world.
As our region gets ready to host the World Rowing Championships in 2017, I am confident in
knowing it would not be a reality without Paul’s leadership. Should you have any questions
about Paul, please do not hesitate to contact me at vhaley@visitsarasota.org.
Regards,
Virginia J. Haley, CDME
President
Visit Sarasota County