Leonel Marines - Leading with Purpose in Community and Care

Based in Bradenton, Florida, Leonel Marines has led a dynamic career defined by service to the people of his community. He has worked as a director at a nonprofit, a police officer, a substitute teacher, and a volunteer at education-related organizations. Leonel Marines truly enjoys serving people in need and finds fulfillment in seeing those he has helped living better lives.

Formerly the executive director of Epilepsy Services of Southwest Florida, Mr. Marines oversaw strategic initiatives, managed finances, and developed staff for the nonprofit, which provides essential diagnosis and treatment programs to support people with epilepsy. He also supervised fundraising, ensured regulatory compliance, and provided quarterly reports on the organization's performance to its board of directors. His leadership emphasized operational excellence and client-centered service.

Prior to Epilepsy Services, Mr. Marines spent over a decade in law enforcement with the City of Bradenton Police Department, culminating in the role of patrol sergeant. He supervised officers, conducted performance evaluations, managed shift operations, and coordinated major investigations. He later broadened his experience through roles in education, including serving as a substitute teacher.

Leonel Marines earned a JD from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School at Western Michigan University and a bachelor's degree from Florida State University. Outside of work, Mr. Marines volunteers as an English as a second language (ESL) instructor at Project Light. He is also a scholarship reviewer for the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. In his leisure time, he enjoys sports and is a big fan of the San Francisco 49ers and the Florida State Seminoles.