Board of Directors

Born in Sarasota (Florida), Frankie Soriano is an example of the Latin future in the United States. He is a graduate of Sarasota High School in Sarasota and obtained a B.A. in business from the University of Central Florida. Frankie is passionate about giving back to his community.

Son of a Cuban mother and a Brazilian-Spanish-Argentine father, Frankie grew up in this country, blending his American and his Hispanic cultures.

Kathy Schersten is not new to UnidosNow, having been one of our co-founders since our inception in 2010.

A native of New Orleans, Kathy studied in Mexico and worked as a teacher in Colombia, Venezuela, and Spain. She has been a resident of Sarasota since 1978 and throughout the years has served as board president/chairman for many organizations, including American Association of University Women, Women’s Resource Center, Senior Friendship Center, Sarasota Education Foundation, and the Van Wezel Arts Hall Advisory Board.

She is currently the development director for St. Jude Church, a bilingual facility. Kathy also serves as a moderator for the Academic Olympics, a competition among Sarasota public and private high schools.

Originally from Colombia, Karen is a Sarasota-based freelance photojournalist and documentary photographer who currently works for several organizations in the Sarasota area.

She earned her photography education from Ringling College of Art and Design and the International Center of Photography. In 2017 she collaborated with UnidosNow and the Community Foundation of Sarasota County to produce the book and short film, “Families Together”. In 2016 Karen was selected as the 30 Women Photographers Under 30 recipient.

Karen’s work has been exhibited and featured internationally including Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Republic of Georgia, Germany, United Kingdom, New York City and Sarasota.

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Gwen Ziomek has cultivated a career that spans roles as a small business owner and an international sales executive at Encyclopedia Britannica. Her commitment to community and leadership was further demonstrated through her services on the Board of Trustees at Temple Sinai in Sarasota, Florida, where she notably served as President for two years. This experience has refined her capabilities in team leadership, sales, marketing, and complex problem-solving.

Volunteering as an art assistant at the Haven, Gwen actively gives back to the community, embodying her belief in the importance of service and personal growth.  Her journey has led her to live in various countries and regions across the United States, enriching her life with diverse cultures and experiences.

Presently, she continues to embrace new challenges and learning opportunities by studying Spanish and art, reflecting her passion for continuous personal and professional development.

Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Ev Bosque has lived the majority of his life in Florida. Alumnus of the University of Florida, where he received both his Bachelor’s and his Master’s, Ev joins the UnidosNow board with more than three decades of experience as a Certified Public Accountant. He has worked as an executive in finance and operational areas in the Tampa Bay region for a variety of companies.

Ev is now the Chief Financial Officer at the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation.

Luis Eduardo Baron is the president of TV Net Media Group, a company that publishes the newspaper 7 DÍAS, and the magazines La Guía del Golfo, La Guía de Tampa and Buen Vivir. In 2010, he joined Kelly Kirschner and CJ Czaia to found UnidosNow, and has been a key member since then.