Experience

President, Lynn Cherry, has spent her entire life working in communities, actively seeking to improve lives of citizens through her volunteer spirit and professional career. Prior to forming Carpe Diem Community Solutions Lynn worked for sixteen years in higher education where she developed, implemented and promoted continuing and community education programs. She also worked for six years in social services, facilitating assistance to those in need and conducting fund raising activities.

Lynn was one of the leading individuals who served to create, shape and direct the national award winning Citizen Leadership Institute (CLI) at Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, FL. As a result of her work, Lynn received the distinguished title of Senior Fellow. The Citizen Leadership Institute is a program aimed at enabling people to cultivate citizen leadership skills so they can make effective change in their community. She also led Bay County, Florida citizens through a visioning process in 2002.

Lynn is an accomplished facilitator and a Kettering Foundation trained moderator. As such, Lynn has moderated community-wide forums on numerous community interest topics such as:

» Education
» Homeless
» Youth at risk
» Social Security
» Domestic violence
» Redistricting
» Alcoholism
» US-China relations
» Environment/growth management
» Economic development
» Health care
» Race relations

Lynn has published the following articles:

	Whitelock, P. & Gager, L. (2001). The community’s space: A story of Gulf Coast Community College, Higher Education Exchange. Kettering Foundation: Dayton, Ohio.
	Gager, L. (Ed.) (1993). Gulf Coast Community College Clarion: Public Policy Institute. [Newsletter]. Kettering Foundation: Dayton, Ohio.
	Gager, L. (Ed.) (1992). Gulf Coast Community College Clarion: Public Policy Institute. [Newsletter]. Kettering Foundation: Dayton, Ohio.
	Gager, L. (Ed.) (1991). Gulf Coast Community College Clarion: Public Policy Institute. [Newsletter]. Kettering Foundation: Dayton, Ohio.

Lynn holds a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University and a master’s degree from Florida State University.

Among President Lynn Cherry’s many accomplishments, she led a community-wide effort to purchase a 180-acre beach front property for $13,500,000, resulting in the development of a Florida State Park, Camp Helen State Park in Panama City Beach, FL.
 

» About Carpe Diem Community Solutions
» Clients
» References
» Awards
» Certificates