Staff

Executive Director

A Sarasota native, Kurnov moved back to the area in 2015 with her two children. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the nonprofit and education sectors in various leadership roles.

Locally, Kurnov has worked at both the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee as the Assistant Vice President of Student Success, as well as at New College of Florida’s Office of Outreach and Inclusive Excellence and Student Affairs to promote community outreach and student success. Kurnov received her Doctor of Education degree in 2021 from the University of South Florida, and she is a proud alum of the Florida Gulf Coast Leadership Institute Class of 2018.

Most recently, Kurnov ran for the Sarasota County School Board. Throughout her campaign, Lauren built a broad coalition of community support, secured notable key endorsements, and raised nearly a quarter of a million dollars in direct campaign contributions. In 2022, Kurnov became the executive director of TOWN HALL Speaker Series.

Assistant Director

Michelle moved to Sarasota in 2011 after graduating from college, where she received her Bachelor’s in English with Magna Cum Laude honors. She focused her degree on Creative Writing and American Literature.

From 2012 to 2016, Michelle worked for the Education Foundation of Sarasota County as their Program and Events Director. She was responsible for their Classroom Grants Program, their gala: The Evening of Excellence (art competition and auction), the Science and Engineering Fair for K-12 public school students, and other initiatives and collaborations with the local School Board.

Since 2016, Michelle has worked for the TOWN HALL Speaker Series. She first served as RCLA’s Membership and Events Administrator attending to all our customers’ inquiries and needs. In 2022, Michelle was promoted to Operations Manager for the organization overseeing operations, logistics, and data analysis for the Library Association. In 2025, Michelle was promoted to Assistant Director of the TOWN HALL Speaker Series, overseeing the management of the event committee, and founding the popular TOWN HALL Book Club that gathers members to analyze and converse about literary topics for the book selections.

Michelle has a passion for education, literature, and the arts. Over the last nine years she has enjoyed getting to know longtime patrons of TOWN HALL and being able to connect with new attendees that reach out for guidance on joining the series or membership program.