Coming from Hallmark, I’ve worked with passionate people who worked together to put a shared vision into action. As a leader in that culture, I’d like to comment on the extraordinary enthusiasm and commitment I’ve witnessed in the Sarasota community. [read more on the Sarasota Herald-Tribune]

Tom Esselman

Tom Esselman, our new CEO, wanted to share this with the Sarasota County community:

“I am honored to join the Institute for the Ages and to become a part of the amazing Sarasota County community. This broad, diverse, passionate mix of individuals, groups, and organizations is poised to offer the world an enormous opportunity — to ‘get there first’ when it comes to illustrating the opportunities and positive impact of an aging population.

The years I’ve spent at Hallmark have been a privilege, allowing me to connect with people, businesses and organizations nationally and internationally around the premise of making a genuine difference in people’s lives.

The chance to begin a new phase of my career – combining the legacy of that experience with the vision and capacity of this vibrant and forward-thinking community – is almost too good to be true.

I look forward to the innovative work to come.”

- Tom Esselman, CEO, Institute for the Ages

Read Tom’s Bio here.

SARASOTA, Fla. (April 26, 2012) – The Institute for the Ages, a nonprofit think tank dedicated to the innovation of age-related products, services and policies, today named Tom Esselman as its new CEO. Esselman will lead The Institute for the Ages in activating ideas that prepare for the opportunities and challenges associated with aging populations and the global demographic shift.

Esselman previously served as the Director of New Concept Development and Greetings Innovation at Hallmark Cards Inc. where he led the creation of new products and developed innovative corporate partnerships for the greeting card giant. Esselman brings more than 20 years experience in product development and innovation to The Institute for the Ages.

“I am thrilled and honored to be joining The Institute for the Ages and becoming a part of an amazing community,” said Esselman. “Sarasota County is home to a broad, diverse and passionate mix of individuals, groups and organizations that can serve as catalysts for positive aging throughout the world.”

Based in Sarasota, Fla., The Institute for the Ages was incubated in 2010 by SCOPE (Sarasota Openly Plans for Excellence) with the goal of leveraging Sarasota County’s population – the nation’s demographically oldest – into a national test bed for ideas and technologies that will help improve the lives of the world’s growing aging population.

According to statistics in the 2010 census, 30 percent of Sarasota County’s population and nearly half of all of its homes include someone over the age of 65. This uniquely positions Sarasota as a resource area to develop the products, services and policies needed for an aging society.

“The Institute for the Ages positions Sarasota County at the innovation forefront of a global issue,” said John Dart, chairman of The Institute for the Ages. “We are thrilled that Tom will be leading the institute with his energy, creativity and commitment to open innovation.”

About The Institute for the Ages

The Institute for the Ages, created in 2010 by SCOPE, is a direct response to the challenges and opportunities of global aging. The institute is a private, nonprofit organization with a unique vision of leveraging Sarasota County’s older population to create a national test bed for ideas and technologies that will improve lives as the world grows older. For more information, please visit www.institutefortheages.org.

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