Visit Sarasota County Announces New Vice President of Marketing and Communications

Visit Sarasota County (VSC) has promoted Kelly Defebo to Vice President of Marketing and Communications. She is responsible for overseeing all marketing, public relations and special projects for the destination. She will also maintain oversight on all international marketing programs and will liaise closely with Sarasota Bradenton International Airport on marketing and programming.

Defebo has been with VSC since 2008, most recently as Director of Sales and Marketing and previously as Director of Sales and as Meeting & Group Sales Manager. She has led the sales department in generating millions annually in Tourist Development Tax revenue and increasing economic impact for Sarasota County. Under her leadership, VSC earned the 2023 and 2020 ConventionSouth Reader’s Choice Award for excellence in service and professionalism in the meetings industry.

“A valued VSC employee and veteran sales and hospitality professional, Kelly has been an integral part of shaping the direction, policies and goals of our sales department,” said Erin Duggan, President and CEO of VSC. “It is a natural progression for her to move into this new role where she can continue to move the needle forward with all of our marketing and PR planning.”

A graduate of University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in advertising, Defebo holds both a diploma in Marketing Communications from the International Advertising Association and the Convention Industry Council’s Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation, the foremost certification of the meetings industry. She is a member of the St. Armands Circle Board of Directors as well as a member of multiple industry associations. 

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