Visit Sarasota County Appoints Three New Board Members

SARASOTA, Fla. – (October 20, 2026) – Visit Sarasota County (VSC) proudly announces three new Board of Directors appointments for the organization’s 2027 fiscal year, which began October 1. Joining the Board for two-year terms are Trevor Markham, Vice President, Florida Operations of the Baltimore Orioles; Chris Voelker, Proprietor of State Street Eating House + Cocktails and BESO; and Virginia Shearer, Executive Director of Sarasota Art Museum.

Trevor brings more than two decades of experience leading the Orioles’ Florida operations and a wealth of expertise in operations and community partnerships. Chris, a distinguished business leader, has also distinguished herself in the community through extensive civic and nonprofit leadership. Virginia’s over two decades of leadership demonstrates a proven track record of growing cultural institutions and deepening engagement.

“These leaders truly understand the power of strong institutions and bringing people together to create meaningful connections across our community,” said John LaCivita, current Chair of the VSC Board. “We’re intentional about bringing new and diverse voices to the table, and that diversity is exactly what Visit Sarasota County needs to fulfill our mission of making Sarasota County a better place by promoting our community on the world stage. We’re fortunate to have Trevor, Chris, and Virginia joining our Board, and I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish together.” 

Continuing their service to the Executive Committee in 2027 are:

• John LaCivita, President/CEO of Willis Smith Construction – Chair  
• Richard Russell, General & Artistic Director of Sarasota Opera – Immediate Past Chair
• Tim Self, Managing Partner, Siesta Wealth – Vice Chair
• Wes Santos, Regional Director of Operations, Dreamscape Hospitality – Secretary/Treasurer  

Continuing their terms as members are: Hon. Tom Knight, Sarasota County Commission; Susie Bowie, President/CEO of The William G. and Marie Selby Foundation; Stacey Corley, President of Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation; Kim Farrell, COO at Fox Lea Farm; Mike Quillen, President of Gecko’s Hospitality Group; Jason Samson, General Manager of Aloft Sarasota; Mark Sherwin, General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota; and Heather Van Wie, President and CEO of The Cottages on the Key.

For more information on Visit Sarasota County’s leadership and role in tourism, business engagement, and community outreach, visit www.visitsarasotacountytransparency.com 

About Visit Sarasota County
Visit Sarasota County (VSC) is the official tourism marketing entity and primary provider of visitor information for Sarasota County where tourism is the top industry. Through programs and partnerships, VSC makes Sarasota County a better place by promoting our community on the world stage. These efforts bring together more than 450 partners to keep visitors coming, local businesses open and residents employed all year. VSC is accredited by the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program, a program of the Destination Management Association International (DMAI). To learn more, visit www.visitsarasota.com. 

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