Visit Sarasota County Recognizes Board Members and Service

Visit Sarasota County proudly announces their new Board of Directors appointments and recognizes outgoing members for the 2026 fiscal year, which will begin October 1.

Joining the Board for two-year terms are Cindy Moore, Regional Director of Sales at Lodgco Hospitality, Mark Sherwin, General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota, and Kim Farrell, COO at Fox Lea Farm.

“We are excited to welcome a new group of esteemed business leaders to our board," said Erin Duggan, President and CEO of Visit Sarasota County. "Their diverse backgrounds and innovative thinking will be invaluable as we continue to drive growth and navigate new opportunities. We look forward to collaborating with them and leveraging their collective wisdom to shape our future success."

Serving on the 2026 Executive Committee are: 

• John LaCivita, President/CEO of Willis Smith Construction – Chair 
• Richard Russell, General Director of Sarasota Opera – Immediate Past Chair
• Tim Self, Managing Partner, Siesta Wealth – Vice Chair
• Wes Santos, General Manager, Art Ovation Hotel – Secretary/Treasurer 

Departing the Board this year are Nick Mavrikas, Area General Manager of Spark by Hilton; Kara Morgan, CEO of Venice MainStreet; and Mark Gordon, Managing Editor of the Business Observer.

Visit Sarasota County recognizes outgoing board members, Kara Morgan and Mark Gordon for their service. Pictured [From left to right]: Kara Morgan; Erin Duggan, President/CEO of Visit Sarasota County; and Mark Gordon. 

“We are deeply grateful for the dedicated service that Nick, Kara, and Mark have provided during their time on our Board," said Richard Russell, current Chair of the Visit Sarasota County Board. "Each of them has made impactful contributions over the years, and their commitment to our mission has been inspiring. We extend our heartfelt thanks for their leadership and unwavering support in advancing the community."

Continuing their terms as members are: Hon. Ron Cutsinger, Sarasota County Commission; Mike Quillen, President of Gecko’s Hospitality Group; Susie Bowie, President/CEO of The William G. and Marie Selby Foundation; Stacey Corley, President of Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation; Jason Samson, General Manager of Aloft Sarasota; and Heather Van Wie, President and CEO of The Cottages on the Key.

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 over 500 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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Media Contact:

Hunter Carpenter, Visit Sarasota County 
941-893-0090 (cell)

[email protected]