Welcome Shari Vermeulen - Siesta Key Chamber Event Manager

Shari is an accomplished and creative event professional with a deep resume of major community & public events, corporate conferences & meetings, non-profit fundraisers & galas and hospitality events. In 2008, Shari created Shari’s Signature Events, a full-service meeting & event planning business that delivered distinctive events and celebrations for over 15 years. With Shari’s signature touch she elevated a typical event to an immersive experience.

Beginning in 2012, Shari leveraged her event expertise and passion for the culinary arts to create Culinary Connection by Next Course, LLC in NYC. Working alongside her restaurant-industry partners, Shari connected private clients with caterers, private dining venues and full-service event venues. 
In 2013, Shari served as Events Manager with Mount Sinai Medical Center’s development office, leading all stewardship and cultivation events, along with numerous prestigious fundraising events for various hospital programs. 

Between 2016 – 2020, Shari led the town of Stowe Vermont’s non-profit Downtown Organization –Stowe Vibrancy – to increase the vibrancy of the Town of Stowe and to establish its charming and historic village as a four-season resort destination. Shari and her all-volunteer team produced 25 annual community events, including some award-winning signature festivals: An Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration, British Invasion Block Party, A Traditional Christmas in Stowe Festival.

When events came to an abrupt halt during the COVID period from 2020 to 2022, Shari pivoted to food service and catering. Drawing on her professional baking degree and culinary background, she launched Shugah Cookie Baking Co. LLC, a small Vermont bakery offering scratch-made, high-quality cakes, cookies, and pies to satisfy every sweet tooth.

Since moving to Sarasota in 2023, Shari has worked as a remote conference producer, managing logistics for well-known companies, such as L’Oreal, Sephora, Clinique, Phillips and T-Mobile. Closer to home, she held the part-time role as Events & Kitchen Manager at Temple Emanuel, providing event services to an active and robust reformed congregation.

Shari graduated from Duke University, speaks French, is learning Italian and holds a Certificate in Professional Baking & Pastry from New England Culinary Institute.