An actual, living, breathing farm boy from Ohio, Jeffery Kin came to Sarasota in 1991 after receiving his BFA in Performing Arts and enjoying some years as a performer in NYC. Quickly establishing himself as a go-to talent for the region’s theatre organizations, he would eventually go on to lead The Players Centre for Performing Arts as their Producing Artistic Director. For 15 years, Kin led the organization through acclaimed seasons, coordinated and implemented year-round programming, helped boost its donor and patron base, and altogether served as the smiling, enthusiastic face of the organization to the arts-loving Sarasota region. As a well-loved, energetic collaborator with a limitless can-do attitude, he was a natural choice to lead Sarasota Rising’s formation, stewarding it from conception to the launch of its marquee festival in 2024.

Jeffery says: “Everyone always tells me that I have ‘expectant father’ energy when they see me work. I think it’s because I really give everything I have to make sure me and my team are prepared for anything. I think it’s also because I’m as comfortable swinging a hammer as I am engaging with donors.”

For 20 years, Vern produced community festivals and assisted with major events such as the Super Bowl and Grand Prix, for the cities of Phoenix and Glendale, Arizona. In 2006, Vern became a faculty associate at Arizona State University teaching special event courses in a certificate program he co-created while completing doctoral studies in community development and resources. By 2014, Dr. Biaett found himself at High Point University in North Carolina creating a Bachelor of Arts degree as an assistant professor and founding chair of the event management department. His academic work includes several publications and international conference presentations.

As a 30-year active member of the International Festivals & Events Association, Vern earned status as a Certified Festival and Event Executive, was a founder and past-president of the Arizona Festivals & Events Association chapter, and served on the IFEA President’s Council and Foundation.  Throughout his career, Vern has consulted with a variety of event organizations including numerous cities, as well as most notably, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, North Carolina Folk Festival, and the Riverside, Scottsdale, and John Coltrane jazz festivals.

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Sonja Shea is a New Jersey transplant who has been in Sarasota for over twenty years now. She is a decorated student with a BA from the University of South Florida, a master’s in museum studies from John Hopkins University, and a completed graduate certificate from Wesleyan University’s Institute of Curatorial Practice in Performance program. Sonja’s vast experience in the arts in her fifteen years at The Ringling Museum ranges from beginning as a part-time Accounting Assistant to Assistant Performance Producer.

She has curated and produced performance programs and art exhibitions for the museum, assisted with all creative and program planning for the performance season at the Ringling’s Historic Asolo Theater, and created and implemented performance related community engagement programming, to name but a few of her accomplishments. Her passion for utilizing the arts as an agent for social change and her love for performance pervades all the work she does.

Tamara is so excited to join Sarasota Rising, where she can utilize her entrepreneurial skills and background as a professional youth educator. Tamara’s has 20 years of experience as the business owner and Children's Theatre Program Director with Drama Kids of Manasota. Tamara served over 350 students per year throughout Sarasota and Manatee Counties and earned the $150K Achievement Award multiple years in a row with Drama Kids International. In addition, Drama Kids of Manasota was voted Reader’s Choice for Best After-School Program by Florida Family Magazine. Tamara is also a local actress and resource teacher who loves working with young people. She has additional experience as a Thespians Adjudicator, "Embracing our Differences" volunteer, and was Fruitville Elementary’s PTO Volunteer Coordinator. Finally, Tamara enjoyed being an active Big Sister of Big Brothers/ Big Sisters for seven years, and a volunteer “Big Buddy” for The Mark Wandall Foundation. Prior to moving to Sarasota, Tamara worked as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Cameroon, West Africa, where she met her husband, Mike. She looks forward to bringing her knowledge of the arts, youth organizations and the education community together at Sarasota Rising.