Sarah Smith Pancheri serves as President for Milwaukee World Festival, Inc., (MWF) the organization that produces Summerfest presented by American Family Insurance, The World’s Largest Music Festival. MWF also manages, develops and stewards the 75-acre permanent festival site Henry Maier festival Park, featuring the American Family Insurance Amphitheater. After spending the formative years of her career with MWF, Sarah left the organization to gain experience as Managing Director for Milwaukee fundraising at Marquette University, and, later, as Vice President of Development and Communications for the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee. Rejoining the MWF team in December 2015, she is now responsible for overseeing the Operations, Security and Sales & Marketing departments. Sarah is a member of the executive management team, playing a role in strategic planning, including budgeting and operating decisions for MWF.
Sarah is a proud graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and currently serves on the board of VISIT Milwaukee and the Marketing Committee of Travel Wisconsin / WI Department of Tourism. She was named a Woman of Influence by the Milwaukee Business Journal in 2018 and is also involved with several civic endeavors including the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts and TEMPO Milwaukee.