Vision with an Edge Seminar Series mark you calendars to attend. All workshops are FREE for more information contact Sandy Cha at 559-437-3068 or sandy.cha@wellsfargo.com.
Please click here to download Seminar Schedule in PDF
April 2008 - Ann Vermel
Management and Development
Program Manager, Resource Development Services, United Way Fresno County, 2006 -
Producing General Manager, The Globe of America on the Queen Mary, 2005-06
Director of Development, Fresno Philharmonic Orchestra, 2003-2004
Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, Menlo College, 1996-1999
Executive Director, The Pickle Family Circus, 1993-1994
Director of Development, DeAnza College, 1986-1992
Director of Development, ODC/San Francisco (dance company), 1985-1986
Director of Development, UC Berkeley General Libraries, 1981-1984
General Manager, California Shakespeare Festival, 1979-1980
Artistic Administrator, San Francisco Opera, 1977-1979
Executive Director, Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, 1972-1976
Director of Publicity and Publications, The Hartford (CT) Stage Company, 1968-1972
Teaching
University of California Extension, Lecturer, Arts Management, 1980-83
Rhode Island School of Design, Lecturer, Artists’ Survival, 1972-1975
University of Southern Connecticut, Lecturer, History of Theatre, 1969
Westbrook Junior College, Department Head, Speech and Theatre, 1966-68
University of Maine, Portland, Lecturer, English and Theatre, 1966
Fresno State College, Instructor, Speech I and II, Beginning Acting, 1964-1966
Consulting
Principal in Vermel and Associates, Consultants in Non-Profit Management, since 1994, specializing in organizational development, impact planning, executive coaching and fund raising.
Education
A.B., English Literature, Barnard College, 1954
Manhattan School of Music, Opera, 1960
M.A., Theatre, Fresno State College, 1968
Certificate, Arts Administration, Harvard University Graduate School of Business, 1972
Certified Fund Raising Executive, National Society of Fund Raising Executives, 1984
Corporate Coach University, currently completing Certificate in Coaching
Productions, Publications and Workshops
Producer/Director of 35 major theatre productions, academic and professional venues.
Published poet, winner of 2001 Perseus Award, Saroyan Writers Conference.
Workshops and study materials in Grant Writing, Personal Solicitation of Gifts and Strategic Planning at CASE and Association of Fundraising Professionals conferences.
Editor and Writer, “On the Scene” monthly magazine of The Hartford Stage Company.
Some Accomplishments
- Hartford Stage Company – created materials and press support for campaigns that increased audiences from 40% to 65% of capacity by subscription in two years.
- Rhode Island State Council on the Arts – increased annual appropriations from $40,000 per year to $1.3 million per year; brought in $500,000 annually in federal funds, initiated programs for the Arts in the Prison, Arts and the Elderly and a Business/Art collaboration with Artists in Residence; consolidated school and state funding for the Arts in the Schools program that has renewed its contracts every year since 1974.
- San Francisco Opera – contracted and scheduled three seasons for an international opera company, dealing with artists and managers from around the world.
- UC Berkeley and De Anza College - set up new development departments for academic institutions with multiple programs, creating operating systems, data management systems, and programs for faculty grant development. Established Annual Fund drives and Major Gifts programs. Planned capital campaigns for both. Served on Librarian’s and President’s Executive Councils.
- California Shakespeare Festival and The Globe of America – established management structure, marketing and production systems for two Equity- contracted theatre companies in challenging markets.
- Menlo College – reorganized the grants and corporate gifts program to raise more than two million dollars from corporate sources, served as department liaison to capital campaign planning.
- The Pickle Family Circus – created the program now known as the San Francisco Circus Center and led the board in reorganizing the company.
- The Fresno Philharmonic – increased annual fund by $100,000, worked with board committee to plan and produce the orchestra’s 50th Anniversary celebration.
- Successfully completed consulting contracts with more than twenty clients in fields ranging from an animal shelter and educational programs to the San Francisco Jewish Community Center and the 50th Anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge. Some favorites include building annual support for minority breast and prostate cancer check-up clinics in rural San Mateo County and creating a funding plan to build a center offering free meals for the Archdiocese of Wichita, KS.
- Expanded grant writing classes at United Way of Fresno County into a Capacity Building Initiatives Program, collaborating with business and nonprofit agencies to create a training program to streamline professional performance of the organizations. Helped leverage $3.9 million in grant funds for Fresno nonprofits in 2006-2007.
September 2007
John Amodei presents a $15,000 check from CitiFinancial to Aquarius Aquarium Institute for eductional programs. Member- Aletha Lang and her hushand Tom Lang warmly accept the generous grant. Along with AAI board member Vicki Crow.
"Get ready for another great speaker"
Here what others say about FCWCC:
I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak at your recent meeting. The FCWCC audience is very knowledgeable and responsive. From a speaker’s perspective, it is highly enjoyable presenting at your meetings.
John Savrnoch - Assistant District Attorney County of Fresno
Thank you so much for your hard work in organizing the How to Write a Business Plan Seminar last week. Please pass along my thanks to Sharon as well for her wonderful work in facilitating the meeting and directing the discussion. I thought the class size was just right because we were able to dialogue and learn from one another as well as from Sharon. There was a lot of conversation and input from around the table which really added to my understanding. The handouts were perfect. I am able to really go through them for assistance in putting my own plan in place. I feel empowered to do this now. It doesn’t seem like a daunting thing at all – but a very wise, and savvy way to keep track of our current and future growth plans. Thank you again. These seminars put on by the Women’s Chamber are now at the top of my list of things to make sure to put in my calendar. I appreciated the time of this one too – a lunchtime meeting works very well for my schedule! And we started on time and ended on time!!
Way to go, Sandy and Sharon!
Liesl Garner - GARNER TREE Services
