Sarah Pancheri

President & CEO of Milwaukee World Festival, Inc.

Sarah Smith Pancheri serves as President & CEO of Milwaukee World Festival, Inc., (MWF) the organization that produces Summerfest presented by American Family Insurance. MWF also manages, develops, and stewards the 75-acre Henry Maier festival Park, featuring the American Family Insurance Amphitheater and home to over 60 events in 2023.  After working at MWF early in her career, Sarah then gained experience as Managing Director for Milwaukee fundraising at Marquette University, and, later, as Vice President of Development and Communications for Boys and Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee.  Rejoining the MWF team in December 2015, she is now leads the organization, including strategic planning, programming, development, and financial decisions for MWF.

Sarah is a proud graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and currently serves as the chair of the board of VISIT Milwaukee, as a board member of the Sponsorship Marketing Association as well as Milwaukee School of Art & Design. She was named a Woman of Influence by the Milwaukee Business Journal in 2018.