The Burlington Business Association (BBA) is pleased to announce the promotion of Sarah O Donnell to Director of Programming and Member Engagement. As a member of the BBA team since 2015, Sarah has spearheaded several key projects while in the position of Member Services & Events Manager. Sarah has taken a lead project management role in many of the BBA’s committee activities, including developing new initiatives such as the Adopt Your Sidewalk campaign and related seasonal downtown cleanup events, re-designing the BBA waterfront map, spearheading 2016’s holiday lighting pilot project, and launching and leading the BBA’s “Pub Talks” young professionals group. Sarah will continue to expand BBA’s social and educational events as well as work with BBA’s committees to launch new initiatives and manage existing projects that further the BBA’s mission of stewarding and promoting Burlington’s economic vitality.
“I am motivated and inspired by the work of our board, our members, and the organizations we partner with. I see it as a privilege that I get the opportunity to collaborate with a wide range of business owners, community leaders and the engaged employees of local businesses on projects that help make Burlington a great city for our residents and visitors” says Sarah. “I am passionate about working with community stakeholders to identify local needs, and collaborating with diverse partners to enact creative solutions that engage with and benefit the local community.”
With a background in the arts, Sarah brings to BBA a combination of project management experience and creative problem solving gained while working in a wide range of roles in the film industry and arts institutions.
Sarah earned her Master of Fine Arts degree as a University Fellow at the Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Temple University’s Tyler School of Art. Sarah has been awarded several prestigious accolades for her artwork, and continues to maintain an active role in Burlington’s art community both as an artist, and through her work with Overnight Projects, an exhibition initiative she co-founded in 2015 that works to curate short term art exhibitions in vacant spaces throughout the area.
The Burlington Business Association, founded in 1978, is a non-profit, non-political membership organization with over 240 business and non-profit members. Our mission is to enhance and promote the economic vitality of Burlington, Vermont, and to assure that the City of Burlington continues as the cultural, social, political, educational and economic center of northwestern Vermont.