MEET OUR TEAM

Sarah Pancheri

President and Chief Executive Officer

Sarah Pancheri serves as President and Chief Executive Officer for Milwaukee World Festival, Inc., (MWF) the non-profit organization that produces Summerfest presented by American Family Insurance and manages, develops, and stewards the 75-acre Henry Maier Festival Park.

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 as Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Sarah continues to play a central role in strategic planning, budgeting, programming, and operating decisions for MWF.  She was promoted to President in 2022 and on January 1, 2024, she also assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer.

Sarah is a proud graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and currently serves as the Board Chair of VISIT Milwaukee, and is a member of the Marketing Committee of Travel Wisconsin / WI Department of Tourism. Sarah was named a Woman of Influence by the Milwaukee Business Journal and is also involved with several civic endeavors including the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts.