Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation Appoints Laura Ansel as Director of Communications
Tom O’Connor Consulting Group (TOCG) is pleased to announce that Laura Ansel (she/her) has been appointed Director of Communications by Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation (Tania Castroverde Moskalenko, Chief Executive Officer) in Sarasota, Florida following our extensive search led by Tomi Douglas.
Laura Ansel, APR, CPRC, is an award-winning communications strategist with over 20 years of experience in public relations, marketing, and community engagement. Prior to joining the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation, Ansel served as Marketing & Engagement Manager for the City of North Port, where she successfully led citywide communications efforts, and developed innovative public relations and community engagement programs and events.
Throughout her career, Ansel has held leadership roles in both the public and private sectors, including positions in corporate marketing, nonprofit development, and higher education. She holds an Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) and is a Certified Public Relations Counselor (CPRC). A champion for strategic storytelling and community impact, she has received statewide recognition and multiple industry awards for excellence in digital strategy, marketing, and crisis response.
In addition to her work for North Port, Laura currently serves as the President-elect for the Central West Coast Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (CWC-FPRA). In addition, she is an active volunteer for North Port Cub Scout Pack 257 and the North Port High School Theatre Guild.
Beyond work and volunteering, Ansel can be found enjoying her most important role in life as wife and mother – where she can be found cheering at soccer games and plays, kayaking, or tending to her backyard chickens.
“I’m honored to join the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation and I’m inspired by their passion and vision," said Ansel. "The arts have a profound ability to connect people and enrich lives. Building a new, accessible and world-class theatre right here in Sarasota is a visionary initiative which will benefit our entire region. I’m looking forward to working with the SPAF team, our partners, and the community to not only continue their great work, but expand upon it to benefit everyone who lives and works along Florida’s Cultural Coast.”
About Sarasota Performing Art Foundation
The Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation emerged from the community's long-standing commitment to cultural excellence and performing arts in the Gulf Coast region. Building upon Sarasota's rich artistic heritage, which has included decades of renowned performances at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, the Foundation was established to help shepherd the next generation of performing arts in the region. Working in close partnership with the Van Wezel Foundation and the City of Sarasota, the organization is advancing the vision and planning for a new performing arts center designed by Renzo Piano Workshop as part of The Bay Park project. The Foundation's mission extends beyond just creating a new venue – it encompasses fostering educational opportunities, expanding access to the arts, creating accessible community arts spaces, and ensuring Sarasota continues to be a premier destination for world-class performances and cultural experiences.
About Tom O’Connor Consulting Group
Tom O’Connor Consulting Group (TOCG) is a NYC-based consultancy that supports arts institutions and leaders with two integrated services: organizational strategy and executive search. Consulting specialties include marketing, strategy, assessment, and organizational development. Founded in 2015, TOCG is a fully remote company with team members spanning the country and the globe.
Select clients have included Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Carnegie Hall, Cincinnati Opera, Huntington Theatre Company, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Lincoln Center Theater, The Metropolitan Opera, Next Chapter Podcasts, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, SPACE on Ryder Farm, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, and more.
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