SANCA hires 2017 World Rowing Championship event director

A panel of representatives have unanimously chosen the event director for the 2017 World Rowing Championships.

A team consisting of members from Sarasota and Manatee County governments, Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Associates (SANCA) and Nathan Benderson Park Community Foundation unanimously selected Meredith Scerba out of more than a dozen candidates. Scerba currently serves as the senior vice president of marketing and operations for the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, and has worked at the organization for 10 years. During her time in Cleveland, Scerba was responsible for overseeing the major operations of the commission, including budgeting and planning, and helped develop the commission’s international events, according to an email to Sarasota County Commissioners from Lee Ann Lowry, assistant county administrator.

In 2013, Scerba held the position of executive director for the National Senior Games, an event with a $4.3 million budget. The event brought in 11,000 athletes and 25,000 visitors and delivered an estimated economic impact of $36.1 million to the City of Cleveland.

Scerba’s first day is Oct. 12, but she is accompanying county staff to the 2015 World Rowing Championships held at Lake Aiguebelette, France, next week.