- December 4, 2025
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The board of trustees of the Circus Arts Conservatory unanimously elected new officers during its June meeting, the arts nonprofit recently announced. Julie Harris becomes the new chair of the board, succeeding Shari Ashman, who held the post for three years. Ken Woodworth will serve as vice-chair, a post Harris filled for the past year.
In a statement, the CAC board and staff expressed their appreciation for Ashman’s leadership. She will continue to be involved with the board and organization as the immediate past chair.
During Ashman’s term as chair, the board launched several committees, one focused on facilities and one to manage Investments.
Several of the board's committees updated their bylaws during Ashman's tenure, which also included recovering from three hurricanes and acquiring a new home for the CAC administrative offices.
In addition to maintaining financial stability, the board oversaw the expansion of programs, including the Sailor Circus and the CAC's in-school circus arts education.
While Ashman was board chair, the CAC celebrated its 25th year and the Sailor Circus Academy marked its 75th year.
Incoming board chair Harris was born in Fort Lauderdale and has lived in Sarasota for 36 years. Harris, who studied art at Andrews Osborne Academy in Willoughby, Ohio, and attended Jacksonville University, is a fierce champion of the arts and its positive impact on the community.
Harris currently serves on the executive and governance committees of the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation and is secretary to SPAF's board of trustees. She also sits on the boards of the Sarasota Ballet board and Ringling College of Art and Design.
Incoming vice-chair Woodworth brings a wealth of professional management experience to his new role. He studied mechanical engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and project management at George Washington University, and oversaw major operations domestically and internationally for Marathon Oil.
In addition to sitting on numerous professional boards, Woodworth served on the Crawford Memorial Hospital board in Robinson, Illinois, for years and was a volunteer member of the Fire and Rescue Squad in the town.
With Harris and Woodworth in their new positions, the CAC board plans to advance the mission established by CAC’s founders, Pedro Reis and Dolly Jacobs, who stepped down from day-to-day operations in 2024. At that time, Jennifer Mitchell became CEO and president, moving up from managing director, a post she held since 2013. Reis remains production and artistry strategist for the CAC, while Jacobs is vice president.
As established by Reis and Jacobs, the CAC's mandate is to bring circus arts performance, training, education and legacy to local, national and international communities through such initiatives as its pioneering in-school circus arts education programs, youth training that now supports U.S. National Champion athletes, and innovative, collaborative performances like Cirque des Voix and Circus Sarasota.
