Historic St. Augustine Area Council: Art as Soul of the Nation's Oldest City

Description

Join the Historic St. Augustine Area Council for a conversation on how art in all its forms shapes and preserves the character, emotion, and identity of St. Augustine.

Featured speakers: 

Dianya Markovits | Director of Public Relations & Community Partnerships at SJC Cultural Events, Inc.

Dianya Markovits is a communications and partnerships professional with over 20 years of experience within the music industry. As Director of Public Relations and Community Partnerships at SJC Cultural Events, Inc., she plays a key role in shaping and executing external communications and manages community partnerships for The St. Augustine Amphitheatre, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, Sing Out Loud Festival, and Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series. A former radio host and media executive, Dianya holds degrees in Public Relations and Political Science from the University of Florida. Outside of work, she enjoys concerts, traveling, and exploring the outdoors with her two dogs.

Beth Sweeny | Director of External and Government Relations | Flagler College.

Beth Sweeny is a Flagler College alum, graduating in 2005 with a degree in Political Science. Prior to working at Flagler, she worked as a legislative aide to Senator Ronda Storms and as Director of Policy and Government Relations with the St. Johns County School District. Beth currently serves as a board member for the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Chamber's Public Policy Committee. She is also a Leadership St. Johns graduate.

In her role at Flagler, Beth increases the visibility of the college through external partnerships. She serves as a liaison between the school and the St. Augustine community by organizing community outreach activities and increasing local communication. She publishes the Community News and Events monthly newsletter, coordinates speaking engagements for faculty and staff in the community, and works with state and local government entities on behalf of the college.

REGINA GAYLE PHILLIPS |Executive Director of the Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center

Phillips is executive director of the Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center which is housed in the historic Excelsior High School in St. Augustine, FL. The museum has interpretive exhibits and programs chronicling nearly 500 years of Black history. She began at the museum as a volunteer in 2015 and has been instrumental in its transformation and development from an all-volunteer organization to a nationally recognized museum. Under her leadership the museum has established daily operations, curated new exhibits, and developed coalitions with other institutions. Phillips, a Jacksonville native, graduated from Wolfson Sr. High School, Florida Junior College, and the University of Florida School of Journalism. She is also a graduate of the First Coast Technical Institution Culinary Program. She brings business and former journalistic skills to grant writing, exhibit curation, and museum management. She introduced Lincolnville Presents Jazz at the Excelsior, a Living Legends recognition and Juneteenth programs as a part of the museum’s offerings. The historic preservation of the Excelsior School is among the projects she has spearheaded. That final project will be more than $2 million at completion. She has served on the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum board of directors. She currently served on the St. Augustine Historical Society, board of directors and as chairperson of the St. Johns County Tourism Development Council. She served on the Florida Black Museum Task Force. She lives in St. Augustine with her husband of 38 years, Floyd who also serves as president of the museum’s board of directors.

The Historic St. Augustine Area Council of the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce serves as the unified voice for businesses in Historic Downtown, advocating for the unique needs of the area's business community. The council is designed to foster collaboration among businesses, support economic growth, promote the preservation of St. Augustine's rich heritage and provide valuable resources and networking opportunities to enhance business success in this iconic destination.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Gold Sponsor - $250

• Recognition as Gold Sponsor of 1 session
• 2 complimentary seats 
• Opportunity to offer promotional items/information to attendees
• Opportunity to address attendees and promote company (3 minutes)
• Post-event, receive a list of attendees with email addresses
• Name/logo recognition in promotional emails
• Logo and link on chamber website

Silver Sponsor - $100

• Available exclusively to Entrepreneur and Business Builder members
• Recognition as Silver Sponsor of 1 session
• 2 complimentary seats
• Opportunity to address attendees and promote company (3 minutes)
• Name/logo recognition in promotional emails
• Logo and link on chamber website