We have introduced three of our employees at the Van Wezel Foundation, and we figured it was time to look at two more! Susan Lagg May and Elsie Merrill are two more of our staff members that we could not function without!
First, let's take a look at Susan. A native of Delavan, Wisconsin, Susan moved to Sarasota in 1995 upon accepting a position as Executive Director at the Sarasota Ballet of Florida. In 1997, the Florida West Coast Symphony (DBA Sarasota Orchestra) hired her as Assistant Business Manager. Susan worked at the orchestra for 10 years, after being promoted to Finance Director in 1998. She served in numerous roles there including Systems Administrator. The Van Wezel Foundation hired Susan in 2007 to take on the responsibility of financial and systems management. Susan earned a Bachelor of Music, with a Marketing Minor with Summa Cum Laude honors from the University of Wisconsin- Whitewater. Upon completion of her undergraduate degree she earned a Masterof Arts in Business from the Bolz Center for Arts Administration at the University of Wisconsin- Madison. She has worked as the Executive Director at the LaCrosse and Columbus (GA) Symphonies, as a graduateassistant at the Wisconsin Union Theater in Madison and the Association of Performing Arts Presenters (formerly ACUCAA in Madison, WI). She interned at the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and worked as a volunteer and employee at UW-Whitewater’s Cultural Affairs program where her interest in arts administration was born.
She is an independent consultant for Blackbaud software including Raisers Edge, Financial Edge, and Patron Edge Online. She serves as a Blackbaud reference and was a conference co-presenter on the topic of systems integration at their 2008 annual conference. As an accomplished flutist, Susan has played in many different ensembles over the years at the local, state and national level. She has performed as a soloist, with rock bands, and is currently performing as a member of the North Port Concert Band, where she also serves as a member of the Board.
Susan is married to Roy May and between them they have two adult daughters, one son and seven grandchildren. Susan and Roy also have two dogs they adore, Jazz and Blues. They are both avid bikers , each riding their own Harley-Davidson.
Next is Elsie Merrill. Elsie was born and raised in Boston. She began working with the Van Wezel Foundation in 2002 when she relocated to Sarasota from the Washington, D.C. area. She took a short hiatus in 2005 but missed working with the Friends and returned a year later. Her duties include Friends Ticketing and the Community Outreach Ticketing Program.
She likes to visit her 4 children and 5 grandchildre, play golf, and trivia. She lives in Osprey and has two mimiature schnauzers.
