Visit Sarasota County (VSC) promoted Kelly Defebo to vice president of marketing and communications. Defebo will be responsible for overseeing all marketing, public relations and special projects for the destination. She will also oversee all international marketing programs and work closely with Sarasota Bradenton International Airport on marketing and programming initiatives.
Defebo has been with VSC since 2008, having most recently served as director of sales and marketing and previously as director of sales and as meeting and group sales manager. She helped lead the sales department in generating millions annually in tourist development tax revenue and helping to increase positive economic impacts on Sarasota County. Under her leadership, VSC earned the ConventionSouth Reader’s Choice Award for excellence in service and professionalism in the meetings industry in both 2020 and 2023.
Defebo graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in advertising and holds both a diploma in Marketing Communications from the International Advertising Association and is a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP). She is also member of the St. Armands Circle Board of Directors as well as a member of multiple industry associations.
“A valued VSC employee and veteran sales and hospitality professional, Kelly has been an integral part of shaping the direction, policies and goals of our sales department,” said Erin Duggan, president and CEO of VSC. “It is a natural progression for her to move into this new role where she can continue to move the needle forward with all of our marketing and PR planning.”
