Movers and Shakers: Realize Bradenton Announces New Officers and Board Member

Casey Rodgers

BRADENTON – Realize Bradenton, Inc. has announced a new member to its Board of Directors and the election of three officers to the thirteen member board.

Elected to board leadership positions this month are Dr. Judy Sedgeman, Chair; Bridgette Halliburton, Vice Chair; and William Webster as Treasurer. Joining the board for a three-year term is Casey Rodgers who recently relocated to the area with FELD Entertainment, Inc. FELD is in renovating the former Siemens Corporation complex on the north shore of the Manatee River and is the world’s leading producer of live family entertainment experiences that lift the human spirit and create indelible memories, with 30 million people in attendance at its shows each year in 65 countries.

“We welcome Casey Rodgers to the board,” stated Judy Sedgeman, Chair of the Realize Bradenton board. “His high spirits, creativity, and enthusiasm for the positive growth of our whole region will be a big contributor to Realize Bradenton’s evolution.”

Casey Rodgers is the worldwide Vice President of Financial and Strategic Planning for FELD Entertainment, Inc., the world’s premier provider of live family entertainment including the properties Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus, Disney on Ice, Disney Live!, Monster Jam, Arenacross, Supercross, Freestyle Motocross and Nuclear Cowboyz. 

Mr. Rodgers is a financial executive with diverse international and domestic industry experience who provides financial strategy that helps drive companies to record success. He is adept at forecasting trends and working with operational executives to improve cash flow and profitability while improving customer relations. Mr. Rodgers is known for pioneering strong financial organizations that generate accurate, meaningful and timely financial information.

Mr. Rodgers has held key roles in aviation, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, consumer products and entertainment. In addition, his experience includes the restructuring of several finance departments, implementation of financial systems, and improvement in cash flow and profitability through strong budgeting and forecasting processes. Further, he excels at generating standard operating metrics for domestic and international affiliates, creating balanced compensation plans and pricing methodologies, and achieving cost savings through efficiencies and negotiation of contracts.

Prior to joining FELD in 1998, Mr. Rodgers was Treasurer of KIWI International Air Lines. In addition, he has over 20 years of experience working in the corporate finance world, including 15 years as a senior financial officer serving the aviation, healthcare and entertainment industries.

Mr. Rodgers holds a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management from Florida Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business.

About Realize Bradenton

A non-profit organization, Realize Bradenton grew out of a year-long planning process in 2008-09 to leverage arts, culture, heritage, and sports to increase economic development, build cultural tourism, and enhance the quality of life for Manatee County residents. The events, promotions, and partnerships developed by the organization are showing significant results. This month Southern Business & Development magazine, an influential economic development publication, showcased Bradenton in its feature on "Ten Wonderful Small Town Central Business Districts in the South."

For more information about the organizaton, visit www.RealizeBradenton.com.