“I have enjoyed working with the business community at UVM but I missed the Arts. This is the job for me. I am impressed with the tenure of First Night Burlington and I will work hard with the Board of Directors and our community of artists and business people to provide the leadership to move forward. I am very proud and excited that the 2009 First Night will be the kickoff for Vermont’s Quadricentennial celebration.”

ABOUT SHARON THOMPSON RADTKE
Sharon Radtke was the first Events and Marketing Coordinator for the City of East Lansing, MI in 1994. She was responsible for creating events to bring families to the downtown district. Radtke created and supervised outdoor concerts, children’s events, movies in the park, a farmer’s market, a winter festival, chili cook-off, a Great Pumpkin Walk and an alcohol free New Year’s eve celebration called Fest Eve.

In 1998, Radtke was named site manager for the prestigious National Folk Festival brought to East Lansing by the National Council for the Traditional Arts. The event was attended by 125,000 people.

She joined Michigan State University (MSU) in 2000, where she was responsible for large events such as the annual Homecoming Parade, the 50th class reunion, the MSU Sesquicentennial Parade and the Water Carnival in 2004.

Prior to her work for the City of East Lansing and MSU, Radtke was the Executive Director of the Voluntary Action Center where she matched 200 non-profit organizations with volunteers and provided training for boards of directors and volunteer coordinators.