Jennifer Sullivan

Our Q & A with Jennifer

What path brought you to your current role or business?

I am a creative strategist, community leader, and arts advocate with more than 25 years of experience advancing nonprofit organizations, public-private partnerships, and cultural initiatives in Palm Beach County.

I began my career at a boutique public relations firm, working with corporate and nonprofit clients across Florida and securing national media coverage in outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Town & Country. I later moved into the nonprofit sector at the Community Foundation for Palm Beach & Martin Counties, where I launched the region’s first online giving day, raising $2.2 million in a single day for hundreds of local charities.

I was then recruited to Ideabar to help build a start-up advertising agency within the local newspaper, where I helped secure its first million-dollar client. Ultimately, I returned to the nonprofit sector and found the perfect intersection of my professional experience and personal passion at the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County.

Today, I lead a multidisciplinary team supporting professional artists and cultural organizations through grantmaking, exhibitions and performances, professional development, tourism marketing, and advocacy. During my tenure, I launched MOSAIC (Month of Shows, Art, Ideas, & Culture), an award-winning cultural tourism campaign now in its ninth year. I’ve also built partnerships that expand opportunities for emerging artists, launched a podcast highlighting local arts and culture, and helped bring arts enrichment programs to families served by Bridges sites in Belle Glade, Pahokee, Riviera Beach, and Lake Worth.

Beyond my professional role, I serve as immediate past chair of Nonprofits First, sit on the Education Advisory Board for the Village of Royal Palm Beach, and serve on the inaugural board of the Multicultural Resource Center in central Palm Beach County.

How has being a member impacted you personally or professionally?

I first became involved when I was invited to participate in a member-only panel discussion about tourism in The Palm Beaches at the Cultural Council building in Lake Worth Beach. Working with the volunteer committee members impressed me immediately – they were thoughtful, professional, and deeply committed to creating a meaningful member experience.

When I looked around the room during the event, I saw many familiar faces – women who had influenced and supported my career over the years. That moment made the organization feel instantly welcoming and connected to the community I care about. I joined shortly afterward and have felt valued and inspired ever since.

What’s one accomplishment you’re most proud of?

One accomplishment I’m particularly proud of was being named a 2025 finalist for Leadership Palm Beach County’s Leadership Excellence Award for my work in arts advocacy.

After $32 million in state arts funding was vetoed in 2024, I stepped into a leadership role within a statewide coalition advocating for restoration in the 2025–2026 budget. Through coordinated marketing campaigns, legislative meetings, and hosting cultural site visits for the Palm Beach County legislative delegation, we mobilized broad support for the arts across Florida.

Our collective efforts helped restore $21 million in grant funding statewide, including $1.8 million for organizations in Palm Beach County—protecting jobs, education programs, and essential community services delivered through the arts.

What advice would you give to other women leaders in Palm Beach County?

My mantra is simple: be kind and direct.

Palm Beach County is a close-knit community where relationships matter. People respect leaders who communicate clearly, and they remember leaders who lead with kindness. Over time, those small interactions build trust and create opportunities for collaboration.

You never know when you’ll cross paths again or need to call on someone for advice, support, or partnership. Leading here has taught me that strong relationships – and small, thoughtful actions – can create lasting impact.

What’s something fun or surprising about you that most people don’t know?

I love Florida for its extraordinary diversity of landscapes, history, and outdoor experiences. Born in Broward County and raised in Palm Beach County, my childhood was spent on the beach or on the water, fishing and diving. As an adult, that connection deepened. Every summer my husband and our two children go scalloping in Homosassa Springs on the west coast of Florida, turning it into a spirited family competition. Fresh Gulf scallops on the grill are the reward—and I love the tradition so much I even have a small scallop tattoo.