WCO Names Community Leaders to Board of Directors

The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra is delighted to announce the addition of two community leaders to the WCO Board of Directors, Deb Archer and Sawyer Meierdirk.

“With nearly three decades leading Destination Madison, Deb Archer brings a tremendous wealth of tourism, community, and arts and culture knowledge to the WCO team, providing a rare perspective on how the WCO can impact and elevate the Madison community,” says WCO CEO Joe Loehnis.

Also new to the Board as of October 12, 2021, is Sawyer Meierdirk, an Ignite Manager with American Family Insurance. Sawyer has deep understanding of how to transform teams to drive business growth and success, which will be of great value to the WCO as we continue to evolve and deepen our commitment to community transformation.

Deb Archer served as Destination Madison’s CEO for 26 years. Recently retired from this position, Deb is now consulting in the tourism industry. During her tenure as CEO of Destination Madison and the Madison Area Sports Commission, Madison evolved into a prominent position as a destination for conventions, sports events, and leisure travel.

Highlights from Deb’s career include securing multi, long-term contracts with Ironman (full Ironman and 70.3), CrossFit, and WIAA Boys Basketball, the creation and staging of the highly successful, summer-long Bucky on Parade (generating over $1 million for local charities), and hosting events including the US Conference of Mayors, the World Stem Cell Summit, and Congress for the New Urbanism.

She has been recognized twice by Downtown Madison Inc with its Community Asset Award, was recently inducted into Destinations International’s Hall of Fame, and was recognized last year by Governor Evers with the Governor’s Tourism Legacy Award. Deb is a member of Rotary Club of Madison’s Board of Directors, TEMPO Madison, and serves on the UW Medical Foundation Board of Directors.

Sawyer Meierdirk works as an Ignite Manager at American Family Insurance. She spends her time leading, supporting, and coaching a team and others through technical and behavioral transformation. She is a strong strategic thinker who helps executives think differently to achieve the best possible outcome.

Sawyer earned her degree in business from Cardinal Stritch University, and she’s since pursued numerous continuing education paths. Graduating from the Gestalt International Study Center’s Cape Cod Program, she studied and practiced the Paradoxical Theory of Change. One of her recent accomplishments is practicing a model where this concept fits into the corporate environment.

Sawyer has an 11-year-old son, Collin, and spends her time with photography, expanding on her love for music, and traveling the world. So far, Collin has traveled with Sawyer to 30 states and 15 countries.