Our Leaders

Denise Kowal is a visionary leader known for inspiring creative innovation. She founded the Sarasota Chalk Festival in 2007 and, after 18 years, continues to serve as its Executive Director and Chief Curator. Each year, she dedicates more than 1,000 volunteer hours to ensure the festival’s success by building upon cultural, social, and economic diversity and fostering strong educational foundations.

A firm believer that “we are all in this together,” Denise’s strength lies in producing large-scale events and collaborating with world-renowned artists. Her can-do attitude and dedication to supporting artists’ dreams have earned her a reputation for spearheading groundbreaking innovations and introducing concepts never seen before to audiences world-wide. Through her leadership, the festival garners international recognition, attracts global audiences, secures over two million dollars annually in in-kind support, and remains a 100% volunteer-run nonprofit organization — including her own role.

Primarily focused on the pavement arts, Denise has cultivated an international chalk family that had never before existed. United by their shared love of the art form — artists, volunteers, donors, and visitors alike — they have together made the Sarasota Chalk Festival the largest gathering of renowned artists  and one of the most important pavement art event in the world.

Denise has received numerous recognitions for her work worldwide and, in 2024, made history by bringing together pavement artists and flower carpet artists from over 30 countries for the first time.

Beyond the festival, Denise has been a resident, patron, stakeholder, and business owner in Sarasota County for over 40 years. She was honored as a 2015 SRQ Women in Business Leadership Circle winner and is a graduate of the Smart Code, Asset-Based Community Development, and Gulf Coast Leadership programs.

A Master Valuer and expert in gemstones and jewelry, Denise is also a jewelry designer, professional instructor, and court-recognized expert witness specializing in antique jewelry, opals, diamonds, and hallmarking of precious metals. As a long-standing stakeholder in Sarasota’s Historic Burns Square District, she has spearheaded over $2 million in improvements, preserved property rights for 53 properties, conducted two city-wide charrettes resulting in the Burns Square Master Plan, and organized the Smart Code Workshop for city urban leaders.

In addition to her leadership and artistic endeavors, Denise is a certified yoga instructor and sound healer. She has raced cars, climbed mountains, and sailed oceans. She founded the Avenida de Colores cultural arts nonprofit and volunteers as its Artistic and Executive Director, overseeing numerous programs including the Sarasota Chalk Festival, Venice Chalk Festival, Going Vertical Program, Pavement Music Festival, Avenue of Art, and Floralia Infiorata.

Raised in an artistic family, Denise’s mother is a multidisciplinary artist, and her father, Dennis Kowal, is a professor and sculptor. Growing up on art college campuses and attending auctions and galleries, she was immersed in the arts from an early age — an upbringing that continues to inform her lifelong passion for creativity and community.

Carole is a Founding Board Member with the Chalk Festival since incorporating as a 501c3 in 2010. She is a multidisciplinary artist from Massachusetts, a mother of three girls (Denise is her youngest), six grown grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She loves art, hiking and the outdoors.

In 2009 Denise asked her mother to come and take care of her while she worked the festival. Moms are good that way :) So she came and made sure Denise ate occasionally and at least a few hours of sleep during the fast pace of the 3 day festival that by that date had 60 artists from all over the USA participating. 

But by 2010 when she became a board member as well as keeping the role of taking care of Denise during the festivities, the artists wanted her to take care of them too! She started being all the artists mother, cooking for them and doing laundry during the 6 day festival.

As the festival grew she continued her board appointment and continued to help organize the meals for the artists that grew at times to over 250 people that needed to be fed breakfast, lunch and dinner. She also helped organize the volunteer breakfasts the day after the festival closed. 

Now in her mid 80's and the festivals move back to Sarasota we are hoping someone else can take on the role of feeding the artists so maybe she can sit back and enjoy all the work she has done. For over 13 years she had helped to make it a home away from home for the artists. 

We all raise a glass to the moms in the world that support their daughters and sons in creating memorable moments and philanthropy by giving their talents to the larger community.

Kenyon has volunteered with the Chalk Festival since 2007 and has been a major sponsor since 2011. Kenyon is a front-end developer, designer and musician living in St. Petersburg, Florida. He works remotely as a Front-End Developer for digital design agency Paper Tiger. He enjoys working on the Chalk Festival and other fun side-projects in his spare time.

Austin has volunteered with the Chalk Festival since 2007, co-chaired the Going Vertical for 4 years, since 2011, and a major sponsor for 6 years, since 2009. He is the founder and owner of Clothesline, a creative and printing business in Sarasota. He sponsored the 2014 Student T-Shirt Contest and provided live screen printing of 12 student designs during the festival.

The “Go to person” for technical questions of art materials, color mixing and mediums. Lori is an authority on art materials and their use for over 40 years. Lori has been a street painter since 1994 and was the initial consultant and featured artist for the inaugural Sarasota “Avenida de Colores” Chalk Festival in 2007. She participated as an artist every year since. She has been a featured artist working on Kurt Wenner's 2012 “Circus Parade” group project as well as the world record projects--2014 Guinness World Record for the Extinct and Endangered Species as well as 2015 Eat Drink and Be Merry theme.

William “Bill” Baranowski, MBA 

Chief Operating Office (COO)

William “Bill” Baranowski, MBA, has always valued cultural exchange, demonstrated by years of hosting international exchange students in his home. This passion extended into his professional career, where he spent five years teaching English to speakers of other languages before transitioning to training and evaluating educators in the field.

Bill’s early exposure to the arts was encouraged by his mother, Willa Bee, who eventually insisted that he try chalk art on pavement. Instantly captivated by the ephemeral nature of the medium, he became deeply involved in the Sarasota International Chalk Festival, which immediately became his annual obsession.
His casual interactions with Denise Kowal and his volunteer work at the 3D Illusion Museum led him into management responsibilities. Following the completion of the 3D Illusion Museum exhibit, Bill played a strong role in the development of the Avenue of Art exhibit—an award-winning, socially distanced chalk festival. This exhibit involved in-depth research and writing on Sarasota County history and grew to encompass over 300 paintings on the sidewalks of Burns Square, Sarasota, Florida, USA.

Before diving into the world of chalk and ephemeral art, Bill worked for 20 years in technology marketing management roles at AT&T, Alcatel-Lucent, and as a university professor. His professional journey then led him to become a public middle school writing and art teacher for a decade, where he inspired young minds through creativity and expression.

The Sarasota Int’l Chalk Festival has fed Bill’s fascination with ephemeral art and taken him across the world, where he has participated in multiple world-class infioratas in Italy and the Canary Islands, as well as the Fiera delle Grazie and the Festa dell'Assunta Madonnari Contest. Most recently, he has been continuing workshops, exploring the art of Venetian mask-making, using traditional techniques to craft masks for festival parades.

With an extensive background in arts, culture, education, and technology, Bill continues to give his all to innovative projects that celebrate history, creativity, and community engagement.

Christine (Chris) Hanrahan hails from Massachusetts but moved to Florida twenty-four years ago. Her passions are music, photography, videography, travelling, gardening and anything computer related. This is her fourth year volunteering for the Chalk Festival and finds the experience educational and rewarding. Starting out as a storyteller the first year she enjoyed meeting the artists and working with the volunteers. Currently, Chris contributes her social media expertise as well as her graphic/print talents to the festival.

Manny Lopez hails from Key West, Florida and is a fourth generation ”Conch”.  This is his fourth year with the Chalk Festival, serving as the Music Captain for three years.  He is a disabled veteran and a current realtor. He has been a resident of Sarasota County for 14 years.  He has an enormous passion for music and the arts

Suzanne has been a volunteer for the Chalk Festival since 2012. From 2012-2016 she has been Captain of Special Events. Originally from Detroit, Michigan she has owned a home in Sarasota since 1979 and became a permanent resident in 2003. Suzanne is President/Owner of Final Tribute, Inc. She has volunteered for many organization in the community. The Chalk Festival has been the most rewarding. Being a part of an all volunteer organization and seeing how  hard the volunteers and artists work to make this such a success is truly amazing. Most of all watching the Artist create their beautiful Evanescent pieces.

Sandy joined the the Chalk Festival in 2014. I have been Captain of Beverages since 2015.  

She is a retired teacher from New Jersey.  After vacationing in Venice for over 30 years she moving permanently to Venice in 2012.  She is a the proud mother of 2 children and has 6 wonderful grandchildren.

Sandy also volunteers at The Italian American Club of Venice and KVB (Keeping Venice Beautiful).  
She hopes to see you all at the Chalk Festival!

Doug Henry is a Founding Board Member since the festival was founded in 2010. Retired from the Boston Teamsters, Doug now dedicates his volunteer time to the festival in various leadership roles.

RIP Richard Carter. The festival early years were made possibly because of his tireless dedication. 

Russ is originally from Grand Rapids, MI, but Noblesville, IN has been his home for over 35 years.  He has two children and three grandchildren.

He started coming to the Venice area in 1993 to visit friends, and purchased a condo here in 2010.  Russ now spends 6 - 7 months in sunny Florida.

Russ started volunteering with the Chalk Festival in 2013 and really enjoys it.

I’m Laura Hester, the 2017 Volunteer Captain. This is my second year working with the Chalk Festival. Last year I dipped my toe in a variety of jobs over the course of the festival; Artist Runner, Office Staff, Food Prep, Beverage Ticket Sales, whatever. I don’t have an extensive artistic background but I do have a small studio separate from my house where I can do whatever I like which is primarily mosaics. I work with stained glass, painted paper, rocks, shells, buttons, hardware, and my favorite or what I call “crash glass”. This is tempered safety glass that has shattered. Ask me about my shower door next time you see me. And I have a couple of snowbird friends that, during the season, meet at each other’s houses every Monday to do art in some form or other.

Originally from the Midwest, lives in Jacksonville FL and has been volunteering with the Chalk festival since 2013. Has helped with special events and is volunteering as Captain of  artist supplies this year. Enjoys all types of art expression produced by talented artists at these festivals.

I live in Napoleon Michigan. 2017 is my first volunteering for the Chalk Festival.

Photography is my passion. I have had a camera in hand since I was a teenager and love capturing images and making time stand still. I have recently retired from the University of Michigan and I'm grateful and honored to have been asked to participate in this years festival.

Julie is originally from Hamilton, Ohio, but has lived in Venice, Florida for over 45 years. Julie has worked with the Chalk Festival since 2014. She has been a dedicated volunteer. In 2017 she became part of the Captain team. Being part of the team and working with the volunteers and talented artist's has been an amazing experience.

Alice is originally from Massachusetts, but has been living in Sarasota for 45 years. Alice works with the Sarasota Public Schools. This is her first as a captain and we couldn't be happier, as she is a dedicated volunteer. Alice has volunteered with the festival for many years both in Sarasota and Venice. What I enjoy the most is meeting and working with all the talented artists from around the world.