Charles W. Surber - Principal
Mr. Surber is a co-founder and principal of The Winnmark Group, a professional consulting firm that provides specialized real estate, financial, strategic, marketing, and operations services to businesses, investors, foundations, public institutions. and nonprofit organizations.
He is recognized for his ability to lead teams and develop strategies for start-up, fast-growth, stable, and under-performing businesses and institutions; and work with diverse clients including high-profile entrepreneurs, investors, and philanthropists; family and corporate foundations; internationally-acclaimed artists and performers; and schools and universities.
Mr. Surber most recently served as the Director of Sales & Marketing for Sheldon Good & Company and as Chief Marketing Officer for the Racebrook Portfolio of Companies located throughout the United States and the Caribbean. He served as a core member of the Executive Committee and provided strategic direction, support, and leadership for sales and marketing for all clients including real estate funds, private equity companies, developers, investors, and financial institutions. He was responsible for creating the image, the brand, the web presence, and related promotional tools; and guided, educated, and trained the various business development teams within the companies with special focus on direct mail canvassing, research, design, and planning. In addition, he managed strategic development and resolution of client business issues – working with marketing and project management teams from the moment a proposal was envisioned through the execution of the auction/business campaign -- to ensure outstanding market exposure and successful asset sales.
Charles has served on the boards of nationally respected arts organizations, dance companies, and cultural advisory panels, including three years as Executive Director for Ballet Florida where he successfully restructured the highly-regarded regional company, school, and touring program. He has held leadership positions as a fundraiser and non-profit manager for several national organizations including the New York City Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society; United Cerebral Palsy Association, Westchester County, NY; and The Children’s Village in Dobb’s Ferry, NY. In addition, his career includes senior management positions with the Palm Beach County Council of the Arts & Business Volunteers for the Arts in Palm Beach and Broward Counties; implementation of a multi-year grant for the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation which required him to provide management expertise to cultural arts organization in Palm Beach County; as well as eight years as a teacher, diagnostician, and counselor in public schools and clinical settings.
Mr. Surber is an accomplished pianist, organist, vocalist, and conductor having sung under the direction of world-class conductors in major performance halls and cathedrals in the US and overseas. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with Distinction from the University of Virginia and a Master of Science Degree in Learning Disabilities and Psychology from Radford University. His post-graduate training includes coursework and post-graduate certificates from Bard College, Yale Divinity School of Sacred Music, New York University, Southern Methodist University, The Grantsmanship Center, and IBM Leadership Commitment Program.