𝐖𝐌𝐄𝐆 𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍, 𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐒 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 11, 2020

Wilton Manors Entertainment Group has announced a major expansion of its programs in 2021 as well as the appointment of its first president.

Known simply as WMEG, the local non-profit was formed six years ago as a partnership between the City of Wilton Manors and the Wilton Manors Development Alliance and is credited with saving the city’s top multimillion dollar revenue generating event, the annual Stonewall Pride Parade and Festival.

“We desperately need to promote Wilton Manors as the prime LGBTQ destination that it is,” said Jeff Sterling, CEO of WMEG. “The way to do that is through events that give people a reason to visit as well as through strategic local and national marketing of the people and businesses that make our Island City so welcoming and special,” he said. 

Leading a new era of growth as the first president of the non-profit is Peter Jackson, a veteran marketer and business strategist who has vast experience in media, marketing and revenue growth. 

He has been charged with the responsibility to create a print and digital marketing division for WMEG, expand its current programs, and introduce new events.

Jackson’s experience includes serving as vice president of sales and marketing of one of the country’s largest private media conglomerates. He retired from media in 2009 and moved to Fort Lauderdale where he opened three successful fitness businesses in succession: Push Fitness, Club One Crossfit and InnerG Yoga, all of which he sold in 2015. 

He has been an active board member of the Wilton Manors Business Association since 2018 and is currently vice president. 

“I am excited by this opportunity. Promoting the paradise that Wilton Manors is to the LGBTQ community far and wide is a great objective and benefits every resident and business owner. Doing so through multiplatform marketing and fun events that allow our community to come together in a post-COVID world makes the job even sweeter,” he said. “This is a challenging time for non-profits as traditional funding sources evaporate — but we see this as a time to innovate and grow in new and exciting ways.”

Its 2021 event line-up to be published in January will see the addition of two new major events in 2021 and a third in 2022. 

WMEG currently produces three monthly community events — Art Walk, Vibes On The Drive and Pride Skate Night — in addition to a host of annual events including Stonewall Pride Parade and Festival, Holiday Spectacular In The Park, Wilton Manors Health & Wellness Expo, The Small Business Expo, and Taste of The Island food festival. WMEG Community Marketing and Events also manages the new Sculpture Walk project which has seen the placement of six sculptures so far around the city.

To comment on this story, e-mail president @wmeg.org