Anne Rollings

As an Executive with the Watershed Hospitality Group, the parent company of a locally owned independent family of restaurants, Anne Rollings wears many hats. With a professional background in a diverse range of industries, from the legal department at Atlanta-based Turner Broadcasting and with the City Attorney of Park City, Utah; as Southeastern Region Business Development Associate for a global urban design and planning firm, and then back home to Sarasota as an Executive with the award-winning Gecko’s Hospitality Group and Watershed Hospitality Concepts, Rollings cites a common thread through all industries: the building of relationships.

With a team of hundreds of employees and little turnover in management, the WHC’s philosophy for business always comes back to the Hospitality quotient and creating uplifting experiences for our guests, the people we work alongside of every day, and within our community. In addition to Business Development, Public Relations and Government Relations, Rollings manages the WHC Charitable Giving program, which supports Veterans and military groups, law enforcement and dozens of schools in Sarasota County in addition to the community’s over 1500 not for profits, charities and philanthropic endeavors. The WHC company culture emphasizes ‘Local Partnerships for the Greater Good’ which manifests in our practice of sourcing from local farming and ranching partners and supporting the AgriBusiness, Hospitality and philanthropic endeavors in our region.

The WHC is a family of restaurants with deep local roots and established industry presence and leadership. In the short years since its inception, WHC has created steady economic stimulus, generating first-time jobs and shaping the careers of a cadre of hospitality professionals.

Rollings grew up in Sarasota is a graduate of the University of Florida. She serves as a Key Advocate/Hill Runner for the National Restaurant Association, is a member and past Chair of the Marketing Council for the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, is a graduate of Leadership Sarasota and the Gulf Coast Community Foundation Board Institute, was named Manatee County School District & Chamber of Commerce’s Business Coordinator of the Year in 2017, and was recognized as a Sarasota Woman of Influence. Rollings has served as a panelist for the Florida Public Relations Association as well as National and Florida Restaurant Association’s conferences. Rollings was awarded the Florida Public Relations Association Golden Image and Judges Choice awards for The Shark Lady Philanthropic cocktail, which has – in increments of $1- raised more than $86,000 in support of Mote Marine Laboratory. In addition to volunteerism on numerous community councils and task forces, Rollings serves on the Board of Directors for the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office Charitable Foundation and is immediate past Executive Committee member of The Bradenton Area Economic Development.