Opening Nights at Florida State University’s Development Council has selected Ron Sachs as its chair for the 2024-2025 season.
In this role, Sachs, a Miami native and founder/chairman emeritus of Tallahassee-based Sachs Media, will be an advocate for Opening Nights by strengthening the relationship between the performing arts program and the community.
“For many years, our family and work family have been strong supporters and sponsors of Opening Nights for its wonderful track record of bringing some of the greatest new and legendary talents in the world to our Tallahassee community,” Sachs said. “By creating and sustaining this positively impactful performing arts series, FSU has also helped to consistently unite our community, region, and state on the common ground of enjoying world class entertainment.”
Sachs launched Sachs Media in 1996 after three years as director of communications for the late Gov. Lawton Chiles. The 28-year-old firm is nationally ranked and respected for its meaningful work for clients in public, private and non-profit sectors.
Sachs is an Emmy Award-winning newspaper, magazine and television journalist. He worked on projects that generated local, statewide, national and worldwide attention on issues such as prejudice and discrimination, hurricane safety, financial literacy, veterans’ well-being, safe driving, non-partisan political dialogue and rock ‘n’ roll.
Sachs has been a sponsor of Opening Nights since 2011. Over the years, Sachs Media and the Sachs family have sponsored acts including Diana Krall, Tony Bennett, Smokey Robinson, the Righteous Brothers, the Temptations & Four Tops, and most recently, the sold-out “Classical Mystery Tour: A Tribute to the Beatles with Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra.”
“We are so pleased that Ron has stepped up to chair the Opening Nights Development Council as the overall program continues to evolve for both Florida State University and the Leon County community,” said Michael Blachly, interim director of Opening Nights.
In his 34 years in Tallahassee, Sachs has served as chairman of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce and the United Way of the Big Bend’s board of directors and annual fundraising campaign. Sachs twice donated his firm’s services toward the passage of the half-penny sales tax initiative, which has benefited Leon County Public Schools by generating tens of millions of dollars. Sachs also conceived Tallahassee’s “Best & Brightest” scholarship program that recognizes and rewards high school seniors for their academic achievements and selfless service. The program has honored more than 2,500 students in 19 years, with nearly $1 million.
Sachs earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Florida, and he hopes to someday earn an FSU graduate degree. He is married to Gay Webster-Sachs, and is father to daughters Samantha Jane Sachs, Julie Sachs Hunter and the late Aimee Nicole Sachs.
For more information, visit https://openingnights.fsu.edu/about/development-council/.