Today, we’d like to introduce you to Charissa Shatanoff. Charissa was introduced to us by the brilliant and talented Zack Stephenson.
Hi Charissa, we’re so thrilled to have you sharing your story with us today. Maybe we can kick things off by having you introduce yourself to our readers? We’d love to have you go into your story and how you got to where you are today.
While growing up in Clearwater, Florida, I was fortunate enough to be immersed in the dynamic world of the hospitality industry through my family’s ventures on Clearwater Beach. As I pursued my college education, I continued to immerse myself in this field by working as a server at a local restaurant and bartending at Steinbrenner Field during the exhilarating Yankee spring training season. After completing my degree in education, I dedicated over a decade of my life to teaching elementary aged students and serving as a literacy coach with Pinellas County Schools. Despite my commitment to education, my passion for the hospitality industry always drew me back to Clearwater Beach during the summer breaks. Eventually, I made the pivotal decision to return to my roots and embarked on a new career path. Now, I proudly manage the nightly Sunsets at Pier 60 Festival and actively contribute to the production of the renowned Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival
Please tell us more about your brand, Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival
The purpose of Sunsets at Pier 60 is to promote Clearwater Beach and Pinellas County as a prime tourism destination. The festival strives to enhance the guest experience by encouraging longer stays while providing visitors and residents with additional evening entertainment options following their days spent enjoying the beach. Sunsets at Pier 60 debuted on March 17, 1995 as a year-round nightly sunset celebration on the iconic Pier 60. This 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization serves as a free, family-friendly destination for tourists and locals to experience. During its 27-year history, Sunsets at Pier 60 has produced numerous special events such as Beach Fest, Caribbean Christmas Art Show and FantaSea of Lights. In 2013, the nightly sunset celebration created a new destination event in partnership with the city of Clearwater called the Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival. The Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival is a 17-day beach wide celebration of Clearwater Beach’s two most notable natural assets: our sugar sand and sunsets. Master sand sculptors use 1,000 tons of Clearwater Beach sand to create a walk-through art exhibit housed in a 21,000-square-foot structure. This remarkable event not only captivates visitors with its awe-inspiring sculptures but also raising funds for the community and supports the educational initiatives of the Sunsets at Pier 60 Festival.
Zack Stephenson and Slush Plus have been great to us and I know you’ve got a great relationship with them as well. Maybe you can tell our audience a bit about Zack Stephenson and Slush Plus and your experience with them.
During the planning of the 2023 Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival, one of my primary goals was to revamp our bar menu and introduce something fresh and exciting for our festival attendees. It seemed only fitting that a festival held right on the beautiful beach would benefit from the addition of frozen cocktails. This led me on a search for a reliable company that could provide rental machines for these beverages, and that’s when I discovered Zack and Slush Plush. Working with Zack was an absolute pleasure. He maintained open lines of communication, engaging in multiple email exchanges and phone calls to ensure that all the necessary arrangements were flawlessly executed. Despite the logistical challenge posed by our festival’s sandy location on Clearwater Beach, Zack delivered the equipment and assisted in its installation exactly where we needed it. Collaborating closely, we crafted the perfect recipes for the frozen drinks we would offer at the festival. Throughout the event, Zack made sure to visit us, checking on the equipment’s performance and replenishing our essential ingredients. Once the festival concluded, he personally returned to assist in dismantling and removing the equipment from the beach. The addition of the frozen drinks was a resounding success, with over 2,700 frozen drinks served during the 2023 event, thanks to Zack and Slush Plush.
Website: www.sugarsandfestival.com
Instagram: pier60sugarsand
Facebook: Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival
