Inside TIGER 21 in Florida | Sarasota Chair Wendi Chapman in Business Observer

Relocating to Sarasota after a vibrant career from roles as varied as Vice President of the San Francisco Marathon to the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation, Wendi Chapman now leads the Sarasota TIGER 21 Groups. Wendi’s role as Chair and the fast-growing TIGER 21 Groups in the region were highlighted in a recent Business Observer article.

The rapid growth led to the formation of a second Sarasota Group, with Florida’s west coast boasting about 60 TIGER 21 Members including in Tampa and Naples. The surge in interest mirrors a broader post-Covid trend of affluent individuals migrating to Florida.

Wendi underscores TIGER 21’s role in fostering connections among like-minded, ultra–high–net–worth individuals, dispelling the myth that wealth eliminates life’s challenges. “People make the assumption that when you have all this money everything is just great,” she says, emphasizing that TIGER 21 provides a platform for Members to share their successes and navigate their challenges collectively.

People make the assumption that when you have all this money everything is just great, but there are challenges in every situation.

Wendi Chapman, TIGER 21 Sarasota Chair

One Sarasota Member, Jay Girotto, recently shared his experiences on the Business Observer’s podcast, on why he initially joined TIGER 21 to explore investment opportunities beyond agriculture. The Sarasota chapter meets monthly and is looking for more Members, fostering connectivity through social gatherings, travel, and collaborative activities such as tennis, golfing, and boating. “People get very close here very quickly,” Wendi says and stresses, “it’s not just about putting people together. It has to have something where people are comfortable sharing.”

Members live in Venice, Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch and beyond and industries currently include manufacturing, technology, health care, fund management and real estate. “There’s an instant togetherness and instant community,” Wendi added. “These are people with similar challenges who can learn from each other.”

Read the full article.

Photographed by Lori Sax