Juggling Act

A sprit of adventure runs high in Casey Rodgers, a Manatee County executive who trained to become a commercial airline pilot in college.

But even Rodgers paused when he read a cryptic help wanted ad one day in the Baltimore Sun in 1998. The ad stated: “Local entertainment firm needs a senior financial analyst.”

Then an executive with a pharmaceutical firm, Rodgers took a chance. He responded to the ad. Turns out it was Vienna, Va.-based Feld Entertainment, owners of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus and one of the largest show business and family production firms in the world. “I didn't know it was the circus,” says Rodgers, “until I showed up at the office.”