Speaker Bios

Mark Andrews
Marketing Director
Paramount Bristol - Bristol, TN

Mark Andrews has spent 32 years in broadcasting including radio and TV. He owned three radio stations for six years before selling them in 2021. He owned an advertising agency where he wrote, voiced, and produced radio and TV ads. While owning this agency, he did -- and had access to -- extensive research on consumer habits as far as what media they used. He designed, built and maintained websites for 24 years, and designed billboard signs for five years. He has been with Paramount Bristol for three years and does all of those things now for the theater.

Alexander Attea
Marketing & Communications Manager
Studebaker Theater - Chicago, IL

Alexander Attea is the Manager of Marketing & Communications at the historic Fine Arts Building and Studebaker Theater in Chicago. He also works in storefront theatre as a playwright, actor, and the Artistic Director of Avalanche Theatre. He specializes in new play development, historic storytelling, and community-building through performance. His plays have been performed in 15 states across the country. He was a member of the Spring 2023 cohort of the Jackalope Playwrights Lab and an Artist-in-Residence at Mackinac State Historic Parks during the summer of 2022. Find out more at AlexanderAttea.com. .

Ricia Ballas
Vice President Arts & Culture
The Compass Group - Dayton, OH

Ricia Ballas, Vice President Arts & Culture, The Compass Group. Ricia Ballas is an established professional in the art and culture sector, spending most of her career as a fundraising executive in performing arts organizations. Most recently, Ricia served for a decade as Vice President of Development for Dayton Live. In this role, she oversaw all development initiatives for a multimillion annual budget, as well as managed the strategic planning, board operations, and stewardship of patrons and donors. In addition to her work with performing arts organizations, Ricia has provided development and marketing services to nonprofits where she evaluated, developed, and implemented operational components to drive organizational success. She has also advanced strategic fundraising campaigns, key stakeholder relations, and high-level communication efforts for human services organizations, including five years with the American Red Cross.

Cristina Ballí
Executive Director
Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center (GCAC) - San Antonio, TX

Cristina Ballí: 20 years of experience in nonprofit community-based work, and over a decade in Latino arts programming and administration in Texas, makes Cristina Ballí the perfect fit for the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center. Prior to GCAC, Cristina served as Executive Director of Texas Folklife, the Austin-based organization designated by the National Endowment for the Arts to preserve and present the diverse cultures and living heritage of the Lone Star State. .

John Bell
President & CEO
Tampa Theatre - Tampa, FL

John Bell is an experienced historic theatre leader, innovative arts administrator, and passionate arts and historic preservation advocate. John began his career in arts administration at the nation’s first arts council – the North Carolina Arts Council. As he grew in his role with the Arts Council, he would later be recruited as Managing Director of the historic Carolina Theatre in Greensboro, NC, in 1979. By 1985, John would assume management responsibilities at Tampa Theatre. Throughout four decades of service, John has increased the annual operating budget from $300,000 to $4.7M and has raised tens of millions of dollars to support significant preservation projects, including the complete restoration of the historic marquee, reinstallation of the iconic TAMPA blade sign, a full lobby restoration, and stabilization of water intrusion issues that compromised the integrity of the original plasterwork. Under his leadership, the Theatre revamped its programming to include a heavy mix of first run and classic films, supplemented by concerts, a robust education program and special events. This successful formula remains in place today, as the Theatre presents more than 700 show times each year. Despite having a stage depth of only 8 feet, Tampa Theatre's annual attendance averages 120,000 a year, and it remains one of the busiest venues of its kind in the country. John has served on the board of Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce and is a past board member and Chair of the League of Historic American Theatres. He is a member of the Tampa Downtown Partnership, Florida Presenters Consortium, Florida Facility Managers Association, Florida Cultural Alliance, and the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. In 2022, he was awarded the Award of Excellence from the Tampa Bay Chapter of the American Institute of Architects for his significant contributions to historic preservation. John holds a BA degree in Theatre Arts from Catawba College in North Carolina and though many turn to him for fatherly advice, he only has two children, five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Bill Buettner
Executive Director
West Bend Theatre - West Bend, WI

Bill Buettner, executive director of West Bend Theater, Inc., worked 35 years as a high-level manager at a graphic arts company. A Summa-Cum Laude graduate from University of Wisconsin -- Stout, he knows almost everybody in town. He heads a staff of three full-time employees, 15 part-timers and 30 volunteers. He is a 10 as a winning personality.

Robert L. Bull, Jr.
President
The Compass Group, Baltimore, MD

Robert Bull, Jr. serves as president of Compass Group, bringing to the leadership team more than 25 years of expertise and commitment to fundraising excellence. As president, Robert guides the company’s exceptional consulting services while driving Compass Group’s strategic growth and development. Robert is a positive change agent, taking a values-driven approach to the evolving world of philanthropy and the mission-based institutions for which Compass Group engages. He has been involved with LHAT for 5+ years, serves on the Board of Directors, and has presented at several LHAT conferences. His presentations always get rave reviews!

Shane E. Burkett
Director of Strategic Marketing
Agile Ticketing Solutions, LLC, Hermitage, TN

Shane E. Burkett brings over a decade of dedication to Agile Ticketing Solutions, with a passion for enhancing the sustainability and success of historic venues across North America. His expertise extends beyond AgileTix to impactful contributions at several Fortune 100 companies, including Ford Motor Company, Xerox Corporation, and Dollar General Corporation. Shane’s diverse experience in driving organizational success, combined with his commitment to the entertainment and arts sector, positions him as a pivotal figure in transforming how venues engage with their patrons through technology.

Jennifer L. Carlson
Executive Director
Colonial Theatre, Phoenixville, PA

Jennifer L. Carlson, a leader with experience in historic preservation, fundraising, and the arts, is the Executive Director of the Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. Celebrating its 120th year in 2023, the Colonial Theatre facility houses the original 658 seat, 1903 theatre auditorium as well as two additional theatres. The 175-seat White Rabbit Theatre and the luxe 68-seat Berry Theatre are both constructed inside the remodeled interior of the neighboring 1925 National Bank of Phoenixville building. The Colonial Theatre is best known for its appearance in the 1958 Sci-Fi movie, The Blob, which is commemorated each year at Blobfest, drawing thousands of visitors from across the globe.

Jennifer Crockett
Executive Director
Liberty Theatre - Astoria, OR

Jenn Crockett , a clarinet and bass clarinet player, substitutes with the Oregon Symphony and Oregon Ballet. A DePaul University School of Music alumna, she co-founded the American Federation of Music Local 99 Portland’s “Fair Trade Music” campaign, advocating for fair wages for gig musicians. Jennifer serves as a grant panelist for the Oregon Arts Commission, advises the Oregon Independent Venue Coalition, and sits on the board of the League of Historic American Theatres. She holds the position of Executive Director at The Liberty Theatre in Astoria, Oregon, a bustling performing arts hub and home to the Kids Make Theatre school, playing a pivotal role in the North Coast Performing Arts Alliance.

Karen Cromer
Executive Director
Clemens Center - Elmira, NY

Karen Cromer: Originally from Indianapolis, IN, Karen is Executive Director of the Clemens Center in Elmira, NY, where she oversees a 1,600-seat, restored vaudeville theatre. The Center attracts 66,000 patrons annually with touring Broadway, education matinees, and a mix of music, dance and theatre. Five resident companies also call the venue home. Karen serves as Vice President of the Alliance for Empowerment, a nonprofit parent company of two organizations that provide personalized programs for individuals with disabilities. She has a B.A. in Telecommunications from Indiana University, and was Director of Operations at Clowes Memorial Hall of Butler University for 8 ½ years. She worked previously in scenic construction, graphic design, and continuing education. Her husband, Derek, is a scenic designer and she has a daughter living in Annapolis.

Scott Cryer, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Architect
HGA - Washington, DC

Scott Cryer, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, an architect with HGA, has over 20 years of experience designing award-winning museums and performing arts buildings across the eastern United States. He has presented on accessibility best practices in public-facing arts and cultural institutions at several conferences, including LHAT in 2022. Scott has an extensive record of community and arts advocacy including a current Board Chair position with ArtsFairfax, Advocacy Committee work with the Virginia Association of Museums, and as Co-founder and Co-chair of AIA Chicago Community Interface Committee, for which he received an AIA Chicago Presidential Citation.

Sue Darrow
Director of Culture & People
Paramount & State Theatres - Austin, TX

Sue Darrow: With over 30 years of HR experience in large companies and tech start-ups, Sue joined the Paramount Theatre three years ago to work with the CEO, executive team, and leaders to help build an engaged culture, ensure employee retention, and establish HR best practices. Sue’s journey has been all about partnering employee engagement to empower thriving organizations. She’s passionate about nonprofits and encouraging a mission-based culture. Her approach is people-first and understanding that the heart of every successful organization is its people.

Christine Delaney
Executive Director
Tibbits Opera Foundation and Arts Council, Coldwater, MI

Christine Delaney is the executive director of the Tibbits Opera Foundation and Arts Council, the nonprofit that owns and operates the Tibbits Opera House, built in 1882. She has held the position since 2001, though her history with Tibbits extends more than 30 years, giving her a thorough understanding of the progress and growth of the theatre operations as well as an in-depth appreciation for its restoration journey. She oversees the administration, daily operations, general fundraising, grant writing, and programming. Under her leadership (to date) $4.3 million has been raised and invested in the restoration of the historic theatre. She served as owner representative through two major construction projects including the $1.2 million award-winning transformation of the theatre's French Second Empire façade. Tibbits Opera House is a 500-seat theatre located in the rural community of Coldwater, Michigan. With a county population of only 44,000, Tibbits is the only fully equipped theatre and professional arts organization in the county. The programming includes self-produced professional summer stock as well as a children's theatre program, professional touring artists, live performance programming for area schools, an art gallery and visual arts events, and a classic film series. The theatre is also a rental facility for approximately 20 area organizations and schools. In 2017 the theatre was occupied 257 days with 92 events. Originally from Detroit, Christine moved to Coldwater to work at Tibbits assisting with marketing and publicity. She then worked for a commercial printer for many years helping area businesses with their printing and marketing needs before becoming Tibbits Executive Director. Christine graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science in Arts Management with an emphasis in marketing and written communications.

Michael DiBlasi, ASTC, IALD
Partner
Schuler Shook Theatre Planners, Minneapolis, MN

Michael DiBlasi, ASTC, IALD principal theatre planner and lighting designer at Schuler Shook, began his career in technical theatre design, which is the basis for his theatre consulting and architectural lighting designs. His hands-on understanding of performance venue requirements, including technical, functional, and aesthetic issues, provides an invaluable resource to the design of theatre facilities. Michael's background includes lighting design for live performance, retail developments, exhibits and museums, entertainment facilities, restaurants, hotels, offices, nightclubs, and exterior building facades. Custom fixture design, innovative control systems and effective exterior lighting have been successful elements in his projects.

Miranda Duty
General Manager
Peoples Bank Theatre - Marietta, OH

Miranda Duty is a lifelong Marietta resident with a passion for music, concerts, and travel. As the general manager at Peoples Bank Theatre, she consistently provides stellar customer service, efficiently manages office tasks on a daily basis, and aids in making the hospitality arrangements necessary to ensure every performing artist’s visit is a comfortable one. Miranda is the mother of Emerald, Christian and Macy. She can be found spending time with her grandchildren or riding her Harley on her days off.

Ellen Elliott
Executive Director, Friends of the Penn / General Manager
Penn Theatre - Plymouth, MI

Ellen Elliott has been executive director of Friends of the Penn since its formation in 2005 and serves as the general manager of the Penn Theatre in Plymouth, Michigan. She is a local historian, lecturer, and writer. She has co-authored two books, writes for a local magazine, and is a documentary film producer. Ellen enjoys serving as a mentor to other historic theatre managers around the country. She is married to Joe and together they have two wonderful grown children, Melanie, Jackson, and a soon-to-be daughter-in-law, Megan.

John Ertl
Consultant
West Bend Theatre - West Bend, WI

John Ertl, a contracted concert consultant, has enjoyed more than 40 years of organizing music events in Wisconsin and across the country.

Amanda Fabrizio-Grzesik, M.Ed.
Director of Development
Tivoli Theatre Foundation - Chattanooga, TN WI

Amanda Fabrizio-Grzesik: A native of the Philadelphia, PA, region, Amanda is currently the Director of Development for the Tivoli Theatre Foundation in Chattanooga, TN. She oversees the fundraising activities that support the three historic venues, a new performing arts center, and an education department. Amanda has worked in communications at Lehigh University’s Industrial and Systems Engineering Department and in the development offices at Immaculata University, Pratt Institute, and Tennessee Tech University. Amanda graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in Communications from DeSales University and her Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Lehigh University.

Joey Ficken
FOH Manager
Liberty Theatre - Astoria, OR

Joey Ficken has over 30 years of experience in the recording and musical performing arts industry. Since 2020, he has been the Front of House Manager at the historic Liberty Theatre in Astoria, Oregon, a cultural gem on the state's north coast. Joey has become deeply ingrained in the vibrant arts and culture community during his time in the region. This immersion has fostered a natural inclination to support and promote the local creative scene, which carries through to his work at the Liberty Theatre.

Cheryl Fisher
Executive Director
Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre - New Braunfels, TX

Cheryl Fisher became the Executive Director of the Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre in April 2016. She also serves as the current President and a Founding Board member of the Historic Outdoor Art Museum of New Braunfels – an organization who has provided 10 works of art in the medium of paint and bronze sculpture depicting the founding history of New Braunfels. Cheryl also served as Executive Director of the Mid-Texas Symphony, President of the Mid-Texas Symphony Guild Chapter as well as a member of the Board of Directors. She has previously served on the City of New Braunfels Historic Landmark Commission and currently serves on the Chamber of Commerce Convention and Visitors Board and the City’s Downtown Advisory Board. Cheryl has a long history of speaking on the arts (especially in the non-profit sector) at various organizations throughout Comal County. Cheryl’s education is in Communications at Texas Tech University and remains an active alumnus of the Communications department. She and her husband, Steve, have lived in New Braunfels since 1996 and have one daughter, Sara, who lives in Dallas. Cheryl continues to play an effective role by increasing the footprint of the arts culture in New Braunfels and has a deep love and connection to the Brauntex Theatre, the team that includes the staff, volunteers and the board that keep the ‘jewel’ of downtown New Braunfels looking forward to a bright future.

Dr. Andy French
Director of Development
Tibbits Opera Foundation and Arts Council, Coldwater, MI

Dr. Andy French, Development Director at Tibbits Opera Foundation & Arts Council in Coldwater, MI, brings 26 years of experience from Radford University and Albion College. Previously, he held leadership positions of Department Chair, Major Gift Relationship Officer and Director of Community Action and Special Assistant to the President at Albion. Since joining Tibbits in March 2020, he has implemented new membership and donor engagement strategies, resulting in a 30% increase in Membership giving and significant growth in major gifts. He is in the planning stages to lead a $15M capital campaign to restore and renovate the interior of the Tibbits Opera House. Andy holds a CFRM from The Lilly School of Philanthropy at Indiana U and a PhD from Illinois.

Liz Gray
Research Consultant
Jefferson Center - Roanoke, VA

Liz Gray is a candidate for her MFA in Arts Leadership and holds a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit and NGO Management from Virginia Tech; she also holds a BFA from New York University/Tisch. She has worked as a research consultant for the Jefferson Center in Roanoke, VA; a strategic/development consultant with Livelihoods Knowledge Exchange Network in Lexington, KY; a strategic plan facilitator for the Academy Center of the Arts in Lynchburg, VA and is the Director of Development for Backyard Stages, Inc in NYC. Previously, Liz was Communications Director and Company Manager for the Merely Players theatre company, and taught on the faculty in the Performing Arts Department at Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO. www.liz-gray.com

Lynn Battle Green
Managing Director
Morton Theatre - Athens, GA

Lynn Battle Green is the Managing Director of the Morton Theatre, a municipally-owned rental venue in Athens, Georgia. Her 20+ years of experience in the venue include box office management, rental coordination, PR, and serving as a liaison to the Theatre’s supporting non-profit board.

Maica Jordan
Chief Development Officer
Austin Theatre Alliance, Austin, TX

Maica Jordan is the Chief Development Officer at the Austin Theatre Alliance and manages two departments, Development and Education. She has been with the Alliance as member of the Executive Management Team and in a leadership role for more than sixteen years. Under her guidance, the organization has grown from a small/medium sized nonprofit generating just under a million in contributed revenue, to a medium/large organization producing 4 million in contributed revenue. In addition to her Development and Education Department responsibilities, Maica has played a critical role in the strategic planning process that has grown the Austin Theatre Alliance into a $15 million gross revenue organization. She, alongside the senior leadership team, stewards the preservation, maintenance and care of these two historic gems in Austin and finds sharing them and their magic with the community a recurring highlight of her career.

Becky Hancock
Executive Director
Historic Tennessee Theatre Foundation, Knoxville, TN

Becky Hancock has over 20 years' experience in the performing arts and nonprofit sectors. As Executive Director of the Historic Tennessee Theatre Foundation, she oversees all Theatre activity, serves as the public face of the organization, and works with the HTTF Board of Directors to preserve and maintain this important community asset and Official State Theatre of Tennessee. The Tennessee Theatre is active 220 days annually, presenting 40 touring concerts, 6 Broadway titles, 10 classic films, the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra and Knoxville Opera, and numerous community and private events each year. In 2005, the Theatre completed a $30 million comprehensive renovation and has since entertained more than 2.4 million patrons and helped revitalize downtown Knoxville.

Justin Karr
Vice President, Ticketing & Technology
Jujamcyn, New York, NY

Justin Karr has led ticketing technology for Jujamcyn Theaters from multiple positions for more than 14 years and has been an adjunct professor at Columbia University of the Arts for over 6 years. At Columbia Justin co-teaches a graduate course in ticketing, sales, and business analytics, covering ticketing operations, pricing, revenue management, analysis techniques and related topics.

Gary A. Li, RA, AIA, LEED Green Associate
Associate
Kostow Greenwood Architects, New York, NY

Gary A. Li, RA, AIA, LEED Green Associate joined the Kostow Greenwood team in 2017 and became an Associate in 2021. He specializes in the cultural, sustainable development, and creative workplace sectors, with specific expertise in design, planning, and detailing. He thrives on understanding the complexities and minutiae of each project to create innovative solutions for each individual project.

Steve Lurie
Founder and President
Music Without Borders, LLC®, Stamford, CT

Steve Lurie is founder and President of Music Without Borders, LLC®, a music business solutions company primarily focused on the concert industry. MWB presents and produces concerts in NYC, throughout the Northeast and US for numerous performing arts centers, clubs, festivals, charity events and private/corporate functions. With nearly 30 years of experience in the music industry, Lurie's expertise and encyclopedic knowledge of music and artists combined with a keen understanding of consumer tastes, have helped him create a niche for himself as a much sought-after specialist. As a concert presenter and producer, Lurie has presented over 7,000 concerts in most genres of live entertainment. Collectively, MWB has presented over 10,000 concerts. Lurie enjoys excellent relationships with all the major and boutique agencies in North America and Europe. With an unrivaled knowledge of the music business, he has helped turn around many arts organizations.

Keith Marston
Vice President of Facilities
The Shubert Organization, Inc, New York, NY

Keith Marston, VP of Facilities, The Shubert Organization, Inc, oversees all aspects of day-to-day maintenance and operations including the custodial and engineering departments and painting and maintenance crews. He is involved in working with city agencies and professional architects and engineers. He is the chief liaison for incoming production requirements into 17 Broadway theatres and half a dozen Off-Broadway theatres, and coordinates restoration schedules for the same theatres post-production. He works with adjacent construction and development teams in the Times Square area, as well as with Shubert's real estate and legal departments to secure optimum conditions and protections for productions either loading-in, loading-out, or running, and he works closely with house mangers to address each theatre's needs.

Randy McKay
President & CEO
Carolina Theatre of Durham, Durham, NC

Randy McKay is President & CEO of the nonprofit Carolina Theatre of Durham and principal consultant with Randy McKay Venue Consulting. With a background in show & venue management, he has run numerous venues from huge to intimate, rural to city-center, performing arts centers to movie theaters, including restoring and opening three abandoned historic theaters. He is passionate about the economic development power of the arts and is a frequent guest speaker on the topic. Concessions optimization is his favorite guilty pleasure.

Nicole Downing Merusi
Vice President of Strategic Advancement
Zeiterion Performing Arts Center, New Bedford, MA

Nicole Downing Merusi, Vice President of Strategic Advancement, joined the Zeiterion as Development Director in 2014 and has been overseeing all aspects of fund development for the Zeiterion ever since. Now as the VP of Strategic Advancement, Nicole is helping to shape a new vision for The Z as it embarks on an ambitious restoration and renovation effort that will transform the way the performing arts center serves the community. With more than fifteen years of nonprofit leadership experience, Nicole brings insights from a wide range of mission-driven organizations.

Amy Mladjen, IIDA, NCIDQ
Principal
Mills + Schnoering Architects, LLC, Princeton, NJ

Amy Mladjen, IIDA, NCIDQ leads Mills + Schnoering Architects' interior design practice, managing projects through all phases of design and construction and guiding treatment of interior architecture for many civic, institutional, and cultural projects. Her specialized knowledge is applied to the planning and design of interior environments that promote health, safety and welfare while supporting and enhancing the human experience. She has expertise in designing within historic contexts, is committed to solutions that are beautiful and functional, and is adept at planning projects to best serve end users.

Elizabeth Morales
Compliance Assistance Specialist, Kansas City Area Office
DOL-OSHA, Kansas City, MO

Elizabeth 'Liz' Morales is a compliance assistance specialist at the Kansas City area office of DOL-OSHA in Kansas City, MO.

Aren Murray
US Operations Manager
Tixly, San Antonio, TX

Aren Murray has been in arts administration and ticketing since 2000. Aren managed the arts and entertainment ticketing for Texas A&M University and was recruited from there to create the ticketing and fundraising CRM operations for Tobin Center in San Antonio as they opened the newly renovated historic building. As an avid promoter of the ticketing industry, and international speaker, Aren has espoused the ideals of communication, learning, and cooperation throughout organizations. Aren is currently the US Operations Manager for Tixly.

Christina Novotny
Counsel
BakerHostetler LLP, Cleveland, OH

Christina Novotny is Counsel in the Cleveland office of BakerHostetler LLP, a national law firm which is nationally recognized in the tax credit financing industry. She has been practicing law for more than 15 years. Prior to attending law school, Christina was a CPA and worked at two of the former Big Five accounting firms. She has extensive experience in the structuring and financing of projects looking to benefit from historic tax credits, new markets tax credits and opportunity zone financing.

Ted Ohl
Principal
Schuler Shook, New York, NY

Ted Ohl is a principal at Schuler Shook and has had an extensive career in the theatre industry. His experience includes theatre equipment construction and renovation projects at some of North America's most prestigious venues. Ted brings his collaborative approach to performing arts facility design and construction, built upon his years of experience growing businesses and developing products that serve the entertainment industry. This practice is combined with over fifteen years devoted to mounting productions on every variety of stage.

Andy Ostrowski
Theatrical Renovation Project Manager
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh, PA

Andy Ostrowski is the Theatrical Renovation Project Manager for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. He has worked for the Trust on and off over the past 30 years as a consultant, lighting designer, and house technician. Andy started full time right before the Greer Cabaret Theater renovation project started. He is in charge of working with DLR directly on the project but also specifically all aspects theatrically. Andy has extensive credits as a lighting designer. Internationally he has designed in France, Sweden, Scotland, and Ireland. Nationally he designed all over the US. He originated the lighting for the National High School Musical Theater Awards in NYC. Andy was an adjunct instructor for Point Park University for 21 years teaching lighting I,II,III. He has lit private concerts with notated stars Audra McDonald, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Megan Hilty, Michael Feinstein, The Broadway Tenors and more. He has designed over 400 professional productions and is a member of USA 829 and IATSE #3.

Fritz P. Owen
Regional Sales Manager
Irwin Seating Company, Grand Rapids, MI

Fritz P. Owen, Regional Sales Manager with Irwin Seating Company, has over 25 years of experience servicing performing arts centers and theaters, schools, sports facilities, and worship centers with fixed seating, telescopic bleachers, and platforms.

Krystal Parsons
Director of Development
Paramount & Stateside Theatres, Austin, TX

Krystal Parsons serves as the Director of Development at the Paramount & Stateside Theatres in Austin, TX. She leads a team of creative fundraisers working collaboratively to raise $4.5 million annually. Before starting her role in 2019, she worked as the Director of Individual Giving at the theatres overseeing membership programs, special campaigns, and annual fund development. Parsons served as a College Houses board member, bringing affordable housing options to over 500 people. She also participates in the community-centric fundraising movement to help advance equitable fundraising models. As co-chair for a citywide arts group for the past seven years, she plans professional and social development opportunities to create better arts experiences for patrons and work environments for employees.

Chris Parthemore
Executive Director
Sandusky State Theatre, Sandusky, OH

Chris Parthemore has served as the executive director of the Sandusky State Theatre for six years, after having served on its Board of Directors for five years prior. He earned a BE in Sport Management and his MBA from Bowling Green State University. His background includes public gaming and healthcare administration prior to his career in the arts. He specializes in strategic planning and organizational development.

Maureen M. Patton
Executive Director
The Grand 1894 Opera House, Galviston, TX

Maureen M. Patton is the Executive Director of The Grand 1894 Opera House and oversees its administration, programming, and fundraising. Mrs. Patton is a past president of the Board of the League of Historic American Theatres. A frequent panelist and speaker at arts conferences and an advocate for the historic theatre movement, Mrs. Patton has served as a management and programming consultant on fifteen theatre projects in four states. During the past eight years, she has been asked to serve as a lecturer and/or panelist on disaster preparedness and recovery at national, regional and area conferences.

Nick Ronan
Senior Director of Business Development
AudienceView, Seattle, WA

Nick Ronan is the senior director of business development at AudienceView in Seattle, Washington.

Wynn J. Salisch, CCM, CHS, MBKS
Principal and Founder
Casablanca Payments, New York, NY

Wynn J. Salisch, CCM, CHS, MBKS, has over 50 years of experience in the worlds of leisure entertainment, payment processing, and cybersecurity. The Principal and founder of Casablanca Payments, America's only theatre-focused payment processing firm, Wynn was awarded the Electronic Transactions Association's Certified Payments Professional designation for knowledge, professionalism, ethics, and excellence in the payments profession (earned by less than 1% of the entire payments industry) and is a Partner on the Electronic Crimes Task Force of the United States Secret Service. He's a graduate of The School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University, a Certified Concessions Manager of the National Association of Concessionaires, and has overseen operations for over 1,000 stage, screen, and stadium venues worldwide.

Michael R. Schnoering, FAIA
Partner
Mills + Schnoering Architects, LLC, Princeton, NJ

Michael R. Schnoering, FAIA is a partner at Mills + Schnoering Architects, LLC in Princeton, NJ. Michael leads the design and management of many of the firm's arts, educational, and civic projects. His work encompasses a wide variety of innovative new and adaptive use designs involving public and private entertainment, lecture, education, and administrative spaces. He has guided award-winning renovation projects in theaters on the national stage and completed successful projects at several well-known historic downtown theaters. Michael's experience with projects for the arts extends to his volunteer service. He serves on the boards of the New Jersey Theatre Alliance (NJTA), and the Cultural Access Network of NJ (CAN), and recently stepped down as a board member of the League of Historic American Theatres (LHAT) following 9 years of service. He has shared his knowledge on theater planning, design, and accessibility, and advocates for increased access in all locations beyond the minimum code requirements. His passion for access in the arts has led to multiple speaking engagements at national LHAT conferences as well as regional training events for the Cultural Access Network. Michael holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), and is a Registered Architect in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island, Washington DC, Maryland, West Virginia, Tennessee, Florida, Wisconsin, Missouri, Indiana, and Colorado. He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.

Kevin Schulz
Regional Sales Manager
Irwin Seating Company, Grand Rapids, MI

Kevin Schulz, Regional Sales Manager with Irwin Seating Company, has two years of experience servicing performing arts centers and theaters, schools, sports facilities, and worship centers with fixed seating, telescopic bleachers, and platforms.

Dee Smolik
Principal
Plymouth Soundings, LLC, Lenoir City, TN

Dee Smolik, Principal of Plymouth Soundings, LLC, has been the tax credit coordinator for several of LHAT's member theatres wishing to access the benefits of historic and new markets tax credits. Dee has closed over $400 million in projects to date. Dee was a member of the LHAT Board for six years and served as Treasurer and head of the Audit Committee. She was also honored by being named a Board Emeritus member for five years.

Ken Stein
President and CEO
League of Historic American Theatres, Austin, TX

Ken Stein became the League's President and CEO in 2012 following a thorough national search. He is the former Executive Director of the Austin Theatre Alliance, and more recently, Vice President at the AT&T Center in Dallas. Upon his hiring, Ken said, "When I left the Paramount and State Theatres, it was with a very heavy heart, but I knew I would eventually find my way back to the historic theatre movement, a cause I am very passionate about." Many League members are familiar with Stein from his presentations at the Annual League Conferences in Cleveland and San Antonio. Stein has worked with several non-profits over the past 20 years. He began his career in the for-profit sector with Humana Inc. where he spent five years as Director of Marketing and Public Relations. Since entering the non-profit arena, Stein has raised over $100 million for local, regional, and national non-profit organizations. His accomplishments with special events and online fundraising have been featured in The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The NonProfit Times, InternetWeek.com, Business Week Online and Direct Marketing News. In 2008, Stein was recognized for his use of social media platforms by Fast Company Magazine which listed him as one of the most influential people on the internet during the 2008 elections. His writing has been positively reviewed by the San Francisco Chronicle, The Washington Post and Atlantic Monthly Magazine. Stein lives in Austin, Texas with his husband and daughter where he serves on the Board for KMFA Classical Radio and continues to volunteer for the Paramount and State.

Richard Steward
CEO
Agile Ticketing Solutions, Nashville, TN

Richard Steward is the CEO of Agile Ticketing Solutions and has contributed to the success of an array of hospitality, public-attractions, entertainment, and cinema-related organizations over the past 25 years. His expertise in creating innovative technological solutions that blend ticketing processes, relationship management, and financial accountability has revolutionized the way venues operate today. With a deep understanding of industry dynamics and emerging trends, Richard has successfully led Agile Ticketing Solutions to becoming the premier provider of cutting-edge ticketing systems for historic venues. His visionary leadership, dedication and commitment to delivering exceptional results has positioned the company at the forefront of the arthouse and historic theatre industry.

Alec Stoll, ASTC
Partner
Stages Consultants, Highland Park, NJ

Alec Stoll, ASTC is internationally respected as a theatre planner and designer and has worked as a theatre consultant for nearly 25 years. Alec has played integral roles in the programming, planning, design, and construction of well over 300 academic, professional and community venues as well as many significant historic renovation and restoration projects. Alec was a member of the LHAT board of directors for six years.

Kevin Sullivan
Client Executive
National Trust Insurance Services (NTIS), Baltimore, MD

Kevin Sullivan is a Client Executive in the National Trust Insurance Services (NTIS) division of Baltimore-based insurance agency Maury, Donnelly & Parr. NTIS is a joint venture between MDP and the National Trust for Historic Preservation which was formed in 2003 to meet the challenging insurance issues facing historic properties across this Country. In short, NTIS is a specialized insurance broker, consultant, and program administrator specifically created for the owners and stewards of historically prominent buildings (and the organizations that operate within). NTIS operates in all 50 States.

Alexander J. Szilvas
Partner
BakerHostetler LLP, Cleveland, OH

Alexander J. Szilvas is a Partner in the Cleveland office of BakerHostetler LLP, a national law firm which is nationally recognized in the tax credit financing industry. He has been practicing law for more than 35 years and is co-leader of the firm's Tax Credit Finance & Economic Development Incentives team. He has extensive experience in the structuring and financing of projects looking to benefit from historic tax credits, new markets tax credits and other federal and state subsidies.

Jeanne S. Tebera, PE, CFPS
Principal
Henry Adams, LLC, Baltimore, MD

Jeanne S. Tebera, PE, CFPS is a Principal of Henry Adams, LLC, in Baltimore, MD. Jeanne is a licensed Professional Engineer and a Certified Fire Protection Specialist who brings more than 30 years of experience to the design of historic, cultural, performing arts, commercial, hospitality, and academic facilities. Her experience includes the design of building systems for elevators as well as fire protection, normal, standby, emergency and life safety power distribution systems, site utilities, lightning protection, lighting, lighting controls, security, and communications systems. Jeanne is a graduate of Loyola University in Maryland. She is a member of the League of Historic American Theatres, the National Fire Protection Association, the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, the Automatic Fire Alarm Association, and the National Fire Sprinkler Association.

Rick Truman
Executive Director
Folly Theater, Kansas City, MO

Rick Truman has served as Folly Theater Executive Director since January 2022. From 2003 to 2021, Rick served as Managing Director of Quality Hill Playhouse, leading financial and administrative operations. He holds a Master in Public Administration from the Bloch School of Business and Public Administration at UMKC and a Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis in acting and directing from Avila University. In addition to his experience in nonprofit arts management, Rick has performed or stage directed at many Kansas City theaters, including Kansas City Repertory Theater, Musical Theater Heritage, Spinning Tree Theatre, Coterie Theatre, Unicorn Theatre, and Civic Opera Theater.

Erin Waelder
Associate Director of Donor Communications
Paramount & Stateside Theatres, Austin, TX

Erin Waelder is the Associate Director of Donor Communications at the Paramount & Stateside Theatres in Austin, TX. She re-joined the Paramount staff in 2017 and works as a member of the Development and Marketing teams to manage annual fund campaigns, donor stewardship communications, and special content across the organization's platforms. Erin has over a decade of experience in fundraising and patron services through her previous positions at Ballet Austin, the Paramount & Stateside Theatres, and the Bullock Texas State History Museum. Erin serves as the Chair of the Community Advisory Board at Austin PBS. She is passionate about creating meaningful connections to the community through storytelling.

Carol Wallace
President & CEO
San Diego Theatres, San Diego, CA

Carol Wallace is the president and CEO of San Diego Theatres, Inc. (SDT), a nonprofit that manages, operates, and markets the San Diego Civic Theatre and the historic Balboa Theatre under long-term leases with the City of San Diego. The Civic and the Balboa are the performing homes of Broadway/San Diego, the San Diego Opera, and Golden State Ballet. With an annual budget of approximately $8.1 million, San Diego Theatres welcomes over 500,000 patrons annually to the theater venues. SDT partners with presenters and artists to ensure the community has access to performing arts that are inclusive, thought-provoking, and entertaining. Previously, Wallace served as president and CEO of the San Diego Convention Center Corporation, where she led the bayside facility for nearly 25 years. In her nearly 45-year career, Wallace has earned a reputation as a top industry executive, working for the Dallas Convention Center and the Colorado Convention Center. When she came to San Diego in 1991, she played a pivotal leadership role convincing key constituents to expand the San Diego Convention Center, resulting in an expansion opening in 2001. Wallace's hard work and dedication have earned her numerous industry accolades and appointments.

Brian Williams
Development Director
Folly Theater, Kansas City, MO

Brian Williams has served as the Folly's development director since January 2015. He has had primary responsibility for the design, development, and fundraising for the Folly 2020 Campaign since its inception in 2017. He has also been actively involved in the oversight and management of design and construction phases of the theater renovations. Before joining the Folly, Brian practiced commercial litigation at a large Kansas City law firm for over 30 years. Over the course of his career, he has served on two dozen nonprofit boards, fundraising committees, and grant review committees. Brian received his undergraduate degree from Ball State University and his JD from the University of Notre Dame Law School.

Sean Wright
Executive Director
Performing Arts Foundation, Wausau, WI

Sean Wright came to the Performing Arts Foundation in January 2015 as the Executive Director of the organization. In a short time, he has continued to build on The Grand's commitment to providing the best in the performing arts for the region, as well as expanding the venue's community and patron engagement initiatives.