Denver Center for the Performing Arts
President & CEO
May 2015 – May 2016
- Reporting directly to the Board of Trustees had principal responsibility for the achievement of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts’ (DCPA’s) operational and aspirational goals; oversaw the DCPA’s programmatic, revenue, marketing, development and administrative functions including 400 employees, 200 stagehands and over 200 volunteers in 14 performance facilities; responsible for the development and implementation of strategies designed to achieve artistic and financial goals for the $55 million dollar organization.
- Broadway line of programming enjoyed a record-setting $37 million in ticket sales, which was $4 million over budgeted goal. The Broadway series also saw paid capacity reach 82.6%, the DCPA’s highest-ever number and a significant increase over the previous year. Additionally, landed the pre-Broadway engagement of Disney’s Frozen, which anchors the 2016-17 season.
- Theatre Company and Off Center Series also experienced financial and artistic breakouts. Theatre Company enjoyed its best selling year since 2000 and outperformed revenue projections by $224,000. Production of Sweeney Todd enjoyed critical success becoming the highest selling production in Theatre Company history and was featured in the New York Times. Sweet & Lucky, a new immersive production commissioned by the DCPA was an immediate success with millennial audiences selling out quickly.
- Established the ‘Fund for Innovation,’ which provides the resources needed to ensure theatre remains relevant and reflective of new audiences. Expanded the DCPA’s role in education by producing the Denver Public School System’s student Shakespeare Festival, launched Shakespeare in the Parking Lot program, and expanding the High School Musical Theater competition statewide. Increased special events revenue and developed a new slate of programming to entice the city’s booming millennial and Latino populations.
- Led the Executive Team through the process of creating the DCPA’s first-ever business plan. This plan will become the blueprint for ensuring the DCPA has the resources and capacity necessary to create a vibrant organization that puts the community first. In addition to outlining bold new initiatives to ‘create the unforgettable’ for guests, the plan also calls for expanding the scope and depth of the DCPA’s engagement with diverse audiences, locally and nationally.
- Restructured the Development Department to achieve a $2M increase in fundraising, exceeding the annual fundraising goal. Secured the largest individual gift in two decades. Cultivated relationships with the business community and existing donors- moving one donor from a $50,000 annual gift to a $1 million dollar gift. Brought in over 300 new donors in six months by launching a dynamic ‘Culture of Philanthropy’ fundraising model. Achieved 100% board giving, a feat only accomplished one other time in DCPA history. Created an in depth stewardship and moves management program. Established the tenets for upcoming ‘Phase 2,’ $30 million dollar capital campaign.
- Supervised the Design Development and Construction Document creation for the renovation of the 400 seat Space Theater, associated backstage facilities and the creation of 3 new luxury lounge restroom suites. Oversaw the construction bid process and budget management of this $10M renovation project, now underway.
- Engaged the DCPA’s staff and food & beverage partners in the envisioning of an upgrade to the guest amenities including the piloting of new restaurant offerings, new menus at all concession locations, and the reimagining of the existing bar/lounge space into a signature food and beverage destination aligned with a national beverage brand based in the Metro Denver area.
- Appointed by Mayor Michael B. Hancock to the city’s Next Stages planning taskforce; delivered to the Mayor an imaginative plan to make the Denver Performing Arts Complex a vibrant, thriving, public regional center of cultural activity in the heart of downtown. Invited to be a featured speaker at the Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce Leadership Exchange trip to Chicago. Served on the executive committee of ‘United for SCFD’, a public service organization dedicated to the 2016 reauthorization of the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District- Denver’s forward thinking ‘Cultural Tax’.