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2023 Conference Speakers

for productions either loading-in, loading-out, or running, and Christina was a CPA and worked at two of the former Big Five
he works closely with house mangers to address each theatre’s accounting firms. She has extensive experience in the structuring
needs. and financing of projects looking to benefit from historic tax
credits, new markets tax credits and opportunity zone financing.
Randy McKay is President & CEO of the nonprofit
Carolina Theatre of Durham and principal Ted Ohl is a principal at Schuler Shook and has
consultant with Randy McKay Venue Consulting. had an extensive career in the theatre industry.
With a background in show & venue management, His experience includes theatre equipment
he has run numerous venues from huge to construction and renovation projects at some of
intimate, rural to city-center, performing arts centers to movie North America’s most prestigious venues. Ted
theaters, including restoring and opening three abandoned brings his collaborative approach to performing arts facility
historic theaters. He is passionate about the economic design and construction, built upon his years of experience
development power of the arts and is a frequent guest speaker growing businesses and developing products that serve the
on the topic. Concessions optimization is his favorite guilty entertainment industry. This practice is combined with over
pleasure. fifteen years devoted to mounting productions on every variety
of stage.
Nicole Downing Merusi, Vice President of
Strategic Advancement, joined the Zeiterion as Andy Ostrowski is the Theatrical Renovation
Development Director in 2014 and has been Project Manager for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.
overseeing all aspects of fund development for the He has worked for the Trust on and off over the
Zeiterion ever since. Now as the VP of Strategic past 30 years as a consultant, lighting designer,
Advancement, Nicole is helping to shape a new vision for The Z and house technician. Andy started full time right
as it embarks on an ambitious restoration and renovation effort before the Greer Cabaret Theater renovation project started. He
that will transform the way the performing arts center serves the is in charge of working with DLR directly on the project but also
community. With more than fifteen years of nonprofit leadership specifically all aspects theatrically. Andy has extensive credits
experience, Nicole brings insights from a wide range of mission- as a lighting designer. Internationally he has designed in France,
driven organizations. Sweden, Scotland, and Ireland. Nationally he designed all over
the US. He originated the lighting for the National High School
Amy Mladjen, IIDA, NCIDQ leads Mills + Musical Theater Awards in NYC. Andy was an adjunct instructor
Schnoering Architects’ interior design practice, for Point Park University for 21 years teaching lighting I,II,III.
managing projects through all phases of design He has lit private concerts with notated stars Audra McDonald,
and construction and guiding treatment of interior Renee Elise Goldsberry, Megan Hilty, Michael Feinstein,
architecture for many civic, institutional, and The Broadway Tenors and more. He has designed over 400
cultural projects. Her specialized knowledge is applied to the professional productions and is a member of USA 829 and IATSE
planning and design of interior environments that promote #3.
health, safety and welfare while supporting and enhancing the
human experience. She has expertise in designing within historic Fritz P. Owen, Regional Sales Manager with Irwin
contexts, is committed to solutions that are beautiful and Seating Company, has over 25 years of experience
functional, and is adept at planning projects to best serve end servicing performing arts centers and theaters,
users. schools, sports facilities, and worship centers with
fixed seating, telescopic bleachers, and platforms.
Aren Murray has been in arts administration
and ticketing since 2000. Aren managed the Krystal Parsons serves as the Director of
arts and entertainment ticketing for Texas A&M Development at the Paramount & Stateside
University and was recruited from there to create Theatres in Austin, TX. She leads a team of
the ticketing and fundraising CRM operations creative fundraisers working collaboratively to
for Tobin Center in San Antonio as they opened the newly raise $4.5 million annually. Before starting her role
renovated historic building. As an avid promoter of the ticketing in 2019, she worked as the Director of Individual Giving at the
industry, and international speaker, Aren has espoused the theatres overseeing membership programs, special campaigns,
ideals of communication, learning, and cooperation throughout and annual fund development. Parsons served as a College
organizations. Aren is currently the US Operations Manager for Houses board member, bringing affordable housing options to
Tixly. over 500 people. She also participates in the community-centric
fundraising movement to help advance equitable fundraising
Christina Novotny is Counsel in the Cleveland models. As co-chair for a citywide arts group for the past
office of BakerHostetler LLP a national law firm seven years, she plans professional and social development
which is nationally recognized in the tax credit opportunities to create better arts experiences for patrons and
financing industry. She has been practicing law for work environments for employees.
more than 15 years. Prior to attending law school,

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