Page 46 - Summer 2022 inLEAGUE with 46th National Conference Program

2022 Conference Speakers

KareN auStiN Before her role as Executive Director raNdy coheN is Vice President of Research at
of Struthers Library Theatre in Warren, PA, Karen Americans for the Arts—the national advocacy
Austin was a theatre volunteer and a trustee organization for the arts—where he has been
on the Board. Karen received her B.A. in English empowering arts advocates since 1991. Randy
Literature, and has a plethora of theatre experi- stands out as a noted expert in the field of arts
ence, including writing, acting, and directing. funding, research, and using the arts to address communi-
ty development issues. He publishes Americans Speak Out
ricia baLLaS is an established professional in the About the Arts, the nation’s largest public opinion study
art and culture sector, spending most of her about the arts, and produces the two premier economic
career as a fundraising executive in performing studies of the arts—Arts & Economic Prosperity, the national
arts organizations. Most recently, Ricia served economic impact study of nonprofit arts organizations and
for a decade as Vice President of Development their audiences; and Creative Industries, a mapping study
for Dayton Live (formerly Victoria Theatre Asso- of the nation’s 675,000 arts businesses and their employees.
ciation). In this role, she oversaw all development initiatives His 10 Reasons to Support the Arts blog received the Gold
for a multimillion annual budget, as well as managed the Award from the Association of Media & Publishing—their top
strategic planning, board operations, and stewardship of honor for best blog post of the year. Randy led the devel-
patrons and donors. Ricia also served at the director lev- opment of The National Arts Index, the annual measure of
el for THINKTV, developing their major and planned gift the health and vitality of arts in the U.S. and the National Arts
programs and launching viewer and donor stewardship Policy Roundtable, an annual convening of leaders who fo-
programs. Ricia also led successful fundraising initiatives as cus on the advancement of American culture—launched in
the Director of Development for the Dayton Philharmonic partnership with Robert Redford and the Sundance Institute.
Orchestra and as the Assistant Director of Development for In the late 1990’s, Randy collaborated with the President’s
the Sarasota Ballet of Florida. Committee on the Arts and the Humanities to create Com-
ing Up Taller, the White House report on arts programs for
aaroN bare, Chief Marketing Officer for Etix, youth-at-risk; and the U.S. Department of Justice to produce
brings 20+ years of venue marketing and man- the YouthARTS Project, the first national study to statistically
agement experience in sports, concerts, and document the impact of arts programs on at-risk youth.
the performing arts to Etix and its client market-
ing division, Rockhouse Partners. With an exten- pat crow: Woodward Development Corp., Mount
sive knowledge of both traditional and modern Vernon, OH - Project Manager Vice President –
marketing practices, Aaron believes Rockhouse Partners’ Downtown Options Corp (28y), Founding board
purpose is to practically blend the advantages of modern member of Knox Partnership for Arts & Culture
digital marketing with the real-world, everyday needs of and Woodward Development Corp, Project
their Etix clients. The only metric for success at Rockhouse is Manager - 1851 Woodward Opera House Theater Resto-
client satisfaction. ration (25y), Exec. Director Knox County (OH) Convention &
Visitors Bureau (25y), Downtown Manager - Mount Vernon
SydNey barroSSe is the Associate Director of OH (12y). Director - Dan Emmett Music & Arts Festival (21y),
Special Events at the Paramount and Stateside Board Member for Ohio Travel Association (6y) and Ohio
Theatres. Since 2017, Sydney has managed, de- Association for Convention & Visitors Bureaus (23y)
signed and executed all private donor events
on stage and off, creating unforgettable and Scott cryer, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, has 20 years of
inspiring experiences for all in attendance. Prior experience designing museums, performing
to her work at the Paramount, Sydney worked as an Art Di- arts, academic arts, and community build-
rector and Set Decorator in film and television for numerous ings nationally. Before joining HGA, he was
studios in Los Angeles including Universal, Warner Brothers, Cultural + Performing Arts Leader at the DLR
and 20th Century Fox. Stage design is her passion and filling Group Washington, D.C. studio, where he led
the historic stages at the Paramount and Stateside theatres, interdisciplinary teams on a variety of design projects for
shedding new light on their history and glory, and contin- arts organizations and academic clients. He previously had
ually engaging donors and patrons remains a fulfilling and leadership roles with Westlake Reed Leskosky in Washington,
gratifying experience. D.C., and Nagle Hartray in Chicago.
Jim carL has been the Senior Director of Film michaeL dibLaSi, ATSC, Partner at Schuler Shook
Programming at the historic Carolina Theatre of Theatre Planners, is a principal theatre planner
Durham since 1995. He has exclusively worked and specializes in the design of historic theatres.
in the entertainment industry (radio, television, He has served on the board of LHAT and has
and film) since 1985. He is the founder of inter- worked on numerous historic theatres through-
nationally acclaimed juried festivals such as the out North America.
Nevermore Film Festival and OutSouth Queer Film Festival,
as well as the Retro Film Series, one of the longest-running
weekly genre film series in the United States.

PAGE 44 | INLEAGUE League of Historic American Theatres