By now you’ve probably read or heard that I’ll be leaving my position with Victoria Theatre Association at the end of this month, for another opportunity as President and CEO of Performing Arts Fort Worth and the Bass Performance Hall in Texas.
When I was first contacted by the search firm for this position, my immediate thought was no, the timing isn’t right; there are things here I want to see through, things I still want to accomplish. After all, under my direction, we had recently implemented staff reductions in order to reduce costs and balance the budget.
A few months ago we implemented a new ticketing system for Ticket Center Stage, which will continue to be a major project for our company throughout this fiscal year as we work to adapt reporting capabilities to the needs of all the clients we serve. The uncertainty created by the financial crisis in our country continues to have effects on subscription bases and overall sales goals. As a non-profit, fundraising is a critical piece of our business and how might the current economy affect those efforts? But then I also thought about all the incredible things that are happening here.
We are in the midst of finalizing our deal to bring Wicked to Dayton, along with a return engagement of The Phantom of the Opera, and other yet-to-be-named productions that will ensure another dynamite season in 2009-2010. That same new ticketing system that is creating reporting challenges now will ultimately provide an incredible opportunity for us to more easily address marketing and customer service needs for our organization. Our partnerships in the community continue to expand as we reach out to other organizations to help round out projects such as the African-American Arts Festival. We have a dedicated and talented staff here that I would hold up to any in the country. So how could I contemplate a transition with so much happening? Then I realized that I was placing too much importance on my role in all of this. Ultimately I realized that in my 18 years at Victoria Theatre Association, it has always been this way … there are always challenges and diffcult situations to address and there are always wonderful, exciting new experiences on the horizon for our company. The reality is that it will always be this way. This company transcends any individual. It is one that is rooted in the great history of this community with a Board of Trustees committed to a mission of service to our community through the performing arts. This organization is ever-evolving. This is another phase of that evolution.
My decision to take a new position with Performing Arts Fort Worth was one about career growth for me and personal opportunity for my family. I will be forever indebted to Victoria Theatre Association and to Dayton for the gifts they have provided me: a wonderful career, many great friends, my incredible husband, Daniel, and our cherished daughter, Caro. I will miss all of you and know that you will continue to support this outstanding organization and those who lead it into the future.
- Dione Kennedy, President & CEO
