When I agreed to become the interim CEO/President of the Center for the Performing Arts on July 29, 2011, I did not expect that I would be serving in that capacity until August 17, 2012. But here it is, more than a year later and I am finally turning the job over to the new permanent CEO, Tania Castroverde Moskalenko.
So much has happened during this year, but the business of the Center continued, thanks to the hard work and dedication of a competent and loyal staff. This included successfully presenting the shows for the 2011-12 season, and the building of a great new season of performances for 2012-13.
Ticket sales have set records for our organization and we are well on our way to accomplishing our sales goal for the year. Our fundraising has also set new records with $3.1 million of contributed income for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012.
We also enjoyed a very successful year with the Michael Feinstein Initiative and the Great American Songbook Vocal Competition. At the same time, we provided a home for our seven great resident companies.
Along the way, we have been guided by the overall mission of our Center to provide world class entertainment to the residents of Central Indiana and to be a great community asset for the citizens ofCarmel. Our new startup organization is well positioned to continue fulfilling that mission well into the future while relying less on government assistance through the coming years.
I have enjoyed serving this wonderful organization and community while meeting so many great people in the process – people who have become good friends. Katrina and I will treasure this past year, including the experiences we had and the people we met.
Thank you, citizens of Carmel, for giving me this opportunity to serve.