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State Theatre Leadership Announcement
STATE THEATRE LEADERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT
New Brunswick, NJ (January 12, 2010)—Andrew Markey, Chairman of the State Theatre Board of Trustees, announced today that Wesley Brustad will be retiring from the office of President and Chief Executive Officer of the State Theatre Regional Arts Center in 2010. Brustad who began his tenure November 1, 2004, and is in his sixth year with the theater will be retiring after serving 40 years in an executive capacity within the arts and entertainment industry.
“I’ve enjoyed every minute of my work and life in New Jersey,” Brustad reflected. “How fitting it is to conclude my career in the vibrant epicenter of the arts in this country. I now want to focus my energies on consulting, writing, and directing/producing for the stage."
During his tenure at the State Theatre, Brustad inherited an institution with an accumulated deficit of $2.5 million and turned it around to operate in the black four years in a row after five years of annual shortfalls. He built a dynamic team which eliminated the accumulated deficit without benefit of a capital campaign to boast today a $1.2 million positive fund balance.
He developed a five year Strategic Initiatives Plan leading the theater from crisis to stability which was fully accomplished within three years. A major initiative was the revision of the theater’s governance, which energized the board to recruit new members resulting in a doubling of board giving. Subsequently, Brustad created a second Strategic Plan designed to lead the theater on to financial growth and viability.
He revamped programming to bring to the forefront a greater level of excellence in the performing arts, substantially increased children’s programming, and initiated three new festivals as part of the annual programming season: Hub City Carnivale (a mid-winter 4-week festival in February), the New Jersey Blues & Jazz Festival (last weekend in September), and the Urban Arts Festival (summer).
Brustad envisioned and built with the support of Omar and Madiha Boraie, the Boraie Donor Lounge in the State Theatre for President Council members to encourage higher level contributions to the theater. He designed and installed a gift shop that has brought a new revenue stream supporting theater operations. In addition, he brought together into one database the ticket buyers and donors of the theater by installing the Tessitura computer software integrating ticketing, donations, and accounting.
Committed to collaborative endeavors, Brustad initiated and fostered over 30 active partnerships with community organizations ranging from Rutgers University to churches to senior centers to Elijah’s Promise. He was the founding chairman of the Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce Convention and Visitors Bureau and presently sits on the boards of Elijah’s Promise, New Brunswick Public Sculpture Association, and Lead Guitar.
Chairman Markey remarked, “Wes has been a great leader for the State Theatre which he has brought to a new level. The board and I are extremely grateful for his many contributions to the theater. He will be sorely missed.”
Brustad and his wife Karla plan to re-locate to the San Diego, California, area sometime this summer with their four dogs and two horses. He hopes to teach at the graduate school level in addition to his consulting and production responsibilities. Brustad remains actively involved with his writing and producing partner—choreographer, coach, and former U. S. Ballroom champion Edward Simon—who jointly developed the show BALLROOM! which premiered at the State Theatre in July, 2008.
Chairman Markey has appointed a search committee to immediately begin a quest for Brustad’s replacement. The committee will be chaired by Markey and include Ann Asbaty (Vice Chairman), Mort Plawner (Treasurer), Fred Pierce (Secretary), Efrem Dlugacz, Warren Zimmerman, and Robert E. Campbell. Markey stated: “Our plan is to have a new President and CEO on board by the beginning of the new performance season.”
When queried as to qualities they sought in candidates, Markey replied, “First and foremost, we are looking for a leader who can work with the board, staff, and volunteers to take this institution to the next level. He or she must be well acquainted with the performing arts industry and its key players, be adept at programming, at ease with numbers and finances, and a dynamo fund-raiser.”
Brustad envisioned and built with the support of Omar and Madiha Boraie, the Boraie Donor Lounge in the State Theatre for President Council members to encourage higher level contributions to the theater. He designed and installed a gift shop that has brought a new revenue stream supporting theater operations. In addition, he brought together into one database the ticket buyers and donors of the theater by installing the Tessitura computer software integrating ticketing, donations, and accounting.
Committed to collaborative endeavors, Brustad initiated and fostered over 30 active partnerships with community organizations ranging from Rutgers University to churches to senior centers to Elijah’s Promise. He was the founding chairman of the Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce Convention and Visitors Bureau and presently sits on the boards of Elijah’s Promise, New Brunswick Public Sculpture Association, and Lead Guitar.
Chairman Markey remarked, “Wes has been a great leader for the State Theatre which he has brought to a new level. The board and I are extremely grateful for his many contributions to the theater. He will be sorely missed.”
Brustad and his wife Karla plan to re-locate to the San Diego, California, area sometime this summer with their four dogs and two horses. He hopes to teach at the graduate school level in addition to his consulting and production responsibilities. Brustad remains actively involved with his writing and producing partner—choreographer, coach, and former U. S. Ballroom champion Edward Simon—who jointly developed the show BALLROOM! which premiered at the State Theatre in July, 2008.
Chairman Markey has appointed a search committee to immediately begin a quest for Brustad’s replacement. The committee will be chaired by Markey and include Ann Asbaty (Vice Chairman), Mort Plawner (Treasurer), Fred Pierce (Secretary), Efrem Dlugacz, Warren Zimmerman, and Robert E. Campbell. Markey stated: “Our plan is to have a new President and CEO on board by the beginning of the new performance season.”
When queried as to qualities they sought in candidates, Markey replied, “First and foremost, we are looking for a leader who can work with the board, staff, and volunteers to take this institution to the next level. He or she must be well acquainted with the performing arts industry and its key players, be adept at programming, at ease with numbers and finances, and a dynamo fund-raiser.”
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New Brunswick, NJ 08901
© 2010 StateTheatreNJ.org
All Rights Reserved. Use of this site is governed by our privacy policy.
