Opera Conference 2018: Full Schedule

11:00am CDT

Managing Liquidity

Limited Capacity seats available

Starting in 2019, new FASB regulations will require a restructuring of financial statements that will document an organization's liquidity. Hear from an audit expert about the future of these changes and learn how colleagues are working to anticipate the adjustments and improve their cash positions.

Speakers

Elizabeth Knysak, CPA

Managing Director, BKD

Jeremiah Marks

Chief Financial Officer, Opera Philadelphia

Jeremiah Marks has been with Opera Philadelphia as Chief Financial Officer since 2015. A veteran in the nonprofit industry, Jeremiah is a frequent speaker at the OPERA America Leadership intensive and at performing arts conferences across the country. Prior to Opera Philadelphia... Read More →

Marc A. Scorca

President/CEO, OPERA AMERICA

Marc A. Scorca joined OPERA America in 1990 as president and CEO. Under his leadership, the OPERA America membership has grown from 120 opera companies to nearly 2,500 organizations and individuals. The organization has also administered two landmark funding initiatives in support... Read More →

Sponsors

Genovese Vanderhoof & Associates

Sponsor: Trustee Network

Margaret Genovese and Dory Vanderhoof are management consultants in the arts with an unparalleled record of success in assisting their clients in executive search, effective organizational planning, capital campaign, successful facility development and dramatic improvement to contributed... Read More →

Schuler Shook

Sponsor: General Director sessions, Schuler Shook Theatre Planners | Lighting Designers

Schuler Shook is an internationally recognized theatre planning and consulting firm with extensive experience in opera facility planning. Our clients include Lyric Opera of Chicago, Sydney Opera House, Santa Fe Opera, Sarasota Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Seattle Opera, Portland Opera... Read More →

Thursday June 21, 2018 11:00am - 12:15pm CDT
Sterling 5, 2nd Floor, Hyatt Regency 315 Chestnut Street, St. Louis, MO 63102

Open Session

Area of Focus FIN, GD, TRUST
KEY THEME Governance and Operations

2:00pm CDT

Roundtable: Finance, Administration and Human Resources

Limited Capacity filling up

Tapping into the 3rd Rail
Two consistent revenue sources throughout the industry keep companies on track: ticket sales and contributions . What about that 3rd source, that 3rd rail that powers your organization with room to grow, make mistakes and thrive. What are the successful 3rd rails? What have you learned from trying to implement a 3rd rail or grow an already existing one? We will discuss endowments, concessions, buildings and any other 3rd rail that you have considered.

These network-specific sessions are the place for open, frank dialogue that addresses the issues facing particular disciplines within the field of opera.

Speakers

Jeremiah Marks

Chief Financial Officer, Opera Philadelphia

Thursday June 21, 2018 2:00pm - 3:15pm CDT
Sterling 1, 2nd Floor, Hyatt Regency 315 Chestnut Street, St. Louis, MO 63102

Roundtable, Org Members

Area of Focus FIN
Limited Access Open to Professional Company Member (PCM) staff

9:00am CDT

How to Talk Shop

Limited Capacity seats available

Production staff often do not have the vocabulary or experience to engage trustees in meaningful discussion about the production process and interrelated financial, technical and artistic issues. This session will feature insight from production personnel and board members who have been successful in connecting the work that is central to their mission to trustees and the governance process.

Moderators

Katie Preissner

Director of Production, Opera Colorado

Katie Preissner is the Director of Production for Opera Colorado in Denver. Originally from the Washington, DC area, Katie spent much of her youth involved in musical pursuits, including county and all-state choirs, piano lessons, and voice lessons before enrolling in The Catholic... Read More →

Speakers

Marsha LeBoeuf

Costume Director, Washington National Opera

Marsha M. LeBoeuf has over 35 years of experience in costume design and management, and has been the costume director for Washington National Opera since 1988. In addition to her work at WNO, Marsha is a lecturer at University of Maryland Opera Studio, and has been a has been a guest... Read More →

Karen Quisenberry

Production Director, Minnesota Opera

Karen Quisenberry joined Minnesota Opera as Production Director in August 2013. Since her arrival she has had the privilege of working on a number of world premiers including The Manchurian Candidate, The Shining, and Dinner at Eight, while helping to develop creative design teams... Read More →

John Toia

Director of Production, Opera Philadelphia

Sponsors

Genovese Vanderhoof & Associates

Sponsor: Trustee Network

LiveNote

Technical/Production Network and Under 35 Mixer Sponsor, InstantEncore

LiveNote® - The Philadelphia Orchestra and InstantEncore have combined forces to introduce LiveNote® - an interactive performance guide for your mobile app. With LiveNote, your audience can view translations, program notes, and images smoothly in real time via any internet conn... Read More →

Schuler Shook

Sponsor: General Director sessions, Schuler Shook Theatre Planners | Lighting Designers

Friday June 22, 2018 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
Regency Ballroom E, 2nd Floor, Hyatt Regency 315 Chestnut Street, St, Louis, MO 63012

Open Session

Area of Focus TECH/PROD, TRUST, GD, FIN
KEY THEME Governance and Operations
Live Stream Recorded for Archival Use

9:00am CDT

Implication of Tax Code Revisions

With the passage of time, a clearer understanding of the new IRS tax rules governing deductions, caps and other provisions is emerging. In this session, we will learn about the potential impact of US tax reform on donors and their giving as well as on working arts professionals and the expenses they incur in the course of their work.

Speakers

Susan W. Jones, J.D, CFP

Partner, BKD

Susan is the St. Louis leader for BKD’s Private Client Services (PCS) tax team and a leader of BKD Family Office (BKDFO). Susan provides sophisticated income, gift and estate tax compliance, consulting and planning services to individuals, families, fiduciaries, private foundations... Read More →

Jeremiah Marks

Chief Financial Officer, Opera Philadelphia

Marc A. Scorca

President/CEO, OPERA AMERICA

Sponsors

Genovese Vanderhoof & Associates

Sponsor: Trustee Network

Schuler Shook

Sponsor: General Director sessions, Schuler Shook Theatre Planners | Lighting Designers

Friday June 22, 2018 9:00am - 10:15am CDT
Regency Ballroom F, 2nd Floor, Hyatt Regency 315 Chestnut St., St. Louis, MO 63102

Open Session

Area of Focus DEV, FIN, TRUST, GD, LI

3:30pm CDT

Moving Toward an Equitable Organizational Culture

Limited Capacity filling up

Opera’s homogeneity is increasingly out of place in a country that is ever-more diverse. Motivated by increased self-awareness, external expectations and the potential for increased artistic richness and relevance, companies are striving to improve equity in hiring, programming, casting and community engagement. To be successful, new practices must be rooted in changed organizational cultures. Learn from leaders who have succeeded in guiding organizational cultures to achieve greater equity.

Speakers

Kira Hudson Banks

Associate Professor of Psychology, Saint Louis University

Dr. Kira Hudson Banks is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Saint Louis University and focuses on race, racial identity and intergroup relations. She has worked in the field to improve intergroup relations since 1998 through research, community outreach, and school-based interventions... Read More →

Roberto Bedoya

Cultural Affairs Manager (and Minister of Belonging on USDAC Cabinet), City of Oakland

Roberto Bedoya is Cultural Affairs Manager for the City of Oakland, CA, overseeing the Cultural Affairs Unit, housed in the City's Department of Economic and Workforce Development. He previously served as executive director of the Tucson Pima Arts Council, overseeing grant making... Read More →

Julie Grady Heard

Director of Diversity, Equity and Inlcusion, Cincinnati Opera

I am passionate about embracing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion's implementation and sustained presence in our Mission, Vision and every step of our strategic priorities.

Andrew Jorgensen

Director of Artistic Planning and Operations / General Director Designate, Washington National Opera / Opera Theatre of Saint Louis

Andrew Jorgensen will become the fourth General Director of Opera Theatre of Saint Louis on July , 2018. He is currently the Director of Artistic Planning and Operations at Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center (WNO), where this season he has also been acting as Interim... Read More →

Melanie Powell-Robinson

Executive Director, Diversity Awareness Partnership

Melanie Powell-Robinson is the Executive Director of Diversity Awareness Partnership. She serves the St. Louis region through her dedication to community service and advocacy for inclusion and equity both professionally and socially.Melanie’s dedication to community advocacy began... Read More →

Sponsors

Fisher Dachs Associates

Sponsor: Equity Theme, Fisher Dachs Associates

Fisher Dachs Associates is dedicated to creating performing arts spaces that work brilliantly for all constituents; the artists, the audience, management and staff. Our expertise is in planning and designing intimate, dynamic, technically superb and highly functional theatres, opera... Read More →

Genovese Vanderhoof & Associates

Sponsor: Trustee Network

LiveNote

Technical/Production Network and Under 35 Mixer Sponsor, InstantEncore

Schuler Shook

Sponsor: General Director sessions, Schuler Shook Theatre Planners | Lighting Designers

Friday June 22, 2018 3:30pm - 5:00pm CDT
Regency Ballroom B, 2nd Floor, Hyatt Regency 315 Chestnut Street, St. Louis, MO 63102

Open Session

Area of Focus TECH/PROD, LI, GD, FIN, TRUST
KEY THEME Equity

1:15pm CDT

Roundtable: Finance/Administration

Data, Business Intelligence and the Future of Operations and Financial Reporting
How are you driving business intelligence at your company? What changes are you making to your operational and financial business model? What are the operational and financial levers you are using to run your company? Finally, what systems are you putting into place to capture and report on this information so you can make data driven decisions? This Budget 1 and 2 - focused session will discuss this and more.

These network-specific sessions are the place for open, frank dialogue that addresses the issues facing particular disciplines within the field of opera.

Moderators

Jeremiah Marks

Chief Financial Officer, Opera Philadelphia

Saturday June 23, 2018 1:15pm - 2:30pm CDT
Sterling 7, 2nd Floor, Hyatt Regency 315 Chestnut Street, St. Louis, MO 63102

Roundtable, Org Members

Area of Focus FIN
Limited Access Open to Professional Company Member (PCM) staff

1:15pm CDT

Roundtable: Finance/Human Resources

Discussion at this roundtable will center on the changing responsibilities of an employer in today's workplace. Share and learn how colleagues are acting proactively to create a safe, sought-after and legally compliant workplace.

These network-specific sessions are the place for open, frank dialogue that addresses the issues facing particular disciplines within the field of opera.

Moderators

Liz Kellogg

Human Resource Director, The Santa Fe Opera

Director of Human Resources, with the Santa Fe Opera since 2000.SPHR, member of SHRM and the Northern New Mexico local chapter.Human resource generalist, with areas of emphasis in all major areas of the discipline. Have practiced in HR for going on 30 years!

Speakers

Christian De Gré

Director, Opera Center, OPERA America

Mexican Artist Christian De Gré has spearheaded numerous international projects in film, theater, television, music, publishing, web-media, fine-art and radio such as Fatty Fatty No Friends (New York Innovative Theater Award Nominations for Best Music and Best Musical), Beware The... Read More →

Saturday June 23, 2018 1:15pm - 2:30pm CDT
Sterling 6, 2nd Floor, Hyatt Regency 315 Chestnut Street, St. Louis, MO 63102

Roundtable, Org Members

Area of Focus FIN