Financial Stability – Creative Minds Out Loud

Episode 84: Boston Ballet’s Business Plan Competition

Max Hodges, Executive Director of the Boston Ballet, shares the story of a business plan competition (à la “Shark Tank”) for new revenue that engaged the Ballet’s entire organization of more than 500 people, including staff, dancers, musicians, and board members.

Meredith (Max) Hodges. Photo by Liza Voll; courtesy of Boston Ballet. Meredith Max Hodges—who goes by Max—joined Boston Ballet as Executive Director in 2014, and leads the company in partnership with Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen As an arts leader, Hodges has a passion for bringing a business approach to building audiences, broadening access, and supporting the creative process. Continue reading “Episode 84: Boston Ballet’s Business Plan Competition”

Episode 57: Mounting a Comeback for Edith Wharton’s Legacy

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Susan Wissler, Executive Director of The Mount, shares her experience of bringing an organization back from the precipice, and how retiring its $9M debt helped its community rethink what a historic home can be.

Susan Wissler joined The Mount in 2001 as Vice President and became Executive Director in 2008. Ms. Wissler graduated from Brown University, received a J.D. from Columbia University, and, prior to joining The Mount, practiced law in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. Highlights of Ms. Wissler’s sixteen years at The Mount include the return of Wharton’s books to the library, the retirement of The Mount’s debt, and most recently, welcoming over 50,000 visitors to the property in 2017.
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Episode 44: How to Responsibly Close a Museum

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Todd Smith, the Interim Executive Director at the American Textile History Museum in Lowell, discusses the difficult process of closing a museum and the importance of a deaccession plan that supports the collection as well as the public good.

Todd Smith uses his experience in education, corporate strategy, and nonprofit leadership to help organizations navigate pathways for ongoing public service. Focusing on sustainable outcomes, Smith assists organizations in evaluating goals in the context of real world economics and creating action plans with clearly defined financial targets.

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Episode 42: Oops, We Didn’t Do a Feasibility Study

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Jeffry George, Executive Artistic Director of the Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater, shares the pitfalls of NOT having a feasibility study in place before building a new facility.

Jeffrey George Jeffry George, Executive Artistic Director Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater (WHAT), has thirty plus years of administrative and management experience in numerous AEA theatres throughout the U.S. He most recently directed the world premiere of The Empaths, Sex with Strangers, Alabama Story, Cock, Thrill Me and co-directed A Midsummer Night’s Dream at WHAT, and Suppressed Desires for the “Then and Now Festival” in Provincetown, A Centennial Celebration of the Provincetown Players.
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Episode 36: Capitalization and Contingencies

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Scott Fraser, Managing Director of the Jose Mateo Ballet Theater, discusses capitalization strategy. He says when arts & cultural organizations talk about what they need with the philanthropic sector, they have to be sure to include contingencies because the unexpected is going to happen.

Scott Fraser has been instrumental in leading and sustaining Jose Mateo Ballet Theater since he joined the staff in 1987. In his current role as Managing Director, Scott focuses on capital fundraising, strategic planning, and facility restoration. He served on the board of the Boston Dance Alliance from 2003-2011 (Board President for 2 years) and currently serves on the board of OrigiNation Inc. He was a member of the 2011 American Express Foundation Non-Profit Leadership Academy and received a 2014 Champion of the Arts Award from the Arts & Business Council, Greater Boston.

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