FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Ruth Davis
ruth1davis@gmail.com
401-497-6684
Alan Weiss Named President of the Board of Trustees ofFestival Ballet ProvidenceProvidence, RI (August 8, 2019) -- The board of trustees of Festival Ballet Providence (FBP) is pleasedto announce that Alan Weiss of East Greenwich has been elected as its new president.
The unanimousvote took place at a meeting on August 1, 2019. Festival Ballet's board is the governing body for NewEngland's second largest professional ballet company with a resident company of 30 dancers, a preprofessionalschool with more than 300 enrolled students, and extensive educational and communityinitiatives reaching more than 13,000 youth annually, making it one of the leading arts organizations inthe region.
Weiss is a global business consultant who has authored over 50 books, translated into 15 languages, onperformance and business success. A major article detailing his coaching of top executives, "The CEOWhisperer," was published by CNBC last month. His clients have included JP Morgan/Chase, Textron,Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Merck, and over 200 others, and his work has taken him to over 60 countries.
"I'm honored to serve in a leadership capacity for Festival Ballet Providence," noted Weiss , "because Ithink the company creates and produces some of the finest performing art in the entire Northeast."Kathleen Breen Combes who began recently as Festival Ballet's new Executive Director, said, "I amthrilled Alan is taking the helm of Festival Ballet Providence at this exciting time of growth. He hasunique expertise and a longstanding passion for the institution and this art form." Artistic Director
Misha Djuric said, "After many years of knowing Alan and benefitting from his advice and consulting, Iam more than pleased that he will now be leading the organization's efforts. With Kathleen in place andwith Alan's energy on the board, I am looking forward to the continued growth of a steadier, strongerorganization, supporting the recognized artistic excellence of the company."
Weiss takes over for renowned artist and innovator Toots Zynsky who is stepping down after six yearsof leadership since taking the helm in 2013. Zynsky oversaw FBP during a period of artistic growthresulting in increased revenue and programming and will remain an active member of the board. Weiss'term runs for two years. Weiss says that his two top priorities are to substantially increase the size ofthe donor base and to increase the size of the board, which has already attracted three new members.
Weiss is a former FBP board member and has served on the boards of Elizabeth Buffum Chase Center,Harvard University's study of violence in the media, GAMM Theater, Trinity Rep Company, and haschaired the Newport International Film Festival. He is the only non-journalist ever awarded the LifetimeAchievement Award from the American Press Institute. Weiss is a Fellow in the Institute of ManagementConsultants and was elected to the Hall of Fame of the National Speakers Association, one of only twopeople to ever hold both distinctions. He is the former chair of the East Greenwich planning board. Hiswife, Marie, is also a member of the board and they have been married for 51 years, with two childrenand two grandchildren.
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