What’s New? Leaders at Starlight

2014-08-07
CATEGORY: Starlight

The 2014 Starlight Broadway season has been one of our most popular in recent years. Among the new faces that audience members may have seen this summer are four new leaders in the Starlight organization.

Rich Baker, President and CEO

Rich is steering the ship at Starlight this summer, having joined our crew as President and CEO in March. Quite experienced in “the art” of theatre administration, Rich spent the past 27 years on the other side of the Show-Me state as part of St. Louis’ Fox Theatre organization; he served as President of Fox Associates for 14 years. A proud father of two grown sons and grandfather of five, Rich occasionally finds time to embrace his “green” side – as in golf greens – and looks forward to trying out some of Kansas City’s famed courses. And, after experiencing the electricity and energy of a full house at Starlight during several of this season’s Broadway musicals and concerts, he’s excited to see what he can do to keep the momentum building in 2015 and beyond!

 

Shelly Doucet, Director of Development

Shelly joined the Starlight team in May to gather philanthropic funding to ensure Starlight maintains its standing as a treasured community resource. (She wants to remind all of you that Starlight is a not-for-profit organization, and financial gifts to our theatre may be deducted on your federal tax returns). After working for four years in a public-charter French-immersion school here in Kansas City, she is relieved to speak English at work again! Attending concerts with her husband, Ed, and bringing her two young sons to see The Wizard of Oz have been highlights of Shelly’s first Starlight summer.

 

Ken McClain, Director of Customer Service

With nearly 20 years of experience in the performing arts industry, mostly in customer service and sales, Ken joined Starlight in May. His past “roles” include music director with the famed improv theater The Second City and director of ticketing and patron services at the Lyric Opera of Kansas City for the past five years. With a love for the great outdoors, music and theatre, Ken feels very fortunate to have had his “favorite things” come together in this year’s amazing Starlight season. He and his Customer Service staff look forward to providing a great experience for all Starlight guests for years to come.

 

Nick Riojas, House Manager

After spending the past three summers at Starlight working as a GuestASSIST associate for Broadway events and concerts, Nick came aboard full-time in April as house manager. He joined Starlight after 9½ years at DST, most recently as a senior client service liaison, managing corporate client accounts, internal projects and day-to-day responsibilities that contributed to DST’s success. Nick enjoys traveling, golfing, heading to the lake, and all things outdoors. With a firmly established knowledge of Starlight now under his belt, Nick is committed to accomplishing great things during this and upcoming seasons!

 

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