WaterTower Theatre Announces New Board Members

WaterTower Theatre (WTT) has announced the election of Derek Blount as President of the Board of Directors. The other Board Officers are Vice President, John Ackley, Secretary, Buddy Frazer and Treasurer, Katie Myatt. WaterTower Theatre also welcomes the appointment of three new Board members: Ben Cunningham, President and CEO, Liberty Capital Bank, Jeanne Hooker, Manager, Public Affairs, Atmos Energy and Alan Hunn, General Counsel, Nissan Motor Acceptance Corporation.

Derek Blount (President) joined the WaterTower Theatre Board of Directors in 2006. He served as Board Treasurer for two years and this past season as Vice President of the Board. Derek is also a Co-Chair, with Board member Mark Hurst, of WaterTower Theatre's Corporate Council.

Professionally, Derek is Area President of Sovereign Bank, a Dallas-based financial institution. Derek focuses on corporate banking including commercial real estate lending, mergers and acquisitions and working capital loans.

"We're extremely pleased to announce Derek Blount as President as well as these three new Officer appointments plus our three new board members," said Terry Martin, WaterTower Theatre's Producing Artistic Director. "Derek has been instrumental as our Board Treasurer for several years and continued to provide financial counsel this past year as the Board's Vice President. He has been deeply involved in WaterTower Theatre's many fundraising programs and is one of the founding Co-Chairs of our Corporate Council program."

"This past season WaterTower Theatre, not unlike all non-profit arts groups in the country, faced many financial challenges as a result of the economic downturn," said Martin. "I'm proud of both the staff and the Board of Directors for its prudent management this past year. Derek is a perfect choice as President of the Board and will provide the kind of leadership that will be vital to the Company's continued success, especially in the areas of financial management and fundraising. Our new slate of Executive Committee Officers and recently appointed Board members will be important assets to the organization to ensure that our Board continues its work to support the mission of WaterTower Theatre."

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About WaterTower Theatre:

WaterTower Theatre has become a theatrical force through its consistent excellence and sharp programming. Combining Broadway-quality productions with the beauty of an intimate playing space, WTT provides experiences that are powerful and insightful, intense and uplifting. WTT provides the community with an opportunity to examine man's conditions from all perspectives and promotes growth through humor and drama. WTT is privileged to make its home at the Addison Theatre Centre, an award-winning flexible theatre space that can be reconfigured to accommodate each new production. www.watertowertheatre.org.

Derek Blount (President) joined the WaterTower Theatre Board of Directors in 2006. He served in the role of Treasurer for two years and this past season as Vice President of the Board. Derek is also a Co-Chair, with Board member Mark Hurst, of WaterTower Theatre's Corporate Council. Professionally, Derek is Area President of Sovereign Bank, a Dallas-based financial institution. Derek focuses on corporate banking including commercial real estate lending, mergers and acquisitions and working capital loans. Founded in 2004, Sovereign Bank has eight locations in the DFW Metroplex and two in Austin. Derek's professional experience prior to Sovereign includes corporate lending roles with international banking syndicate Credit Lyonnais (now Credit Agricole) and helping establish the Dallas commercial banking division for Hibernia Bank (now Capital One Bank). Derek began his banking career with JPMorgan Chase through completion of their executive training program and later serving as a commercial banking officer. A Texas native, Derek received both his BBA in Finance and his MS in Marketing from Texas A&M University. Derek is an active member of American MENSA, Habitat for Humanity, Bent Tree Country Club and the Junior Associates of the Dallas Museum of Art.

John Ackley (Vice President) joined the WaterTower Theatre Board in 2009. Since then he has served as Co-Chair of the 2010 Spotlight Gala Underwriting Committee. He will continue to Co-Chair that Committee for the 2011 Gala. John has been in the insurance business for more than 30 years. His firm, Ackley Financial Group, was founded in 1980. John serves as its Chief Executive Officer and owner.

Buddy Frazer (Secretary) became a member of the WaterTower Theatre Board of Directors in 1997, where he served as Vice President from 1998-2000 and President from 2000-2003. Born in Dallas, he worked for more than 25 years at Texas Instruments as an electrical engineer, project manager and international marketing representative. He later joined the Camber Corporation as its Director of Programs for the Dallas office.

Katie Myatt (Treasurer) is a Private Wealth Advisor at Goldman Sachs. In this role, she provides investment advisory services to wealthy individuals, families and foundations. Katie joined Goldman Sachs in 2010 after spending six years in the industry at J.P. Morgan. While at J.P. Morgan, Katie was one of seven individuals to participate in the firm's Scholar Program, where she spent time working in several areas throughout the firm, including FX Trading, Commercial Real Estate, Business Banking and Private Wealth Management. She graduated magna cum laude with a BBA from the University of Notre Dame and received her MBA from Northwestern University, where she attended the Kellogg School of Management.

Ben Cunningham (Board member) is President and CEO of the Addison-based bank, Liberty Capital Bank. He is a veteran banking professional with more than 37 years of experience in the banking industry committed to Addison and North Dallas. He has served as President of the Addison Business Association, past Chairman of the Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce and is also a well-known civic leader in the community. Also, he serves on the Board of the Carrollton/Farmers Branch Rotary and the Joni & Friends Board.

Jeanne Hooker (Board member) is Manager, Public Affairs for Atmos Energy. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M Commerce. Jeanne is a past Board member of the CFBISD Education Foundation, a current Board member of MetroCrest Medical Foundation, the Addison Business Association, the Richardson Symphony Orchestra, Neighborhood Youth and Family Services and New Beginnings. She is currently the Chairman of the Board of the Richardson Chamber. Jeanne is also actively serves on the chamber boards of Lewisville, Farmers Branch and Garland.

Alan Hunn (Board member) is General Counsel for Nissan Motor Acceptance Corporation and Director and Assistant General Counsel for Nissan North America, Inc. Alan is also the Corporate Secretary for Nissan Motor Acceptance Corporation and holds various officer and board positions for Nissan affiliates in the United States. Alan, a sixth-generation Texan, holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas and a Jurisdoctorate from the Texas Tech University School of Law. He and his wife Linda have been longtime subscribers to WaterTower Theatre and underwriters for our Spotlight Gala.

Members of WTT's Board of Directors consist of leaders in the fields of business, publishing, education, law, finance, community activism, real estate and the arts who volunteer their time and expertise on behalf of the organization. Jeanne Hooker, Alan Hunn and Ben Cunningham will join current Board members Barbara Bigham, Caryn Blackwell, Derek Blount, Shannon Brame, Anita Braun, Frank Brinegar, Greg Davis, Lauren Embrey, Elizabeth Fratantuono, Buddy Frazer, David Guedry, RoBert Mayer, Jr., Terry Martin, Larry McCallum, Katie Myatt, Karol Omlor, Allie Theisen and Lori Ward.