Gregory Patterson Named New Managing Director at WaterTower Theatre

Derek Blount, Chairman of the WaterTower Theatre Board of Directors, today announced the appointment of Gregory Patterson as Managing Director. Patterson, the Company's Director of Development and Marketing for the past nine years, will assume his new position effective immediately. The newly created position reports to the Board of Directors.

A Search Committee, chaired by Derek Blount, has been formed to fill the position of Artistic Director. The Search Committee is made up of WaterTower Board members Rose Colarossi, Stan Graner, Paul Shultz, and Managing Director Gregory Patterson. An executive search consulting firm will be engaged to help lead the process.

"When longtime Producing Artistic Director Terry Martin gave his resignation to the Board of Directors, we took the opportunity to explore a number of key issues important to the long-term stability of WaterTower Theatre, including the Company's prior organizational structure," said Board Chair Derek Blount. "The outcome of our deliberations was the approval of a bifurcated senior management structure with a Managing Director handling the operational/financial aspects of the Company and an Artistic Director responsible for the artistic side."

"It was clear from the beginning that Gregory Patterson, a highly accomplished arts executive, was the natural candidate to assume this important leadership role. His extensive industry knowledge, his acumen in both fundraising and marketing plus his entrepreneurial experience have been on full display during his nine-year tenure with WaterTower Theatre. The Board loves Greg's combination of passion and enthusiasm and we have full confidence in his ability to lead WaterTower Theatre to new and exciting heights," continued Blount. "In addition, the Board has formed a Search Committee to begin exploring candidates to fill the position of Artistic Director."

"I am deeply honored to be able to continue my work with this remarkable institution," said Patterson. "WaterTower Theatre remains devoted to its mission of producing compelling, adventurous work, and to providing extraordinary theatre for our community. I look forward to working alongside our committed Board of Directors, our incredibly talented staff, and the new Artistic Director to help continue Terry Martin's legacy, and to build on WaterTower Theatre's already well-established reputation."

Greg joined WaterTower Theatre as Director of Development in June 2008. In 2010, he was promoted to Director of Development and Marketing, overseeing a combined development, marketing and communications department. During his long and distinguished career in non-profit arts management, Greg has held a variety of senior development, marketing and communications positions with The National Ballet of Canada (Director of Marketing), American Ballet Theatre (Director of Marketing and Communications), English National Ballet (Director of Development, Marketing and Education), Los Angeles Opera (Director of Marketing and Communications), The Atlanta Opera (Senior Director, Development and Public Affairs), the Laguna Playhouse (Director of Development and Marketing), the Orange County Performing Arts Center (Vice President, Marketing and Communications), among others. During his tenure at WaterTower Theatre, he has overseen major growth in contributed revenue as a result of a strategic development effort that now raises more than $1.2 million annually. This growth has been supported by increased levels of corporate sponsorship plus the establishment of several key donor affinity groups such as Women of WaterTower Theatre ("WOW!") and The Corporate Council. Greg has also overseen the establishment of several programs designed to secure WaterTower Theatre's long-term future including The President's Circle (a major giving program) and an Endowment. Together with Terry Martin, Greg has played a key role in the significant growth of WaterTower Theatre to its current $1.8 million operational budget. Greg serves on the Board of the Addison Business Association and was recently appointed to the Board of the Aging Mind Foundation. His work in marketing and communications has been acknowledged by several Telly Awards, the premier national advertising award honoring outstanding achievement. Toronto-born, Greg is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario with an Honors Bachelor of Arts degree and is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).

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