Laura Sweet Named Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Civic Center of Greater Des Moines

The Civic Center of Greater Des Moines today announced the addition of Laura Sweet to the staff as its Vice President & Chief Operating Officer.

In her position, Ms. Sweet will head the administrative, Ticket Office, guest services, and house and technical staff, working primarily with internal operations of the Civic Center.

“Laura brings impressive experience with an extensive background in performing arts management with strong skills in marketing, planning, human resources and training,” Civic Center President & CEO Jeff Chelesvig said. “We are very pleased to have her on board.”

A Lincoln, Nebraska native, Ms. Sweet has over ten years of performing arts experience most recently serving as the Vice President of Marketing and Communications with the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in Saint Paul since 2008. In that position, she created and executed marketing and communication strategies to achieve sales objectives to position the Ordway both locally and nationally as a leading performing arts center. Prior to that, Ms. Sweet was the Associate Executive Director for the Lied Center for Performing Arts at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.

Ms. Sweets’ professional and educational background is extensive, including management, communications, marketing, and fundraising. She earned a Master of Arts in Journalism at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism at the University of Kansas in Lawrence.

Professionally, Ms. Sweet has served as a featured speaker, volunteer or member of a variety of arts organizations including both the Minnesota and Plains Presenters Networks, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, Arts Midwest, and was a “40 under 40” award recipient by the Lincoln Business Journal.

In addition to professional memberships, Ms. Sweet has been involved with a number of charitable and volunteer organizations including Women Winning, Voices of Hope, Friendship Home, and the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra. She served as the Cather Circle Vice President and was the class elected valedictorian of Leadership Lincoln.

In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, gardening, reading and volunteering and looks forward to exploring and learning more about Des Moines.

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