Seattle Opera Gains New COO/CFO and Director of Production

Seattle Opera General Director Aidan Lang has appointed two new members of his executive team: Jane Repensek joins the company as Chief Operating Officer/Chief Financial Officer, and Doug Provost will serve asDirector of Production.

"Jane Repensek is a proven leader. With an impressive 25-year career in finance, accounting, and nonprofits, she is exactly who we need to help create a sustainable future for great art," Lang said. "In Doug Provost, we gain a seasoned production director who was not only instrumental to the success of Arizona Opera for more than a decade, but has been sought out by opera companies across the U.S. as a lighting designer."

As COO/CFO, Jane Repensek will act as Aidan Lang's second-in-command of operational and strategic matters. Through her financial leadership, she will expand the company's capacity to reach diverse audiences across Washington State. Additionally, Repensek will direct how Seattle Opera at the Center, the company's new civic home for opera, is financed through to completion. Most recently a senior vice president with Seattle Foundation, Repensek has held leadership roles with CFO Selections LLC, Special Olympics Washington, Polaris Project and The Theatre Lab. Before shifting to the not-for-profit world, Repensek worked in investment management, international invest banking, and corporate lending at Bank of America and Washington Mutual. A certified public accountant in Washington and Wisconsin, Repensek holds an MBA in finance from the University of Chicago, and a BS in Accounting from Marquette University. She is a director of Mutual of Enumclaw, and serves on the audit committee of the United States' fourth-largest credit union, BECU.

As the company's Director of Production, Doug Provost will manage carpentry, sound, lighting, projections, hair & makeup, the costume shop, and more. He will manage the creation of new shows, as well as productions created in collaboration with other companies. He will also oversee Seattle Opera's production rental program. During his tenure at Arizona Opera, Provost participated in the design and build of that company's operations center, in addition to launching an apprentice program for recent-college-graduates. The former resident lighting/projection designer worked on more than 33 Arizona Opera productions, in addition to freelancing as a designer with companies such as Minnesota Opera, Hawaii Opera, and Nashville Opera. Provost studied at Central Missouri State University, and Imperial College in London while working with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He also trained with Santa Fe Opera and the Starlight Theatre in Kansas City.

"It is my honor to continue the legacy of creating great opera experiences as your new Director of Production," Provost said.

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