NEWS RELEASE

 

                                   

Mayor Jennifer P. Dougherty

 

CONTACT: Nancy Gregg Poss, Public Information Officer, 301-360-3842

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, January 22, 2003

 

 

WEINBERG FAMILY REQUEST 90-DAY STUDY PERIOD

AND

 MAYOR DOUGHERTY NAMES REEDY ACTING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF WEINBERG

 

Frederick, Md. ---- Privatization of the Weinberg Center for the Arts has been a greatly debated issue in the current City of Frederick administration since last spring.  Progress on plans to privatize have been slow due to management issues that consumed a great amount of City staff, as well as the Board of Directors, time over the past nine months.  Last week local entrepreneur John Laughlin presented Mayor Jennifer Dougherty with a privatization offer.  The offer resulted from a January 10th meeting amongst the Mayor, Laughlin, Michael Kurtianyk, Weinberg Center Board Vice President, and Vincent Hughes, Chief Operating Officer for Citizen Services for the City.

            Laughlin’s offer was formalized on Friday, January 17, 2003 when the Mayor received a signed and dated letter defining his proposal.  According to the deed of the Weinberg Center for the Arts, members of the Weinberg family must be consulted on matters relating to the Center and the City must abide by benefactors wishes.  Earlier this week Mayor Dougherty reviewed the offer with Aldan Weinberg and Danyce Weinberg, children of Dan Weinberg who deeded the building to the City.  Resulting from that meeting, Mayor Dougherty has been advised via a letter from the family of their wishes to proceed with a 90-day study period “during which full consideration can be given to the proposal by all concerned parties.”

            Also stated in the letter is Weinberg family support to hire Jeffrey D. Reedy as acting executive director of the Weinberg Center ensuring that day-to-day operations of the Center proceed throughout the study period and legislative process towards possible privatization.  Mayor Dougherty commented that the relationship with the Weinberg family members was important and key to any privatization efforts that the City pursues, “It is my hope our relationship with the Weinberg family remains cooperative as well as moving in the same direction with the Board of Directors.” 

After consulting with the Weinberg family and the Board of Aldermen, Reedy has been hired as acting executive director.  Reedy began work on Tuesday, January 21.

Reedy’s background centers on the arts.  He spent 13 years working for Feld Entertainment, most known for entertainment such as; Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circuses, Disney On Ice Shows, and Siegfried & Roy.  He most recently worked for WETA-TV/FM as Director of Strategic Planning and Business Analysis where he was responsible for revamping the company’s financial systems and reporting.  Reedy who holds a B.A. in business administration from Averett University, in Danville, Va., and also served four years in the United States Marine Corps.

Reedy emerged from 24 candidates who applied for the executive director position at the Weinberg Center.  In total 13 individuals interviewed him during a month-long, four-part interview process.  Initially interviewed by Aldermen Marcia Hall and Dave Lenhart, Vincent Hughes, Chief Operating Officer of Citizen Services, John Leisenring, Chief Financial Officer, and Jeanne Rockenbaugh, Director of Human Resources, he was selected to move on to the next round.  This round included a one-on-one interview with Mayor Jennifer Dougherty and another interview with an arts panel (composed of Al Weinberg, Jasmine Sneed, and Susie Miller).  Finally, the Executive Committee of the Weinberg Center for the Arts Board of Directors (Karen Korrel, Michael Kurtianyk, John D’Amore, and Dennis Allen) each conducted interviews with Reedy. 

            “Jeff’s love of the arts and artistic experience coupled with his business development, organization, and financial management skills, will make the Weinberg Center for the Arts a greater success,” commented Mayor Dougherty.  “He knows that money is harsh reality but is confident in the special feeling of live, performing arts.”

            The Mayor also used phrases such as “realistic” and “focused” and “knows what’s best for the arts” when describing Reedy.  “Jeff will develop and promote the arts in Frederick and I think he will make an honest assessment regarding the Weinberg’s strengths and weaknesses and how the center should proceed.”

            Reedy will report directly to Hughes.  Hughes sat on the initial interview panel and was optimistic that Reedy’s abilities would benefit the City, the Weinberg, and the citizens. “I am confident in Jeff’s abilities to galvanize the arts community surrounding the Weinberg.  Jeff brings to the Weinberg a combination of arts and business experience and most importantly a commitment to the art community that will help ensure the Weinberg’s success in the future.”

            Opportunities not barriers are what Reedy sees at the Weinberg. “I look forward to introducing new ideas and programming that will enhance and expand what historically has been known to the Weinberg,” stated Reedy.  He continued, “The programming is currently diverse, but it could be more.  Although the Weinberg offers programming for music, theater, family, and movies, I feel we can still broaden our appeal.”  Reedy hopes that by introducing programming geared towards our diverse community, along with the understanding that there will be performances that are successful and those that are not, will balance the need a and desires of our community as well as keep the Weinberg budget in balance.

            Reedy resides in Lucketts, Va. With his wife, Jodi, and children Jordan, 14, and Joshua, 9.

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