HC Smith Recruits Executive Director for Las Vegas Philharmonic
June 22, 2021 – Following a nationwide executive search, Beachwood, OH-based executive search firm HC Smith has assisted in the placement of Anne Berquist as the new executive director of the Las Vegas Philharmonic.
“I am thrilled and honored to be the Las Vegas Philharmonic’s executive director,” Ms. Berquist told Broadway World. “The Philharmonic has a long and prestigious history, and there are countless opportunities for the organization to achieve new levels of success. I look forward to bringing the company’s vision to life.”
Ms. Berquist previously served as executive director of Opera Grand Rapids in Michigan. A native of France, she formerly worked in the management department of the Théâtre du Chatelet in Paris and served as director of administration and director of studies at the Conservatoire National de Region de Musique et Dance in Amiens, France. Since coming to the U.S. in 2001, Ms. Berquist has served in various leadership positions in the non-profit arts and cultural sector. She has managed new and complex initiatives, increasing organizational visibility and bringing creative, entrepreneurial spirit. Ms. Berquist has a variety of fine arts expertise to her role in non-profit leadership with comprehensive experience in fundraising, finance and administration.
Get Our Latest Report! The New Private Equity Talent Blueprint
Recruiting world class leadership is the No. 1 priority for private equity firms and their portfolios in the wake of COVID-19. As a result, a transformative shift is happening in PE recruiting – with an emphasis on new drivers, including culture, diversity & inclusion, and engagement. According to this latest global private equity research report from Hunt Scanlon, these are just some of the new levers private equity talent leaders are pulling on to unleash higher levels of leadership performance. Their aim: To find new and sustainable ways to enhance value, growth, results, and returns.
Some are calling this new era in private equity talent a ‘platinum period’ for PE recruiting. In this special 2021 Global Private Equity Talent Leadership Report, Hunt Scanlon examines how executive recruiters and PE talent leaders are designing a new set of talent blueprints to recruit, assess, and extract value from existing and incoming leaders. If you are a PE managing director, operating partner, talent leader or executive recruiter specializing in private equity, this report is designed specifically for you. A special thanks to our Co-Sponsor: JM Search! Buy your copy today!
Ms. Berquist took over leading the Las Vegas Philharmonic last month and has already made an impact. “I am pleased with Anne’s contributions to the Las Vegas Philharmonic in the few short weeks that she has been here,” said Jeri Crawford, chair of the board of trustees for the Las Vegas Philharmonic. “She embraced this team and this opportunity immediately and we look forward to an exciting chapter under her leadership, especially as we return to what we love best, live performances and engagement with audiences.”
Related: Bridge Partners Recruits CFO for the San Francisco Symphony
The Las Vegas Philharmonic, led by music director, Donato Cabrera, established its presence in Southern Nevada in 1998 and has continued to entertain growing audiences with its concert series and youth program. A resident company of The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, the Las Vegas Philharmonic brings a valued and vibrant cultural dimension to the city, providing over 23,000 children with access to a music education program and showcasing local talents alongside guest artists on the Reynolds Hall stage. At the orchestra’s core are 76 contracted professional musicians, many of whom are esteemed educators who perform in other professional productions in Las Vegas.
Veteran Recruiters
Herbert Smith founded HC Smith Ltd. in 1985. He has recruited for small, mid-sized and global organizations such as IBM, Pitney Bowes, NASA, General Electric, DuPont, Xerox, General Motors, International Paper, Lincoln Financial, Dana Corp., National Medical Association, and many others locally and nationally. In addition to his work as an executive search consultant, Dr. Smith is a trusted advisor and management consultant to executive leaders and their organizations. In addition to its executive recruiting practice HC Smith can assist with strategic planning, executive counseling and facilitating initiatives for organizational change.
Recent Placement
HC Smith recently assisted in the placement of Melkeya McDuffie as chief human resources officer (CHRO) of The Wallace Foundation. “We are delighted to have Melkeya McDuffie joining our team at Wallace,” said Will Miller, president of The Wallace Foundation. “Mel will be a great partner to me and the entire senior management team as we continue our organizational culture journey to fulfill our mission in ways that reflect our values. She will bring valuable experience and fresh eyes as we infuse equity more deeply into our work both internally and externally.”
Ms. McDuffie is a human resources leader with experience at a range of Fortune 500 companies. brings deep experience in human resources, talent acquisition, talent development, organizational development, diversity, equity and inclusion, and performance management. Previously, Ms. McDuffie was with Waste Management, where she served as chief talent leader for the U.S., Canada and India.
Related: Greenwich Harbor Partners Fills Board Seat for the New York Pops
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
