LA CROSSE, Wis. (May 13, 2009)

by Cary Heyer, First Vice-President, LCT Board of Directors

After a five-month search, Jackie Jensen-Utz has been named LCT’s new executive director, effective June 1.

A five-member search committee screened the credentials of nearly 30 applicants, judging them on three core competencies: business and financial management acumen, fundraising and development, and theatre experience.

Upon completion of telephone interviews, two finalists were invited to La Crosse for a series of meetings that included the search committee, a private interview with LCT staff, a public forum, and dinner with the board of directors. The committee and board weighed input from community members and deliberated the unique attributes of each candidate against the needs of the theatre as it considers the prospects of a capital campaign and ongoing fundraising for its ever-aging current facility.

"Ms. Jensen-Utz’s experience as a professional fundraiser and business manager will serve La Crosse Community Theatre well as we prepare for the future and continue to build our reputation for exceptional live theatrical performance," said Tom Brock, president of LCT’s board of directors. "Her skills complement those of our solid staff, who did a seamless job of keeping the theatre afloat during the time we were without an executive director."

Jensen-Utz is an 18-year fundraising veteran who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from UW-La Crosse in 1986 and received a master’s degree in philanthropy and development from Saint Mary’s University in 2001.