“One of the top officials at the Florida Orchestra is leaving the organization for a job that involves her lifelong love of animals. The orchestra’s chief operating officer Stephanie Gonthier will stay on with the orchestra through Dec. 26,” writes Stephanie Hayes in Thursday’s (10/16) Tampa Bay Times. “At that point, she will transition to a job as regional hospital administrator for BluePearl Veterinary Partners, leading a group of specialty and emergency animal hospitals with more than 400 staff members…. It comes in an era of change for the orchestra, which this year announced the hiring of new conductor, Michael Francis. The organization also recently lost artistic operations director Erik Finley, who moved to be with a spouse. The orchestra is working with a professional search firm to replace both Finley and Gonthier…. The orchestra has undergone a financial renaissance in recent years, including the genesis of the $25 million Music for Life Campaign, which has exceeded its goals so far each year. Gonthier has been out in front of that campaign since its inception. And the orchestra’s paid attendance has also increased by tens of thousands.”
Posted October 20, 2014
