Tania Castroverde Moskalenko, President and CEO of The Center for the Performing Arts and the Great American Songbook Foundation, has announced that she will be leaving The Center to accept the position of Chief Executive Officer at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University in Chicago. Jeffrey C. McDermott has agreed to serve as interim President and CEO of The Center for the Performing Arts and the Great American Songbook Foundation. McDermott is a partner at Krieg DeVault LLP and current Chairman of the Board of the Songbook Foundation.

This transition in leadership will take place as soon as possible and should be finalized before the 2016-17 season is in full swing.

Castroverde Moskalenko joined the Center in June of 2012 and has been able to stabilize spending, create a strategic plan to guide the future of the organization and add programming and educational experiences that have expanded the Center’s reach and engaged a broader audience.

“I have truly enjoyed my time at the Center and will miss the many colleagues and supporters that have become friends during my four years here. It has been an honor and privilege to work with true visionaries such as Michael Feinstein and Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard who were instrumental in the creation of these organizations.  I am very proud of the progress we have made together as an organization and am glad to have been a part of the milestone 5th season we just presented. I know that I leave the Center in a much more secure position poised for solid growth in the years to come. The Center and the Foundation are in the capable hands of a talented and caring interim leader and boards of directors,” said Castroverde Moskalenko.

The Center has been able to operate in the black for the three previous years and has increased its donor base while building on its programming and educational outreach efforts. Ticket buyers have come from all 50 states and 22 countries around the world. Revenues have also increased from building and room rentals while the Center seeks to create and attract events each day of the week throughout the year.

“We wish Tania the best in her new position and thank her for the hard work and dedication that she gave the Center and the Great American Songbook Foundation. She has been an enthusiastic advocate for our organizations, was able to engage many diverse audiences and developed strong support because she truly understood and could effectively communicate our mission,” said Michael Feinstein, the Center’s Artistic Director and founder of the Great American Songbook Foundation.

“It was very important in these first years to have someone with Tania’s blend of talents and professional leadership guide the organization through some strategic analysis that set the focus for years to come. It is not always easy to work within the framework of a municipally owned venue, make tough decisions in order to control spending and at the same time gain corporate and community support. However, Tania was able to help us through the more difficult early years. I have full confidence in Jeff’s abilities to lead this organization as it sets off on an exciting new season. His dedication to these organizations and his passion for their missions has been evident during his tenure with the Center,” said Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard.

Prior to her time at The Center for the Performing Arts, Castroverde Moskalenko found unprecedented success as the Executive Director of the Germantown Performing Arts Centre in Tennessee where she brought that organization financial stability, grew support and increased participation in its programs.

McDermott will remain a partner at Krieg DeVault while fulfilling this additional role at the Center. He has been on the Board at the Center since 2010, the year prior to its opening.

“I’ve worked closely with Jeff for years on various projects and I know that our board joins me in expressing confidence in him to lead the Center’s mission. His professional background in law and management, coupled with his passion for what we do here at the Center, make him uniquely qualified to serve in this role,” said Eric Payne, chairman of the board of directors.

Throughout his time on the board, McDermott has served on the Center’s Executive Committee, Development Committee, Audit Committee, CEO Review Committee and Finance Committee. He and his wife, Britt, chair this year’s Gala committee as well.

“This is a very exciting time for the Center. We just selected our newest Songbook Ambassador, are set to launch our new season and are discussing our strategic direction for the Great American Songbook Foundation. Audiences and donors are growing each year and I look forward to helping guide the organization with the help of our excellent staff and boards,” said McDermott.

Submitted release.