OPERA America made significant changes to its organizational structure this winter, involving a number of promotions and new hires. Dan Cooperman, formerly director of development, is now chief advancement officer, overseeing the newly instituted advancement department, which incorporates development, membership, and marketing and communications. Laura Lee Everett, director of artistic services, was promoted to chief programs officer, taking charge of artistic services, learning and leadership, grantmaking, and the annual Opera Conference. The restructuring responds to the need to engender greater cross-departmental collaboration, identified with the assistance of an executive coach and team-building consultants.

Two coincidental staff departures streamlined the restructuring. Patricia Kiernan Johnson, OA’s longtime director of marketing and communications, left at the end of January to head up communications and marketing at the Curtis Institute of Music. Kurt Howard, OA’s director of programs and services, will leave at the conclusion of Opera Conference 2019 in June to become Opera Omaha’s producing director. (See “Transitions,” p. 12.)

Rolando G. Reyes Mir, who has worked in marketing at American Express and Nickelodeon Magazine Group, recently joined OA as its new director of marketing and communications. Vincent Covatto was promoted to senior manager of organizational membership and will take responsibility for coordinating many of the activities for OA’s 50th anniversary. He will oversee a soon-to-be-hired coordinator. Rounding out the advancement department will be a digital marketing manager, Emma Storm, who is currently finishing her studies at Temple University while working as a part-time marketing associate at Opera Philadelphia.

“I’m thrilled that we’ve been able to provide well-deserved opportunities for advancement to long-serving staff members, as well as welcome new hires who will increase OPERA America’s capacity to carry out its mission,” says Marc A. Scorca. “Our staff has always been highly collaborative, but the new structuring only further breaks down barriers between departments and encourages us, as an entire staff, to think holistically about how we can best serve the field.”