A nomination for amphitheater management
The article in today’s paper about the new amphitheater on the Island and the city’s plans to hire an outside manager reminded me of a similar situation years ago.
Susan Cox had been a volunteer with Historic Columbus and was running the promotions for tourism in Columbus. She did not receive a salary for her work. She was professional and charming and did a fabulous job promoting our city.
When it came time to hire someone for the job, the city didn’t even interview her. Instead they did an outside search and brought in someone that had “the resume.”
That person stayed for a few years and never accomplished half of the things that Susan had been doing.
Now we are faced with operating the new amphitheater and again the city is not considering anyone local when the perfect candidate is here and has been the quiet force behind the Rosenzweig Arts Center for years; Beverly Norris!
Beverly has brought in amazing musicians and artists and has the musical acumen that it would take to make the amphitheater a success. She knows people in the industry from all-over and is as charming and professional as Susan Cox was before her. I know you would never use a similar word to describe a man for such a position but Beverly’s charm has won-over so many of the performers that she oversees and is one of the main reasons that they all rave about their time in Columbus.
I urge the city to consider Beverly for this position. It would be a wise move that would ensure the success of the new arena.
Bob Raymond
Columbus
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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