ArtsQuest Announces Next President & CEO‏

Over the past 30 years, ArtsQuest has been honored to share some huge news with the community, most recently through the development of the SteelStacks arts and cultural campus. Today, we’re excited to share one of the biggest announcements in our history.

This afternoon, we announced that ArtsQuest Senior Vice President of Marketing and Advancement Kassie Hilgert will be named the next President & CEO of ArtsQuest.

Since joining ArtsQuest in 2008, Kassie has demonstrated amazing leadership abilities, an incredible passion for our arts and cultural mission and a thorough understanding of the Lehigh Valley and the many elements that make it so special. Kassie has developed numerous partnerships with local, regional and national corporate partners, community organizations and foundations, helping ArtsQuest greatly expand its arts and cultural programming in recent years. As Senior Vice President of Marketing and Advancement, she is responsible for overseeing the sponsorship, marketing, development, ticketing, public relations and volunteer departments, which include 27 full- and part-time employees dedicated to supporting our mission.

Over the next several months, Kassie will work closely with ArtsQuest Founder and current President Jeff Parks while meeting with ArtsQuest staff, board members, volunteers, sponsors, partners and members of our community. She will officially assume the President & CEO’s responsibilities when Jeff retires in January 2015.

As for Jeff, while he may be retiring after three decades dedicated to arts, culture and our community, he won’t be riding off into the sunset just yet. Starting in May 2015, Jeff will assume the part-time role as the new Executive Director of the ArtsQuest Foundation, the nonprofit foundation established to help ensure the long-term sustainability of our organization as we continue to grow and expand our programming for the region.

I invite you to congratulate Kassie on this great accomplishment when you see her. Under her leadership, along with the support of our dedicated and creative staff, board and volunteers, ArtsQuest will continue be a national leader in providing access to exceptional arts and cultural programs and events.

Joe Pietrantonio
President, ArtsQuest Board of Trustees

Bridgeport Landmark Meets The Wrecking Ball

What a sad turn of events this is.  Anyone who lived or worked in the Norristown/King of Prussia area probably has a memory of this place.  Camelot in Bridgeport was “the place” to have a wedding reception or other large event.  I would say it was Bridgeport’s Sunnybrook.

Having worked in that area for 25 years, I knew many people who had their events at Camelot.  Camelot was demolished this week.  The owner, Gary Johnson, declined comment on any plans for development of the property.

Camelot was a casualty of the recession.  Renovations were too costly.  Although there was interest in reopening the property, the economy kept potential buyers at bay.

Interestingly, Joe Torac, the former owner of Lakeside Inn, ran Camelot.  Torac was tragically killed in an automobile accident in 1998.

Thankfully, the Lakeside Inn (Copperfield’s) and Sunnybrook are still standing and going strong.  Unfortunately, for Bridgeport, there is no happy ending to this story.