Britt Festivals on Thursday announced the hiring of former ballet dancer and current financial wizard Frederic (Rick) Hood Jr. as the new executive director of the nonprofit organization.
"I think I can bring a for-profit business discipline to the nonprofit arena," said Hood.
Hood's experience includes 14 years as a professional ballet dancer, as well as 16 years as a manager, marketer and analyst in financial services. Hood, 54, has a master's degree in business administration from the Harvard Business School. Since 1995, he has worked for Charles Schwab in San Francisco.
"Rick brings a unique blend of talents and experience to leading Britt Festivals. We're honored he's accepted the position," says Britt board President Jon Elliot.
Hood says his performance background gives him a "passionate appreciation for the arts." He is hoping his experience in the financial world will help "take Britt to the next level," he says.
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Ironically, the new director has not yet experienced a performance at the Britt, he says.
"I've never seen a Britt concert. I'm taking it sight unseen. I'm in," says Hood.
Hood has heard Britt's unique ambiance and production quality praised by staff, community members and Grammy-winning performers, he says. During a recent trip to New York with other Britt officials, Hood and crew ended up watching Bruce Hornsby perform at B.B. King's on 52nd Street in New York, he says. Hood grins when recounting Hornsby announce he was playing a song he had re-written after "a great time" performing at Britt.
"I just can't think of a finer business to be in," Hood says.
Britt will remain committed to providing quality arts entertainment as affordably as possible. The plan to add more theater-style seating will not squeeze out less expensive hillside seats, he says.
"We will always have lower priced seats," says Hood. "We will always maintain a spectrum of price points so all kinds of people can come in and see the show."
But steadily increasing production costs makes increased ticket prices "an inevitable situation," he concedes.
"We need to stay affordable. But if you have 2,200 seats and you have a hot act, it's not going to be a cheap ticket," he says.
Hood will focus on "garnering more community support" and "finding new streams of earned income from concessions and souvenirs," he says.
"For every performance, there's the promise, the fulfillment — and the memories," he says, smiling.
Hood, his wife and two cats moved to Ashland from San Francisco in January with plans to keep his job at Schwab by telecommuting. After making the decision to move to the Rogue Valley last year, Hood says he began to look into employment opportunities in the area. He found the director's vacancy while perusing the Internet, he says.
"I found the position on craigslist," he says, with a laugh, of the Web-only classifieds site.
Hood says Britt's 45 years of success as a nonprofit organization speaks volumes for its staff, board and the community that has supported the unique venue.
"They have brought a great variety of art and entertainment to this neck of the woods," he said. "We are all committed to making Britt a better and better experience all the time."
Hood was selected from a pool of 35 candidates from across the United States. He will take the helm Feb. 19, replacing Britt Festivals Executive Director Ron McUne, who retired in December after 20 years.
"I came up for a day in October with Ron," says Hood. "It was a day that changed my life. The more I learned and thought about Britt Festivals, the more excited I became."
Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail sspecht@mailtribune.com.
