Business

Thursday, Sep. 04, 2008

Biz Buzz: New director set for Cal Poly Arts

Longtime head of Seattle-area facility expected to boost ticket sales, fundraising

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There’s a new director for Cal Poly Arts, the organization that books the majority of Broadway musicals, concerts and other acts at the Performing Arts Center in San Luis Obispo.

Steven T. Lerian will be in charge of programming and donor development for Cal Poly Arts, the organization announced earlier this week. He officially starts the position Oct. 31.

“This guy is a pro. He is right at the top of his game,” said Linda Halisky, dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Cal Poly.

A California native, Lerian studied drama at USC and graduated with a master’s degree in directing from Wayne State University in Michigan.

He’s spent the past 15 years as executive director of the Kirkland Performance Center near Seattle.

As the center’s founding executive director, he oversaw construction of the 402- seat venue and a $5.8 million capital funding campaign in the mid-1990s. Lerian has also served as chief executive officer during the Kirkland center’s 10 years of operation.

“He (transformed) it into a really moving organization,” said Halisky, who hopes Lerian will likewise rejuvenate fundraising efforts and ticket sales for Cal Poly Arts.

“I’d like him to charge up the programming,” she said.

Lerian succeeds Ralph Hoskins, who stepped down in 2007 after a decade as director of Cal Poly Arts. Pro-gram manager Peter Wilt served as interim director during the transition.

Part of the university’s College of Liberal Arts, Cal Poly Arts is the primary presenter of shows at the PAC. The venue, which opened in 1996, includes the 1,282-seat Christopher Cohan Center and the 497-seat Spanos Theatre.

As Cal Poly Arts director, Lerian will oversee a five-member staff and earn an annual salary of about $110,000, Halisky said. He’ll also work closely with Ron Regier, the PAC’s managing director.

-— Sarah Linn

Omni Design celebrates 25 years with open house

San Luis Obispo’s Omni Design Group Inc. is commemorating its 25th anniversary today with an open house showcasing the company’s new office and its past, current and future projects.

The firm’s portfolio includes projects at Cal Poly — including the University Union Plaza, retail units in the new Poly Canyon Village complex, and the Simpson Strong-Tie Demonstration Material Lab -— in addition to projects for Vandenberg Air Force Base, wineries, religious institutions and national telecommunication providers.

Omni also was recently named as the architecture firm to design Cal Poly’s pilot building of its high-tech park.

The open house will be held at 689 Tank Farm Road in San Luis Obispo.

-— Melanie Cleveland

Martini fest at Rosa’s shakes out thousands

Rosa’s Italian Restaurant, 491 Price St. in Pismo Beach, raised $2,400 at its first annual Central Coast Vodka Martini Shakedown. Proceeds went to the outreach pro-gram at St. Patrick’s Church and the Food Bank of San Luis Obispo County. Paula Nichols from the Quarterdeck, a local restaurant, won the first place judge’s award as well as the people’s choice award in the recent drink competition. Drinks from 10 local eateries were showcased at the restaurant’s event.

—Tonya Strickland

Heritage Oaks handles Junior Livestock funds

The accounting services for the Junior Livestock Auction at this year’s California Mid-State Fair were provided by Heritage Oaks Bank.

Nearly $1.5 million in total sales were processed by bank staff. The funds were spent on 875 total head of steers, lambs, hogs, goats, rabbits, chickens and heifers.

Heritage Oaks staff reviewed each contract to ensure the buyer’s signature and information on the contract were correct, and then presented each child with a check in the amount.

“Playing an active role of support for the Junior Livestock Auction represents our yearly commitment to the young men and women of the 4-H and FFA organizations,” said Larry Ward, president and chief executive officer of Heritage Oaks.

Said Vivian Robertson, the fair’s CEO: “The tremendous monetary funding that is extended by Heritage Oaks Bank to pay the 4-H and FFA livestock sellers while payment from buyers is collected truly creates the hub that makes the entire wheel turn.”

–— Tribune staff report