The TUCSON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA has named Mark Blakeman president and CEO. He comes to the TSO from the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, where he was chief operating officer. His work to restore the Schermerhorn Symphony Center after a flood helped win a 2011 Award of Engineering Excellence from the American Council of Engineering Companies. Blakeman holds a Bachelor of Science in music business from Middle Tennessee State University and an MBA in arts administration from Oklahoma City University. He taught at both universities, leading coursework in acoustics, survey of popular music and orchestral music and management.
MATT LEHRMAN has been named interim managing director of ARIZONA THEATRE COMPANY. Jessica L. Andrews, who came out of retirement to help guide ATC through a difficult period and lead a $1.2 million fundraising effort, will become managing director emeritus. Lehrman has spent 10 months consulting on ATC’s management practices and long-term strategic plan. He is the principal of Audience Avenue, LLC, which provides counsel, facilitation and analysis to arts and cultural organizations. His “Audiences Everywhere™ Workshop and Keynotes” has been presented throughout The United States, Canada and United Kingdom. From 2003-13, he served as founder and CEO of Alliance for Audience and ShowUp.com, an initiative for public engagement in the arts in Arizona. Previously, he was vice president of marketing and communications at the Scottsdale Cultural Council after beginning his career as a banking and mortgage finance lobbyist in Washington, D.C. Lehrman is a graduate of Oberlin College in Ohio.
JOHN VELEZ , a financial advisor for 35 years, is moving his First Command Financial office to 1984 N. Kolb Road. An open house will be held Sept. 16 from 4-7p.m.
ISLE OF GAMES, a new game and puzzle store, opened at 7747 E. Broadway Blvd. Co-managers BEN PENNER and Drew Kallen have over 25 years of game store experience between them, having managed game stores at Tucson Mall and Park Place Mall. For more information, visit www.isleof games az.com.
The HUMANE SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA will hold a “Mosey for Mutts” fundraising walk on Sept. 27. For more information, visit www.hssaz.org/mosey.
GOT2B GLUTEN FREE, owned by Rebecca Wicker, opened recently at 5407 E. Pima Street. Offerings include gluten-free challah. For more information or special orders, call 209-2872.
A PERFECT PANTRY, featuring eclectic gifts and kitchen tools, has moved to a new location, 41 S. 6th Ave. For more information, call 484-2692.
THE STEVEN M. GOOTTER FOUNDATION has been selected as the recipient of proceeds from the sales of the 2014 Tucson Care Card, sold during Tucson Fashion Week. For more information, visit www.tucsonfashionweek.com.
The University of Arizona’s ARIZONA REPERTORY THEATRE will kick off its 2014-15 season on Sept. 21. New subscriptions and single tickets are now on sale through the Fine Arts Box Office at 621-1162, www.theatre.arizona.edu or www.tickets.arizona.edu.
