CASE STUDY
DAVID MARQUIS, MARQUIS STUDIOS’S BELOVED FOUNDING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, suddenly passed away after 40 years at the helm. Marquis Studios’s Board and more than 100 employees were not only grieving, they had to rebuild organizational processes and structures in the absence of the staff leader. The organization, which delivers arts education to over 150 public schools, had to contend with pressing staff challenges, a missing annual operating budget, and a soon-to-expire office lease.
In only 12 months as Interim Executive Director, I resolved Marquis Studios’ pain points and positioned them to succeed. These are my results:
• Improved Board oversight and transparency
• Boosted staff morale and salaries
• Launched the Teaching Artist Advisory Board
• Resolved HR questions
• Created an operating budget that delivered an eight percent budget surplus
• Increased revenue
• Implemented and trained staff on financial best practices, including developing cash flow projections with variances
• Moved the team to a new office space, under budget and in a short timeframe
• Increased the number of students served
• Oversaw the creation of a student safety policy
• Supported the Board in the Executive Director search
• Seamlessly onboarded the new Executive Director
“Diana was charged with stepping into an outsized role of the founding director, bringing order to the myriad finances, and relocating to a new office. All of these monumental tasks were accomplished skillfully and with poise and finesse.”
“Diana did everything she said she would do and more. I have no doubt she will bring the same enthusiasm and leadership to your organization that she brought to ours.”