Wilson Center Announces Leadership Change
Nichole Cooper and Vincent Vogelsang to assume dual leadership roles
Nichole Cooper. Photo courtesy of the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts.
Brookfield, Wis. (Feb. 6, 2020) – The Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts (Wilson Center) Board of Directors today announced that a new dual leadership team comprised of Nichole Cooper, artistic director, and Vincent Vogelsang, general manager, will head the organization moving forward. The new structure is consistent with the leadership models of many leading arts organizations nationwide and is effective immediately.
As the center continues to grow and add programming, the collaborative structure marks a new chapter for the organization heading into its 20th anniversary year in 2021/2022. The dual executive office will assure strong leadership in all areas, with Cooper leading artistic and audience development, and Vogelsang overseeing finance, development and operations.
“We are delighted that Nichole and Vince bring new energy and capabilities to the dual leadership role,” said Wilson Center board chair Susan Cerletty. “Their combined backgrounds are impressive, and coupled with their in-depth knowledge of our multifaceted organization, the board is confident they will help the center thrive as we embark on our next decade.”
Vincent Vogelsang. Photo courtesy of the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts.
Cooper joined the Wilson Center in 2014 in the role of marketing director and has an extensive background in arts organization programming and audience development. With 25 years experience, Cooper’s expertise spans a wide range of industries, including higher education, arts, technology and nonprofit consulting. Prior to the Wilson Center, she was marketing manager for JCA, Inc., a national nonprofit technology consulting firm; marketing and communications manager for Northwestern University’s Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts; and director of audience services for the Writers Theatre in Glencoe, Illinois. Cooper received her bachelor of arts degree in English and creative writing from Lake Forest College. She currently represents the Wilson Center as a board member for the Village of Brookfield.
Vogelsang joined the Wilson Center in 2019 as senior director of operations, with 18 years of experience in real estate management and small business ownership. He spent much of his childhood in Germany, where he attended high school and also studied German at The Goethe-institut Frankfurt. Vogelsang returned to Wisconsin in 1999 and began building an extensive real estate portfolio, which evolved into owning and running All American Plastic Recycling in Milwaukee. Following the successful sale of this business, Vogelsang served as national account manager for Vibrant Graphics in Glendale. He has also served as principal for Vance Logan LLC since 2000. In addition to his business acumen, Vogelsang has deep expertise in relationship management and team building—skills that he attributes to more than 25 years of traveling around the world as a player, coach, administrator and referee for the game of rugby.
Immediate past executive director Anna M. Thompson recently expressed a desire to step aside from her role to spend more time with family. “The board is grateful to Anna for her service, and we are pleased that she will consider supporting the Wilson Center in a consulting role,” said Cerletty.
About the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts
Recognized as a cultural anchor in the greater Milwaukee community, the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts serves as a catalyst for lifelong discovery and exploration of the arts. Serving more than 55,000 people annually, including 10,000 students, the Wilson Center focuses on three main disciplines: performing arts, arts education and visual arts. In addition to year-round performances, the organization promotes lifelong learning through arts education programs, art classes and art exhibitions, and an annual international multi-genre guitar competition and festival. Situated in a beautiful 400-acre park in Brookfield, Wisconsin, the Wilson Center’s vibrant outdoor artistic landscape—the Lynn Chappy ArtsPark—joins nature and art in ways that are designed to educate and inspire.
For more information visit www.wilson-center.com.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
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