HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes.WHLR.20260114.Regular Wheeler Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
January 14th, 2026, | 3:00 p.m.
Attendance:
Advisory Board Members: Dr. Tom Kurt (Secretary), Ziska Childs, Bob Ephlin, Kate Northfield
Lanich, and Bryan Weingarten.
Absent: Chip Fuller (Chair), Amy Mountjoy (Vice Chair), Nina Gabianelli, and Sarah Pelch.
Staff: Mike Harrington (Executive Director), Alixandra Feeley (Business Manager), Nicole
Levesque (Marketing Manager), Maddy Overton (Rentals Coordinator) and
Lucy Berdiales (Administrative Specialist).
Meeting Recorder:
Auto-transcription generated via Teams and Microsoft Copilot AI; summarized by Lucy Berdiales
and Alixandra Feeley.
Call to Order & Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes
Secretary Dr. Tom Kurt called the meeting to order, with a motion seconded by Ziska Childs and
affirmed by Bob Ephlin. December 2025 minutes, circulated in advance, were unanimously
approved as edited.
Public Comment
There were no public comments.
Executive Director Report – Mr. Harrington
Mr. Harrington provided an update on operations, noting the completion of a full year calendar following
the rigging project and the continued implementation of operational strategies introduced over the past
year. Staff are compiling year-end utilization and attendance metrics for 2025, including use days,
capacity, and presenting activity.
Mr. Harrington expressed appreciation for Wheeler staff across all departments, recognizing the
collective effort required to support the volume and complexity of programming delivered throughout
2025. He highlighted the intensive holiday period, during which Wheeler hosted ten performances over
fourteen days, resulting in strong attendance and positive community response.
Mr. Harrington reported continued progress in strengthening the Wheeler’s national profile within the
performing arts industry. Feedback from artist representatives, particularly in comedy programming,
has emphasized positive artist experiences, staff professionalism, and audience engagement,
contributing to increased interest from high-profile artists across disciplines.
He also noted increased visibility of the Wheeler beyond Aspen, citing examples of organic brand
recognition within the performing arts community that support long-term positioning and reputation-
building efforts.
Additionally, Mr. Harrington shared an update on accessibility initiatives, including the successful
coordination of American Sign Language interpreters for a New Year’s Eve performance following a
late request from a patron. He emphasized Wheeler’s commitment to accessibility and compliance
with applicable requirements and noted that the effort was met with positive feedback from the patron’s
family.
Financial Update
The Board reviewed financials through November 2025. Revenues continue to exceed projections,
while expenses remain under budget, largely due to the timing of programming and capital
expenditure. Mr. Harrington confirmed that financial performance aligns with expectations and no
material concerns were identified.
Capital project funding was discussed, including the carryforward of unspent project budgets into 2026
in accordance with City finance practices. Projects not completed in 2025 will continue as planned,
with no surplus funds created through this process.
Board members asked clarifying questions regarding indirect production costs, capital project timing,
and budget line items. Staff provided explanations, noting that indirect production costs reflect shared
operational expenses not tied to specific events.
SharePoint Advisory Board Resource Hub Presentation – Ms. Berdiales
Mrs. Berdiales presented an overview of the Wheeler Advisory Board SharePoint resource hub,
created to centralize board materials and improve access to historical and current documents. She
explained that the hub includes archived board packets, governance documents, mission and duty
references, and historical financial information.
Mrs. Berdiales emphasized that the platform serves as a document repository rather than a
replacement for email communication, and that board members will continue to receive meeting
notifications and materials via email. She reviewed access permissions, noting that board members
have view-only access with the ability to leave comments, and addressed questions related to
security, notifications, and compliance with open meetings requirements. Staff will follow up with
legal counsel regarding comment visibility and board discussion protocols.
Board members expressed appreciation for the organization and accessibility of materials and
encouraged continued use of the platform as a centralized archive.
Marketing & Audience Insights – Ms. Levesque
Ms. Levesque presented audience data for Wheeler-presented programming from July through
December 2025. She reported that approximately 62% of ticket purchases originated from Aspen
and the Roaring Fork Valley, with the remaining attendance comprised of other Colorado and out-of-
state buyers based on billing zip codes.
Sold-out and near-capacity performances were highlighted, along with trends showing consistent local
engagement throughout the year and increased visitor participation during selected destination and
holiday programming. Ms. Levesque also reviewed seasonal attendance patterns, noting the influence
of summer festivals and free programming on ticketed event attendance.
Additional analysis showed that more than half of performance during the period reached at least 50%
capacity, with a significant portion exceeding 70% capacity. Education and outreach efforts were also
summarized, including six events serving approximately 1,300 students across the Roaring Fork
Valley.
Board members discussed insider ticketing, audience behavior, ticket resale challenges, and
strategies for balancing accessibility with revenue optimization. Staff shared observations regarding
no-show rates, fraud prevention efforts, and ongoing coordination with local partners and concierges
to reach visitors.
Board Member Comments
Board members commended the strength and diversity of programming, particularly during the
holiday season, and acknowledged staff efforts across operations, marketing, and guest services.
Positive feedback regarding upcoming programming was shared, including anticipation for future
performances.
A brief public health update was shared regarding seasonal illness trends, with an offer to provide
additional information to staff as appropriate.
Adjournment
A motion to adjourn was made by Secretary Chip Fuller, seconded by Mr. Bob Ephlin, and
unanimously approved. The meeting was adjourned.
Future Meetings Schedule
February 11, 2026 | 3:00–5:00 p.m.
March 11, 2026 | 3:00–5:00 p.m.
April 8, 2026 | 3:00–5:00 p.m.