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Eric Ayres Photo Wheeling City has begun a search for a replacement for Dennis Magruder, who will take the role of executive director of sports and entertainment at Greater Wheeling in October retire.
Wheeling – Officials from the City of Wheeling and its Greater Wheeling Sports and Recreation Authority board have begun a search for a new executive director to fill the position later this fall.
A new executive director is being sought to oversee operations at the WesBanco Arena and Capitol Theatre, and to fill the position of long-time executive director of sports and entertainment at Greater Welling, Denny Magruder, who will retire after October 1. Magruder, who first became manager of the then-famous Wheeling Civic Center in 1986, is stepping down after an award-winning 36.5 years of service to the community.
For the past two weeks, the board has been publicly promoting the position as Magruder’s successor. According to Wheeling City manager Robert Herron, the first CVs received this week have been sent to recruiting committee members for initial review.
“We’ve advertised locally as well as with the International Association of Ground Managers,” Herron said Tuesday. “We’ve received 11 resumes so far, and we’re really looking forward to more.”
The selection committee includes Herron and Greater Wheeling Sports and Entertainment Authority board members John Cooler, Ned George and Kevin Duffin.
As stated in the job advertisement for the new executive director, the position will remain vacant until filled, but an initial review of resumes will take place as early as August 8.
According to a call for applicants, the City of Wheeling is looking for “a dynamic leader with experience in theater facilities, entertainment and sports venues to serve as its next executive director.” The current salary for this position is $91,000.
Herron said the search committee is looking for a qualified person to take over duties at the city’s two main entertainment venues, stressing their interest in having executive directors — not the management company — perform those duties.
“Danny is retiring after a very successful tenure,” Herron noted. “We hope to find people with relevant experience. This will be the same structure that the new executive director reports to the board. We will be meeting in the next few weeks to discuss potential candidates.”
The new executive director will be responsible for all operational management and administration of the 7,000-seat WesBanco Arena and the 2,300-seat Capitol Theatre. He or she will also serve as a spokesperson for both venues.
A key role for the new executive director will also be to identify and secure activities at the city’s two main entertainment venues. The City of Wheeling recently provided financial support for this effort, encouraging bigger names to book shows in the sister city.
Last year, Wheeling City Council established an entertainment endowment fund and an ad hoc committee to help expedite and attract entertainment of all kinds into the city’s performing arts venues.
City officials say the purpose of the new committee is to create a group of people familiar with music, comedy and all other types of state behavior who will help determine which shows might work well in Wheeling Market. The committee will advise the Greater Wheeling Sports and Recreation Commission, which together will decide whether to move forward with certain programmes. If booking a show, it can be funded through an entertainment endowment fund to offset some of the up-front risk.
Officials noted that if national promoters can avoid the potential to absorb the risk of an initial investment, they will be more likely to want to book shows in Wheeling.
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