Donna Briggs
Britt announces Donna Briggs as new Executive Director
Britt’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce Donna Briggs has been hired as Executive Director. With extensive experience in executive and non-profit leadership, and a strong track record of development at Britt, Briggs brings significant skills in non-profit management, strategic planning and implementing organizational goals to the role. She has served as Britt’s Development Director since October 2010. Briggs succeeds Jim Fredericks as Executive Director, and will begin transitioning into the role immediately.
Incoming Britt Board of Directors President Ken Trautman says, “We are very excited to have someone with Donna’s background and experience available to lead Britt as we celebrate our next 50 years of combining outstanding live performances with the magic of the Britt Experience.”
Prior to her work at Britt, Briggs served for fifteen years as Executive Director of the International Visitor Leadership Programs in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Her leadership in those roles earned her the U.S. Department of State Citizen Diplomat Pillar Award, which she was presented with in February 2011. She has a B.A. in Communications, and is currently completing her Master’s in Organizational Development at Antioch University Seattle. She and her husband John moved to the Rogue Valley four years ago, and since starting at Britt last year, she has refocused Britt’s Business Partnership program, increasing combined cash and in-kind contributions from area businesses, including adding 25 new business partners. She has also secured over $100,000 in grant contributions, exceeding organizational goals, and, working with the Executive Director, developed and managed a new wine and concessions program.
Briggs says, “Since being hired as the Development Director for Britt, I have been busy building strong and diverse relationships within the business community. In the role of Executive Director, I am looking forward to expanding and deepening those relationships. As we approach the monumental milestone of Britt’s 50th season, I believe that Britt has the potential to become one of the most successful, adventurous and genre-defying outdoor music festivals in the Northwest. With the support of the Board of Directors, amazing staff, members and volunteers, we can make that happen.”
Briggs succeeds Jim Fredericks, who announced his resignation from Britt last month. Fredericks says, “It is extremely gratifying to me to leave the organization in such capable hands. Over the past year Donna has made an incredible difference at Britt and in our community. Donna is an outstanding individual, a true non-profit leader and a person who has inspired confidence from our Board of Directors, the Britt staff and our Britt community. There are great things ahead for Britt under Donna’s leadership.”
Britt Festivals invites audiences and artists to celebrate the joy of live performance, the power of community, and the magic of the Britt Experience. Through on-going education and audience development programs, Britt educates new generations of listeners, helping them discover the wonder of music and performance. In addition to presenting concerts, Britt Festivals maintains a formal education program through the Britt Institute. Established in 1985, the Britt Institute hosts a wide variety of learning opportunities through a multi-faceted approach of summer camps, workshops, grade school programs and adult learning opportunities.