The new director of The Auditorium in Eureka Springs has plenty of experience in putting together a big event in Northwest Arkansas.
According to information received by the Eureka Springs Times-Echo through an open-records request under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, Tommy Sisemore accepted an offer for the position in a July 24 email to City Advertising and Promotions Commission director Scott Bardin.
CAPC chair Chris Clifton confirmed that Sisemore has accepted the position.
Sisemore is the executive director of Bikes, Blues & BBQ and also director of safety and security for Walton Arts Center and the Walmart Amp.
“Thank you for the great opportunity,” Sisemore wrote to Bardin. “I accept the position and look forward to working with you and the wonderful team you have assembled.
“I would like to provide my current employer ample notice, and based on your pay schedule, I would propose a start date of August 27, however I will be available to start sooner or later should that work better for you.”
Sisemore was selected from among 20 applicants for the role, which will have a base pay of $69,000 according to an email from Bardin outlining the position.
That will be a substantial cut in pay for Sisemore. According to his application, he is currently making $95,000 in his role with Walton Arts Center and the Walmart Amp and $50,000 in his role with Bikes, Blues & BBQ, which is scheduled to take place Sept. 20-23 around Northwest Arkansas.
“Schedule, budget, and operationalize a four-day motorcycle event,” Sisemore wrote on his application as a description of his role with BB&B, which he indicated he’s had since 2015. “Oversee all facets of the event from programming to day-to-day operations.”
In a description of his role with Walton Arts Center, which his application indicates he’s had since 2009, Sisemore wrote: “Oversee day to day operations of front of house activations within the venue. Work to ensure positive patron experiences.”
Sisemore was the only candidate who did not submit a resume or apply online, according to documents received by the Times-Echo, and lists no educational background on his handwritten City of Eureka Springs application.
When asked on the application to list additional work experience and training, Sisemore wrote: “I have been in the event industry since 2005. During that time I have attended numerous training courses and seminars.”
Email communications between Sisemore and Bardin received by the Times-Echo indicate the two met on Tuesday, July 11, a day before Sisemore’s application date of July 12.
“Thank you again for taking the time to meet and visit on Tuesday,” Sisemore wrote in an email dated Thursday, July 13. “I truly appreciate you and the working relationship we have already established. Any further opportunities are truly exciting and certainly not taken for granted.”
Bardin responded on Tuesday, July 18, offering Sisemore the position.
“I would like to offer you the full-time position of Auditorium Director for the City of Eureka Springs,” Bardin wrote. “The budgeted salary is $69,000 for the year 2023. For the year 2024, I will be asking for a salary increase for this position. Also, the City of Eureka Springs provides health insurance to employees at no cost.”
Bardin’s email to Sisemore explained that he is working on an “incentive plan” that would pay additional compensation for the role based on “the number of auditorium events/performances per year; quantity of tickets sold & ticket revenue; profitability of the concession stand; profitability of the overall event and customer satisfaction of the attendees who attend the event.”
“Our goal is to have at least 2 major weekend shows per month, preference of 3 per month, excluding slower months of winter such as January and February,” Bardin wrote in his offer to Sisemore. “All total 24 performances minimum per year however it averages out. Our goal is to increase tourism, bring people to town, and let them spend money. There will be some events we may lose money but if the house is sold out and we are able to bring a quality well known artist to town, then we have done our job.
“I want to make sure you are fairly compensated for the expertise and knowledge you bring to this position. This is the reason for me to prepare a means of compensation above the base salary of $69,000.”
Bardin’s offer also mentioned an outdated sound system at The Auditorium and said the role would be responsible for “the operations and management of The Auditorium.”
“My vision has always been for the Auditorium to be a mecca of entertainment thus drawing visitors to Eureka Springs,” Bardin wrote. “I would like for you to join this team. I believe your future will be bright here and I couldn’t think of a better person to work with as we push forward to our vision.”
Sisemore replied to Bardin on Monday, July 24, accepting the position. Two days later, on July 26, the CAPC held its regular monthly meeting and went into executive session for approximately 38 minutes to discuss the position, with Clifton indicating an offer had been made to an applicant. There was no indication that Sisemore had already accepted the role.
After coming out of executive session, no motion was made and the CAPC indicated that they supported Bardin’s selection for the position.
Following Sisemore’s acceptance email on July 24, Bardin responded and explained the process that would take place at the CAPC meeting on July 26.
“During the meeting, a motion will be made to go into executive session (closed to the public and only commissioners and myself) to discuss your hiring,” Bardin wrote to Sisemore. “This is a formality but a procedure none the less.
“I will text you after the Wednesday meeting and give you an update. I foresee no problems getting you on board.”
The hiring of the executive director of Bikes, Blues & BBQ comes after Bardin recently announced a CAPC sponsorship with the organization “at no cost.”
The partnership with BB&B was first announced by Bardin at a July 12 CAPC workshop, the same day as Sisemore’s application for The Auditorium position is dated.
At the workshop, Bardin told commissioners that Eureka Springs is “partnering with Bikes, Blues & BBQ as a co-sponsor.”
“It’s not costing us any money,” he said during the July 12 meeting. “We’re building good will between the organizations over in the Northwest Arkansas corridor. We’ll be working with that group … combining Eureka and Northwest Arkansas with Bikes, Blues & BBQ.
“There will be a lot of people in town September 20th through the 23rd and we’ll have entertainment here in The Auditorium each night. We should see quite a few people in town, off their motorbikes, walking around, spending money. That’s the goal. And staying in town.”
An email from the Times-Echo to Bardin verifying Sisemore’s start date was not answered by Wednesday morning, Aug. 9. The CAPC is scheduled to have its next regular meeting on Aug. 23.
APPLICANTS HAD ARRAY OF CREDENTIALS While Sisemore’s application was submitted in the latter parts of the search for a director for The Auditorium, the CAPC office received resumes and online applications for months for the role.
The job drew applicants with multiple degrees and vast backgrounds in theater management, production and event planning and execution.
An email from the Times-Echo to Bardin asking how many of the 20 applicants received an interview was not answered by press time.
According to the information obtained from the city, those who submitted resumes for the position included: LISA RAU
Rau is currently the director of publicity and public relations at Silver Dollar City in Branson, according to her resume, and has a bachelor of arts degree in TV/radio from Stephens College in Columbia, Mo.
Her submission for the position said she has “extensive spokesperson experience, strong writing, communications and marketing strategies development.”
Other experiences include brand and product messaging, crisis management and working with the media and media contacts management in all mediums, according to her resume.
JENNIFER DOBROWOLSKI Dobrowolski’s resume indicates she was box office manager for Walton Arts Center and the Walmart Amp from 2016 to 2022 and has been house manager at the University of North Florida’s fine arts center in Jacksonville, Fla., and box office manager at the Orlando (Fla.) Ballet.
Dobrowolski indicated she has a bachelor’s of fine arts from LSU and a master’s degree in business administration from Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
DOUG EWART
Ewart’s resume indicates he’s been the musical director at Esther’s Follies in Austin, Texas, since 2005. Before that he was artistic director with The West End Comedy Theatre in Dallas from 2000-2005, according to his resume.
Ewart indicated he attended the Second City of Chicago Acting Conservatory.
Ewart’s resume indicates that during his time in Austin he has worked with “talents as John Goodman, Steve Carroll, Stephen Colbert, John Lovitz, Tina Fey, Rachel Dratch, Elvira, Taylor Dayne and Jody Watley …” BRADLEY TATE-GREENE Greene’s resume indicates he has two bachelor’s degrees, two master’s degrees and a doctorate in education in organizational leadership.
Greene has been a motivational speaker, counselor and coach since November 2022 and before that was a general manager of Olive Garden in Jackson, Miss., according to his resume.
LISA TRICOMI
Tricomi’s resume, submitted on Feb. 16, includes a master’s degree in drama therapy from Steinhardt School of Business at New York University and a background that includes being a theatrical production manager and a college professor.
Employment background includes being owner of Let People Talk, LLC in St. Petersburg, Fla., from 2012 to 2022, being a member of the Florida Humanities Council from 2014-2019 and as an artistic director at American Stage in St. Petersburg.
PEARL BRICK
Brick’s information indicates that she’s been a recording artist for more than 46 years and was special events coordinator at The Aud from 2000-2005.
“More than 30 years of experience in the music industry both on and behind the stage,” her resume said. “This evolved into a career managing a performance venue, planning multiple music and arts festivals per year, managing a year-round staff of 10-12 and event staff of up to 50, creating and recording and reconciling budgets.”
Brick’s resume indicates she’s been manager of Filmmakers Alliance since 2017.
TERRA LEWIS
Lewis’ resume, submitted Feb. 15, says she was community development coordinator with the Eureka Springs Chamber of Commerce at that time.
Before that role she was general manager of Blanton Ventures, Inc. and is currently director of the Eureka Springs Youth Soccer Club.
JILINA MERCIER
Mercier’s resume indicates an associate’s degree in business from Cabrillo College in Aptos, Calif.
She’s currently a team member at Erik’s DeliCafe in Salinas, Calif., and a softball coach at Circle Fastpitch in Santa Cruz, Calif., according to her resume.
ETHAN SPIESS
Spiess received his bachelor’s degree and is currently working on a master’s degree in business administration from Harding University in Searcy, according to his resume.
Past employment has included positions at Anstaff Bank and LBMC W Squared, according to his resume.
KATHLEEN GASH
Gash’s resume indicates an associate’s degree in accounting from Autry Tech Center in Enid, Okla., and a background in accounting and bookkeeping.
She’s currently in bookkeeping and account services at Mauldin Vaught CPAS in Fayetteville, her resume says.
MELISSA WELFEL
Welfel was most recently director of operations at Rid-A-Pest in Northwest Arkansas and has a background in operations and marketing, according to her resume.
SUZI LAKIN
Lakin’s resume indicates she retired to Northwest Arkansas in 2021 and previously was account manager at The Commons in Enid, Okla., for more than five years.
JACKIE WALKER
Walker’s resume shows a background in front desk management, treatment coordination and as a patient care coordinator at different dentistries and orthodontists in Northwest Arkansas.
She was also an office manager at Capstone Commercial Real Estate in Rogers and administrative assistant at PepsiCo., according to her resume.
JASON FUNK
Funk received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from John Brown University in Siloam Springs and is currently a bookkeeper and accountant for Honduras- based 61 Isaiah Ministries, according to his resume. His resume indicates he’s also an elementary teacher at Abundant Life Christian School, also based in Honduras.
SYLVIA SHOMSHOR
Shomshor is an English teacher at Berryville High School, majored in English at Southeast Missouri State and received a bachelor’s of science degree from Drury University and a master’s in educational administration from Lindenwood University, according to her resume, submitted May 31.
MARK PICKETT
Pickett, who has his bachelor’s degree from SMU and did extended studies in a multimedia professional program at Portland State University in Oregon, is general manager at Phat Tire Bike Shop in Fayetteville, his resume indicates.
NATALIA SUMNER
According to a cover letter headlined “Theatre Professional,” Sumner studied stage management at Oklahoma State University and applied technology at Rogers State University.
She’s currently a university recruiter at Rogers State, according to her resumed.
CHRISTINE HARWOOD SANTIMORE Santimore received a bachelor’s degree in urban studies and education from University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee and a master’s in business administration from Xavier University, according to her resume.
DAWN LARSEN
Larsen has been a professor of theater at Francis Marion University in Florence, S.C., since 2007, according to her resume submitted for the position, which also indicates that she has been owner/performer/manager of Dawn Larsen Music since 2000.
Bardin emailed Larsen on April 5 attaching a job description for the Aud position and offering her a phone interview.
Larsen responded to Bardin the next day saying that the position would be a “significant pay cut and many more hours,” also indicating that since she didn’t hear back from anyone with the CAPC “for a while,” she accepted an artist residency that lasts until Sept. 1.
