www.civiclightopera.com/news/CLOTurns15.html -
[Cached Version]
Last Visited: 12/10/2007
CLO Turns 15: Kathy AllenCivic Light Opera of South Bay Cities
...
With the help of Bay Cities National Bank, and it's president, Cathy Allen, the woman behind the curtain.
CATHY ALLENPresident, Bay Cities National Bank
...
This business partnership began about 10 years ago, while Blackman and Allen were both volunteering for a Red Cross event.
...
"When Cathy told me she was president of a bank I sat in her lap and asked if she knew the combination to the vault.Then I proposed to her on the spot and she said yes."
While Blackman's proposal was all in fun, he and Allen did form a winning partnership.Allen became the CLOSBC's banker and came onto the CLOSBC board as a driving force three years later.
"There are not two more diverse organizations than a bank and a theater," says Allen.
...
Allen makes sure the CLOSBC is run like a business, foresees problems and solutions, and provides financial support when needed.
"Cathy taught us how to run the business better, how to measure the cost ratio of labor/profit and saw us through the last elimination of a deficit," says Blackman.
...
Allen agrees that the CLOSBC is vital to the community.
"The CLOSBC has been a joy to work with," she says.
...
"There's no shortage of creative people in L.A., but there is a shortage of people like Cathy."
As a board member Allen also sits in with James when meeting with Redondo Beach officials.
...
And it's not just Allen who is a CLOSBC fan, her favorite shows being Dream Girls and The Wizard of Oz.Bank employees volunteer as ushers and in other capacities at the theater.The bank also underwrites the cost of bringing in audiences of underprivileged children to help share the experience of live musical theater.To the Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities, Allen's a Dream Girl AND a Wizard of Aaaaaaahs.
"We're banking on the future," she says.
...
CLO Turns 15: Kathy Allen