Restoration Team
Ray Shepardson's career spans more than 35 years and includes the grassroots salvaging and community-based renaissance of more than thirty historic theaters throughout the United States. Educated as an Anthropologist and schooled as a preservationist, Shepardson weaves a unique tapestry of social awareness, cultural appreciation and historical precedence in understanding the role of the Arts in society. His hands-on approach has afforded him an intimate knowledge of the technical requirements of world-class performance halls and the financial challenges facing every Arts group in America today. Having operated many of the theaters he has renovated, Shepardson understands the creative process on both the stage and in the front office in terms of fundraising and subscription programming. Throughout his career, Shepardson's success has been measured in terms of integrity to the cause, honesty to the process and his ability to balance the functional, technical and operational challenges of performing arts venues.
Nanette Shepardson joined the Shepardson team in 1992 where she initiated and employed a successful sales strategy at the Gem Theatre in downtown Detroit helping establish "The All Night Strut" and "Forbidden Broadway" as the two longest running shows in Detroit's theatre history. With 17 years of theatre consulting experience, Nanette brings a diverse array of expertise from direct sales, marketing, theatre operations and general management, startup and economic development to non-profit fundraising and administration. She has established, managed and successfully administered capital campaigns, board development, strategic planning, major gift procurement, grant writing and non-profit capacity building.
Tim Rater is a theater consultant and producer with over 10 years of leadership experience in the performing arts. Most recently Rater served as Executive Director for the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, a $22 million performing arts facility in Downtown Arlington Heights, Illinois. While at Metropolis, Rater oversaw the opening of the new complex; helped transition the very public and political sale of the theater to the Village of Arlington Heights; built and strengthened the partnership with the city as well as key constituents in the greater Chicago area; created and guided the development of the Metropolis School of the Performing Arts (with enrollment of over 1800 students); and took the performing arts centre from 20 productions with 200 performances a year to 53 different artists and shows in over 400 performances annually.
Sonya Winner-Smith is a consultant specializing in all aspects of theater planning for performing arts facilities. She has collaborated with Ray Shepardson since 1971 on over 30 theatre renovations, restorations and expansions. Most recently Winner-Smith directed the highly acclaimed restoration and expansion of Severance Hall, home of the Cleveland Orchestra. Winner-Smith served as Technical Director for the Cleveland Orchestra, and was responsible for all technical aspects of the Reinberger Chamber Hall, Severance Hall and the Blossom Festival stages for 6 years. She is currently consulting on theatre restoration and planning projects across the country.