Oct 29, 2007 1:57 pm US/Eastern
Carnival Center's CEO Hardy Is Out
A changing of the guard at the struggling Carnival Center for the Performing Arts.
Monday, the center's CEO, Michael Hardy, was fired by the Performing Arts Center Trust who voted to replace him with Lawrence Wilker, former CEO of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C.
"I support today's vote for a new interim President and Chief Executive Officer by the Performing Arts Center Trust Board of Directors," said Miami Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez in a written statement. "Lawrence J. Wilker's achievements as an award-winning producer, fund-raiser and leader at some of the most prestigious arts organizations, including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., are impressive. After meeting with Mr. Wilker, I believe he has the qualifications, management experience and vision to make the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts, the largest public-private partnership ever accomplished by Miami-Dade County, one of the premier arts centers in the nation. I, along with the County staff, look forward to working with Mr. Wilker. I also want to thank outgoing President and Chief Executive Office Michael Hardy for his service to our community. I wish him much luck in future endeavors."
Hired in 2002, Hardy received a 42 percent pay raise to $326,255 when the trust approved renewed his contract last month. Hardy's severance package will equal one year of his salary.
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