Marketing Expert Margaret Williams Joins Arts Consulting Group

DENVER - Dec. 29, 2014 - PRLog -- Arts Consulting Group, Inc. (ACG), the leading provider of management consulting services to the arts and culture industry, today announced that sales and marketing expert Margaret Williams has joined the firm as senior consultant to expand its revenue enhancement services. Based in ACG’s new Denver office, Williams will partner with nonprofit cultural institutions, educational organizations and public agencies to optimize earned revenues, improve the efficacy of sales and marketing programs, build audiences and enhance patron loyalty. In addition, she will support organizations with professional interim management services, providing leadership during times of management transition. Williams brings extensive national experience to ACG, including successful tenures with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Omaha Performing Arts Society, Rocky Mountain Arts Association, and Colorado Symphony Orchestra.

“Today, in addition to carrying out mission, arts and culture organizations must honor community funders by optimizing earned revenues through the very best business practices available to them,” said Williams. “Stewardship is not complete without this essential ingredient. Efficient and effective marketing, sales and public relations campaigns are critical activities with the power to transform the bottom line through earned revenues and the development of patron loyalty.”

“Successful arts and culture organizations understand that marketing is an investment in the future,” said Bruce D. Thibodeau, President, Arts Consulting Group, Inc. “I am delighted to welcome Margaret Williams to ACG. Her experience working closely with cultural organizations gives her a unique perspective on the challenge of increasing earned revenues during uncertain economic times. Working closely with ACG clients across the country, Margaret will provide much needed expertise in building stronger community participation while driving earned revenues that sustain organizations for the long term.”

Williams’ experience includes consulting with numerous arts and cultural organizations, offering her expertise in direct marketing, social media, customer service, patron loyalty, and optimizing use of technology and branding together to increase earned revenues. Within each organization, she has made it a priority to cultivate the skills and talents of staff members, building highly efficient and effective teams.

Recently, Williams served as Interim Vice President of Marketing at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, where she reversed a four-year trend of declining earned revenues, with 18 percent fewer performances, through realistic budgeting, focus on cost of sale, and reallocation of the marketing mix. During her time as Vice President of Marketing and Communication at the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Williams increased paid attendance by more than 50,000 tickets and $2.6 million in one year, a 55 percent growth in earned revenues. Through strategic use of technology during this period, revenues generated through online sales channels were also increased by $1.37 million, equaling 158 percent growth. Earlier in her career, Williams served as Director of Marketing and Public Relations at the Arkansas Symphony and the Elgin Symphony, respectively.

Williams is an Adjunct Professor of Arts Management and Arts Entrepreneurship at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Past lecturing engagements include Regis University in Denver, Hawaii Pacific University, and University of Arkansas at Little Rock. In addition, she has presented Best Practices in Audience Development for the membership of Colorado’s Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), which comprises the seven county metropolitan area of Denver.

Williams holds a Bachelor of Music from Oklahoma City University and is a graduate of Southern Methodist University’s Cox School of Business and Meadow’s School of the Arts, where she earned Master of Business Administration and Master of Arts degrees concurrently.

About Arts Consulting Group, Inc. (ACG)
ACG is the leading provider of hands-on interim management, executive search, revenue enhancement consulting, facilities & program planning, and organizational development services for the arts and culture industry. The firm has offices in New York, Washington DC, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, Portland, Seattle and Denver with consultants located throughout North America to best serve the needs of its clients. Project consulting services include capital campaign management, donor prospecting & research, strategic planning, team building summits, marketing strategy and implementation, financial planning, transition management, Board training, and capital campaign management among other services. For more information on ACG, please call (888) 234.4236 or visit www.ArtsConsulting.com.