Finance and Administration
Donna Thrall, director of finance and administration, ext. 236
Having worked at LBSO for 15 years, Donna is one of the organization’s two longest-serving staff members. After a day of balancing numbers and handling personnel matters, she often goes line dancing. “Somehow dancing puts everything back into perspective,” Donna reports.

Sophia Ramirez, accounting assistant, ext. 225

Development
Lauren Swanson, development associate,
ext. 227
Born and raised in Southern California, Lauren is a recent graduate of Cal State Fullerton, where she earned a master’s degree in public administration. Coming to LBSO from the public sector, Lauren previously worked for the city of Cerritos and the municipality of Anchorage in their community and recreation departments. Although not gifted with the true talent of being able to play a musical instrument, she has a deep love of music. Her hobbies include shoe shopping, politics, watching the Food Network and attending country concerts—especially those where Randy Travis is playing!

Marketing and Box Office
Tim Wilcox, marketing and PR director,
ext. 233
During much of the 1990s, Tim was marketing/PR director and publications editor for the famed Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach. He also served as publicist for Opera Pacific, whose productions are staged at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. His background includes an eight-year stint as editor in chief of California Riviera magazine as well as executive editor of the California and Southern California Building Industry Association publications.

Florita Davis, box office manager,
ext. 232
Florita is the woman to speak with when you want tickets, and she’s currently in her 15th season at LBSO. Florita says: “I’m fun-loving, strong and, at times, a force to be reckoned with! My nickname around here is Flojo because I’ll go the extra mile for our patrons. I love to fish, eat and hang out with my family and friends. If you ever need me, just holler, ‘Hey, Flojo!’ ”

Ruth Braden, education manager/administrative assistant, ext. 220
Ruth, a native of Birmingham, Ala., began her conservatory studies in piano at age 8. She began her flute studies at age 11 and later held the position of principal flute in the Alabama Youth Symphony Orchestra as well as at her high school in Vestavia Hills. Ruth received her bachelor’s degree at the University of Southern Mississippi in flute performance with a minor in business administration. After graduating she interned as a music agent with CHL Artists of Beverly Hills and later worked in artist management. Her hobbies include flute and choir, running, salsa dancing and enriching her life with live performances all over Southern California.

Artistic Operations
Janet Nyquist, general manager,
ext. 222
Prior to coming to LBSO, Janet worked as general manager of the symphony orchestras in San Antonio and Phoenix. By training, she’s a pianist, organist and church choir director with music degrees from Samford University in Alabama and the University of Texas, Austin. She loves to travel, and visiting family and friends is at the top of her itinerary.

 Kari Regan, manager of special events and operations manager, ext. 228
The arts have been an important part of Kari’s life since she was five years old. That’s when she first began to study ballet at the Long Beach Ballet Arts Center. Those early steps led to a lifelong love for the arts—especially ballet and dance.  Kari’s time as a performer and student with the Long Beach Ballet gave her the great opportunity of touring both China and Taiwan.

Coming to LBSO as a part-time employee, assisting with Crescendo and the Toyota Symphony Golf Classic, Kari moved from education and operations manager to manager of special events and operations in July 2007. She enjoys working with the wonderful LBSO musicians, orchestra staff and the incredibly hardworking volunteers.

Allan Carter, librarian, ext. 231
In addition to being a longtime resident and fan of California, Allan has been a violinist with LBSO since the early 1970s. Shortly thereafter he took on the job of librarian/stage manager and then focused on being the symphony’s librarian. Besides performing and shuffling music, Allan enjoys teaching the next generation of young violinists and violists. His wife, Stephanie, a former member of LBSO, teaches middle school music in Long Beach. Their son, Doug, is leading the family into jazz via his piano playing.

Joan Elardo, personnel manager
Joan has been the orchestra’s personnel manager for the past 14 years and has held the English horn position since 1988. She’s active as a freelance musician in the Los Angeles area, playing in numerous orchestras as well as for ballets, operas and shows. Joan is also busy as a studio musician, working on soundtracks for a variety of motion pictures and TV shows. She can be heard playing solo oboe and English horn on a number of CDs including recent recordings by Elton John, Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand and Luther Vandross as well as John Tesh’s Romantic Christmas and Winter Dreams albums.

Maureen Hermanns, production/stage manager