Hennepin Theatre Trust New Board Members

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEAugust 8, 2011PRESS CONTACT:Karen R. Nelson612.373.5682karen.nelson@hennepintheatretrust.orgHennepin Theatre Trust Announces theElection of Two New Board TrusteesMinneapolis—Hennepin Theatre Trust today announced the election of two new membersto its Board of Trustees. They are Julie Beth McFall Vipperman, Senior Director ofCustomer Experience and Brand Engagement for Best Buy, and Ann W.H. Simonds,President of the General Mills Pillsbury U.S.A. Division.The new Trustees are experts in their fields, residents of Minneapolis/St. Paul and thesurrounding areas and passionate about the positive contribution Hennepin Theatre Trustand the arts make to Hennepin Avenue. They will join a Board of Trustees with extensiveexperience in the arts and philanthropy, politics, communications, real estate, business, lawand finance.“Hennepin Theatre Trust is both honored and excited to welcome Julie Beth and Ann astalented new Trustees, commented Tom Hoch, President/CEO of Hennepin Theatre Trust.“As we celebrate the launch of the New Century Theatre and the Trust’s recent $200,000NEA “Our Town” grant to plan the Hennepin Avenue Cultural Corridor, their substantialexpertise and professional perspective is extremely valuable in ensuring the future of theTrust’s theatres and a vibrant downtown.”Hennepin Theatre Trust’s Board of Trustees:Scott Benson, Ralph W. Burnet, Sonia Cairns, Diane Connor, Dan Cramer, Wendy Dayton,Thomas L. Hoch, Julie Idelkope, Linda C. Ireland, Jeannie Joas, Barbara Klaas, Julie Beth McFallVipperman, Annette Thompson Meeks, Jann L. Olsten, John Pacheco, Brian J. Pietsch, EdwardPisarski, Thomas J. Rosen, James Rosenbaum, Doug Ruth, T. Jay Salmen, Ann W.H. Simonds andDaniel R. Tenenbaum.Each new Board Trustee brings a diverse and particular range of expertise:Julie Beth McFall Vipperman is the Senior Director of Customer Experience and Brand Engagementfor Best Buy, where she works with important aspects of the organization’s consumer relationshipsand studies customer experience in Best Buy stores, online and through service channels.Throughout her career, she has worked in human resources, organizational design, academia andmarketing research. As a trained researcher, she studies brand loyalty, engagement and customerexperience, helping the organization create more positive interactions by leveraging tools to gainmeaningful insights. She has an undergraduate degree in Organizational Communication from MiamiUniversity (Oxford, Ohio), a Master’s Degree in Labor and Industrial Relations from the University ofIllinois and a Ph.D. in Business from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. McFallVipperman is a lifelong theatergoer who believes that creating engagement and loyalty is importantwithin the arts. She hopes to bring a fresh perspective on how Hennepin Theater Trust can createoutstanding experiences for its patrons. As a person who began experiencing theater at a young ageand regularly attends performances in the Twin Cities, Chicago, New York and London, often with herhusband Robert and teenage son Carter, McFall Vipperman understands that early exposure to thearts can establish and maintain a lifetime affinity. She also is a pianist and has performed in showchoirs and dance groups.-more-

Hennepin Theatre Trust New Board Bembers, p. 2Ann W.H. Simonds is the president of the General Mills Pillsbury U.S.A. Division where she isresponsible for the profitable growth of the Pillsbury and Totino's brands. Simonds was named acorporate officer in 2002 and president in 2006. Simonds’ career spans leadership roles of brandssuch as Betty Crocker, Cheerios, Wheaties and Yoplait, as well as the role of general manager of theBrands on the Go bakery and convenience store businesses and Bakery Products. Simonds is anactive member of the General Mills community including stewardship of the United Way Campaignand the Women’s forum. She represents the company at the National Association of FemaleExecutives and is a member of the Young Presidents Organization. Her career passion has beenstrategic philanthropy building programs such as the Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories literacy program,the Stirring Up Wishes campaign for the Make a Wish Foundation and Bake the Change, a BettyCrocker program that inspires people to make a difference in the world through baking. Simondsspent five years as a marketer for Johnson & Johnson in the U.S. and Europe before joining GeneralMills in 1995. She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Smith College and received her MBAfrom Harvard in 1990.HENNEPIN THEATRE TRUST, non-profit owner of the historic Orpheum, State, Pantages and newlydeveloped New Century Theatres, is devoted to enriching the vibrant cultural atmosphere of the TwinCities. The Trust’s activities include Broadway touring productions and the related BroadwayConfidential series, concerts, comedy, speakers and other variety entertainment plus educationalinitiatives including the SpotLight Musical Theatre Program for high schools, the Critical View studentreviewer program, Teen Ushers, the Access Program and Kids’ Night. For more information, go toHennepinTheatreTrust.org.# # #