Theatre League Finds New Leader - Charlotte St. Martin 2006/07/21

Theatre League Finds New Leader - Charlotte St. Martin

Friday, July 21, 2006; Posted: 07:07 AM - by BWW News Desk

The Executive Committee of The League of American Theatres and Producers, Inc., the national trade association for the Broadway community, today named Charlotte St. Martin to the post of Executive Director.� Martin, one of the highest-ranking female executives in the hospitality industry, was most recently Executive Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Loews Hotels.

"We are delighted to welcome Charlotte St. Martin to the post of Executive Director," commented League Chairman Gerald Schoenfeld. "She is a seasoned executive with a truly national view, an extraordinary history of consensus building and a clear track record of running complex organizations. Ms. St. Martin is an ideal choice to lead the League as it identifies new directions and goals."

"For my entire career I have been preparing to lead an organization such as the League of American Theatres and Producers," commented St. Martin. "This role combines my marketing, branding and operational expertise with the passion I have for making a difference."

St. Martin, a strong and experienced supporter of trade associations, is considered an exceptional "bridge builder" by the leadership of the hospitality industry, and hopes to bring this skill to her role at the League. "Creating partnerships with new as well as existing organizations is something that trade associations can and should do as a matter of business, and this is something to which I am deeply committed," she states.

In her most recent role as Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Loews, she oversaw all of Sales and Marketing for the chain's 20 hotels and resorts. Since joining the company in 1977 as Director of Sales and Marketing for the former Loews Anatole Hotel, where she also served as President and CEO from 1989-1995, St. Martin rose through the ranks to become one of the highest-ranking female executives in the hospitality industry. From 1990 to 1996, she simultaneously held the position of Executive Vice President of Operations for Loews, but turned her full attention back to Marketing in 1996 as a result of the chain's unprecedented one billion dollar expansion.

Having served on the Board of Directors of the American Society of Association Executives, the Professional Convention Management Association, and as both an Officer and Director of Meeting Planners International, St. Martin has been uniquely involved in leadership roles in most of her industry's national organizations. In addition, she served for four years (1995-1999) as Chair of the Education Foundation of the Professional Convention Management Association, and served on their Board from 1988 through 2001.

Currently, St. Martin serves as Chair for the Meeting Professionals International Foundation. In addition, St. Martin is the Immediate Past Chair of the New York Society of Association Executives, the first associate member ever to serve as a chair not only of NYSAE, but also of any Society of Association Executives in the country. She has also served as both Vice Chair and Treasurer of the New York Convention and Visitors Bureau and served on the executive committee from 1990-2003 and on its board from 1990 through 2005.

In recognition of her many contributions to the hospitality industry, nationally St. Martin has been recognized by many industry associations. St. Martin has been named numerous times as one of the "25 Most Influential People in the Meetings Industry" by Meeting News and as one of the "100 Most Powerful Women in the Travel Industry" by Travel Agent magazine.

A native of Dallas, Texas, St. Martin has lived in New York City for the past 11 years. She has served in many leadership capacities including numerous non-profit board roles in Dallas, Texas and New York City. In New York, she is on the Board of Directors of the Children's Advocacy Center of New York. She has received numerous awards in both cities for her civic contributions.

She succeeds Jed Bernstein, who recently left the League as President, after celebrating nearly 11 years at its helm.� Bernstein will be moving on to concentrate on producing and marketing projects in all areas of entertainment

The League of American Theatres and Producers, Inc. founded in 1930 as the League of New York Theatres and operating under the trademark "Live Broadway," is the national trade association for the Broadway community. The League's 600-plus members include theatre owners and operators, producers, presenters, and general managers in more than 240 North American cities, as well as suppliers of goods and services to the theatre industry. Each year, League members bring Broadway to almost 30 million people in New York and across the U.S. and Canada.

In all its programs and services, the League endeavors to promote closer alliances among its members and within the entire Broadway community to strengthen Broadway theatre as a growing national industry and a dominant entertainment medium. On behalf of its members, the League negotiates collective bargaining agreements with all theatrical unions and guilds; coordinates industry-wide public relations, marketing initiatives and corporate sponsorships; oversees government relations for the Broadway industry; maintains relevant research archives and databases; and supports charitable efforts for the benefit of the entire theatrical community.

Perhaps the most public endeavor of the League are the Tony Awards, which the League has co-presented with the American Theatre Wing since 1967, playing an integral role in their governance, production, and presentation.

Visit www.livebroadway.com for more information.

PHOTO CREDIT: CONNIE ASHLEY