Rita Albaugh Named TheatreZone Box Office Manager

TheatreZone relies upon its volunteers. In fact, most non-profit organizations cannot exist without their volunteers.

"Volunteers have been the backbone of our non-profit Equity theatre group's sustained success and growth," says TheatreZone artistic director Mark Danni. So, it's no surprise that long time volunteer, Rita Albaugh has been named TheatreZone Box Office manager, effective immediately.

"Rita joined TheatreZone three years ago as a volunteer and we recognized her commitment to detail and to live theatre," explains Danni. "She's one of those rare people who simply ensures that every patron is accommodated at TheatreZone - whether it's a ticket holder, the staff or the cast, with efficiency, humor and reliability," he adds. "She's our gem."

Prior to joining TheatreZone, Ms. Albaugh spent the past decade at Cleopatra's Barge Fine Jewelry in Naples. Before that, she worked in elder care as receptionist in a home health care doctor's office and with a local long-term health care facility that specialized in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. She was instrumental in organizing and implementing the chartering of the local chapter of the woman's group Soroptimist International of Naples where she served as President, Director of Membership/Publicity, and Recording Secretary. Soroptimist International is the world's largest women's service organization whose mission is to advance the status of women and girls in local communities and throughout the world.

Ms. Albaugh has been the Chairperson/Event Coordinator for numerous fundraising events benefitting Soroptimist Butterfly Project: Giving Girls the Wings to Reach Greater Heights / PACE Center for Girls - Collier in Immokalee, Soroptimist Women's Opportunity Award, The Neighborhood Health Clinic, Alzheimer's Association - Florida Gulf Coast Chapter, Alzheimer's Support Network, Naples Shelter for Abused Women & Children, The Humane Society Naples and The NCH Bloodmobile. She currently serves as Director of Soroptimist International of Naples/Greater Fort Lauderdale.

In 2006, Ms. Albaugh compiled a Disaster Relief Fund Application for Relief from Hurricane Wilma and submitted to Soroptimist International of the Americas Headquarters in Philadelphia, PA. The grant application identified how the October 2005 storm negatively affected The PACE Center for Girls and Immokalee, FL. As a result of her efforts, PACE was awarded a $19,500 grant.

Ms. Albaugh brings 10 years experience in personnel and purchasing for Texas Instruments in Dallas, TX before relocating to Naples, FL in 1994 with her husband, the former US Navy WWII Bomber Pilot, James P. Albaugh who served in the South Pacific and retired from 30 years as a Research Engineering Manager for Texas Instruments, Inc.

Since then, she has been putting her business experience to use, volunteering for a wide variety of non-profits including TheatreZone, Opera Naples, Alzheimer's Association - Florida Gulf Coast Chapter and PACE Center for Girls, Inc.