Michele Walter, Director
AMS Planning & Research Corp.

Prior to joining AMS Planning & Research in 2006, Michele Walter served as Chief Operating Officer of the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation in Richmond, Virginia, where she was responsible for developing a management structure and operational policies related to programming, marketing, education, finance, and building operations.  She was accountable for negotiating property rights and supervising the development team for renovation and construction of multiple facilities in a performing arts facilities master plan which served more than a dozen arts organizations.

Previously Michele served as Executive Director of the Richmond Symphony, a position she held for seven years.  During her time at the Symphony she oversaw organizational growth of 30%, including a successful capital campaign for endowment.  She led several innovative efforts to improve internal and external relations as well as initiatives to respond to lifestyle changes and audience development priorities.  Her leadership in community-wide cultural planning established a model for consensus-based collaboration and led to the creation of a master plan for performance facilities, a new United Arts Fund and the orchestra’s participation in a prestigious national program on innovation in the field.

At AMS, Michele leads a mix of projects related to construction of arts facilities and institutional development for arts organizations. Recent projects include a fundraising “best practices” analysis for Theatre Communications Group; development of a business plan, including programming, market research and operations, for The Smith Center, a performing arts center to be constructed in Las Vegas, Nevada; an operating analysis for a major regional theatre company in Washington DC.; and a collaboration planning initiative for the professional orchestras of Louisiana.