Ivins, UT—January 11, 2007--Shandon D. Gubler, a member of Tuacahn’s Board of Directors, has accepted the responsibility to serve as Tuacahn’s Chairman of the Board. Mr. Gubler replaces Fred Lampropoulos, a generous Tuacahn benefactor, who aptly served as Board Chair for almost three years.
Hyrum Smith, Tuacahn’s CEO said of the change: “Fred [Lampropoulos] has helped Tuacahn accomplish some amazing things over the last three years and we appreciate all he’s done. We’re fortunate to have someone like Shandon [Gubler] to continue moving Tuacahn forward. Shandon has a great vision of what Tuacahn can become. He knows how to motivate people and has a remarkable mind for business. He’s also a local boy with strong ties to the community. We’re very excited to have Shandon as our new Chairman.”
Shandon Gubler, a businessman, developer, and educator, has been a member of the Tuacahn Board of Directors since 2005. Regarding the change Gubler stated, “I express heartfelt appreciation to Fred Lampropoulos for chairing Tuacahn’s board the past three years and for his generous donations. Tuacahn will be forever improved because of Fred’s selfless leadership.” Gubler further commented, “ Tuacahn Center for the Arts is a ‘diamond in our desert’ and we need our supportive and caring citizens to purchase more season tickets. Few people understand the significant sacrifice many have made, especially Hyrum and Gail Smith, to provide Southern Utah with this top notch education and entertainment facility nestled in the stunning setting of Snow Canyon, which consistently delivers Broadway caliber entertainment. Broadway in the Desert is a fitting title for the top quality entertainment that Tuacahn offers.”
As Tuacahn’s new Chairman, Gubler announced that his highest priority will be to increase the number of season ticket holders. He is confident that citizens of Washington, Kane, and Iron Counties, as well as citizens in Mesquite, will gladly purchase season tickets when they learn what a tremendous value this entertainment package is—“especially when they witness the uncompromised quality of the performances.”
Gubler concluded by stating, “The very best way for citizens to show their appreciation for Tuacahn and to thank those who have sacrificed so much to bring Southern Utah this diamond to their desert is to purchase season tickets and to encourage their friends to purchase season tickets and for friends of friends to purchase season tickets.”
“In fact,” says Gubler, “Tuacahn just instituted a new pricing policy that offers even greater discounts for those citizens who band together and purchase packages of 10, 25 or 100 season ticket packages. This policy encourages groups to come to the theater together, which makes the entertainment experience even more rewarding. Corporations can show their appreciation for Tuacahn by purchasing packages of season tickets to share with their employees and guests. The key to Tuacahn’s future is simple, generous people purchasing season tickets to great performances! It’s a win/win deal.”
Gubler has a BS in Finance and a BS in Agricultural Business from Brigham Young University. He received a BS in Accounting and an MBA from the University of Utah, and has a Ph.D. from BYU in Education in Corporate and Government Agencies. Gubler was an Assistant Professor in the BYU Marriott School of Management, Department of Organizational Leadership & Strategy, where he taught classes in business strategy and entrepreneurship. After 23 years in Utah County, he recently moved his family back to his home town of Santa Clara to manage his real estate holdings. While in Utah County, he co-founded a technology company, Agilix, of which he continues as the majority shareholder and serves on the board of directors. He currently serves on the Dixie State College Board of Trustees and on the Dixie Applied Technology Board of Trustees.
As Tuacahn’s Chairman, Gubler will be responsible for overseeing both the Center for the Arts and the Tuacahn High School with a combined total budget of approximately $5 million a year. Tuacahn employs over 45 year-round employees and approximately 250 seasonal employees and is the beneficiary of over 300 volunteers each year.
With 130,000 patrons visiting Tuacahn annually, it is estimated that Tuacahn’s summer and fall theatre season, known as Broadway in the Desert, positively impacts the local economy by more than $20 million a year. Tuacahn’s 2007 Broadway in the Desert offerings include My Fair Lady, Cinderella, 42 nd Street and Little Shop of Horrors.
In addition to its summer/fall theatre season, Tuacahn presents concerts in the spring and late fall. This year Tuacahn’s concert offerings will include well known artists like Peter Cetera, Judy Collins, Air Supply, and the Beach Boys to name a few. Tuacahn is also known for its presentation of Odyssey Dance Theatre’s THRILLER and the Tuacahn Festival of Lights featuring a Live Nativity.
Season packages, start as low as $94.00, and individual tickets are available for the 2007 season at the Tuacahn Box Office (1-800-746-9882, 435-652-3300). For more information see the Tuacahn website at www.tuacahn.org.
