Segerstrom Center for the Arts Appoints Abigail Sherlock as Vice President of Development
Tom O’Connor Consulting Group (TOCG) is pleased to announce that Abigail Sherlock (she/her) has been appointed Vice President of Development by Segerstrom Center for the Arts (Casey Reitz, President & CEO) in Costa Mesa, California following our extensive national search led by Cynthia Fuhrman, Vice President of Executive Search.
In this key leadership role, Sherlock will provide strategic and creative direction to advance the Center’s mission, overseeing all aspects of fundraising, individual giving, foundation and corporate support, grants, special events, and other development initiatives. She will be responsible for raising approximately $18 million in annual contributed revenue, ensuring the Center’s operational needs are met, and supporting its future goals.
Sherlock brings over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry across New York City and Southern California, with a proven successful record in fundraising, marketing, and business development. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at San Diego Theatres, where she oversaw programming, fundraising, marketing, and ticketing for the city’s largest venues, including the Civic and Balboa Theatres. Before that, she was Head of Marketing at RWS Entertainment Group, the largest provider of live entertainment for the hospitality and attractions industries in North America. Sherlock’s extensive Broadway experience includes leading marketing efforts for acclaimed productions such as To Kill A Mockingbird, King Lear, Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus, West Side Story, The Lehman Trilogy, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, and The Music Man.
“We are thrilled to welcome Abigail Sherlock to the Segerstrom Center family,” said Casey Reitz, President and CEO of Segerstrom Center for the Arts in the company’s statement. “It was essential for us to find a leader who not only brings exceptional experience and vision but also a collaborative spirit and dedication to our mission. Abigail’s success in fundraising and team building is outstanding, and her passion for the arts is truly inspiring. I look forward to collaborating closely with her as we continue to grow our impact and serve our community.”
Sherlock shares in the company’s statement, “I am honored to join Segerstrom Center for the Arts at such a pivotal time and to work alongside a team that is deeply committed to enriching the Orange County community through the arts. I look forward to collaborating with our supporters, partners, and staff to build on the Center’s legacy and create new opportunities for engagement, growth, and impact.”
“It was a pleasure to work with the folks at Segerstrom again,” noted Cynthia Fuhrman. “They are such a significant asset in the southern California arts community, and with the addition of Abigail Sherlock to their team, they will continue to provide top arts education and experiences to the region. We are excited to keep our eyes on this important cultural treasure.”
About Segerstrom Center for the Arts
Since opening in 1986, and originally named the Orange County Performing Arts Center until 2011, the Segerstrom Center for the Arts has presented a broad range of programming for audiences of all ages. This includes international ballet and dance, national tours of top Broadway shows, jazz and cabaret, contemporary artists, classical music performed by renowned chamber orchestras and ensembles, family-friendly programming, and free performances and events on the plaza ranging from outdoor movie screenings and a summer jazz series to dancing lessons and culturally diverse community festivals, and many special events.
Segerstrom Center for the Arts is also proud to serve as the artistic home to three of the region’s major performing arts organizations: Pacific Symphony, Philharmonic Society of Orange County, and Pacific Chorale. In addition to Segerstrom Center for the Arts as a presenting and producing institution, it also identifies the beautiful 14-acre campus that embraces the Center’s own facilities as well as two independently acclaimed organizations: South Coast Repertory and a site designated as the future home of the Orange County Museum of Art.
About Tom O’Connor Consulting Group
Tom O’Connor Consulting Group (TOCG) is a NYC-based consultancy that supports arts institutions and leaders with two integrated services: organizational strategy and executive search. Consulting specialties include marketing, strategy, assessment, and organizational development. Founded in 2015, TOCG is a fully remote company with team members spanning the country and the globe.
Select clients have included Playwrights Horizons, Williamstown Theatre Festival, National Black Theatre, Paper Mill Playhouse, Ballet Hispánico, The Metropolitan Opera, New York Theatre Workshop, The Moth, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, Dramatists Guild Foundation, and more.
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