SLT director leaves to finish degree

Volkmer is leaving her position Jan. 9 to complete her accounting degree at Missouri State University.

Since being named director in 2002, Volkmer led the theater through one of its most successful periods. In the last three years, the theater received its largest federal grant, its largest local grant and hosted its highest grossing show ever – “Beauty and the Beast” – which brought in $116,000 in cash ticket sales.

“What I’d really like to do is business consulting, based on ‘The Great Game of Business,’” she said. “That’s how we turned things around here, and I think it could help a lot of people.”

Volkmer and her team in 2002 instituted the open-management style crafted by Springfield businessman Jack Stack.

Volkmer’s SLT position will be filled by Artistic Director Beth Domann while promotions from within will eventually fill the void. Volkmer will continue to work as a part-time consultant to the theater on financial matters.

“I think what I’ll miss most are all the people – it’s just an outstanding group of people that I work with, and all the volunteers,” she said. “It’s like one big family over here, and I’ll miss them all very much.”