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Opera Naples announced today that its Executive Director, Timothy Todd Simmons, will be leaving the opera company on January 10 in order to return to his hometown, New Orleans, Louisiana, to assume a leadership position in a new theater project. Effective on January 2, Sondra Quinn, a leader well known in the Naples arts and charitable communities, will become the acting Executive Director of Opera Naples. These changes will not affect Opera Naples’ operations in any way. Wendy Needham, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Opera Naples, expressed the view of the entire Board that while Opera Naples regrets losing Mr. Simmons, it understands the exceptional nature of the opportunity presented to him in his hometown. She expressed her appreciation on behalf of the Board for his many positive accomplishments at Opera Naples during his tenure, and wished him well in his future endeavors. For his part, Mr. Simmons expressed his desire to maintain a close ongoing relationship with Opera Naples, and stated that he will continue to assist it in its endeavors to the extent he can, given his new responsibilities. Ms. Quinn is an experienced professional in the arts and culture arena with 30-plus years’ experience, 17 years as a CEO. She served as founding President/CEO of Naples Botanical Garden, President/CEO of Orlando Science Center, and Interim Executive Director of the Capital Children’s Museum in Washington, DC, and is a past Board Member of numerous organizations in her field. In 2015, she was selected as a Woman Of Initiative in Naples, FL. She is a member of Greater Naples Leadership and currently serves on the Women’s Foundation of Collier County Board of Directors. Opera Naples now looks forward to taking the next step in assuring its growth and contributions to the Naples community, and thanks the community for its ever-increasing support. Both through its production of traditional and lesser-known operas and concerts both at Artis-Naples and its own theater, the Wang Opera Center, Opera Naples produces first-rate performances under the guidance of its Artistic Director, Ramon Tebar, its educational staff, and its Academy.