Leadership

 

"Every season, we have the privilege of infusing hundreds of thousands of our visitors with The Bushnell Spirit. The arts can, and often do, enrich the soul, and function as a way for patrons to make positive differences in their own lives and the lives of their communities."

 

Visionary leadership and strong governance are at the heart of The Bushnell's ability to advance this worthwhile ideal. The Bushnell's Board of Trustees is chaired by Jay S. Benet and includes a diverse mix of Greater Hartford's corporate, civic, cultural, and educational leaders. The Bushnell's outstanding Board has forged an exemplary partnership with the Center's talented staff, headed by President and Chief Executive Officer, David Fay.

Working together, and fueled by the passion and encouragement of the thousands of individuals, corporations, foundations, and government agencies that generously support us each season, The Bushnell will continue to enrich, illuminate, energize, and delight the community it so proudly serves.

Jay S. Benet, Chairman of the Board

Jay Benet’s business career, the vast majority of which has been spent in Hartford, includes 25 years of leadership roles at Travelers, where he currently serves as Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer, a position he has held since 2005. Jay also serves as a member of the Travelers’ Management Committee. Travelers, one of the 30 companies that comprise the Dow Jones Industrial Average, is one of the largest and most profitable property casualty insurers in the U.S. Prior to joining Travelers, Jay was the worldwide head of financial planning, analysis, and reporting at Citigroup, and was Chief Financial Officer for Citigroup’s Global Consumer Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Previously, he spent 10 years in various executive positions with Travelers Life & Annuity. Prior to joining Travelers, he was a Partner at Coopers & Lybrand (now PWC).

Jay has been active in the greater Hartford arts community for many years. In addition to his role as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Bushnell, Jay is currently serving as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Goodspeed Opera House Foundation and previously served on the Board of Directors of the Greater Hartford Arts Council (for which he also served as Chairman). He also is a member of the National Council and the Executive Advisory Committee of the University of Rochester’s Simon School of Business and the Harpur College Advisory Council of Binghamton University.

Jay holds a bachelor’s degree from Binghamton University and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Rochester’s Simon School of Business. He has received distinguished alumni awards from both Binghamton and the Simon School and is also a five time recipient of Institutional Investor’s Best CFO Award for Insurance.

David R. Fay, President and CEO

David R. Fay took over as President and Chief Executive Officer of The Bushnell in June 2001. He is responsible for the execution of policy, the operation of The Bushnell’s facilities and programs and management of its more than $20 million annual operating activity.

Previously, Fay was President of the Canadian Producing Division of SFX Theatrical Group and Executive Director of the Pantages Theatre in Toronto. Fay also spent 15 years as the President and CEO of Fox Associates in St. Louis, Missouri. Under his leadership, the private partnership grew from a company operating a single theater (Fox Theatre) that was losing money, to a diversified entertainment company with multiple venues in St. Louis (The Fox Theatre and the St. Charles Family Arena) and Chicago (the Briar Street Theatre and The Cadillac Palace Theatre). He also formed Fox Theatricals, which produced shows on and off-Broadway, some of which toured nationally, including Jekyll and Hyde and Death of a Salesman (Tony Award for Best Play, 1999).

From 1980-1985, Fay was executive director of the Will County Exposition and Auditorium Authority in Joliet, Illinois. He directed the renovation of the historic Rialto Square Theatre and led the redevelopment of 150,000 square feet of office and commercial space adjacent to the theater. The project spurred the eventual redevelopment of downtown Joliet.

Fay has also served as Chairman of the Fine Arts Department and Director of the Weinstein Center for the Performing Arts at the National College of Education in Evanston, Illinois. Fay has a master’s degree in Theater Arts from Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree in Speech Communications from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. A resident of Cromwell, Fay is currently on the Board of Corporators of Hartford Hospital.

TRUSTEES

Honorary Trustees & Trustees Emeriti

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2018 Annual Message

2019 Annual Message

2020 Annual Message