A seasoned theater manager with more than 20 years of experience in the performing arts industry, Paul Beard joined The Smith Center for the Performing Arts as Vice President and Chief Operations Officer in August 2009. Beard helps to round out The Smith Center ‘dream team’, joining Chairman of the Board Donald Snyder, President and Chief Executive Officer Myron Martin and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Rick Johnson. In this capacity, Beard oversees the construction of the $470 million Smith Center project, including planning and directing organizational operations, developing policies, objectives and initiatives.

“Las Vegas has never had a community-based project like this, and its importance cannot be overstated,” said Beard. “Being a part of that process has great professional appeal, particularly when considering the high caliber of leadership already in place and the project’s tremendous momentum.”

Beard opened the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, and spent 15 years in Fort Worth, Texas, building and operating Bass Performance Hall.

The Smith Center for the Performing Arts is scheduled to open in spring 2012.