R. William Mitchell, Senior Consultant
The North Group Inc.

Senior Consultant with The North Group Inc., Bill Mitchell is President of MITCHELLworks LLC, a management consulting firm specializing in strategic planning, board development, facility development, management, fundraising and feasibility studies. He has over 25 years of experience in arts management, arts education, programming, facility development and operations, and fundraising.

Prior to starting MITCHELLworks in early 2000, Mitch was President/CEO of the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences – West Virginia, a 400,000 square foot facility in downtown Charleston. He led the organization for 3 years through architectural design development, new architect selection, development of construction documents, and successful bidding for general contractor. Mitch raised over $40,000,000 in addition to a like amount raised prior to his arrival. The Clay Center, under his successor's leadership, opened July 12, 2003 and contains a 1,883 seat Maier Foundation Performance Hall; a 150-200 seat black-box Walker Theater; the Avampato Discovery Museum and Juliet Museum of Art (the former Sunrise Art and Science Museums); The ElectricSky™ Theater – which presents Planetarium shows, 70-mm large-format films, and laser shows; Douglas V. Reynolds Intermezzo Cafe; and the BB&T Little Shop of Wonders Gift Shop.

Before he was recruited to West Virginia in 1997, Mitch spent 6 years developing plans and raising money to build the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and the next 6 years leading that organization through its opening and first years of operation. He helped acquire the land and worked with the architects and engineers prior to the first lines drawn on paper. In addition to the main building – Baum Walker Hall, Joy Pratt Markham Gallery, McBride Studio, the black-box Starr Theater, and the Bradberry Amphitheater, Mitch oversaw the creation of a separate education building (Nadine Baum Studios) and administrative offices (Just Off Center). Mitch and Walton Arts Center have played significant roles in revitalizing downtown's Dickson Street and Northwest Arkansas. In 2003, Mitch was recognized for his efforts as recipient of the Fayetteville Rotary Club's "Act with Integrity" award.

Prior to 1985, Mitch held staff leadership roles with Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville; Association of Performing Arts Presenters in Washington, DC; and the Commons in Columbus, Indiana.

Active in the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, Mitch is a Past President, chairperson of the 2000 national conference, recipient of the prestigious Fan Taylor Distinguished Service Award, and chair of the successful origination of the national "Bill Dawson Endowment" designed to help fund internships in arts administration.

Mitch holds a Bachelor of Science degree in art education/speech and drama and a Master of Arts in Education both from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.