Compensation Escalation Cycle
"Delivers diverse arts programming to enrich communities in the Twin Tiers, exemplified by large-scale events like their Fall Festival."
— Statement of Program Service Accomplishments
What does this mean?
Revenue grows modestly, but top officer compensation grows consistently for 5 years, breaching danger zones. The executive is negotiating aggressive raises against a compliant board.
The Path Forward
The Steward
Re-establishes board supremacy over executive extraction. It freezes compensation and mandates that all future financial rewards be tied strictly to verifiable mission expansion.
Demonstrated Impact
- Attendance: 2000+ (Fall Festival)
Title
Representative Institutions
Institutional Epochs
Historical Performance
| Year | Revenue | Top Comp | Comp % Rev | Score | Phase Label | Outlook | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Hidden | Hidden | — | — | Unknown | — | |
| 2024 | Hidden | Hidden | — | — | Unknown | — | |
| 2023 | Hidden | Hidden | 28.4% | 38 | Governance-Stressed | Gov Risk | |
| 2022 | — | — | 21.3% | 40 | Fragile | Gov Risk | |
| 2021 | — | — | 34.8% | 39 | Governance-Stressed | Gov Risk | |
| 2020 | — | — | 20.1% | 42 | Governance-Stressed | Gov Risk | |
| 2019 | — | — | 14.5% | 47 | Fragile | Gov Risk | |
| 2018 | — | — | 6.5% | 49 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2017 | — | — | 19.6% | 44 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2015 | — | — | 16.4% | 41 | Fragile | Gov Risk | |
| 2014 | — | — | 5.7% | 50 | Fragile | Stable Watch | |
| 2013 | — | — | 6.4% | 50 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2012 | — | — | 9.6% | 46 | Fragile | Decline Risk | |
| 2011 | — | — | 7.5% | 50 | Fragile | Stable Watch |
Officer compensation history
Tax year 2025
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darren Litz | Executive Dir. | 29.8% of Rev | ||
| Darren Litz | Executive Dir. | 28.4% of Rev | ||
| Allison Ambrose | Board Member | — | ||
| Brittany Keck | Board President | — | ||
| Brad Preston | Board Member | — | ||
| Connie Shanks | Board Member | — | ||
| Lori Huber | Treasurer | — | ||
| Claudia Quinn | Board Member | — | ||
| Wayne Mead | Board Member | — | ||
| Tina Vinelli | Secretary | — | ||
| Lorna Smith | Board Member | — | ||
| Colette Rosessler | Board Member | — | ||
| Pat Ryan | Board President | — | ||
| Allison Ambrose | Board Member | — | ||
| Brittany Keck | Board President | — | ||
| Fred Feightner | Board Member | — | ||
| Andrew Wilson | Board Member | — | ||
| Brad Preston | Board Member | — | ||
| Connie Shanks | Board Member | — | ||
| Peggy Leonard | Treasurer | — | ||
| Claudia Quinn | Board Member | — | ||
| Wayne Mead | Board Member | — | ||
| Tina Vinelli | Secretary | — | ||
| Lorna Smith | Board Member | — | ||
| Colette Rosessler | Board Member | — | ||
| Pat Ryan | Board President | — |
Tax year 2023
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allison Ambrose | Board Member | — | ||
| Brittany Keck | Secretary | — | ||
| Steve Kresge | Board Member | — | ||
| Fred Feightner | Board President | — | ||
| Brad Preston | Board Member | — | ||
| Connie Shanks | Board Member | — | ||
| Lori Huber | Treasurer | — | ||
| Claudia Quinn | Board Member | — | ||
| Liz Dippold | Board Member | — | ||
| Tina Vinelli | Board Member | — | ||
| Lorna Smith | Secretary | — | ||
| Pat Ryan | Board President | — | ||
| Darren Litz | Executive Dir. | — |
Tax year 2022
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darren Litz | Executive Dir. | 17.0% of Rev | ||
| Allison Ambrose | Board Member | — | ||
| Brittany Keck | Board Member | — | ||
| Steve Kresge | Board Member | — | ||
| Fred Feightner | Board President | — | ||
| Brad Preston | Board Member | — | ||
| Connie Shanks | Board Member | — | ||
| Lori Huber | Treasurer | — | ||
| Claudia Quinn | Board Member | — | ||
| Bernie Picklo | Board Member | — | ||
| Tina Vinelli | Board Member | — | ||
| Lisa Esch | Secretary | — | ||
| Pat Ryan | Board President | — |
Tax year 2021
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lauren Ball | Board Member | — | ||
| Brittany Keck | Board Member | — | ||
| Lisa Esch | Secretary | — | ||
| Fred Feightner | Board President | — | ||
| Nathan Lawyer | Board Member | — | ||
| Connie Shanks | Board Member | — | ||
| Lori Huber | Treasurer | — | ||
| Dan Lang | Board Member | — | ||
| Terri Leven | Secretary | — | ||
| Tina Vinelli | Board Member | — | ||
| Brandon Means | Board Member | — | ||
| Pat Ryan | Board President | — | ||
| Lauren Marshall | Executive Dir. | — |
Score breakdown
The three components combine into a single 0–100 score weighted as shown. Full methodology →
Peer comparison
Compared to 295 other orgs in PA with NTEE prefix A6.
Most-divergent component: program score sits 13 points above the peer median (45 vs. 32).
5-year trend: Compensation Escalation Cycle
Revenue grows modestly, but top officer compensation grows consistently for 5 years, breaching danger zones. The executive is negotiating aggressive raises against a compliant board.
What's driving this score
- Comp-to-revenue ratio of 28.4% is modestly above the sector's healthy band (18–22%) — worth monitoring.
What would change this score
The two changes that would most improve this score:
- Reduce top-officer compensation from 28.4% to under 22% of revenue — would move governance score by ~13 points.
- Separate signing authority from fundraising authority when both are held by one person — removes the concentration penalty (~12 points).
Improving governance is a board decision. These are the levers.