TOLEDO, OH – At its June 24 meeting, the Board of Trustees of Live Arts Toledo elected Richard Karcher to a two-year term as Chair of the Board, effective July 1, 2026. Trustees also elected Melissa Freeman to serve as Vice Chair. Outgoing Chair Marna Ramnath will continue her service on the Executive Committee as Past Chair, succeeding Steve Cavanaugh in that role.

Karcher, of Perrysburg, has served as Vice Chair since 2024 and brings more than a decade of leadership as a trustee of the organization. An attorney by profession, Karcher has helped guide many of Live Arts Toledo’s most significant strategic initiatives.

He chaired the 2019 Venue Task Force, whose recommendations ultimately led to the installation of the acoustical shell at the Valentine Theatre. In 2023, he chaired the Facilities Task Force, which recommended the purchase of the former Masonic Temple on Heatherdowns Boulevard, now home to the Toledo Center for Live Arts. Karcher also oversaw the 2018 and 2024 collective bargaining negotiations between the Toledo Symphony and Local 15-286 of the American Federation of Musicians. Together with his wife, Connie, he chaired the Toledo Symphony’s Dinner Music fundraiser in 2012 and has remained an active advocate for the organization throughout his years of service.

“It is an honor to be entrusted with this responsibility by my fellow trustees,” said Karcher. “Live Arts Toledo has accomplished extraordinary things because of the vision, generosity, and dedication of so many people who care deeply about this organization. I look forward to working alongside my fellow trustees, our exceptional staff, and our remarkable artists as we continue building an organization that inspires our community and ensures these art forms flourish for generations to come.”

Freeman, of Ottawa Hills, serves as Chief Financial Officer of AntennaGear. She was first elected to the Toledo Symphony Board of Trustees in 2017 and joined the Executive Committee in 2018. She currently serves on both the Finance Committee and the Governance & Nominations Committee. As Vice Chair, she will chair the Governance & Nominations Committee while serving as the Board’s Chair-Elect.

A graduate of Baldwin Wallace University, Freeman earned a bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance with a minor in Business Management. She remains deeply engaged in the Toledo community and has been recognized as a recipient of Toledo’s 20 Under 40 Leadership Award and as Outstanding Young Alumna of St. Ursula Academy. She is also a graduate of the Leadership Toledo Class of 2015.

“Music has shaped my life for as long as I can remember,” Freeman said. “The performing arts have an extraordinary ability to connect people, strengthen communities, and inspire future generations. I am honored to serve as Vice Chair and look forward to supporting Dick, our Board of Trustees, and the talented artists and staff who make Live Arts Toledo such an extraordinary organization.”

Ramnath concludes a landmark two-year term as Board Chair during which the organization welcomed the Toledo Jazz Orchestra as its third artistic division, opened the Toledo Center for Live Arts as its permanent home, and completed the strategic rebranding from Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts to Live Arts Toledo. Under her leadership, the organization strengthened its governance, expanded its community impact, and positioned itself for its next era of artistic and organizational growth.

“Serving as Board Chair has been one of the great privileges of my life,” Ramnath said. “I pass the baton with complete confidence. Dick brings thoughtful leadership, sound judgment, and a deep commitment to this organization. I know he will serve Live Arts Toledo exceptionally well, and I look forward to supporting him in my new role as Past Chair.”

Live Arts Toledo President & CEO Zak Vassar expressed gratitude for the organization’s volunteer leadership.

“Our trustees give generously of their time, talent, and expertise because they believe in the power of the performing arts to transform lives,” Vassar said. “Marna’s leadership helped guide Live Arts Toledo through one of the most consequential periods in our history, and I look forward to partnering with Dick and Melissa as we build on that remarkable momentum. Their integrity, experience, and shared commitment to our mission will serve this organization and our community exceptionally well.”

Live Arts Toledo is governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees representing business, civic, and community leaders from throughout northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. The Board provides strategic leadership and fiduciary oversight for the organization, which encompasses the Toledo Symphony, Toledo Ballet, Toledo Jazz Orchestra, Toledo Symphony School of Music, Toledo Symphony Youth Orchestras, and Toledo Jazz Youth Orchestra.

About Live Arts Toledo
Live Arts Toledo, formerly the Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA), is the region’s hub for live performance, cultural education, and community connection. Bringing together the Toledo Symphony, Toledo Ballet, Toledo Jazz Orchestra, Toledo Symphony School of Music, Toledo Symphony Youth Orchestras, and the Toledo Jazz Youth Orchestra, Live Arts Toledo presents more than 200 nights of programming each year, offering unforgettable experiences that stir the senses and strengthen the cultural fabric of Northwest Ohio.

Media Contact:
Emily McCready, Marketing Manager, 419.418.0027, emccready@liveartstoledo.com