DCWS Nonprofit Profile

HISTORY

MISSION STATEMENT Founded in 1982,

DCWS is a nationally Detroit Chamber Winds
recognized ensemble that & Strings (DCWS) has
become a champion
engages Detroit area of administrative
audiences and enriches our
region through exceptional collaboration in pursuit

and innovative of artistic excellence.
performances of chamber DCWS works in
music with unique repertoire
collaboration with the
and venues Great Lakes Chamber
Music Festival (since
ARTISTIC STANDARDS
1992) and the
World-class signiture program Eisenhower Dance
complemented by innovative/unique Company (since 1996).
programming, Musician camaraderie The collaboration
among many arts
and artist driven programming,
Encouraging talented, young organizations enables
musicians , Arts educational outreach DCWS to attract and
to our community’s schools, Playing a retian professional staff
leadership role in the renaissance of with specialized skills.
Detroit arts, Culture of collaboration
and continuous learning , Advancing
the art form, Personalizing audience
experiences and stakeholder

relationships.

OPERATIONAL
STANDARDS

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Maury Okun, President
Brooke Hoplamazian, Office Manager

Development Finance

Jamie Kannan, Director of Development Triet Huynh, Controller
Anne Ruffley, Institutional Giving Officer Dean Beier, Finance Assistant

Marketing Operations

Roger Jankowksi, Director of Marketing
Elizabeth Ahlbrand, Operations & Events Associate

Brandon Coulter, Creative Supervisor Harriet Steinke, Operations Assistant

Erin Herner, Marketing account Executive Chloe Tooson, Patron Engagement Associate

Taylor Johnson, Digital Marketing Apprentice

Guis tics

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Board of Trustees
Marget Winters, Board Chair – Provost and Senior Vice Presidnent, Wayne State University
Geoffery Nathan, Board Chair – Professor of English/Linguistics and Information Privacy Officer,
Wayne State University
Betty Blair – Retired Reporter, Detroit News
Mary Bevard – Retired Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications,
BorgWarner
Robert Clement – Retired Teacher, Cranbrook Kingswood Schools
Jane Conway – Volunteer
Kevin Good – Trumpet, Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Thomas Hitchman – Director, NAMA Forecasting & Market Analysis, General Motors
Mary Jarman – President, MJ Marketing and Marketpulse
Victoria King – Bassoon, Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Matthew Morin – CEO Macro Connect
Lynn Myers – Retired General Manager, Pontiac, GMC
Maury Okun – Presidnet, Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings, ArtOps, Great Lakes Chamber Music
Festival
Christine Peck – Principal, Christine S. Peck and Associates
Ralph Safford – Attorney & Managing Partner, Safford & Baker
Edward Sharples – Retired Dean, Wayne State University
Ann Throop – Retired Executive, IBM
Marilyn Hey Webster
Barry Williams – Retired Engineering Supervisor, Chrysler Corp. ; Volunteer
Beverly Williams – Retired Nurse Case Manager, Volunteer

Advisory Board
Mary Ann Beaupre – Retired Director of Financial Reporting, The Taubman Company
Daniel Boyce – Co-founder, Center for Financial Planning
Michael Collins – Senior Director, BDO USA, LLP Managing Partner
Henery Cooney – Partner, Plunkett Cooney
David DiChiera – Founder & Artistic Director, Michigan Opera Theatre
Marilyn Gunther – Co-Founder, Center for Financial Planning
Florence LoPatin– Comptroller, LoPatin & Company
Fritz Morsches – Chief Marketing Officer, Honigman
Anne Parsons – President & CEO, Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Gwen Weiner – Development Consultant, Volunteer
Kay White – Volunteer

EDUCATIONAL

Outreach Programs

DCWS is committed to offering quaility activites in schools, from
pre-K throuhg college. The instituation has developed an array
of programs that span the educational spectrum.

In addition to its curriculum – based elementary school
programming, DCWS provides coachings, master cloasses,
open rehearsals, and informal performances for middle and
high school students.

Science and Sound
During this 3 – session residency program, students learn about
the physics of sound and music: vibrations, sound waves, media,
fequency, and amplitude. Three live musicians help to provide
hands-on demonstrations of how sounds are produced.
Students use recycled/repirposed materials to produce sounds
that are performed with the live musicians.

The Bremen Town Musicians
A narrator and small ensemble of instruments tell the story of The
Bremen Town Musicians by the Brothers Grimm. Classical tunes
are played alongside familiar children’s songs to tell the story of
the donkey, dog, cat, and rooster who set out on a journey to
become musicians. Instruments in the ensemble represent each
character with music that brings the fairy tale to life.

4

“Where 4.
words fail,

music
speaks”

Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings has been sharing an alternative busniess model wsith additional
small to midsized non-profit organizations since 1982. To clarify the relationship between its performing
ensembles and its collaborative business model, a separate LLC was formed to oversee the management
services piece of the DCWS business. This LLC, which is wholly owned by DCWS, has become the ArtOps
we know today.

ArtOps, an LLC owned by Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings, provides a customized suite of managerial
services. Their purpose is to foster organizational development and capacity so that arts organizations may
reach their full potential. They provide value-driven management service options that free clients to focus
on their artistic and creative missions. ArtOps provides assistance in the areas of strategic planning, board
building, development and marketing.

The organizations maintain separate missions, board of directors, financial reposrting, and 501 (c)(3) status.

5

Government & Foundation Support:

Community

DCWS is located in Southfield, MI, 10 minutes
from Detroit. Before founding DCWS, Maury
Okun was a trombone player in the Detroit
Opera House. He started the organization to
bring music to those who may not have the
opportunity otherwise. He wanted to build a
community where world-class artists could
be brought to people. Being so close to
Detroit allows for this process to be easier,
with more resources of many art forms close
by.

Concerts and educational outreach
programs are brought to surrounding areas
including Southfield, Birmingham, Rochester,
Macomb, etc. The organizations also have
ongoing partnerships with schools in other
cities such as Troy, Dearborn, and Pontiac.
Schools involved in this community include
University Liggett School in Grosse Pointe
Woods, Berkley, and Detroit Country Day.

FINANCIALS

Total: $731, 277
Total: $802, 909
8

Number of employees: 14

Chief Executive: Maury Okun – 34 years in this position

Board Chair: Douglas Cale – Stakeholder

As an arts organization in today’s society, there are obvious obstacles that this
organization faces. The largest challenge DCWS faces is the lack of a younger
audience. Because of the cut of music education and the lack of funding in schools,
the younger generations no longer have the passion for music that runs organizations
such as these. While DCWS’s largest strength as in organization is the community of
volunteers, sponsors, and audience members, they are all a part of an older generation.
When this generation can longer service the organization, there will be a quick decline
in community support. Going along with this challenge, there is a high turnover rate for
staff members. In order to attract a younger audience, President Maury Okun searches
to hire younger staff members. This is a great opportunity for fresh out of college people,
but the turnover rate is very high. A strength that the organization has is its location and
connections. Due to having many connections in the higher up music world, there is a
very high standard for musicianship and artistry. The location is very helpful because
many of these musicians are centralized here. Another factor of location is the
surrounding areas tend to be very wealthy. This help with funding and donations for the

organization.

4 Sources

(n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2018, from http://detroitchamberwinds.org/
DETROIT CHAMBER WINDS. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2018, from
https://www.guidestar.org/profile/7526423
Home. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://art-ops.org/