Gateway Men’s Chorus announces hiring of new Operations and Development Directors.
St. Louis (November 13, 2017) – St. Louis’s Gateway Men’s Chorus (GMC) is pleased to announce the hiring of Michael Franzoni as Operations Director and Michelle I. Gralnick as Development Director, effective immediately. Alongside Artistic Director Robert Stumpf, Mr. Franzoni and Ms. Gralnick will guide the mission of the Gateway Men’s Chorus as they embark upon their 31st concert season, providing leadership for the organization’s finances, marketing, fundraising events, donor relations, and business operations.
Prior to assuming his professional position with the chorus, Michael Franzoni had previously served in several volunteer capacities with the organization, including chairing the membership and marketing committees, serving on the Board of Directors as both President and Secretary, a section leader for the Tenor 2 section, and singing with the chorus for eleven seasons. Most recently, Mr. Franzoni was employed as an accountant and retail business logistics for Kaldi’s Coffee Roasting Co. He also currently sings in the chancel choir at Pilgrim Congregational Church United Church of Christ.
“I feel incredibly fortunate to have experienced so much in my time with the Gateway Men’s Chorus, and I hope to bring a stable of fresh ideas to the operations of the organization alongside a respect for the history of the chorus and its value to the St. Louis region,” said Mr. Franzoni. “GMC has the power to affect great change in St. Louis and beyond, and I look forward to helping this storied organization strive ever forward.”
Development Director Michelle I. Gralnick, M.Ed., has more than 30 years of professional experience working with international non-profit organizations. Her achievements including conceiving and implementing a $125,000 “Campaign Clean-Up” Midwest Food Relief program, managing a $500,000 scholarship fund as a bilingual program manager with Optimist International, and assisting the Saint Louis Art Museum to raise $1.2 million at their “Renaissance Splendor” biennial gala. As Regional Director for the B'nai B’rith International (BBI) Mid-America Region, she opened the St. Louis office, overseeing staff and volunteer operations for an eight state region; she subsequently served as the Executive Director for B’nai B’rith St. Louis, the St. Louis Breast Cancer Coalition, and The B’nai El Collaborative with Shaare Emeth. She has received numerous leadership awards, including being recognized as a PACEsetter by The School District of University City, for which she established and served as Charter President of the University City High School Alumni Association (UCHS AA), and as an Idea Bounce winner by the Skandalaris Center for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Washington University in St. Louis.
Says Gralnick, “I’m thrilled to be able to combine my professional talents with my personal passion for the Arts to increase awareness among Missourians of GMC’s timely mission and musical excellence”.
Both directors will welcome audiences on December 8th and 9th as GMC presents their annual holiday concert, Hark, How the Bells, at Union Avenue Christian church in the Central West End. Tickets for both events are available at www.gmcstl.org.