The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts has appointed Lynne Bolen to serve as the organization’s new Chief Financial Officer. As CFO, she will report to and work in close partnership with The Wallis’ Executive Director and CEO, Robert van Leer.
Bolen, who holds an MBA and an MS, will lead all financial operations at The Wallis, establishing strong fiscal systems, maintaining internal controls, and ensuring compliance, in addition to overseeing accounting, budgeting, audits, and risk management functions. Bolen will play an integral role in collaborating with the Board and senior leadership in strategic discussions and advancing the mission of The Wallis, providing financial forecasting and analysis while supervising the dedicated team of finance professionals at the organization.
“As we prepare for an inspiring 2024, we are delighted to have Lynne Bolen join The Wallis team,” said van Leer. “Her expertise in finance and her passion for the arts provides the perfect pairing of aptitudes that will be invaluable to our team as we aim to bring the very best in dance, music, theater, and more to Angelenos.”
“I am overjoyed to be joining the impressive and talented group of individuals at the prestigious Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts,” said Bolen. “I look forward to playing a meaningful role in the continued development of this iconic Los Angeles arts venue and cultural center – one that has endless growth opportunities ahead.”
Previously, Bolen served as CFO for nonprofit organizations such as United Cerebral Palsy of Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, and the Memorial Medical Center Foundation. For a decade, she simultaneously held the roles of Controller and Director of Development at St. Jude Memorial Foundation. Additionally, Bolen worked for South Coast Repertory as their Controller, the nonprofit theater’s top financial position.
Throughout Bolen’s career, she has handled fiduciary responsibility for $180 million in restricted and endowment assets in over 1,000 funds, financial management of a $40 million budget with 750 employees, over $250 million in investment transactions, purchases, sales, and transfers, and accounting for a $97 million capital campaign, including building construction and loan repayment.
Additionally, Bolen has extensive experience in collaborating and partnering with C-suite executives, serving as their advisor by providing financial guidance. She also has proven success in working closely with Boards of Directors, fund accounting, budgets, cashflow, grants administration, and much more.
Bolen brings over two decades of experience in the top financial positions of nonprofit organizations, starting with South Coast Repertory, the Tony award-winning professional producing theatre on the campus of the Segerstrom Center for the Performing Arts. Most recently, Bolen served as the Chief Financial Officer of the Orange County Museum of Art that opened a new $97 million building in October 2022, also on the Segerstrom Center campus.
Prior to OCMA, Bolen was the Vice President Finance and CFO of Public Counsel, the largest provider of pro bono legal services in the United States. She holds an MBA and a Master of Science.
