ORLANDO, Fla. — November 17, 2021 — After an extensive search, United Arts of Central Florida is pleased to welcome David Whitfield as its new finance director. His start date is November 30, 2021.
“We are incredibly excited to have David join the team at United Arts,” said Jennifer Evins, president and CEO of United Arts. “With his extensive financial and operational experience combined with his love and knowledge of the arts in Central Florida, we are very fortunate to have found someone who is extremely qualified and has dedicated their career to seeing the arts flourish.”
For more than a decade, Whitfield has been committed to the arts in the local community. He previously served as the director of operations and finance at Enzian Theater (2017-2021), and prior to that he was the director of finance and administration at Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and the interim executive director at Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras. Whitfield has the ability and skill set to provide financial leadership and collaboration to advance arts, science and history in the region.
“One of the things I have always appreciated through my years of working in the arts is the passion and commitment of the people who make the art we all enjoy possible,” said Whitfield. “I am excited by this new opportunity with United Arts to serve the wider arts community and these colleagues I admire so much.”
The finance director at United Arts manages the financial resources of the organization, including but not limited to accounting, finance, organization‐wide budgets, investments and treasury in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
Whitfield follows Juliana Steele, who has served the organization as finance director and interim CEO from 2011 to 2012 and again from 2020 to 2021, and will retire as vice president of administration and CFO. After 15 years devoted to serving the arts in this role, Steele will retire December 17.
“The last 15 years have flown by. It seems like just yesterday I was interviewing with Margot Knight,” said Steele. “It has been an incredible journey, with two stints as interim president, two office moves and, of course, the challenges of COVID-19. I have watched the organization grow and adapt over the years, serving the ever-changing needs of the community and the arts organizations we serve. I would like to think that my time here has moved the mission forward and elevated the organization in the eyes of the community and of our partners. It is hard to point to just one thing that I am most proud of, because I view the arts as a team effort. We are all critical to ensuring the magic stays alive in our community. Thank you all for your confidence and support over the years, and I will see you in the audience!”
