Benjamin Luczak ’09, ’15 (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre, Master of Science in Performing Arts Leadership & Management) was recently appointed the chief executive officer of the Westmoreland Cultural Trust in Greensburg, Pennsylvania.

Luczak, a Western Pennsylvania native, has overseen development and operations for cultural organizations in Maryland, Nebraska, Texas, Florida, Virginia, and most recently, Iowa, where he was director of development for Des Moines Performing Arts.

Search Committee Chairman Kevin Jansma said Luczak’s appointment as CEO comes after a six-month nationwide search.

“He is such a unique find because he has one foot firmly rooted in Western Pennsylvania. He also has a tremendous amount of experience with organizations throughout the United States,” Jansma said.

Luczak grew up in Penn Township, Westmoreland County, and performed on the stage of the Palace Theatre as a teen.

“I grew up on these stages,” said Luczak. “While a student at Penn-Trafford High School, I performed in ‘Brigadoon’ at the Palace Theatre (2003) and ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum’ at Greensburg Garden and Civic Center (2004). It’s thrilling to return to Southwestern Pennsylvania and be the steward of these venues.”

Luczak has held senior roles in performing arts development with tremendous success in both annual fundraising and capital campaigns. Prior to his work at Des Moines Performing Arts, he served as development director at the Asolo Repertory Theatre and Broadway Dallas, associate development director at Omaha Performing Arts, and patron services manager at the Maryland Symphony Orchestra.

Luczak earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre and a Master of Science in Performing Arts Leadership and Management from Shenandoah Conservatory of Shenandoah University. That is also where he met his mentor, Kendra Whitlock-Ingram, who was then serving as managing director. Whitlock-Ingram was appointed president and chief executive officer of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust in 2022.

“I view the Westmoreland Cultural Trust as more than a cultural and economic stimulant to Westmoreland County and the surrounding region, but also a service organization, providing resources and experiences that are unrivaled in the community. I look forward to expanding our education and community engagement offerings soon,” said Luczak.

“My goal is for everyone in Westmoreland County, children, students, adults and seniors alike, to visit the Palace Theatre or the Greensburg Garden and Civic Center annually. These buildings, especially the Palace Theatre, are the crown jewels of Westmoreland County and are here for everyone to experience. I want the community to feel abundantly welcome to attend performances and cultural events,” he continued.

Luczak currently serves on the board of directors for Houston-based Social Movement Contemporary Dance Theatre, has co-chaired the League of Resident Theatre’s (LORT) executive search (a subcommittee of LORT’s EDI committee) and was a grant panelist for Florida Department of State’s Division of Cultural Affairs. He also served as an adjudicator for the Nebraska High School Theatre Awards, a grant maker for the Equality Fund of Omaha, and a board member for Nebraska AIDS Project. An avid learner, Luczak has studied abroad in Guatemala and Australia on scholarship. He graduated from Penn-Trafford in 2005 and in addition to his undergraduate and graduate degrees, he holds a Certificate of Fundraising Management from the University of Nebraska Omaha, and a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate from the University of South Florida. Luczak is also an Eagle Scout. He and his husband, Jimy, share three fur babies, Noah, Gustavo and Winston.