Mount Baker Theatre Announces Planned Retirement of Facilities & Operations Director Jim Zoehrer Following Centennial Season

Mount Baker Theatre’s (MBT) Facilities & Operations Director Jim Zoehrer, CVP, will take his

final bow at the conclusion of MBT’s Centennial Season next year. Zoehrer’s four-decade career

in the live events industry has taken him from national and international tours with

world-renowned performing artists to more than 22 years of service helping care for and operate

one of the Pacific Northwest’s treasured historic theatres. He will retire from his position at MBT

on June 30, 2027.

Zoehrer joined MBT as a part-time House Lead Stage Technician and went on to serve as

Technical Director, Facilities Director, and Facilities & Operations Director. His work at MBT

has included production operations, facility improvements, safety initiatives, capital planning,

preservation efforts, and the day-to-day leadership required to keep a historic performing arts

venue active and thriving.

Before joining MBT, Zoehrer built an extensive career in technical production and touring

working with legendary artists including Iron Maiden, KISS, Donna Summer, Carole King, and

Jethro Tull. His broader industry experience has also included film, television, corporate events,

circus productions, venue consulting, and support for other small theatres. “Yes, I have worked

with lions, tigers, and bears — oh my,” Zoehrer joked.

As a Certified Venue Professional through the International Association of Venue Managers

(IAVM), Zoehrer participates in the IAVM mentor program, reflecting a long-standing

commitment to helping others find their way in the events industry. At MBT, that commitment

has included working with younger employees, helping them identify learning paths, develop

practical skills, and see futures in production, facilities, operations, and venue leadership. He has

also been developing a career day program to introduce high school students to the professional

pathways available inside a working performing arts center.

“Mount Baker Theatre has been one of the great privileges of my professional life,” said Zoehrer.

“Over more than two decades, I have had the opportunity to help care for a historic theatre,

support the people who bring it to life, and serve a community that deeply values the arts.”

The timeline allows MBT to move through the milestone season while preparing for a smooth

transition, with Zoehrer’s final year focused on continuity, training, staff development, and

support for the facilities and operations work already underway.