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.
