(Los Angeles) May 2, 2024 — LA Opera is proud to announce that an acclaimed Hollywood producer, a federal mediator and a shipping executive have joined the company's board of directors. Juan Carlos Gonzalez, Rian Johnson and Jennifer McCormick were elected at recent board meetings.

"I couldn’t be happier to have these dynamic leaders join us on our leadership team," said Keith R. Leonard, Jr., chairman of LA Opera's board of directors. "Each brings a unique perspective from their profession that will be invaluable as we build the future of opera in Los Angeles, and I am excited to work with them as we continue to create thrilling and dynamic artistic experiences for our audiences and our community. That we are able to attract such talented members to our already stellar board is a testament to the quality of the work we bring to the stage."

Juan Carlos Gonzalez
Juan Carlos Gonzalez has been a labor arbitrator, hearing officer and mediator since 2012. A bilingual licensed attorney, he worked as a Federal Mediator from 2000 to 2012. As a commissioner with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, he has mediated over 600 cases. He is a hearing officer for the Personnel Commission of the LA Unified School District and LA Community College District. He was executive director of the Southern California Labor and Employment Relations Association (LERA) from 2019 to 2022.

Rian Johnson
Rian Johnson is an Academy Award and Golden Globe-nominated filmmaker known for films like   Brick, Star Wars: The Last Jedi and   Knives Out. In 2019, Johnson and producer Ram Bergman launched their production company, T-Street. The company’s film and television projects include   Glass Onion, Poker Face, Fair Play and, most recently,   American Fiction. Through T-Street, Johnson supports independent filmmakers and emerging talent. He is currently preparing for the much-anticipated third installment of a   Knives Out mystery.

Jennifer McCormick
Jennifer McCormick is the CEO of American Freight Logistics. She serves on the National Council of the American Red Cross Tiffany Circle and the board of ARC's Los Angeles region. She is also a member of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art Acquisition Committee, a trustee of US Olympic and Paralympic Foundation, and a trustee of Otis College Art and Design.

About LA Opera
Los Angeles is a city of enormous diversity and creativity, and LA Opera is dedicated to reflecting that vibrancy by redefining what opera can be. Through imaginative new productions, world premiere commissions, and inventive performances that preserve foundational works while making them feel fresh and compelling, LA Opera has become one of America’s most exciting and ambitious opera companies.

In addition to its mainstage performances at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the company explores unusual repertoire each season through the LA Opera Off Grand initiative, featuring performances in a variety of venues throughout Los Angeles. The LA Opera Connects initiative offers a robust variety of educational programming and community engagement offerings that reaches people throughout every corner of Los Angeles County. The company also offers a multitude of online content via its LA Opera On Now digital offerings, which launched in 2020. Learn more at LAOpera.org.

LA Opera Media Contact
Marlene Meraz
Director of Communications
mmeraz@laopera.org
213.972.7554

LA Opera is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the greater Los Angeles community.