J. David Smith Joins Leadership to Support Ballet Arizona’s Next Chapter 

PHOENIX – Ballet Arizona, the Valley’s only professional ballet company, is thrilled to announce the hire of its new philanthropy director, J. David Smith.

Smith joins Ballet Arizona with a distinguished background in nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and donor engagement. Most recently, he served as chief development officer for Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona. His extensive experience building meaningful donor relationships and advancing philanthropic initiatives makes him a valuable addition to Ballet Arizona’s team.

“David’s passion for the arts, combined with his proven track record in philanthropy and community engagement, make him an exceptional fit for Ballet Arizona,” said Jami Kozemczak, executive director of Ballet Arizona. “His experience and dedication to connecting donors with meaningful causes will play an important role in advancing our mission and supporting the future of ballet in Arizona.”

Before transitioning into nonprofit leadership, Smith spent nearly two decades in retail banking, serving in leadership roles across metro Phoenix. His career included positions in branch management, quality assurance, information technology, and learning and development. His expertise later expanded beyond Arizona through consulting work with financial institutions in Missouri, Minnesota, and Illinois before returning to the Valley.

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