WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAU) -- The former executive director for the Performing Arts Foundation is about to receive a leadership award from the Wausau Chamber of Commerce.
Jim O'Connell will be receiving the John L Cook Memorial Award on Monday at the annual meeting of the chamber. That award goes to community leaders who help foster education and growth in the Wausau community. The Chamber gave a statement to the Wausau Daily Herald saying O'Connell strengthened the region's awareness of the arts and greatly expanded the reach and draw of the Grand Theatre. He was also in place as the PAF transformed the Grand and the surrounding space into what is now Artsblock.
O'Connell gave up his position earlier this year to take a teaching role at UW-Stevens Point after spending 22 years as director of the PAF.