Carol Lewis Is Named Pnb Director

Carol Lewis, a software executive who has worked as Seattle's deputy mayor, deputy director of Seattle Center and a local TV reporter, is the new executive director of Pacific Northwest Ballet.

Lewis, 43, will begin her new job Feb. 1. Though she is acquainted with many of the arts world's movers and shakers through her work in government and as a consultant, she has never worked in the arts.

"I've been described as the out-of-the-box candidate," she joked yesterday.

"But I have worked with members of the board, including Sheffield Phelps, in a lot of different roles and on different projects, so now to come to the group should be wonderful." Some of those projects include the new Seattle Art Museum and the ballet's new Phelps Center facility, named for the former chairman of the PNB board.

"Her appointment just seemed so logical to me," Phelps said yesterday. "She is such a neat person, and she has all kinds of background. I was scared they would reach into the outside world and pull in someone who didn't know the city."

Few know the city better than Lewis. In 1983, Charles Royer made her deputy mayor, the first woman to hold that position; the two were former colleagues in the KING-TV newsroom. She's been deputy director of Seattle Center and a consultant on housing and land-use issues, and from 1990 to 1993 she was senior vice president for Egghead Software. She holds a master's degree in public policy from Harvard University.

As executive director, Lewis will head capital projects, oversee financial operations, raise money and work with the board and with artistic directors Kent and Francia Russell to achieve short- and long-range artistic and financial goals.

Her first priority?

"I don't know yet. It's a big job, there's a lot to do. But I think it's important to get out into the community and let people know what a wonderful resource they have in the ballet."

Lewis lives in Madrona with her husband and two children.