Palm Beach Opera has announced the addition of five professionals to its senior administrative team. With expertise spanning development, marketing, finance, artistic administration, and artist development, these new hires reflect PBO’s commitment to advancing the opera company’s mission and solidifying its role as a leader in the arts community.
Holland Sunyak has been named Director of Development. She joins PBO from The Pingry School in Basking Ridge, N.J., where she served as Director of Principal Gifts and Campaigns, a position created for her to lead the school’s comprehensive campaign. Sunyak’s 15 years of impressive fundraising experience includes her prior role as Pingry’s Director of Development and earlier positions in special events. A graduate of the University of Rhode Island, she brings a deep understanding of philanthropy and donor engagement to her new position.
Tim Hill recently joined Palm Beach Opera as the new Director of Marketing & Communications. Hill comes to PBO from the Santa Fe Opera, where he served as Director of Marketing. During his tenure, he contributed to record-setting ticket sales and led innovative advertising and digital campaigns that positioned the Santa Fe Opera as an industry leader. Hill’s 20 years of marketing experience includes serving as Director of Marketing at RM Strategic Marketing, where he led marketing efforts for various Fortune 100 companies. Hill is a former professional bass-baritone, bringing a unique perspective to his work. A North Carolina native, he studied at Elon University, the University of Iowa, and Mannes College of Music.
Cynthia Stults joins the company as Director of Finance & Administration. Stults brings 30 years of experience as a finance professional, including several as Accounting Manager at the Santa Fe Opera. Her distinguished career has spanned the non-profit, banking, telecommunications, and medical industries, and also includes HR and IT management roles. A certified public accountant, Stults is a graduate of the University of Illinois.
Geoff Hahn has joined the team as Director of Artistic Administration, also bringing dual expertise as a seasoned arts administrator and former professional baritone. Prior to joining PBO, Hahn served as Director of Artistic Operations for the Lehrer Vocal Institute at Music Academy of the West and as Associate Artist Manager at Fletcher Artist Management, representing distinguished opera talent. Hahn trained and performed as a member of Houston Grand Opera’s esteemed Butler Studio, and his educational background includes degrees in sustainable development from Columbia University and vocal performance from Rice University.
Joanna Latini has taken on the role of Director of Resident Artist Programs. She recently served as Butler Studio Administrator at Houston Grand Opera and as Company Manager for the Aspen Music Festival’s Opera Theatre and VocalARTS program. An accomplished soprano, Latini was a PBO Young Artist during the 2019 season, making her company debut as Sally/Ida in Die Fledermaus. She was a 2018 National Semifinalist in the Metropolitan Opera Competition, and also performed with the Santa Fe Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, and Glimmerglass Festival. Latini holds degrees from Carnegie Mellon University and Rice University, and was recently selected as a participant in the prestigious 2025 OPERA America Leadership Intensive.
These five staff members fill vacancies that were previously existing or newly created with the promotion of James Barbato, the company’s former artistic department head, to General Director in June. They join a senior management team that includes Jeff Bruckerhoff as Director of Production & Facilities, and Catherine Hughes as Director of Education & Community Engagement.
“We are thrilled to welcome Holland, Tim, Cynthia, Geoff, and Joanna to Palm Beach Opera,” said James Barbato, General Director of Palm Beach Opera. “This is an exciting new chapter for our organization. In the past six months, I believe that we have built one of the most talented teams in the opera industry. Palm Beach Opera has long enjoyed an enviable reputation for artistic excellence and community impact, and with the expertise and passion that these phenomenal individuals now add to our company, there is no limit to what we can accomplish.”
About Palm Beach Opera
Palm Beach Opera is dedicated to producing live opera at an international standard of excellence, enriching the lives of the communities it serves with a diverse offering of educational programs, and training the next generation of opera stars. Founded in 1961, the fully professional Palm Beach Opera presents mainstage performances at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach and is a proud member of OPERA America and the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County.