Compensation Escalation Cycle
What does this mean?
Revenue grows modestly, but top officer compensation grows consistently for 5 years, breaching danger zones. The executive is negotiating aggressive raises against a compliant board.
The Path Forward
The Steward
Re-establishes board supremacy over executive extraction. It freezes compensation and mandates that all future financial rewards be tied strictly to verifiable mission expansion.
Institutional Epochs
Historical Performance
| Year | Revenue | Top Comp | Comp % Rev | Score | Phase Label | Outlook | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Hidden | Hidden | — | — | Unknown | — | |
| 2023 | — | — | 42.4% | 38 | Critical Intervention Needed | Gov Risk | |
| 2022 | — | — | — | 42 | Fragile | Recovery | |
| 2021 | — | — | 52.9% | 31 | Critical Intervention Needed | Gov Risk | |
| 2020 | — | — | 45.2% | 38 | Critical Intervention Needed | Recovery | |
| 2019 | — | — | 34.4% | 30 | Critical Intervention Needed | Recovery | |
| 2018 | — | — | 27.4% | 22 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2017 | — | — | 28.6% | 22 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2016 | — | — | 27.7% | 20 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2015 | — | — | 17.2% | 29 | Critical Intervention Needed | Recovery | |
| 2014 | — | — | 48.0% | 20 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2013 | — | — | 36.2% | 28 | Critical Intervention Needed | Recovery | |
| 2012 | — | — | — | 23 | Critical Intervention Needed | Decline Risk | |
| 2011 | — | — | — | 51 | Fragile | Stable Watch |
Officer compensation history
Tax year 2025
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Janel Amsallem | Employee | 26.1% of Rev | ||
| Judith | Employee | 16.2% of Rev | ||
| Kate Gavos | Board President | — | ||
| Diana Miranda | Vice President | — | ||
| Sarah Lindblom | Vice President | — | ||
| Rachel Lankdford | Treasurer | — | ||
| Helen Hays | Secretary | — | ||
| Robert Miranda | FacilityStudio Coordinator | — | ||
| LeAnn Boatright | Board Member | — | ||
| Agnes Allego | Board Member | — | ||
| Brenda Brannen | Board Member | — | ||
| Casey Miller Higgins | Board Member | — | ||
| Kristin Peek Howrey | Board Member | — | ||
| Amy Nino | Board Member | — | ||
| Rachel Santos | Board Member | — | ||
| Emily York | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2023
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Janel Amsallem | Employee | 26.7% of Rev | ||
| Judith Grywalski | Employee | 16.1% of Rev | ||
| Rachel Lankford | Board President | — | ||
| Kate Gavos | Board President | — | ||
| Helen Hays | Secretary | — | ||
| Mandi Sonnenfeld | Treasurer | — | ||
| Casey Higgins | Board Member | — | ||
| Rachel Santos | Board Member | — | ||
| Cheri Coleman | Board Member | — | ||
| Brenda Brannen | Board Member | — | ||
| Bret Howrey | Board Member | — | ||
| Robert Miranda | Board Member | — | ||
| Agnes Allego | Board Member | — | ||
| Kristen Peek | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2022
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Janel Amsallem | Employee | 25.7% of Rev | ||
| Judith Grywalski | Employee | 15.2% of Rev | ||
| Rachel Lankford | Board President | — | ||
| Kate Gavos | Board President | — | ||
| Helen Hays | Secretary | — | ||
| Mandi Sonnenfeld | Treasurer | — | ||
| Casey Higgins | Board Member | — | ||
| Rachel Santos | Building/Set Coordinator | — | ||
| Cheri Coleman | Board Member | — | ||
| Brenda Brannen | Board Member | — | ||
| Bret Howrey | Board Member | — | ||
| Robert Miranda | Board Member | — | ||
| Agnes Allego | Board Member | — | ||
| Kristen Peek | Board Member | — |
Tax year 2021
| Name | Title | Phone | Compensation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JANEL AMSALLEM | EMPLOYEE/ART DI | 20.0% of Rev | ||
| JUDITH GRYWALSKI | EMPLOYEE | 13.0% of Rev | ||
| RACHEL LANKFORD | Board President | — | ||
| STACY SELL-FOULKS | Board President | — | ||
| HELEN HAYS | Secretary | — | ||
| HAPPY SPILLAR | Treasurer | — | ||
| RACHEL SANTOS | BUILDING/SET CO | — | ||
| LYNN NIGLIAZZO | Artistic Director | — | ||
| AGNES ALLEGO | Board Member | — | ||
| BRENDA BRANNEN | Board Member | — | ||
| CHERI COLEMAN | Board Member | — | ||
| BRET HOWREY | Board Member | — | ||
| KRISTEN PEEK | Board Member | — | ||
| KAREN KISLINGBURY | Board Member | — | ||
| ROBERT MIRANDA | Board Member | — | ||
| BELINDA MILLINDER | Board Member | — | ||
| MANDI SONNENFELD | Board Member | — | ||
| JANET TALBERT | Board Member | — |
Score breakdown
The three components combine into a single 0–100 score weighted as shown. Full methodology →
Peer comparison
Compared to 132 other orgs in TX with NTEE prefix A6.
Most-divergent component: financial score sits 14 points above the peer median (45 vs. 31).
5-year trend: Compensation Escalation Cycle
Revenue grows modestly, but top officer compensation grows consistently for 5 years, breaching danger zones. The executive is negotiating aggressive raises against a compliant board.
What's driving this score
- Comp-to-revenue ratio of 42.4% is well above the sector's 90th percentile (healthy band: 18–22%).
What would change this score
The two changes that would most improve this score:
- Reduce top-officer compensation from 42.4% to under 22% of revenue — would move governance score by ~40 points.
- Separate signing authority from fundraising authority when both are held by one person — removes the concentration penalty (~12 points).
Improving governance is a board decision. These are the levers.