Leadership changes at Roanoke’s Center in the Square

Barry L. Henderson, the president and general manager of Roanoke’s Center in the Square, is stepping down after less than a year on the job.

He will be succeeded by James C. Sears who until 2014 had been head of the organization for 20 years. Sears had served as a consultant to Center in the Square since his retirement at the end of last year.

Center in the Square houses or provides support to many local cultural institutions including the Science Museum of Western Virginia, Mill Mountain Theatre and the Roanoke Symphony.

“Center is an economic engine and an important educational resource to our community.  I hope that my contributions will have a lasting effect benefiting all those, especially the children, who come to enjoy the many offerings supported by Center,” Henderson said in announcing his departure.   

“On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Barry for his commitment to the mission of Center and his success in growing new donors, and increasing contributions and financial support for the organization,” George Cartledge Jr., chairman of the board of the Western Virginia Foundation for the Arts and Sciences, said in a statement. 

Henderson is the former president and CEO for the Western Virginia region of SunTrust Bank. During his banking career, he worked with a number of nonprofit organizations in the Roanoke area.

Henderson became a consultant at Center in the Square in June 2013 and took over as president and CEO in January.