Mayor Jim Ferrell announced the appointment of Theresa Yvonne as the executive director of the Federal Way Performing Arts and Conference Center on Tuesday.

She is currently the manager of the 794-seat Lancaster Performing Arts Center in Southern California.

“Theresa is a world-class professional with the knowledge, energy and passion to make the Performing Arts and Conference Center a regional success story,” Ferrell said. “She has the management skills, performing arts experience and vision to guide the [Performing Arts and Conference Center] through its 2016 grand opening and into the future.”

The $32 million facility is the culmination of a more than decade-long community dream for a performing arts facility to serve Washington’s 10th-largest city and surrounding areas. In June 2014, the City Council approved the project in a unanimous vote. The city is currently finishing final designs and developing the project delivery model and construction team. Construction will begin later this year, with the grand opening to be held in fall 2016.

Yvonne will begin working for the city in March. As the project’s executive director, she will begin immediately working with the construction project team, as well as planning the initial season’s programming, and developing the facility’s management, financial and fundraising operations, among many other details.

“I am thrilled to be moving to the great Pacific Northwest and to work with the team in Federal Way to bring this amazing vision to fruition and building a long tradition of great live performances and spectacular events,” Yvonne said.

The Performing Arts and Conference Center is a cornerstone of the Town Center project, a 21-acre section of the downtown core featuring civic amenities, such as Town Square Park, the Transit Center, a hotel and opportunities for private office space, higher education facilities, public spaces and smaller retailing space along with arts and entertainment venues.

The executive director position was listed in December 2014 and received applicants from across the nation. Yvonne was selected from a pool of six finalists.

The salary range for the position is $90,000 to $120,000.