Surf Ballroom announces new CEO

CLEAR LAKE — The Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake has announced their new Chief Executive Officer. Brian Luallen for the past five years has been the CEO of Fair Park First, the nonprofit organization that oversees the operations of the Fair Park recreational and educational complex in Dallas Texas.

Luallen says he didn’t waste any time applying when he learned of the Surf CEO opportunity.  “I grew up, and this sounds like a line but I promise it’s the truth, going to bed every night listening to Buddy Holly records and Chuck Berry records. I am an absolute rock and roll history nerd, and when this floated across my desk, it took me about five minutes to start working on the cover letter to send over.”

Luallen says he’s looking forward to the final steps of creating the new Surf Music Enrichment Center, which is scheduled to open in July. “It’s an absolute dream to work on this project. They have really found some amazing partners and I salute them for putting together a great team that has stewarded it over the last several years. I’m excited to be a part of that.”

Chelsey Snyder, who is a member of the North Iowa Cultural Center and Museum Board that oversees the operations of the Surf, says Luallen is the perfect fit for the job.  “He has everything we are looking for. He has the nonprofit experience, the lobbying, the booking of the bands. As a board, one thing that was very important to us when looking for our new CEO was who can be a mentor to us and take us to the next level, and this is that person.”

Luallen will replace Laurie Leitz, who has served as the Surf’s executive director since it became a nonprofit organization.

Luallen was in Clear Lake on Friday and attended the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Coffee event.