When I sat down with Darrin Smith, President & CEO of the Washington Pavilion, I was struck by his story of transformation—not just of a building, but of an entire culture.

The Pavilion is a special place in Sioux Falls. Housed in a former high school, it’s home to an art gallery, science center, performance theater, and even a business arm. But when Darren stepped into leadership, it was struggling. The city had invested millions, yet many in the community saw it as a “money pit” without clear purpose.

That’s where Darrin’s vision made all the difference.

One Pavilion, One Team

Darren told me how he began by uniting the staff under a single idea: One Pavilion. Instead of operating as separate departments, everyone was encouraged to see themselves as part of one mission.

As he put it, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” I couldn’t agree more. Building loved businesses starts with getting the right people in the right roles and reminding them daily why their work matters.

Balancing Art and Business

What I admire most about Darrin’s leadership is how he balances creativity with strong business practices. He never saw the Pavilion’s nonprofit mission as being at odds with financial sustainability. In fact, he believes good business makes great art and science experiences possible.

Every decision, from booking Broadway tours to running the café, was filtered through one lens: How will this improve the guest experience? That focus helped attendance grow, shifted community perception, and turned the Pavilion into a cultural anchor for Sioux Falls.

Lessons I Took Away

My conversation with Darrin reminded me of some timeless leadership lessons:

• Unify your team around one mission.
• Treat culture as your most important strategy.
• Obsess over the guest or customer experience.
• Balance creativity with financial discipline.

A New Chapter for the Pavilion

Today, the Pavilion isn’t seen as a drain on resources. It’s celebrated as a place where people gather, learn, and experience the arts and sciences together.

That kind of transformation doesn’t happen by accident; it happens when a leader like Darren commits to building both culture and community.