CommissionersCommissioners guide the direction, set policy for the Commission, and advise the Governor and Legislators on the state of the arts in Washington. There are 23 positions, including four legislators and 19 members appointed by the Governor.
Cindy Hill Finnie, Port Townsend, Board ChairCindy is co-owner and member of the board of directors for Rainshadow Properties, Inc. Finnie has over thirty years with Allstate Insurance in the Life, Property and Casualty Insurance Industry, where she specializes in management and motivation of field sales and staff. She has served on Centrum Foundation’s Board of Directors since 1998, including five years as president. (Appointed August 2005 through July 2007; reappointed through July 2013)
Kent Carlson, Seattle, Vice ChairKent is a partner in the K&L Gates LLP law firm. He practices corporate law in Seattle, focusing on mergers, acquisitions, financings, and complex strategic relationships. He earned his BA and JD from the University of Washington, and his LLM from Harvard University. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America and in Washington Law & Politics Super Lawyers. He presently serves as the chair of the Board of Directors of the Washington Research Foundation, and on the Boards of Trustees of Cornish College of the Arts and Pilchuck Glass School. He has a son on the art faculty at Seattle University and another working as a production designer in the film industry in Los Angeles. Before joining K&L Gates, Kent was an assistant professor of law at George Washington University Law School. (Appointed September 2006 through July 2009; reappointed through July 2012)
Andy Fife, Seattle, Second Vice ChairAndy Fife joined Shunpike as Executive Director in September 2007. He directs programs and operations, manages communications and strategy, and performs consulting services in strategic planning, board development, organizational development and financial services. Andy worked for many years managing arts endeavors including Consolidated Works, the Seattle International Film Festival and coordinated several projects and workshops in the area. Originally from the Chicago-land area, Andy began founding, running, and working with organizations while still finishing his undergraduate degree in Performance Studies at Northwestern University. Trained in acting, writing, and music, he still dabbles occasionally in creative endeavors including playing his trombone and adapting literature for performance. (Appointed July 2010 through July 2013)
David Brown, SeattleDavid joined Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB) as Executive Director in May 2000. His background provides the unique perspective of both artist and manager, and his experienced leadership has quickly become one of PNB's greatest assets. David’s career in ballet began more than 30 years ago as a dancer in the corps of Boston Ballet, becoming principal to dance many roles including several ballets premiered at Boston Ballet. His achievements include Director of Production, General Manager, and Executive Director of the Boston Ballet. David chaired the Manager’s Council and served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Dance/USA, the national service organization for professional dance. He currently serves as a Trustee of the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) Retirement Plan & Health Fund, Trustee of Theatrical Stage Employees Health & Welfare Trust, and is President of the Board of the Washington State Arts Alliance. (Appointed July 2007 through July 2010; reappointed through July 2013)
Elizabeth Conner, VashonAs a self-employed artist, Elizabeth has over 15 years experience in public art and planning. She holds an MFA in Visual Art from Vermont College, Vermont. Elizabeth currently serves on the Services to Artists Committee at the College Art Association, was a member of the Washington State Arts Commission statewide artwork selection committee, and president of the board of trustees for Vashon Allied Arts. (Appointed July 2008 through July 2011; reappointed through July 2014)
John Fraire, PullmanJohn is Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment at Washington State University in Pullman, WA, and has worked for nearly 30 years in higher education. Fraire earned a bachelor’s degree in government and a master’s in education from Harvard University, a master’s in history from Western Michigan University, and currently is pursuing his doctorate at the Union Institute & University in Cincinnati, Ohio specializing in Chicano studies. Fraire is a published playwright, and founder and former executive director of the New Latino Visions Theatre Company in Kalamazoo, Michigan. His first play, “Who Will Dance With Pancho Villa?” was produced by the Castillo Theatre in New York City in 1994. He founded and directed a privately funded college outreach program, Las Memorias, that combined writing, theatre, and performance for Latino students in Central Washington. (Appointed September 2008 through July 2011; reappointed through July 2014)
Jane Gutting, YakimaJane recently retired as the superintendent of Educational Service District 105, an office that supports 25 school districts and 22 private schools in Central Washington. Prior to becoming ESD 105 superintendent, Gutting taught at two different school districts in Wisconsin, and was on faculty at three universities, including Washington State University, University of Oregon and University of Wisconsin. She has served as Associate Superintendent for Teaching & Learning in the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. She was also instrumental in securing the Ready by Five project that provides early learning programs for residents of the east Yakima area and served on the Quality Education Council. (Appointed July 2011 through July 2014)
Rep. Larry Haler, RichlandRepresentative Haler (R) is serving his third term from the 8th District, which covers most of Benton County. Elected to the Richland City Council in 1989, he was mayor from 1996-2000 and remained a councilmember until joining the House in 2004. He has a bachelor’s degree from Pacific Lutheran University and an MBA from Bellevue-based City University. He has more than 34 years’ nuclear industry experience and is a communications specialist working in community relations at Flour Hanford, Inc. in Richland. Rep. Haler is the ranking Republican on the Early Learning and Children’s Services Committee, and serves on the Technology, Energy and Communications Committee and the Education Appropriations Committee. Rep. Haler and his wife Jenifer have been married 35 years. (Appointed May 2009)
Rep. Zack Hudgins, TukwilaRepresentative Hudgins (D) represents the 11th Legislative District which includes parts of Renton, Tukwila, Burien, SeaTac and South Seattle. Currently he serves as the Chair of the House General Government Appropriations and Oversight Committee. The committee is responsible for approximately $3 billion of appropriations over 75 state agencies. He also sits on the Ways and Means committee, which writes the biennial budget, and the Business and Financial Services Committee. Before serving in office, Rep. Hudgins worked at Amazon.com as a project manager; as a program manager at Excell Data Corporation on assignment at Microsoft, and at the United Way of King County. He is active in his community as the Board President of the VA Puget Sound Friends of the Fisher House, which gives support to veteran’s families, and is a former member of the Domestic Abuse Women’s Network board which helps those experiencing domestic violence. Rep. Hudgins is focused on creating and keeping jobs in Washington; making our government more effective and efficient; and protecting citizens, especially low-income and minority communities, while balancing the state budget. During the legislative session Rep. Hudgins exhibits art from different areas of his district in his office. (Appointed June 2011)
Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, SeattleSenator Kohl-Welles (D) has served in the State Senate since 1994 and three years prior in the State House of Representatives. She represents the 36th Legislative District in Seattle that includes a large number of arts organizations and currently chairs the Senate Labor, Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee, and serves on the Senate Ways & Means, Judiciary and Rules Committees. She received the Louise Miller Arts Advocacy Awards from the Washington State Arts Alliance in 2007. She has championed many causes including early learning and access to affordable, high-quality higher education, and promoting arts and tourism. Jeanne is a former public school teacher, holds a PhD from UCLA in the sociology of education, and is a lecturer for UW, teaching courses on gender and education. She formerly served on the National Conference of State Legislatures’ Executive Committee and president of its Women’s Legislative Network. (Appointed February 2007)
Jean Mandeberg, OlympiaJean is a member of the faculty at the Evergreen State College in Olympia and a nationally renowned artist. Jean served as a Commissioner for the Olympia Arts Commission from 1996 – 2002, including a year as Chairperson, and two years as Chair of the Art in Public Places Committee. As an artist, lecturer, or juror, she has participated with Artist Trust, the Olympia Arts Commission, Island Arts Council, Central Washington University, WSAC’s Art in Public Places program and numerous others. She has an MFA from Idaho State University and a BA from the University of Michigan. Jean’s work as a metalsmith is a permanent part of both state and private collections, and has appeared in numerous publications including Metalsmith Magazine and American Craft Magazine.(Appointed March 2004 through July 2006; reappointed through July 2012)
Lanie McMullin, EverettLanie has been the Executive Director of the Everett Performing Arts Center since 1998, and concurrently the Executive Director, Economic Development, for the City of Everett since 2003. She holds a BFA in Theatrical Arts and an MFA in Directing, both from BYU. She served two terms on the King County Arts Commission, including two years as chair. As Director, she led the Auburn Performing Arts Center through six years of unprecedented growth. She says her life’s work has been to use the arts as a means of community revitalization and economic stimulus. (Appointed August 2006 through July 2009; reappointed through July 2012)
Noël Moxley, YakimaNoël is the Executive Director of the Yakima Symphony Orchestra. Accepting this position in April 2000 marked a career change from medicine to music, and fulfilled a lifelong desire to be involved with the arts, especially involving kids and music. Noël currently serves on the newly established Yakima City Arts Commission. She has served on the Washington State Arts Alliance Board and is past president of the Washington State Arts Alliance Foundation Board. She has volunteered for United Way of Yakima County for many years, served as Chair of the Community Investment Committee, and served on the Thrive by Five, Yakima board for Early Learning. She is an active member of Downtown Rotary of Yakima. She attended the University of Maryland School of Nursing and spent many years as an administrator in the healthcare industry. (Appointed July 2007 through July 2010; reappointed through July 2013)
Brenda Nienhouse, SpokaneBrenda joined the Spokane Symphony and Fox Theater as Executive Director in June 2005. In this capacity, she successfully directed the capital campaign and renovation project that resulted in the reopening in 2007 of Spokane’s historic Fox Theater as a regional performing arts center and home for the Spokane Symphony. An experienced arts administrator, Ms. Nienhouse has served as Orchestra Manager of the St. Louis Symphony (MO), Orchestra Manager of the Rochester Philharmonic (NY), Festival Manager of the Finger Lakes Music Festival (NY), and Special Projects Coordinator of the Los Angeles Philharmonic (CA). As Executive Director of the Traverse Area Arts Council and the Holland Area Arts Council in Michigan, she was responsible for the completion of a regional fine arts center, the implementation of a regional community cultural plan, and the establishment of a collaborative national arts education conference. Early in her career, she developed a national music program in Nicaragua, reestablishing the National Orchestra & Conservatory. A native of Michigan, Nienhouse earned a Masters of Music and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan. (Appointed July 2011 through July 2014)
Rosita Romero, Mercer IslandRosita earned her BA in Colombia, South America and an M.Ed from University of Washington. She has been a Community College teacher trainer, and an art gallery owner and director for over 15 years. She currently serves as a board member with Artist Trust and has been appointed by the Mayor of Seattle for a second term to the Museum Development Authority with the Seattle Art Museum. She is the co-founder of Viva la Música Club, a Latino community engagement group at the Seattle Symphony and the Seattle Opera, and a Co-founder of Mujeres of the Northwest, a professional Latina support group to foster community involvement and social responsibility. She is an art docent at the Seattle Art Museum (SAM/SAAM/OSP) and at the Seattle Conservatory. (Appointed September 2006 through July 2009; and reappointed through July 2012)
Gail Sehlhorst, SeattleGail returned to Book-It Repertory Theatre as the Director of Education for the Book-It All Over Arts Education Program in 2010. Back in 1998, she was in the same position growing the program from a performing touring company to a comprehensive arts education program that included workshops, study guides, school residencies, teacher professional development, and a student matinee series. In addition to her work with Book-It, Gail has contracted as a teaching artist in K-12 classrooms for the last 13 years with ACT, Arts Impact, Book-It, Seattle Children’s Theatre and Seattle Repertory Theatre. She is a consultant for arts-based program evaluation and curriculum design, and is a Teaching Associate in the College of Education at the University of Washington. Gail has a BFA in Acting from New York University, Tisch School of the Arts, and a M.Ed. from the University of Washington in Curriculum and Instruction: Language, Literacy, and Culture. (Appointed July 2011 through July 2014)
Beth Takekawa, SeattleBeth Takekawa is Executive Director of the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience (The Wing,) a community-based cultural institution in Seattle’s Chinatown/International District, the only pan-Asian Pacific American museum in the country, and the first Smithsonian Institution affiliate in the Pacific Northwest. Beth was hired as the Museum’s Associate Director in 1997 and in 2008 became Executive Director. Beth has over 25 years experience in community economic development, working in the private, public and nonprofit sectors in program development, finance and administrative management. She serves on the boards of the Downtown Seattle Association and the International District Emergency Center. She completed her music degree at the University of Minnesota and Hunter College (NYC). (Appointed Sept. 2009 through July 2012)
Brom Wikstrom, SeattleBrom Wikstrom has worked his whole life in the visual arts. After a two-year college course in commercial design he worked in the display field and was actively pursuing his career in a New Orleans electrical sign company when he sustained a high level injury to his spinal cord while swimming. After rehabilitation he began painting with his mouth and developed an art program at Seattle Children's Hospital. He is past president of VSA arts and the Puget Sound Group of Northwest Painters and has served on the board of the Easter Seals organization. He has been staff receptionist at UW’s Burke Museum for over 20 years. He is a member of the International Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists, and Director of the Arthead Gallery in Seattle. His paintings are included in many prestigious collections worldwide. (Appointed July 2007 through July 2010; reappointed through July 2013)
Shauna Woods, SeattleShauna works in international business and finance, and was most recently Vice-President of the World Affairs Council in Seattle. She also manages a family-owned real estate and investment firm. She has been on the board of the Seattle Repertory Theatre since 1999, serving as President from 2003-2005, and on the Arts Fund Allocation Committee since 2006. She is Chair of the Board of the Center for Women and Democracy (formerly at University of Washington), where she has also participated in international delegations to train women to run for political office and to link women leaders from throughout the world. She serves on the Advisory Board for the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Washington and has just joined the board of Hedgebrook, a women's writing retreat on Whidbey Island. She holds a BA in French Literature and an MBA in International Business from the George Washington University, and worked for Citibank in New York and Brazil. She holds an MS in Education from Northwestern University and taught high school history in Illinois. (Appointed Sept. 2006 through July 2009; reappointed through July 2012) |
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