Amber-Dawn Bear Robe (Siksika Nation) is Assistant Faculty of Art History in the Museum Studies department at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), Santa Fe, NM and Fashion Show Program Director for the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA), Santa Fe, NM. As a Fashion Curator, her most recent exhibition is Art of Indigenous Fashion at the IAIA’s Museum of Contemporary Native Arts with two exhibitions in process, at the Autry Museum of the American West, CA and the Vancouver Art Gallery, B.C. Canada. Bear Robe achieved an MA in American Indian Studies and a second MA in Art History, both from the University of Arizona. Regional Emmys were awarded to Bear Robe, in 2020 and 2021, as producer for two documentary short films on Indigenous fashion. Publications include Indigenous Fashion: Each Garment Has a Story (Crystal Bridges, 2022) and Artseaucrats versus Bureaucrats: Indigenous Printmaking in Winnipeg, 1960s and 1970s (Plug-In Institute, 2021) She is an acting trustee for the Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF) board, CO, and the Wheelwright Museum board, NM.
Lisa Becker is a fifth generation Nevadan, born and raised in Elko. She is the founder of ElleBee LLC, a communications and public relations consulting company. Lisa spent 13 years working for Newmont Mining Corporation in Nevada and Colorado, eventually becoming the Director of External Relations and Communications for the region. Her priorities included responsible corporate philanthropy and fostering meaning relationships with the rural communities. Lisa has always had a passion for the arts and was enthusiastic to join the WESTAF board in 2020. Since returning to Elko in 2007, Becker has been active in the community, including the Great Basin College Foundation, the McCaw School of Mines Foundation, and the Elko Area Chamber of Commerce. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art from Hillsdale College and a Master’s Degree in Communications and Leadership from Gonzaga University.
Bassem Bejjani is the past chair of the Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA). He also serves as vice president of the board of CARAVAN, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building peace through the arts between the creeds and cultures of the East and West. Bejjani is also chief medical officer of Metis Genetics, a company dedicated to telegenetic medicine and genetic counseling. He is interested in arts and science education and the role of art in enhancing creativity, scientific learning, and critical thinking. A pediatrician and medical geneticist by training, Bejjani is a longtime patron of the arts who retired as chief medical officer of Signature Genomics, a company he co-founded in 2003 and sold to PerkinElmer, Inc. in 2010. He also served on the board of the Spokane Symphony, where he was executive vice president. A native of Lebanon, he has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and a doctor of medicine degree from the American University of Beirut. He has earned board certifications in pediatrics, medical genetics, clinical molecular genetics, and clinical cytogenetics.
Teniqua Broughton is a champion for the equitable accessibility and the advancement of arts education for all people. By leveraging her leadership, compassion, strategic planning, and action, Broughton has served in multiple capacities to advance her mission. She has extensive experience serving on regional and national panels around diversity and inclusivity initiatives. Broughton is committed to advocating on Capitol Hill for education and the arts, and for House bills affecting our children. This solidifies Broughton as an agent for change in the arts education community. She recognizes that one must become actively involved in the decision-making process when striving to evoke change. For more than 10 years, Broughton has been committed to imparting her insights on board governance best practices to several arts education organizations, both locally and nationally. Broughton previously managed the Cultural Participation Department at Arizona State University (ASU) Gammage, the largest presenting organization in the Southwest. Broughton has contributed to the Live Nation Arts Education Task Force and serves as vice-chair of the Arts Learning Committee for the City of Phoenix Arts and Culture Commission. Although she leads with her heart, many have recognized her for her tireless work in the community and abroad. Her most recent recognition was the 2014 honor of being named Community Leader in Arts Education by the Arizona Community Foundation’s Black Philanthropy Initiative (BPI). Broughton holds a master’s degree in educational administration and supervision and bachelor of integrated studies in education psychology, with an emphasis in theater for youth. She is the founder and operator of Verve Simone Consulting, LLC.
Susan Garbett was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA to parents in the Arts and Entertainment industry. While attending the University of Utah, Susan volunteered for the 2002 Winter Olympics and her interest in operations and live event production was born. From 2004 to 2014, Susan served in ticketing and operation roles at Film and Comedy Festivals including Outfest LGBTQ Film Festival, Sundance, American Film Institute's AFI Fest and HBO's Comedy Arts Festival. In 2014 Garbett joined the opening team of The Theatre at Ace Hotel, developing partnerships and standard operating procedures for the new venue. As the General Manager she oversaw programming initiatives with partners such as CAP UCLA, The David Lynch Foundation and Goldenvoice. Some of her favorite events at Ace include Taylor Macs 24-Decade History of Popular Music, Seu Jorges tribute to Bowie, David Lynch's Festival of Disruption and concerts featuring The Pixies, Patty Smith, Hannah Gadsby, Kamasi Washington, and Tim Minchin. In December of 2019, she joined Meow Wolf as the General Manager of The House of Eternal Return. Susan cares deeply about bringing art to everyone and creating spaces that transport audiences to fantastic realms of story and exploration.
Jayne Butler Goodman (pronounced Jay-knee) is an arts administrator, educator, and practicing new media artist based in Denver, Colorado.
She served as an arts program officer with the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation from 2018-2021 where she led grantmaking efforts in cities across the U.S. that connected people to place and to each other through arts and culture. In this role, she managed a portfolio of nearly $8M and over 40 grantees including individual artists and collectives, nonprofit organizations, and city and county arts and culture projects. During her tenure, she co-led the transition of the arts program strategy to focus solely on investments at the intersection of the arts and technology.
Prior to joining Knight, Butler Goodman received her master’s degree in emergent digital practices from the University of Denver, where she studied art, design, culture, and technology. Her artistic practice blends tech with craft and she works in a variety of mediums including video, digital fabrication, and design. Her work has been shown across the U.S. and in South Korea.
She joined the faculty of the University of Denver's college of continuing and professional studies in January 2022, where she teaches art interpretation and communications courses with a focus on digital culture. She joined the board of Leon, a nonprofit art gallery located in Denver's City Park West, in April 2022.
She served as an arts program officer with the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation from 2018-2021 where she led grantmaking efforts in cities across the U.S. that connected people to place and to each other through arts and culture. In this role, she managed a portfolio of nearly $8M and over 40 grantees including individual artists and collectives, nonprofit organizations, and city and county arts and culture projects. During her tenure, she co-led the transition of the arts program strategy to focus solely on investments at the intersection of the arts and technology.
Prior to joining Knight, Butler Goodman received her master’s degree in emergent digital practices from the University of Denver, where she studied art, design, culture, and technology. Her artistic practice blends tech with craft and she works in a variety of mediums including video, digital fabrication, and design. Her work has been shown across the U.S. and in South Korea.
She joined the faculty of the University of Denver's college of continuing and professional studies in January 2022, where she teaches art interpretation and communications courses with a focus on digital culture. She joined the board of Leon, a nonprofit art gallery located in Denver's City Park West, in April 2022.
The Executive Director of the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (SFCA), Honolulu, Karen’s work at the SFCA is centered on developing and administering the foundation's budget, planning, staff, board relations and serves as the liaison with the Hawaii State Legislature. Prior to assuming her position as Executive Director, Ewald served for 8 years as the Director of the Art in Public Places Program and Hawai’i State Art Museum at the SFCA and programs manager for education and exhibitions at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles from 2004-2013.
As a communications professional with an expertise in strategic positioning, media relations, and community engagement, Ann Hudner has been involved in the art and design conversation on multiple levels in various capacities. She previously served as director of communications at Ziba Design, a global innovation and design consultancy in Portland, Oregon. Hudner integrated the responsibilities of external communications and public programs at Pacific Northwest College of Art, where she was also responsible for the reorganization and elevation of the college’s communications function and public programs platform. Also, while in Portland, Hudner developed an art and design management consultancy, working with developers and architects as their business liaison to artists and designers, commissioning and installing local artwork for their properties across the country. Prior to this, Hudner led the External Relations Department at Rhode Island School of Design for 14 years, where she established their national media relations program and developed external collaborations to elevate the college’s influencer platform and global visibility. She has served as a board member of Design Museum Foundation and played an active role in their national expansion into Portland, OR; San Francisco, CA; and Chicago, IL. Additionally, with essayist and design journalist Akiko Busch, Hudner was co-editor on the publication, Szenasy, Design Advocate, a collection of writings by Susan S. Szenasy, Metropolis magazine’s former publisher/editor-in-chief published by Metropolis Books, ARTBOOK | D.A.P. With a master’s degree in journalism/news media management and a bachelor’s degree in business administration, she has been active for more than 30 years in developing strategic platforms, collaborative initiatives and complex partnerships working with artists, designers, socially progressive businesses, architects, developers, nonprofits, higher education, and the media. Hudner currently serves as a trustee for WESTAF (Western States Arts Federation), a regional nonprofit arts service organization dedicated to strengthening the financial, organizational, and policy infrastructure of the arts in the West.
As executive director of New Mexico Arts—the state arts agency—Michelle LaFlamme-Childs works to develop creative ideas to strengthen, evolve, and diversify programs at the agency while forging new partnerships to address the changing needs of artists and arts organizations across New Mexico. With her eye toward better serving rural and other historically underserved and excluded communities, LaFlamme-Childs and the New Mexico Arts team are exploring innovative ways to better address issues of access and equity in their grantmaking, public art programming, and field capacity-building efforts. An arts administrator for almost 20 years in both the private and public sector, LaFlamme-Childs also pursues her own creative practice as a poet, with one published chapbook and a book-length manuscript in the works and can be found spinning fresh beats as a radio DJ on local radio station 98.1 Radio Free Santa Fe. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of Massachusetts, a master’s degree from St. John's College in Santa Fe, and hopes someday to complete her MFA in creative writing at the University of Texas, El Paso.
Tony Manfredi joined the Nevada Arts Council as executive director in September 2017. Manfredi provides the strategic direction and leadership for the organization, assessing and overseeing current programming; optimizing business development opportunities for artists, arts organizations, and the public; representing the agency and state in regional and national forums; and managing the staff and budget housed within state government. His professional background combines 24 years of strategic planning, management, marketing, creative, and fundraising services for both local and international businesses and organizations. Manfredi is a graduate of the University of San Diego with degrees in communication studies and art. Previously, Manfredi was senior vice-president of content and marketing for Reno’s Public Broadcasting Service member station KNPB. During his time at KNPB, Manfredi helped manage steady revenue growth and reduced overall department expenses while analyzing the effectiveness of, and changing where necessary, past fundraising activities.
Adrian San Miguel is the Chief Program Officer for the Idaho Division of Career Technical Education in Boise. Originally from Texas, he is a music graduate from Baylor University and has spent the last 15 years working in higher education in Texas, Indiana, and Idaho. His career and passion have focused on serving special populations, nontraditional students, and diversity-related initiatives. In his current state level role, he provides state leadership for federal and related programs, student leadership career technical organizations, and program quality of CTE programs at the secondary and postsecondary levels. In 2018, he received a gubernatorial appointment to serve as a Commissioner to the Idaho Commission on the Arts (ICA). In addition to supporting the arts through ICA, he is an adjunct faculty at the College of Western Idaho, a two-year community college in the greater Boise metro area, teaching courses centered around popular music, jazz, and global music.
As Burning Man's Director of Communications, Megan oversees the organization's year-round communications team, which facilitates the flow of information to and from Burning Man’s founders, Board of Directors, volunteers, the media, and the broader public. Before joining the Burning Man staff in 2012, Megan spent ten years in the public and non-profit sectors working for environmental protection, HIV/AIDS prevention, political campaigns, and the United States Senate. Born and raised in Juneau, Alaska, Megan earned a Bachelor’s degree in English & Art History from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. communities by using the arts as a vehicle for positive change. Prior to serving as executive director, Lange served as the community development specialist for the arts council and worked for the University of Wyoming, where he used the arts as a catalyst for co-curricular student development initiatives. Lange is a trustee for WESTAF (the Western States Arts Federation). His research interests are centered on exploring and creating structures and atmospheres that promote creativity and he is the recipient of the 2017 Northwest College Alumnus of the Year. Lange is also a musician and composer, performing mostly in the jazz idiom. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music and a master’s degree in public administration.
Andrea Noble is the executive director of the Alaska State Council on the Arts (ASCA), appointed to the position in 2016 when the organization was pursuing legislation to become a public corporation. Previously, Noble joined the agency in 2006 to serve as ASCA’s Public Art and Visual Arts Program Director.
Her love for Alaska began when she moved from western Canada in 1998 with nine boxes and a work visa. She reestablished her ten-year career as an educator with the Anchorage School District and attributes her former position as Curator of Art Education at the Anchorage Museum of History and Art as a pivotal career opportunity that led her to Alaska’s State Arts Agency.
Raised to value diversity and cultural expression as essential to our existence, Noble studied French and Japanese languages and competed nationally in Tae Kwon Do. She holds two bachelor’s degrees: Arts Education from University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, and Honors Visual Arts from University of Western Ontario, London, Canada. She serves as an ex officio board member of the Alaska Arts and Culture Foundation whose mission is to support the Alaska State Council on the Arts.
Jess Peña is an artist and educator from Fairbanks, Alaska. Since 2016, she has served as the Executive Director of Fairbanks Arts Association, the local arts agency for Interior Alaska.
Across her roles as director at Fairbanks Arts, instructor of art appreciation courses at University of Alaska Fairbanks, and a designer of youth art courses, Peña focuses on increasing the accessibility of art concepts across generations. Through community-based work and beyond, she is an advocate for advancing arts support in Alaska. She currently serves on the statewide Arts Education Advisory Committee of the Alaska State Council on the Arts, a group dedicated to weaving networks, aligning policies, and increasing involvement in Alaska arts and cultures.
Peña’s work is motivated by the goal of shifting systems– utilizing the arts as a catalyst, translator, and space for possibility. She is grateful for the opportunity to further these efforts in her hometown, which is situated on the ancestral and unceded traditional lands of the lower Tanana Dene Peoples. Jess is looking forward to continuing this work as part of WESTAF’s board of trustees.
Denver native Brandy Reitter is the Town Manager for Eagle, Colorado and has 15 years of experience working in city management to build communities and improve economic vitality. She started her career in economic development working for the City and County of Denver and the District of Columbia in Washington, DC. Prior to Eagle, she was the Town Administrator for Buena Vista and supported art, events, and music in the Arkansas River Valley as an economic driver. She has served in various leadership roles that have helped communities accomplish Space to Create artist work live projects, art in public places, Creative Districts, downtown revitalization, and affordable housing. Having participated in WESTAF’s Emerging Leaders of Colorado in 2014, Reitter started her journey as an arts and humanities advocate at the state and federal level. In addition to her experiences in municipal government, Reitter received a master’s in public administration from the University of Colorado Denver’s School of Public Affairs in 2008. Brandy also serves on the Board of Directors for Downtown Colorado, Inc. and was appointed by Governor John Hickenlooper to serve on the Colorado Creative Industries Council. In her free time, Reitter enjoys the outdoors and likes to travel.
Brian Rogers is the Executive Director of the Oregon Arts Commission and the Oregon Cultural Trust. Rogers is a senior executive who leads the two organizations with a focus on strategic direction, financial stabilization, grant programs, community placemaking and economic development. His professional background includes serving as Deputy Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and as a planning consultant. He also is an artist and holds a master’s in fine arts from the Graduate School of Art at the University of Arizona.
Karmen Rossi is a Field Representative and Military and Veteran Affairs specialist for U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming. In her position, she oversees a four county service area in which she interacts with business and community leaders, and assists constituents reaching out for assistance with federal agencies. Previously, Rossi was the State Director and a Field Representative for U.S. Representative Liz Cheney. Shei is currently Board President and former director of the Wyoming Arts Alliance (WyAA), a statewide nonprofit arts organization that seeks to provide a voice and effective advocacy for the arts. At WyAA, Rossi oversaw the annual state block booking conference, Arts Advocacy Day and the general operations of the statewide organization. She has been a grant adjudicator for the Wyoming Arts Council's Community Support Grants. Rossi was the Chairman for the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum Western Art Show and Sale, the museum's largest fundraiser for operations. Her other nonprofit experience includes serving as interim executive director for the Wyoming Affiliate of Susan G. Komen, as a member of the education team for Laramie County United Way, and as program director for Girl Scouts of Montana and Wyoming. Rossi holds a bachelor's degree in International Affairs, Italian, and Economics from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Makanani Salā was born and raised in Hālawa, Oʻahu and spent her childhood studying hula. She holds a PhD in History from the University of California, Irvine and undergraduate and graduate degrees in Hawaiian Studies from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. She has worked in the education field for more than a decade at both the secondary and tertiary levels teaching Hawaiian language, mythology, hula, and the history of Hawaiʻi. Salā is also a Kumu Hula, having undergone traditional ʻūniki ʻailolo rites in 2016. She has traveled the world as a soloist and choreographer for several productions and student tours. Most recently, Salā served as the Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of Culture and the Arts for the City and County of Honolulu, where her office oversaw the Public Art program, Sister Cities and International Relations, cultural affairs, and special events. Currently, Makanani serves as Chief of Operations for Gravitas Pasifika, a strategic consulting and creative firm specializing in advisory, research, and creative services with a focus on Pacific Island worldview and content.
Kelly Stowell has been the executive director of the Center for Education, Business, and the Arts since 2008 and also serves as the Kane County film commissioner. He is a native of southern Utah, where he grew up on a ranch in Parowan. Before relocating to Kanab, he was the executive director of the Utah Student Association with the Utah System of Higher Education. Stowell’s background includes stints in Washington, DC with United States Senator Orrin Hatch from Utah. Stowell earned a degree in business and psychology from Utah Valley University.
