Steering Committee

2014-15 EALDC Steering Committee:

Anne Grobstich Erps

EALDC Co-chair; Programs & Operations Manager, Chorus America

Anne Grobstich Erps is programs & operations manager at Chorus America. Previously, she has worked as house manager at Greenberg Theater in Washington, DC and as the marketing assistant at Hancher Auditorium in Iowa City, IA. She is an advocate for the arts and has a sincere passion for community building through the arts. Anne contributes to the arts in her community by serving as co-chair with the Emerging Arts Leaders DC, event monitor with The Smithsonian Associates, and grant advisory panelist with the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.

Originally from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, she holds a Master of Arts in Arts Management from American University and a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a business administration minor and a performing arts entrepreneurial certificate from the University of Iowa.

Follow Anne on twitter @anne_grobstich.

Joe Frandoni

EALDC Co-chair; Marketing and Constituent Services Manager, Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County

Joe Frandoni has worked in arts management and advocacy for the past five years; advocating for expanded cross-cultural dialogue, increasing visibility for artists, and implementing innovative business solutions for cultural nonprofits. Having earned a Masters Degree in Arts Management from Carnegie Mellon University as well as his Graduate Degree in Innovation and Organization of Culture and the Arts from the University of Bologna in Bologna Italy, Joe brings with him an extraordinary amount of knowledge and experience. Always striving to help arts organizations expand their brand and implement sustainable business solutions, he has held previous positions with the DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the Kennedy Center, the Center for Arts Management and Technology and as a private consultant providing capacity buildilng, strategic planning and marketing services to a myriad of different local and regional cultural organizations. A native of Ohio, he is very excited to work with all of the arts organizations that the AHCMC serves and become involved with the incredible cultural initiatives that are taking place in Montgomery County.

Follow Joe on twitter @yiplar.

Kayleigh Bryant

Mansion Programming Coordinator, Strathmore Hall

Kayleigh Bryant-Greenwell is a local arts writer, curator, and arts administrator. She works with and mentors emerging artists in residence as they begin their careers at Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland, as well as managing all the other visual arts programs in the Mansion.

Kayleigh earned her B.A. in Art History from the University of Maryland, College Park and her M.A. in Museum Studies from the George Washington University. She freelances as an art critic for BrightestYoungThings.com, CBS Local DC Online, Examiner.com, and others. In addition to serving on the Steering Committees of Emerging Arts Leaders DC, Kayleigh also serves on the steering committees of Emerging Arts Advocates – an initiative of Maryland Citizens for the Arts in Baltimore, Maryland, and the Young Patrons Committee of Torpedo Art Factory in Alexandria, Virginia. She often partners with the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities to review artist grant applications as a guest advisory panelist. Kayleigh curated five art exhibits in 2014 at Project 4 gallery, artdc gallery, Strathmore, and Target Gallery, and is currently working on several exhibits for 2015 throughout the region.

Follow Kayleigh on twitter @KayleighBinDC.

Katy Beth Cassell

Development Coordinator, Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland

Katy Beth Cassell is the Development Coordinator for the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland. Previously, she worked in development at both the Folger Shakespeare Library and Imagination Stage. She also serves as the Communications Committee Co-Chair on the Board of Directors of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of DC (YNPNdc).

Originally from the upstate of South Carolina, Katy Beth has lived in DC for three years. She graduated with a BA in Theatre Performance from North Greenville University, and subsequently toured the country as a performer with the National Theatre for Children out of Minneapolis. She is a Southern food connoisseur, an avid DC sports fan, and a lover of great books, live theatre, and vinyl records.

Follow Katy Beth on twitter @kbismyname.

Chelsey Christensen

Associate Director of Development, Imagination Stage

Chelsey hails from Decorah, IA – the land of corn and Norwegian Lutherans. Her passion for performing led her to Stephens College in Columbia, MO – where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.F.A. in Theatre Arts. Washington, DC has been her home since July 2008. She is the Associate Director of Development at Imagination Stage in Bethesda, MD. In addition to her work with Imagination Stage, she also serves on the Steering Committee of Emerging Arts Leaders DC, on the Young Professional Board of Chris4Life Colon Cancer Foundation, and on the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce Next Exec Committee. In her free time she enjoys performing, playing bocce, exploring the city with her DC Besties, and relaxing/wedding planning at home with her fiancé and pup.

Follow Chelsey on twitter @chelseydc.

 

 

Ethan Clark

Manager, Arts in Education at the National PTA

Ethan Clark joined National PTA in September 2012. He oversees the development and implementation of educational programs that help PTAs to work with school leaders on improvements to the school that enrich the educational experience for all children in the areas of arts and cultural exploration. Mr. Clark has spent more than five years of his career developing arts education programs to support student success. Prior to joining National PTA, Ethan worked with the Arts Education Partnership on projects such as the State Policy Database and ArtsEdSearch. From 2010 to 2011, Ethan worked with a number of arts organizations, including the National Endowment for the Arts, the Future of Music Coalition, and the Washington Choral Arts Society. Ethan began his career as a high school director of bands and music teacher in Pennsylvania’s public school system. Ethan has a master of arts in arts management from American University, Washington, DC. He lives in DC and volunteers for a variety of local and national service organizations.

Follow Ethan on twitter @clarkethan.

Steven Dawson

Marketing Manager, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company

As a former actor, Steven has been involved in the arts in one way or another for over a decade. He received his Master’s in Arts Management from American University, and is currently the Marketing Manager at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in downtown Washington, DC. His capstone work was on social media use for arts organizations, and he continues to speak at conferences on the subject.

Follow Steven on twitter @artsmansteven.

 

 

Elena Forbes

Development Associate, GALA Hispanic Theatre

Elena Forbes is currently the Development Associate at GALA Hispanic Theatre, supporting Executive Staff  in all development efforts, and is responsible for grant writing and management, individual donor solicitations, and comprehensive funder prospecting. Elena graduated from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC with a Bachelor of Music degree in Instrumental Music Education and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts degree in Arts Management from George Mason University. Before joining GALA, Elena worked primarily in the development department at the Atlas Performing Arts Center as an Administrative Coordinator and prior to that, got her start in the arts management field at the DC Youth Orchestra Program. Outside of her professional life, Elena enjoys cooking, playing intramural dodge ball, and exploring DC’s contemporary art museums and exhibits.

Follow Elena on twitter @forbes_elena.

Stephanie Johnson

Assistant Director of Major Gifts, Washington Performing Arts

Stephanie Johnson is the Assistant Director of Major Gifts for Washington Performing Arts. Previously, she was the Manager of Annual Giving for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s second full-time home at Strathmore in North Bethesda, MD, and prior to moving to the DC area was the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra Coordinator.

Growing up in Central Florida, Stephanie studied piano and ballet before earning her Bachelor of Music degree in Horn Performance and English Literature from Florida State University. She also holds an MBA from the University of Cincinnati and an MA in Arts Administration from the UC College-Conservatory of Music. She serves on the Steering Committee of Emerging Arts Leaders DC and the Membership Committee of the DC Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, where she coordinates a monthly brown bag lunch series for arts fundraisers.  In her free time, she enjoys reading, running, watching college football, and volunteering with The Reading Connection.

Follow Stephanie on Twitter @SBJohnson19.

Andrew Llewellyn

Orchestra Manager, Maryland Youth Symphony Orchestra

Andrew Llewellyn is an arts administrator with experience in concert production, event planning, grant writing, and website development. He is currently the Operations and Production Coordinator for both St. Mary’s College of Maryland’s music department and the Chesapeake Orchestra in Leonardtown, MD. He also works in a similar capacity for the Alba Music Festival and its Young Artists Program in Italy. Additionally, Andrew was recently appointed the Orchestra Manager for the Maryland Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Andrew holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a trombone performance minor from St. Mary’s College of Maryland. He continues to study trombone with Bryan Bourne, former principal trombonist of “The President’s Own Marine Band,” and perform with the Chesapeake Orchestra. He is an Honorary Member of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America and is passionate about international travel, personal fitness, and brewing his own coffee.

Follow Andrew on twitter @afllewellyn.

Briana Murray

Assistant Director of Corporate Relations, Smithsonian Institution

Briana is a passionate arts manager and fundraiser with nearly 8 years of experience in corporate sponsorships, partnership marketing, and brand alignment to support DC’s creative community. She recently joined the Smithsonian Institution’s Office of Advancement as Assistant Director of Corporate Relations, and previously worked at Destination DC and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Briana also serves as Development Director for Gourmet Symphony, a new organization reimagining the symphonic experience for DC’s local audience and also as Development Consultant for the Youth Orchestras of Prince William County.

A self-professed “culture vulture” and locavore, Briana is an active member of DC’s nonprofit and cultural communities. She sits on the Steering Committee for the Emerging Art Leaders of DC, and is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Metro Events Specialists, and the Young Nonprofit Leadership Network.

Megan Pagado

Assistant Manager of Digital Media, Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center

Megan Pagado is the Assistant Manager of Digital Media at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland, College Park. Previously, she served as Digital Communications and Outreach Manager at the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County, MD, where she served Montgomery County’s cultural community through marketing services, professional development and capacity-building opportunities and advocacy work. Megan also serves on the board of Forum Theatre. She holds a B.A. in Public Communications and a minor in Music from Washington Adventist University (formerly Columbia Union College).

Follow Megan on twitter @andmegansaid.

J.R. Russ

Grant Manager, DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities

JR Russ is a Washington, DC native who has spent his entire professional career in the metropolitan DC area. He’s worked on and off stage with local and regional dance and theatre companies, including Adventure Theatre, BosmaDance, Discovery Theater, Jazzlan Dance Theater, Studio Theatre 2nd Stage, Synetic Theater, and the Washington Savoyards. He is co-grant manager for the Artist Fellowship Grant program at the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities by day, and sits on the Board of SpeakeasyDC by night. He is also active in the local Burning Man community, where he might be known by some as Nexus.

Follow J.R. on twitter @AWayofLife0.

 

Emily Travis

Senior Associate, Communications and Government Affairs at the Association of Performing Arts Presenters

Emily Travis is the senior communications and government affairs associate at the Association of Performing Arts Presenters in Washington, DC.  She holds a master’s degree in Arts Management from George Mason University and has a background in music and museum work.  Emily has written about music for various publications including The Washington Post and the GRAMMY Magazine.

Follow Emily on twitter @Emily_M_T.

 

 

 

 

Past EALDC Steering Committee members include:
Corinne Baker, Washington Performing Arts Society
Michael Bigley, Cafritz Foundation
Jennifer Bowman, DeVos Institute of Arts Management, Kennedy Center
Tim Carrigan, Institute of Museum and Library Services
Jonathon Carrington, Dissonance Dance Theatre
Jonas Cartano, Chorus America
Ellen Chenoweth, Dance Exchange
Kate Cushman, Americans for the Arts
Christi Esterly Schwarten, Fairfax Choral Society
Helen Gineris, Cultural Tourism DC
Angela Goerner, Hamiltonian Artists, Inc.
Michelle Grove, Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County
Angela Han, National Assembly of State Arts Agencies
Stephanie Hanson, Americans for the Arts
Chase Maggiano, Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC
Alison McNeil, Women of Color in the Arts
Kate Michel, Cultural Development Corporation
Tim Mikulski, National Trust for Historic Preservation
Elizabeth McCloskey Miller, VSA & Accessibility, Kennedy Center
Samantha Pollack, Washington Performing Arts Society
Anna Smith, International Arts & Artists
Michael Steelman, George Washington University
Sunny Widmann, National Arts Strategies

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