Board of Directors 2012

Membership on the KAAHC board is educational, enlightening, and hard work. It is also often a lot of fun. After all, we run the business end of a group that encourages people of all ages to enjoy the arts as either a participant or an audience member.  Board members come from varying walks of life, and reflect broad community interests. This diversity helps manage the ‘business’ of art in a manner that benefits all segments of the Greater Ketchikan Area. The variety of visual, literary, and performing arts that KAAHC provides strengthens the community and adds to the quality of life in Southeast Alaska. A strong Board ensures these programs thrive.
Currently there are two vacant seats on the Arts Council Board.  If you’re interested in getting involved, please contact us at 225-2211!!

Officers:

Amanda Painter, President (Elected 2010)  Amanda graduated from Hollins College in Virginia with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and shortly after, headed west. Here she found her home and her niche, operating vessels in Southeast Alaska since 1985, initially in the fishing industry, currently in the tourism industry managing Allen Marine Tours in Ketchikan. She holds a USCG 500 Ton Masters License. She admits she is not an artist(though wishes she were!) but has been an art enthusiast and advocate since her first year of intensive Art History in high school.

Chris Rose, Vice President (Elected 2008) Chris has worked for the U.S. Coast Guard since 1991 as an Environmental Protection Specialist including participation on several working groups and committees in varying capacities related to the environmental management field. He earned an Associates of Arts degree in 1982 at Chowan College in Murfreesboro , North Carolina ; and then a BFA in 1985 while attending The Atlanta College of Arts, in Georgia .  Most recently he’s been co-teaching children, through private lessons, art appreciation through various drawing techniques.  Chris’s passion for the arts continues with pastel painting and pencil drawings in his journal.

Open position, Treasurer

Jean Bartos, Secretary I’m a weaver, dyer, and seamstress, but my art interests are much more broad.  I’m interested in arts education as a way to improve kids’ coordination, awareness of their world, and academic achievement.  I’m interested in artistic impression, whether it be in the visual arts or the performing arts.  In my next life, I want to be an actress or a costume designer!

Members-at-Large:

Gretchen Klein As a lifetime resident of Ketchikan, I have worked in fundraising and community outreach campaigns for the last fifteen years forming many long term personal relationships within Ketchikan and throughout Alaska. I have also worked in the business sector for 12 years prior to becoming embedded in non-profit work, so I understand the challenges facing small businesses and other industries in our area. It is important that significant focus is given to economic development in Ketchikan for the next 20 to 30 years so we maintain the quality of life we currently enjoy.  KAACH and other organizations in our area are important contributors to the quality of life and must continue to be braided into the overall community planning process. As a facilitator for many successful events and organizations in our area, I have been able to bring key stakeholders together to accomplish great initiatives, and to utilize volunteers to their full potential. My ties throughout Alaska, Ketchikan, other organizations, and people, enable me to help promote and educate a wide range of socioeconomic groups to the opportunities and importance of arts in our region. I thrive on creating a natural environment of philanthropic giving that grows while it inspires others to join as life time donors, and members. It’s all about the story we tell, and the fashion we go about connecting and cultivating audiences, donors, members, artists and our community.

Mitch Seaver (elected 2010)  Mitch practices law with the Zeigler Law Firm. When not in a courtroom, Mitch can be found hanging out with his good friends, a Canon 5DMkII and a Canon 1DMkIIn.  Check out his photos!

Jeanette Sweetman, Student Representative Jeanette is a high school senior and artist. She has led Kayhi’s National Art Honor Society for three years after bringing it to Ketchikan in 2009/2010. Jeanette is an active volunteer for First City Players and the Monthly Grind. Her main mediums include experimental darkroom printing and oil paint. She is hoping to study Art and Business next year in Anchorage.

Laurie Thomas, Past President Laurie has a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education from Western Washington University and a Master’s degree from University of Alaska, Anchorage. She first moved to Ketchikan in 1982 and has lived here continuously since 1995.  She directs the Early Learning Program at Community Connections, and is the Deputy Director for the organization. She currently serves on the Steering Committee for the White Cliff Center.

Two Member-At-Large Vacancies Contact us if you want to get involved!

Organizational Representatives:

Roy McPherson (Ketchikan Community Concert Band representative). Roy has taught music (band and choir) for 25 years – at the elementary, junior high, high school and college levels. He is co-owner of McPherson Music, and directs three youth bands there. He has been a resident of Ketchikan for 25 years. He is the founding director of the Ketchikan Community Concert Band. He has a Master of Arts in music from Central Michigan University.

Terry O’Hara (First City Players representative)

Tom LeCompte (The Monthly Grind representative) Tom has a BA/BS in Elementary Ed. & Physical Ed. Tom has been teaching, coaching and administrating for 28 years. Tom has been one of the producers of The Monthly Grind for 6 years, and has served on the board of First City Players for two years. Hobbies include: reading, surfing (when he can get next to a large body of water), playing music and singing.

Sandy Shepard (Ketchikan Watercolor Society representative). Sandy has been a Ketchikan resident for 28 years. She has been a painter since her teens, with her primary interest in watercolor as well as printmaking and color pencil. Sandy is owner of Fluke Signs.

Karen Pitcher
(Sam Pitcher Memorial Fund). Karen grew up in Minnesota and moved to Ketchikan in 1972. She immediately fell in love with Ketchikan , and the friendly, creative people who live here. She was a commercial power troller for 26 years with her husband, Dave. Their son, Sam, spent summers fishing with them from the time he was just a few months old. She has always enjoyed and supported the arts; she personally likes to draw, but she appreciates all forms of the arts. Karen has a Bachelors of Education degree.

Hunter Davis (Bar Harbor Caledonia Society).

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