Board of Directors : About Us : Ketchikan Area Arts and Humanities Council : Local Arts and Culture : Get Involved : Ketchikan Area Arts and Humanities Council

The Board of Directors of the Ketchikan Area Arts and Humanities Council meet monthly on the third Wednesday of the month. The meetings are in person, beginning at 5:30pm at the Main Street Gallery, 330 Main Street. Please call to verify the date and time and to receive more information if you would like to attend a Board meeting. The KAAHC Board does not meet in March, August or December. (907) 225-2211

Membership on the Ketchikan Area Arts and Humanities Council Board of Directors is educational, enlightening, and hard work. It is also often a lot of fun! After all, the Board provides fiscal oversight for an organization that encourages people of all ages to enjoy the arts and explore the humanities as either a participant or an audience member. Board members come from varying walks of life, and reflect broad community interests. This diversity helps to maintain the vibrancy and relevance of KAAHC 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.

Board of Directors

Officers:

Victoria Lord, President

joined the KAAHC Board in 2013

Victoria Lord discovered her love of the arts early in life while attending Saturday morning classes at the Pasadena Art Museum (now the Norton Simon Museum) – a creative place of free expression, dance, painting and theatrics. That early experience with the arts has influenced her throughout her life and helped to define her career choices and lifelong learning experiences. Victoria brings to the KAAHC board a great deal of knowledge of nonprofit management, philanthropy and program development. Her work experience includes arts and culture program staff with Rasmuson Foundation (2004-2010), Ketchikan Museums senior curator of programs (1997 – 2004), and executive director of the Ketchikan Area Arts and Humanities Council (1986 – 1997). She currently works with various fine art galleries in Ketchikan and is enjoying being surrounded by art and artists everyday. Victoria is an active member of the Ketchikan community as a participant in many nonprofit advisory committees and fundraising activities.

Rain or shine, you may find Victoria wandering the beach in front of her home with her dog Poppy, especially at low tide.
Molly Pihl, Treasurer

(joined Fall 2018)
Nancy Tietje, Secretary

ioined KAAHC Board of Directors in 2012

Participation in the arts is an everyday experience for me and I believe it is for most of our residents …they just don’t realize it yet. Living in Ketchikan has afforded me the chance to expand my art skills and pass them on to many. By day, I am an insurance agent at Davies-Barry Insurance. The rest of the time, I enjoy volunteering among a lot of other things. My art is found in beading. I love those little pieces of glass that have glorious colors, have a wonderful tactile sensation, and can be constructed into little creations.

As a pretty well seasoned non-profit board member, I try to give back to my community in areas where I can help make life a little better for someone else. KAAHC is a perfect fit for me. My stance on the arts is that this community is rich with a wide variety of excellent art venues. Look around and you see, hear and feel it everywhere. As a community we should be proud and do what we can to promote everything that the arts can do for us. Sharing and incorporating art experiences in economic development and daily lives should be a top priority of us all.

Members:

Sean Heismann

Sean Heismann studied piano from the age of 7 at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music Preparatory Department, branched out cello at 9, and finally began vocal training at 17 years old. At college he left his musical studies to study philosophy and after graduating, became a non-commissioned officer in the United State Army, excelling in communication and resource management.

After he left the Army and since arriving in Ketchikan, Sean quickly realized the opportunity for a micro brewery in Ketchikan and the Bawden Street Brewery was born. While he wasn't playing music while at college or in the army he retained a deep connection to it. Here in Ketchikan Sean has picked up his cello again, and is now playing in the Ketchikan Chamber Orchestra. He even played a solo at their last concert!

Please stayed tuned for a more in-depth bio from Sean and a picture!
Nina Hopps

Nina Hopps was an AmeriCorp volunteer in college and has been an active part of her community ever since. She worked for the Hawaiian Humane Society advocacy and outreach for the community and for legislative issues. She also worked at the Hawaiian State Legislature for 2 years, with nonprofits in her position at the Public Access Room, assisting with legislative issues. Here in Ketchikan Nina has been on the Library Advisory Board for 4 years, and is currently their representative to the public.

Nina is a committee member of the Ketchikan Area Arts and Humanities Council's Youth Wearable Art Show and helped to bring it to fruition in in 2022 and has been helping to grow and enrich the program ever since.

Please stay tuned for a more in-depth bio from Nina - and a picture!
Bernice Metcalf

joined May, 2024

I’m Bernice Metcalf. I was born in Ketchikan and have lived the majority of my life here. I have been a member of the Program Development Committee for KAAHC for a few years and recently moved into a seat on the Board, as well. I am a Past Exalted Ruler of the Ketchikan Elks Lodge and am the current Grants Coordinator for the Lodge. I sit on the Ketchikan Nonprofit Collaborative on behalf of Southeast Senior Services. I previously sat on the Homehealth Board.

Artists run rampant in my family and it’s natural for me to be a part of helping to create it. Being involved with KAAHC has been a wonderful opportunity for me to help my community stay artistic.
Lisa Pearson

joined January, 2025

Lisa Pearson is the Head of Adult Services at the Ketchikan Public Library, where she has worked for 26 years. As a librarian, she values the importance of welcoming and respecting all facets of the community and she is grateful for the wide range of artistic opportunities available to people in the Ketchikan area. Although she has been a frequent contributing artist and model for the Wearable Arts Show, she sees herself mainly as the beneficiary of the artistic endeavor of others and would like to use her tenure on the board to support their efforts.
Lisa served on the Holy Name School Auction committee for six years, including 2 years as the committee Chair. She served on the Holy Name Parental Advisory Board for 5 years, including 3 years as President, and has worked closely as a staff liaison with the Friends of the Library. She plans to use her organizational relationships, policy development and communications skills as assets for the KAAHC Board.

Stay tuned for a more in-depth bio from Lisa soon! Plus a picture!!!
Marita Tolson

joined April, 2024

We are excited to welcome Marita to the Board!!! She is the first representative from outside the Ketchikan Gateway Borough to hold a seat on the Ketchikan Area Arts and Humanities Council, representing artists from Prince of Wales Island.

Marita served on Hydaburg Cooperative Association Tribal Council for two years and the XKKF Language Board for three years. Born and raised in an arts family, she is actively involved in the arts community of Hydaburg. Marita's current job is to hold up artists within Alaska by planning and hosting art classes in the Tlingit and Haida native communities. She joined the KAAHC Board to help support local artists and students.
Markel Wallace

joined 2019

Markel Wallace, born in Ketchikan and raised in Saxman, Alaska, is an emerging young leader in the Ketchikan area. Markel experienced an early exposure to the arts at a young age with many days spent at the Edwin C. DeWitt Carving Center in Saxman. She offers hours of time in support of the arts in the Ketchikan Area Arts and Humanities Council with volunteerism cheer. Markel proudly adds an Alaska Native and American Indian heritage + background to the collective since 2019. Volunteerism occurs for Markel within other areas throughout the greater community. Ms. Wallace's interest for all to experience and create the arts aligns with the organization's aim. She appreciates even the art of preparing a good cup of joe to spark an artistic flow. Markel resides in Saxman.