|
2007-2008 Reif Arts Council Board
Donna Vennie - Chair
Mike Iaizzo- Vice Chair
Sue Mattson - Secretary
Ellen Bogardus Szymaniak - Treasurer
Kirk Adams
David Clusiau
Cory Griemann
Sherry Harapat
Mark Hawkinson
Mary Ives
Mary Jo Jess
Tom Karges
David Loken
Cliff Schroeder
John Reif
Honorary Endowment Fund Chair
Reif Center Staff
|
David Marty -
Reif President
 |
David started working with the Reif Arts Council in
November 1996. He has extensive arts administration experience at the local, state
and national level. He won a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship for Arts
Administration in 1985, and has spoken frequently at national and regional conferences on
issues related to arts in rural places. In 1995, as a result of his efforts in arts
education ("The Arts are Cool in School"), the Arts Council of Greater
Grand Rapids (Michigan) was awarded the prestigious Governor's Arts Award.
|
|
John Miller -
Technical Director
|
Born and
raised in Alaska, John caught the theater bug acting in
his high school productions. He received his
undergraduate degree from the University of Alaska
Fairbanks and a MFA in Theatre Design from the University of Mississippi.
After three years in Mississippi, John got so hot that
he still wears shorts through the Minnesota winter to
cool off! John brings several years of experience
as the Set/Lighting Designer and Technical Director for
the University of Alaska, Fairbanks Summer Fine Arts
Camp, and as Master Electrician for Perseverance Theatre
in Juneau, Alaska. John started at the Reif Center
in 1996 when they brought in six shows a year, this year
we are bringing in over 35 shows!
He has two spoiled cats named Kuu and Kes and they have their
own page
here.
|
|
Shannon Rajala -
Marketing/Publicity Director
 |
Shannon joined the Reif Center in 1999, and has not
slowed down since. She has seen the Center grow in leaps and bounds, from
the high-end renovations, to the new Online Ticketing Program, as well as
the successful floor tiling campaign she helped orchestrate. Shannon is
responsible for implementing new and cost-effective ways of marketing to and
communicating with Reif Center patrons, such as the reif-mail e-mail
program. She is also hard at work trying to introduce new faces to our
fantastic facility!
Shannon is currently on the Board of Directors for ICTV, and a Grand Rapids
Chamber of Commerce Ambassador.
She was the recipient of the Gold Star Award for outstanding achievement
in customer service, awarded by the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce in
2003.
A native of Duluth, MN, she studied Communications at The College of St.
Benedict, and continued with her degree at The University of Minnesota
Duluth, where she met her husband Eric, they now have two daughters,
Allyson(13) and Lindsey(6).
|
|
Pat Hoff - Bookkeeper
 |
“The buck stops here” describes the important role that Pat has at the
Reif Center. She has a solid understanding of accounting principles and
will roll-up-her sleeves everyday to track all income and expenses
of the Reif Center. As an added bonus, Pat has extensive
experience in the travel industry and she takes care of needed lodging
and travel arrangements for artists performing at the Reif (as well as
the Reif staff). Described as having the ability to “do anything that
she puts her mind to”, Pat is a talented artist and interior decorator.
One visit to the Hoff residence, and you’ll understand why!
|
|
Steve
Downing -
Development Director
 |
Steve
Downing has a BA from St. John's University, in Collegeville,
Minnesota, and has been a teacher, house painter, typewriter
salesperson, musician, theatre technician, freelance writer,
conflict resolution mediator, and has occasionally worked for money,
too. From 2001 to 2007 he was Executive Director of the MacRostie
Art Center in Grand Rapids. He had off-stage and on-stage roles at
the Reif in its early days and follows a natural progression now to
the very last desk in the back corner of the front office, where he
feels right at home.
|
|
Jeremy Dewey- Box Office Manager
 |
Jeremy
graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Bemidji State University in
May of 2007 and started working for the Reif Center in June of the
same year. While his background is primarily in human
services, he has had stints working in construction, furniture
repair/delivery, bartending, and grounds keeping. When not in
the office, he enjoys a variety of activities in the outdoors,
especially fishing and hunting. He lives with his fiancée in
Grand Rapids.
|
|
Christina Andersen -
Dance Instructor
 |
Christina graduated with a B.A. in Dance and Economics from St. Olaf
College in Northfield, Minnesota. Throughout her dance career, she has had the privilege
of working with, and performing works by, Art Bridgman/Myrna Packard, Jan Erkert and Lara
Benusis. She has studied modern dance and somatic movement under various artists such as
Lisa Race, Sean Curran, Janice Roberts and Beth Biegler. During the two years she lived in
New York City, Christina continued to study and perform dance, adding STOTT Pilates and
Yoga to her teaching repertoire. While in New York, she worked at Jivamukti Yoga Center,
Atmananda Yoga & Holistic Center and The Pilates Center of New York. She holds
national certifications from the American Council on Exercise, The National Yoga Alliance,
and The STOTT Pilates Merrithew Corporation. |
|
|
