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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
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David Marty -
Reif President
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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.
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John Miller -
Technical Director
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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.
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Shannon Rajala -
Marketing/Publicity Director
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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).
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Pat Hoff - Bookkeeper
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“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!
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Steve
Downing -
Development Director
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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.
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Jeremy Dewey- Box Office Manager
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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.
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Faith
Mitchell -
Dance Director
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Faith Mitchell is an
exquisite performer, creative choreographer, and enthusiastic
instructor. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in dance from San
Francisco State University and is currently working toward her Master of
Arts in Education emphasizing teaching dance K-12. Faith has trained
with renowned teachers from all over the country including Arturo
Fernandez, Albirda Rose, Frank Hatchett, Wendy Diamond, and Kirsten
Lind. Her extensive studies include tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, hip-hop,
pointe, and dunham technique. Getting her start as a competition dancer,
Faith has been the elite winner of several High Point competition awards
not to mention named one of Dance Olympus Las Vegas, NV VIP dancers.
Faith has more accolades to her resume than suited to name. She has
danced professionally with Gainesville Ballet Company, GA, Embaje Dance
Company, CA, Out on a Limb Dance Company, and Imagine Dance Company, MN.
She has also performed as a featured dancer for the Minneapolis Art
Institute with Eclectic Events, Great Clips Industrial with Showhouse
Productions, and many more.
Faith has successfully developed and directed children and adult dance
programs, and has recently been instructing and adjudicating dance
classes and competitions all over the United States. Her versatility,
innovative choreography, and passion to teach are the main components to
her excellence.
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Jane Venezia -
Dance Instructor
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Jane received
her early ballet training at the Jordan College of
Music, Special Instruction Division, an outreach
program of Butler University in Indianapolis, IN.
She was awarded a full scholarship at the Boston
Ballet School. She was also selected for the
apprentice/trainee scholarship program of the Royal
Winnipeg Ballet in Canada. She was a company member
of the New Hampshire Ballet and while there was
featured in soloist roles. She later joined
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and danced in their
productions of "Giselle", "Nutcracker" and "Swan
Lake". Jane moved to New York City and resided there
for eight years. During that time she was a member
of the Radio City Music Hall ballet ensemble and
performed daily for thousands of audience members.
She has been a faculty member of both Morelli and
Caranchi Dance Studios in New York City. She also
performed with the Lorenz/Mikota Ballet Ensemble
with performances at the Choreoground Theatre on
West 14th Street in New York.
Jane opened the
Belle Mead Ballet School in the fall of 1992. As
artistic director of the Belle Mead Ballet Company,
she has choreographed delightful and entertaining
fully narrated versions of The Nutcracker, Beauty
and the Beast, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, The
Wizard of Oz and The Little Mermaid. The company is
dedicated to introducing children and families
throughout New Jersey to the art of ballet through
easily understandable formats. Jane's company has
received grants from the New Jersey State Council of
the Arts, Johnson & Johnson, Merrill Lynch and the
Princeton Emergency Physicians. Jane's students have
been admitted to the Joffrey Ballet Trainee program
and accepted for the American Ballet Theatre summer
workshops as well as attending Central Pennsylvania
Youth Ballet's summer program as members of their
top levels.
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Christina Andersen -
Dance Instructor
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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. |
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