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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

 

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.

 

Work phone: (218) 327-5780
Cell phone: (218) 259-8215
E-mail: david(at)reifcenter.org

John Miller - Technical Director

John

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.

Work phone: (218) 327-5786
Cell phone: (218) 259-8216
E-mail: john(at)reifcenter.org

 

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).

Work phone: (218) 327-5756
Cell phone: (218) 259-2926
E-mail: shannon(at)reifcenter.org

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!

Work phone: (218) 327-5785
E-mail: pat(at)reifcenter.org

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.
 

Work phone: (218) 327-5784
E-mail: steve(at)reifcenter.org

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.
 

Work phone: (218) 327-5780
E-mail: arts(at)reifcenter.org

 

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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Myles Reif Performing Arts Center
720 Conifer Drive
Grand Rapids, Minnesota 55744
218-327-5780
Fax 218-327-5798

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