STAFF
Kristen Chesak, Executive Director
Kristen joined the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo in June 2016. Prior to this appointment, Kristen had a 22-year career at the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre – serving in the positions of Intern, Carpenter, Lighting Designer, Production Manager, and most recently as it’s Executive Director – a position she held for 11 years. Originally from Seattle, Washington, Kristen has also had the pleasure of working for the Group Theatre, The Alice B., and the Annex Theatre. A graduate of both Kalamazoo College and Western Michigan University, Kristen holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts and Communication and an M.F.A. in Performing Arts Administration. She serves as a commission member on the Kalamazoo County Public Art Commission, and an advisory council member of the KNAC. Kristen is also an accomplished lighting designer and still offers her skills to area theatres and programs as time permits.
Carla Bell, Administrative Assistant
Carla joined the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo in 2023 as the Administrative Assistant and reports to the Executive Director. She is a Kalamazoo native and attends the Haworth College of Business at Western Michigan University. Her background is in healthcare administration and project management. In her free time, she enjoys time with her family, yoga, and cooking. Honored to have been invited to the team, she is looking forward to supporting the vision, mission, and core values of ACGK for our community.
Aubrey Chambers, Community Box Office Associate
Aubrey joined the Box Office crew in 2024. She is a student at Western Michigan University studying history and fine arts. Her latest adventures found her working at Glass Art Kalamazoo, and at Glacier National Park.
Michelle Fan, Box Office Associate
Michelle is entering her junior year at Portage Central High School in Fall 2023. As a Ballet Arts Ensemble company Dancer, Michelle is dancing for her third year with the ensemble and her second year as a full member. She also has experience choreographing and dancing for CAGK’s Chinese New Year Gala. She has been dancing for as long as she can remember and enjoys it very much.
Jinli Feng, Staff Accountant
Jinli Feng joined the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo in December 2021 as Staff Accountant. In her role, she oversees daily financial records management and reports to the Finance Director. Prior to joining the group, Jinli spent over two years as bookkeeper at the Kalamazoo Chinese Academy and she continues in the capacity of co-program director for Kalamazoo Chinese Academy STARTALK Institute. Jinli received her B.S., with a major in accounting, from Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, China. Her outside interests include playing the piano and dancing. Her interest in dance led to performances of Chinese folk dance for Chinese New Year at the Chenery Auditorium in 2019 and 2020.
Sekoya Gordon, Custodian
Sekoya started as our custodian in 2024. She has a passion for helping nonprofits and the community and is a welcome addition to our staff.
Erin Hope, Community Box Office Associate
Erin joined the Box Office in 2024. She is a graduate of Northern Michigan University and has a BA in Theatre and Entertainment Arts with minors in English and Deaf Studies. She also enjoys working at various theatrical outfits such as SLS Productions, Wings Event Center, and Farmers Alley Theatre.
Carol Keeney, Tessitura Database Administrator
Carol is a remote worker that supports our Tessitura consortium serving four organizations in our community. Carol joined the Arts Council in 2022, and currently calls North Carolina home. She has an extensive background in database management, and has assisted nonprofits and arts organizations with their ticketing, development, and membership needs for over 20 years
Raphael Maranon, Community Box Office Associate
Raphael is our newest addition to the Box Office. He is currently a student at Western Michigan University studying Cello Performance. His other experiences include the Operations Intern at Fontana Chambers Arts, a Graduate Teaching Assistant for the Department of Music, an Artist Scholar in Cello with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, and an Intern with the Marwen Podcast project.
Jacob Miller, Box Office Associate
Jacob joined the Box Office staff in 2022, assisting patrons of the various organizations our Community Box Office serves. He now works full-time at the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre but occasionally helps out for night-time and weekend performances as he is able.
Eric Oliphant, Operations Manager/Membership Director
Eric joined the Arts Council in August 2020 as Office Coordinator and was promoted to Operations Manager/Membership Director in the fall of 2021. In his new role he continues to support the activities of the Arts Council’s daily operations but will be much more involved in the shape and direction of the membership program and member benefits offered by ACGK.
Prior to joining the ACGK, Eric was the sales coordinator at Western Michigan University’s Miller Auditorium, where he worked alongside an incredible team to bring touring Broadway shows, comedy acts, and performances of all kinds to Kalamazoo. He had a brief cameo as the choir director/accompanist for the “Sister’s Christmas Catechism” performance. Eric also previously served as the auditorium’s office coordinator.
Luke Ostrem, Community Box Office Associate
Luke joined the Box Office in 2024. He comes to us with a background in IT Development, Product Design, Sales and Quality Control. He has a BA in Media and Information from Michigan State University, and five years of experience in customer service. He is a licensed pharmacist technician and ROIAL Stage-Play Director.
Nicki Poer, Director of Engagement
Nicki joined the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo in April 2023 as Director of Engagement. In this newly created role, she works on development and marketing efforts to promote arts engagement opportunities in the greater Kalamazoo community. She came to the Arts Council from working in the advancement division at Kalamazoo College where she worked with athletics and special reunion giving.
Kalamazoo has been home since 2008 when she became the Director of Education and Outreach at the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre after working in the education department at Hartford Stage. At the Civic, she founded and developed the Academy of Theatre Arts which provides youth and adult students with hands-on educational opportunities in performance and technical theatre. After 10 years at the Civic, Nicki served as the Executive Director of local youth literacy nonprofit, Read and Write Kalamazoo, where she set up operations and discovered her love of telling an organization’s story through grant writing.
Rachael Reinholtz, Community Box Office Associate
Rachel comes to the Box Office with lots of local experience from the Kalamazoo State Theatre, and the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre. She joined the Box Office in 2024. She also assists patrons through her role as a House Manager for the Jolliffe Theatre in the Epic Center.
Jennifer Riley, Custodian
Jen is our newest custodian, with a background in retail, customer service, and technical theatre. She joined the Epic Center staff in 2024 as a custodian but also serves as a theatre technician for the Jolliffe Theatre. Previous experiences include Busch Gardens, Walt Disney World, and Binder Park Zoo.
Kim Shaw, Programs Director
Prior to joining the ACGK, Kim worked primarily as an educator, illustrator, and working art maker with an emphasis in painting and the practice of expressive art therapy. Most recently, Kim taught at Kalamazoo Valley Community College and Education for the Arts. Other educational endeavors include being the Arts Director/Art Educator at Kazoo School, arts faculty at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, and teaching at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. Throughout the last 20 years Kim has also worked as an independent art maker under the name Kim Shaw Art.
This work includes teaching workshops and private lessons as well as commission work in painting and illustration. Kim is a studio resident of the Jerico maker’s space in the Edison Neighborhood and continues to engage with painting endeavors and collaborate with other art makers whenever possible. A graduate of both Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Kim holds degrees in Illustration and Studio Arts with a focus in Art Education and Painting.
Kim Chandler-Williams, Box Office Associate
By day, Kim is a health care worker dedicated to her patients, and by night she enjoys acting, stage managing, and working behind the scenes in theatre. Kim joined the Arts Council to support the Community Box Office in 2021, and you can see her smiling face in the Box Office at productions around town.
Jeff Weber, Epic Center Director
Jeff joined the Arts Council in January 2023 as director of the Kalamazoo Cultural Center. Most recently he led Orangetheory Fitness Kalamazoo and Orangetheory Fitness Portage as studio manager. Acting as general manager of two fitness studios, Jeff orchestrated the day to day sales & operations and staff as well as operated OTF’s signature events. Jeff has over 20 years’ experience in event and facility management including facility manager at Wings Event Center and Wings West helping to bring the sport of curling to Kalamazoo, as well as numerous other events, including Elton John in concert and the United States Figure Skating Association Synchronized Skating Sectionals & Nationals. He served as general manager at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek for two years where he oversaw all aspects of the multiuse arena as well as an outdoor festival space.
Nicole Weber, Community Box Office Manager
Nicole supports the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo as the Community Box Office Manager. Since joining the Arts Council Staff in 2021, she assisted with the creation and development of the new Community Box Office. She can be seen putting her customer service skills to work, and actively assisting community partners with running ticket sales for many performances and concerts across greater Kalamazoo. As a native of Portage, MI, Nicole grew up with a strong appreciation for the arts in the greater Kalamazoo area. In 2019, she graduated from Ferris State University with an Associate Degree in Digital Media. Music, theatre, storytelling, and art of all mediums continue to be of great importance in her life.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Arts Council is seeking board members! Email info@kalamazooarts.org with interest to discuss this volunteer opportunity with a current board member.
Bob Miller, President
Simon A. Thalmann, Vice President
Nadean Knight, Secretary
Jacquelyn DeWaters, Treasurer
Joel Amos
Lauren Carney
Kandy Grady
Thomas Hamann
Remi Harrington
Rebecca Hartzell
Montana Major
