Partnerships and Collaborations, Pitch Sessions and Networking

2:30 – 5:30 PM  Partnerships and Collaborations : Rooted in Equity, Centering Community Engagement – Workshop
The Arts & Economy Prosperity 6 study was a national study examining policies and practices in grantmaking, many of which have been historically and systemically unbalanced. Dr. Genna Styles-Lyas, Director of LAA Community Engagement & Equity in Research, Americans for the Arts presents an in depth and interactive session to lead to identifying possible solutions for our organizations and community engagement.

Dr. Genna Styles-Lyas -As the former  AEP6 Director, Community Engagement & Equity, Dr. Genna Styles-Lyas key responsibilities included liaising between community partners and national consultants; developing and implementing resources that support engagement with the research study across cultural and arts organizations, especially those serving and centering on BIPOC communities; and all other aspects of the survey including the post-study evaluation. Genna is looking forward to making an impact in her new title and expanded role as the Director of LAA Community Engagement and Equity in Research. For over twelve years Genna worked as a Teaching Artist for arts organizations locally and nationally. Genna has most recently served as the Education & Engagement Program Manager at Everyman Theatre. During this time Genna served as a Panelist for the Maryland State Arts Council providing arts expertise to evaluate the Teaching Artist Roster applications, guiding the process with a focus on the principles of equity and justice within teaching artist opportunities. Genna also served as the Director of Education and Outreach at SPdp (Staycee Pearl dance project) in Pittsburgh, PA, where she helped develop artistic standards for the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards. Genna earned her Doctorate in Education in Out of School Learning with a focus on Teaching Artists in marginalized communities from the University of Pittsburgh and completed her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, with a concentration on arts education, from Northcentral University. With a BFA in Acting and a minor in Musical Theater from Point Park University Genna became a member of the Actor’s Equity Association, performing regionally, nationally, and internationally.

6:30 – 9:00 PM  Pitch Session and Strategies For Your Pitch – Panel
Utilize all that you have learned in this series to professionally pitch your artist business and non-profit organization.
Panelists include:
Tad Janes – Producing Artistic Director, Maryland Ensemble Theater
Sue Leveille – Director, Give Rise Studio
Mary Ford-Naill – Economic Development Manager, City of Frederick
Becky Kaler – Business Development Specialist, City of Frederick
Karen Kalantzis – Senior Business Consultant, Maryland Women’s Business Center
Darren Sheffield – Founder, MIDAR International
Yemi Fagbohun – Visual and Commercial Artist

Tad Janes is Producing Artistic Director and Founder of Maryland Ensemble Theatre and Program Manager for the Frederick Community College Drama Department. Tad grew up in Fairmont, WV, holds a BFA in Theatre from WV University, an MA in Arts Administration from Goucher College, and is currently working on a Phd at the University of Kent in Canterbury, UK. Janes lived in Chicago from 1988-1993 and worked at Baliwick Theatre, Arts Lane, Big Pig Productions, Musical Repertorie Theatre, with Second City offshoot They Must Know Somebody, and many self-produced projects both as an actor and director. Tad worked for the Contemporary American Theatre Festival in 1991 & 1992 and performed in the plays Shepard, Static, and The Baby Dance and was part of the comedy troupe The Less Than Professional Players. In MD, Janes founded The Comedy Pigs (longest running sketch comedy/improv troupe in the Mid-Atlantic region).

Sue Leveille is the Founder and Director of Give Rise Studio in downtown Frederick, MD. An artist, entrepreneur, and educator, her passion project has grown into a community of artists and wellness practitioners in Frederick. Over the course of nine years, the studio has expanded to include many instructors, workshops, and students, as well as Creative Community Members, who offer everything from art workshops to acupuncture and yoga sessions. Leveille also serves as a Manager at The Common Market, Frederick’s co-op grocery store. With that background, Leveille says Give Rise Studio acts much like a co-op, supported by its Creative Community Members along with the students, customers, and clients it serves. Leveille presents business workshops for artists to thrive, as well as wellness courses.

Mary Ford-Naill joined The City of Frederick in 2017 as its Manager of Economic Development. Prior to this role, her career included over 30 years commercial and residential real estate industry experience. Mary’s current role focuses on promoting business attraction across key industry sectors and implementing business expansion and retention initiatives within the city. Mary is passionate about service to the community and is an active member of Rotary International and has served in leadership roles at both the district and local levels. Mary has an MBA and BA from Hood College. She is a graduate of Leadership Maryland (’23) and Leadership Frederick (’03). Mary is a current board member for the Golden Mile Alliance and techfrederick and has previously served on the board for Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, Saint John’s Catholic School, and Downtown Frederick Partnership.

Becky Kaler has served as Business Development Specialist for The City of Frederick since 2017. During college and the years immediately after, she was heavily involved in the launch of her family’s ice cream shop — a rewarding experience that she cites as the source of her enthusiasm for the local business community.  Becky holds an MBA degree from Mount Saint Mary’s University (’17) and is a 2019 Leadership Frederick Graduate. Becky has previously served on the board for Generation Connect, and currently serves on the board of the Downtown Frederick Partnership.

Karen Kalantzis is the Senior Business Consultant for Frederick County at MWBC. She is an experienced small business community builder with a demonstrated history of supporting small business interests. Most recently, she was the Director, Community Programs for the Business Innovation Network, Montgomery County’s business incubator program where she created educational programming and provided business technical assistance to start-ups. She previously was a program manager for Montgomery County’s Department of Economic Development for the Silver Spring and Wheaton Innovation Centers. She joined the local small business ecosystem after starting an IT company called Corporate Network Services in 1993 with her business partner. The company was a Maryland Certified Woman Owned Small Business, named to the Inc. 5000 fastest growing businesses list, and a winner of numerous Best Place to Work awards. Karen earned a Bachelor of Science from the Kelly School of Business at Indiana University and an MBA from George Washington University. She is a graduate of Leadership Montgomery Core Class of 2018 and Leadership Frederick Class of 2023.

Yemi Fagbohun – Born in Nigeria, Yemi studied art and worked successfully as a professional artist in New York before relocating to Frederick County, MD. Commercially, Yemi has produced illustrations for well-known retailers and more than one hundred Fortune 500 companies — including Neiman Marcus, Target, AT&T, American Express, Bacardi, Con-Edison, Fortune magazine and Haagen Dazs to name a few. In addition to several children’s books, he has designed more than 300 international postage stamps, and his “Girl Group” stamps are a part of the permanent collection of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH. Yemi has garnered nationwide press for his accomplishments from prestigious news media including the New York Times, Time magazine, Newsweek, The Washington Post and Entertainment Tonight.

The Weinberg Center and New Spire Arts believe in the freedom of speech and expression. The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in the visual and performing arts presented at our venues or virtually are solely those of the individual artists in their personal capacity and are not reflective of nor represent official policy, position or views of The Weinberg Center, New Spire Arts, or The City of Frederick.