Statewide Arts Convening Presenter Information
Keynote Presenters
Kelly Barsdate, Chief Program and Planning Officer,
National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA)
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Kelly Barsdate has worked at NASAA for more than 27 years, helping to make the case for the arts during multiple recessions and swings of the political pendulum. Kelly was the original author of Why Should Government Support the Arts?, writes NASAA's Practical Advocate series, and has produced numerous research monographs and policy briefs for elected officials and cultural advocates. Kelly oversees NASAA's planning, knowledge services and professional development programs and leads NASAA's "Boot Camp" executive training program for recently appointed state arts agency directors. She has directed NASAA collaborations with the National Governors Association, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the National Endowment for the Arts and other policy partners. Kelly is a contributing editor of the peer-reviewed Journal of Arts Management, Law, and Society. She holds an Executive Certificate of Facilitation from Georgetown University's Institute for Transformational Leadership; a Change Leader certification from the state of Utah; and a degree in English from Oberlin College. Born and raised in Alaska, Kelly's arts background includes studies in clarinet performance, arts education and orchestral conducting at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music as well as community-based training in dance and ceramics.
Thaler Pekar, CEO, Thaler Pekar & Partners
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Thaler Pekar is a pioneer in the field of narrative, story, and persuasive communication. She and her team at Thaler Pekar & Partners work around the world and across sectors, guiding leaders and institutions on being heard, understood, and influential. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has institutionalized the use of their award-winning video on LGBTI refugees in South Africa; they have gathered over 200 oral histories across six countries and four continents; and both the BBC and the Smithsonian Institution have hailed Thaler as one of the world’s leading experts on organizational storytelling. For more information on Thaler visit http://thalerpekar.com.
Sara Peterson, Management Consultant, Sara Peterson Consulting
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Sara is a management consultant to nonprofits, government, foundations, and community groups. She provides practical governance and board development, a wide range of planning and facilitation, evaluation, and organizational assessments. Since beginning practice in 1998, she has assisted hundreds of small, all-volunteer start-ups to a multi-billion-dollar funder organizations. Her portfolio has spanned the United States and included organizations in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean. From 2000 to 2010, Sara worked at LarsonAllen LLP. During that period, she led organizational development, planning, program evaluation, and search engagements; made numerous presentations on governance, evaluation and organizational change; managed the firm’s annual nonprofit conference; and managed marketing efforts within the firm’s nonprofit and government consulting group. She left the firm in 2010 to set up her own business – guiding clients in strategy, governance, and management. Prior to her employment with LarsonAllen LLP, Sara developed expertise as a funder and an attorney, serving as program officer to the James Ford Bell Foundation in Minnesota and as litigator for the Child Support Recovery Unit in Iowa. At the foundation, she managed a multi-organization collaboration, administered grant programs, and maintained information systems for the philanthropic consulting firm in which the foundation was housed.
National Presenters
Christy Dickinson, Senior Program Director, Arts Midwest
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Christy Dickinson develops policies, guidelines, and efficient procedures for Arts Midwest grant programs, including Arts Midwest’s presenting and touring program, Arts Midwest Touring Fund, and NEA national programs Shakespeare in American Communities: Shakespeare for a New Generation and NEA Jazz Masters Live. She also works closely with other programs to provide leadership, share information, and streamline the grants management process through the use of online and internal database systems.
Adam Perry, Vice President for Strategy and Programs, Arts Midwest
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Adam provides strategic oversight and leadership across all of Arts Midwest's programming efforts. He has led major national and international initiatives for Arts Midwest since 2006, including Caravanserai: A place where cultures meet. His 25+ year arts career began on the producing and programming team at Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St. Paul, MN and includes time as Director of Operations for Live Nation/Broadway Across America's North Central Region. A Bush Foundation Fellow, Adam holds a B.A. in Political Science and Theater from Wittenberg University and an M.A. in Theatre from The Ohio State University.
Clifford Murphy, Folk & Traditional Arts Director, National Endowment for the Arts
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Clifford Murphy was appointed the director of Folk & Traditional Arts at the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in August 2015. He oversees the National Endowment for the Arts' grantmaking in folk and traditional arts, and manages the National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowships.
Murphy was previously the director of Maryland Traditions, the folklife program of the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC). In 2011, Murphy launched the state’s first Maryland Traditions Folklife Festival, and also managed the Maryland Traditions grant program supporting apprenticeships and projects. Murphy also produced the state's annual Achievement in Living Traditions and Arts (ALTA) Awards. Murphy holds a doctorate in Ethnomusicology from Brown University, has authored numerous publications, including a forthcoming book on country music traditions of the Mason-Dixon Line. For more on Clifford visit, https://www.arts.gov/staff/clifford-murphy.
Justin Christy, Strategy and Learning Manager,
The Bush Foundation
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Justin’s work focuses primarily on the Foundation’s Education and Community Creativity strategic investments. Prior to the Foundation, he was at the University of Minnesota (go Gophers!), managing communications across artistic disciplines while mentoring future arts managers. Justin’s professional interest areas include innovative school models and other opportunity-gap closing strategies, arts education and intercultural communication through arts and community programming.
Outside of work Justin is a proud father of three kids, two cats and a dog, and tries really hard to be a cool dad in so many ways. He serves as the board chair of a local music education organization and on multiple other committees in the Twin Cities. He also enjoys life through making and breaking stuff, playing and listening to music, being a compulsive learner and taking winding family road trips to unconventional destinations.
Local Presenters
Wayne H. Beyer, Director, Wahpeton Parks & Recreation
Wayne Beyer has been Wahpeton's Parks & Recreation Director for 38 years. Wayne is currently a Three Rivers Arts Council Board Member where he has been involved in activities and projects including Arts Midwest World Fest, NDCA's Art for Life Program, Sculpture Park, National Endowment for the Arts grants, Red Door Art Gallery and Music in the Park. He is also a past North Dakota Council on the Arts Board Member.
Ashton Hauff, Designer
Ashton is a visual brand designer who's passionate about community and creativity. She's a Bismarck native who attended college in Saint Paul to receive her bachelor's degree in graphic design. After moving back home in 2015, Ashton noticed how many talented individuals felt isolated with similar questions and obstacles. Her personal experiences and conversations raised the question, "Why aren't we doing this together?" A few months later, she lead a team of individuals passionate about the creative community to create Makewell. They hosted the first Makewell event in February of 2016 with an overwhelming, sold-out response. Today, Makewell is much more than an annual event, and rather a community of 1,000+ makers around the Midwest. Their mission is to equip the makers and dreamers by sparking ideas and igniting action.
Carolyn Nelson, Former North Dakota State Senator
Carolyn Nelson is a retired senior lecturer emeritus of mathematics at North Dakota State University. Mrs. Nelson has served as President of the National Federation of Music Clubs, a member of the NFMC Board of Directors, secretary-treasurer of The Consensus Council Inc. Board of Directors and serves on the Board of Directors for the International Music Camp Board. She is a life member of the National and ND PTA, the National Federation of Music Clubs, Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternity, and the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. Mrs. Nelson was elected to the North Dakota House of Representatives in 1986 and 1992. She represented District 21 in the state Senate from 1994-2018. Senator Nelson served as Senate Assistant Minority Leader from 2006-2010, the first woman senator in state history to hold a senate leadership position. Previously, she served four terms as caucus chair. Senator Nelson was awarded the inaugural award for excellence for outstanding support of the arts in 2017 as well as many other wards including the Daughters of the American Revolution Women in History award in 2018, the Pacesetter Award from Women's Action in New Directions in 2007 and the Women Legislator's Lobby. Other recognitions include ND Library Association Legislator of the Year, ND Bar Association Legislative Service Award, ND Student Association Legislator of the Year, Veterans' Coordinating Council Outstanding Legislator, ND Children's Caucus Voices Award, Golden Apple Award from the ND Council of Educational Leaders, and Exemplary Leader award from Planned Parenthood ND, SD and WI.
Brenna Daugherty Gerhardt, Executive Director, Humanities North Dakota
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Brenna Gerhardt is a graduate of Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. She received a master's degree in Theological Studies from Harvard. A native of Center, North Dakota, she now lives in Bismarck with her husband, Tom Gerhardt. She has three stepchildren, and a son and daughter. Brenna enjoys reading and talking about great literature, learning something new every day, cooking and sharing meals with friends new and old, discovering new things about familiar places and exploring completely new ones.
Megan Laudenschlager, Executive Director, Strengthen ND
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Laudenschlager is a graduate of Minot State University with a B.A. in Mathematics and a Certificate in Fundraising through the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Her areas of expertise include board and staff development, fundraising planning, grant writing, strategic planning, organizational action planning, program design and evaluation, succession planning, and meeting facilitation. Before founding Strengthen ND, Laudenschlager was employed at the Minot Area Community Foundation as the Finance & Program Director. In addition to the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Laudenschlager is a 2014 Bush Foundation Fellow and has participated in professional development activities through the Harvard-Kennedy School of Government, Midwest Academy for Social Justice, Independent Sector, and TED. She serves in leadership positions with ND Rural Development Council, Minot Young Professionals, Visit Minot, Minot Family YMCA, Minot Alliance of Nonprofits, Magic Day of Giving, USDA-Rural Development Livability Steering Committee, Sunrise Rotary, and Rotary District 5580. Her experiences refine her approaches to rural community fundraising, organizing, and advocacy.
Sherry Shirek, Accessibility Consulting Services & Training, Arts Access For All
Sherry Shirek is a dedicated accessibility and training consultant with over 25 years of professional and volunteer experience in the field of disability. She leads a monthly working group of arts leaders to educate, advocate, plan and implement access and accommodations for people with all abilities. She worked on several accessibility projects for HCSCC, coordinated monthly educational sessions, led workshops, brought in audio description training, created a fully accessible art exhibition with the FM visual artists, and founded a community organization “Arts Access for All.” Sherry’s love of visual art took on new meaning 27 years ago when she lost her eyesight but not her vision. This led to her passion in developing accessibility to people of all abilities. Sherry’s current consulting work began in collaboration with Maureen Kelly Jonason, Executive Director of HCSCC. Sherry obtained a BA in psychology and history with graduate work in disability studies, in addition to hundreds of hours of continuing education in the field of disability, administration, ADA and civil rights.
Rose Stoller, Executive Director, The Consensus Council, Inc.
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Rose has experience in process design, facilitation, programming, implementation, legislative and public policy initiatives, community conversations, program evaluation, and advocacy. She received a degree in social and behavioral sciences from the University of Mary. Rose has past experiences as the Executive Director of the Mental Health Association in North Dakota where she received the Mental Health Services Award from the North Dakota Psychiatric Society and the Welcome Back Award from the Eli Lilly Company. She also worked, for 17 years, with the North Dakota Department of Human Services. She is a graduate of the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber Leadership program, is a past Chair of the Bismarck Human Relations Committee, served on the Northern Plains Initiative (NPI) and Marketplace for Kids Boards of Directors along with having served on many governing and policy boards statewide and regionally. Rose is a founding member of the North Dakota Women’s Network and active in the Bismarck-Mandan League of Women Voters.
Cassie Theurer, Digital Asset Specialist, Department of Commerce, Tourism Division
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After 5 years in the tourism industry, Cassie Theurer joined the North Dakota Tourism team, a division of North Dakota Commerce, in November of 2015. As the Digital Asset Specialist, she gathers and catalogs photo and video assets, connects with partner organizations about sharing assets, helps coordinate the Governor’s Photo Contest, collaborates on the NDtourism.com website and produces visuals in all forms for other Commerce and North Dakota government projects. She is also one of the two main creators for the North Dakota Travel Matters series (www.ndtourism.com/ndtravelmatters). In her free time, Cassie likes to visit new places, take pictures and collect new hobbies (there’s always something new to try!). Having lived all her life in North Dakota, touching almost every corner, Cassie loves showcasing all the hidden gems around the state. Prior to her current position, Cassie worked for Jamestown Tourism, the North Dakota Studies project and UND School of Law.
Artists
Nicole Gagner, Artist
Nicole Ganger is a visual artist inspired by texture, saturated color, unique plays of light and form, and (perhaps most importantly) her grandmother’s pickles. She works primarily in oil paint, and an expressive hand is characteristic of her art. In paint this translates to loose, flowy brushwork and a textural interplay of colors. Although the majority of her studio work is oil on canvas still life and regional landscape, she draws inspiration from a wide variety of sources, often of a personal and almost auto-biographical nature. Nicole enjoys photography and drawing, though she uses them as a way to sketch out ideas and study subjects for paintings. She is a second hand enthusiast, and loves to use discarded treasures for mixed media and sculptural pieces. Currently Nicole lives and works in Bismarck, North Dakota, but she is always on the hunt for new places, people and things to paint, new friends to look at art with, or to drink coffee with while discussing art. Or pickles.
Molly McLain, Artist
Molly McLain is an advocate, artist, and educator raised in Valley City, ND. She lives in Bismarck and works for Farmers Union where she advocates for family farms and vibrancy in rural communities. Molly graduated with a bachelors in Fine Art from Valley City State University in 2005. From 2010-2013 she worked with public muralists in neighborhoods in Minneapolis and St Paul where she learned the art of mosaics. Molly has been a working resident artist at the Jamestown Arts Center since 2009. In 2013 McLain received a grant to study traditional Swedish folk design from the North Dakota Council on the Arts. In 2016, she continued with another grant through the NDCA to learn Norwegian Rosemaling. From her folk art experience, she and mentor Rosemaler and Dalmalner Pieper Bloomquist of Grand Forks received a grant through the American Scandinavian Foundation and to travel to Sweden for a month last June to study the history and traditions of Swedish Dala Painting. Molly is active in the North Dakota arts world and frequently teaches classes and creates art projects and murals across the state with organizations, individuals, and schools. Molly has a love for people, history, the sense of place you find from the mixing of the past and present in the prairie landscape, mosaics, and good jokes. Molly loves being around people in situations to creatively collaborate and share ideas. She strives for opportunities to encounter others finding their voice and creative calling.
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Ali LaRock, Artist
Ali LaRock is a visual artist living in Bismarck, North Dakota. She received her B.F.A. in painting from Minnesota State University, Moorhead in 1998. She works in the areas of painting, drawing, and mixed media. Ali grew up in New Town, North Dakota.
Ali has been exhibiting her artwork around the United States for the last 15 years. She is a founding and active member of the Bismarck Downtown Artist Co-op, where much of her art is on display. Ali's work can also be found at the Toasted Frog in Bismarck and the Hotel Donaldson in Fargo. In addition to creating and exhibiting her art Ali teaches art through various artist in residence opportunities throughout the state in schools, art centers, and summer camps. She has worked with organizations such as the North Dakota Council on the Arts, International Music Camp, and Sleepy Hollow Summer Theatre and Art. Ali also offers private lessons, art parties, and is available for live painting performances.
Northern Plains Dance
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Northern Plains Dance, a North Dakota cultural treasure, is renowned for producing professional-quality performances and unforgettable experiences for the community. Classes in all styles of dance encourage students to lead an active lifestyle, while building confidence and nurturing creativity. Northern Plains Dance’s performances, educational programs and outreach initiatives benefit more than 20,000 North Dakotans each year.
Governor's Awards for the Arts Performers
Debi Rogers
A teller of tales, harper, Gaelic singer, and céilí dancer of Scots/Irish (Celtic) ancestry, Debi’s Rogers’ earliest memory as a wee child was practicing flying and harping in her basement to become an Irish fairy. One of a handful of musicians who play the Gaelic wire-strung harp she’s at home in any situation - from concert hall to school, from outdoor festival to senior center, from theatrical stage to Irish pub. Through travels to Ireland and Scotland, participating in the Summer School of Irish Harp (Scoil na gCláirseach) and from native speakers Debi has learned a vast repertoire of songs, dances, tales and tunes which she incorporates into her residencies and performances.
Christian Walth
Runner-up 2019 ND State POL Competition
Middle School Drummers, Standing Rock
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The Fifth Dementia, Musical Group
Singers: Gaylynn Becker, Andy Gross, Joe Johs, Joe Gross, John Gross
NDCA Board Participants
Brad Bachmeier, North Dakota Council on the Arts Board Vice-Chair
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Brad Bachmeier currently serves as the Professor of Art Education at Minnesota State University Moorhead. In 2013, the year of his tenure promotion, Professor Bachmeier received the “Excellence in Research and Creative Activity” award from MSUM. Prior to 2008, he served as a public school art instructor for 15 years in both North Dakota and Minnesota. In 2007, upon completion of an MFA degree in ceramics from the University of ND, his exhibit “A Ceramic Humanity” was bestowed the only Award of Distinction for Creative Exhibition ever granted at the school. In 2009, Professor Bachmeier received the prestigious bi-annual ND Governor’s Award in Arts Education for his “numerous, significant and continued contributions to the state and region.” Brad’s ceramics have been featured on HGTVs’ “That’s Clever” and Prairie Public TV’s “Prairie Mosaic.” He was also awarded the national NICHE award in wheel-thrown ceramics. Brad’s works are held in numerous regional and national public and private collections including the ND Governor’s Mansion, The Microsoft Permanent Collection, the SD Art Museum, and the Plains Art Museum, and were formerly displayed at Michelle Obama’s office in the White House.
Searle Swedlund, North Dakota Council on the Arts Board Member
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Searle Swedlund is the Executive Director of Jamestown Tourism. In this role, he works with a variety of community agencies to market the community and grow the ways visitors interact with the region. Prior to this, Searle worked at Concordia College for 14 years in a variety of capacities including Alumni Relations. He is active with Habitat for Humanity, the Jamestown Chamber of Commerce, and the Jamestown Arts Center. He is married to Emmy Swedlund and together they have a rescue dog, Freki. Searle is originally from Velva, ND where his family still resides. “Having worked closely with the Jamestown Arts Center, I have witnessed how the arts cultivate creative thought processes and build community,” says Swedlund. “I look forward to working with the North Dakota Council on the Arts to promote, preserve and perpetuate the arts in North Dakota.”
David "White Thunder" Trottier, North Dakota Council on the Arts Board Chair
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David is a Distinguished Alumni of Mayville State University. He is known for his exemplary business career, for 14 years he served as President and CEO of Chiptronics Inc., an electronics manufacturing distributorship. Since retiring from Chiptronics in 2006, Trottier has been working as a private consultant, has also been a local radio host and sports broadcaster; and was the former Director of Human Resources for the Heart of America Medical Center in Rugby. David has been active in the arts, especially theatre and music, since an early age. He has directed or performed in more than 35 shows and was the founder and lead singer for The North Band for 12 years. He still plays guitar, sings and writes songs and poetry and is currently playing with a band U-3+1. David has served on NDCA’s board as a Governor appointee since 1990. In 1998, he was appointed board chair. David is also a past board member of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA). In 2007 NASAA named David the recipient of their Distinguished Public Service Award. It honors an individual volunteer leader whose outstanding service, creative thinking and leadership have had a significant impact on the field of public support for the arts in his or her state or region. David currently resides in Rugby and has 4 daughters, Tarah, Tawny, Trista, and Tashal.
NDCA Staff
Terry Jelsing
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North Dakota native Terry Jelsing has worked professionally as an artist, teacher, curator, arts administrator and presenter for nearly 40 years. He currently teaches at Dakota College at Bottineau and in the Rugby Public Schools, and is self-employed as an arts administration and facilities consultant.
Jelsing’s studio is located on his family’s original homestead in Rugby, where he creates two- and three-dimensional works of art, including large public commissions. Currently, he’s one of six international artists exploring life among the Spirit Lake Nation of Dakota people at Fort Totten, N.D., a three-year project developed by the North Dakota Museum of Art and funded by the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation. Jelsing has served on numerous local, state, regional and national committees and commissions and is the current president of the Northwest Art Center at Minot State University.
Robin Bosch, Administrative Officer, North Dakota Council on the Arts
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Robin Bosch graduated from Minnesota State University Moorhead with a degree in English Education. Currently she works at NDCA where she handles fiscal matters, grant reporting, and almost (but not actually) 101 other duties! Robin strives to be curious and kind as she navigates the world, and tries to live by the words, “Do Small Things with Great Love.” She enjoys finding beauty in nature, tuning in to NPR and Prairie Public Radio & Television, reading memoirs, and bargain hunting. Most days, she also enjoys spending time with her husband, two teenage kids, and three pets.
Rebecca Engelman, Arts in Education Director, North Dakota Council on the Arts
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As the Arts in Education Director, Rebecca Engelman manages partnerships and funding of Arts in Education grant programs and Poetry Out Loud. Engelman is an experienced arts educator with over 23 years of classroom experience and was honored to receive the ND Governor’s Award for Art in Education in 1999 and a Bush Fellowship in 2010. She holds a Masters in Arts Education from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Mary.
Troyd Geist, Folklorist, North Dakota Council on the Arts
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Troyd Geist is is charged with encouraging the preservation and continuation of folk and traditional arts, heritage, and culture. His efforts include the Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program, the Art for Life Program, fieldwork documentation, exhibits, publications and recordings, and special projects involving folk and traditional arts.
Amy Schmidt, Public Information Officer and Accessibility Coordinator, North Dakota Council on the Arts
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A native of North Dakota, Schmidt moved to Minneapolis in 1992 where she received a Certificate in Office Management from the KRS Computer & Business School, as well as an Associates of Applied Science degree in Multi-Media/Computer Graphics from the Minnesota School of Business/Globe College. She worked as a Marketing Coordinator for an affiliate of UnitedHealth Group before moving to Bismarck in 2003. In her role at NDCA Schmidt manages the Community Arts Access Tier 1 & Tier 2, and Professional Development grants; designs publications; writes and edits newsletters and press releases; manages NDCA’s web site and online grant system; and a portion of her time is dedicated to accessibility and worksite wellness. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from Colorado Technical University Online in 2008.
Kim Konikow, Executive Director, North Dakota Council on the Arts
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As a consultant through artservices & company, Kim has been engaged in projects which focus on creative organizational development. In Utah she helped institute a tax fund for community arts programs for the Washington County Arts Council. It is her work with independent artists and small to mid-sized community arts organizations that has given her great pleasure and shown positive results in achieving next-level goals. As a teacher of arts administration, Kim has served as Adjunct Faculty, as well as in Guest Faculty positions, at universities and colleges around the country. Some of her prior work experience includes Conference Coordinator for Dance/USA, the national service organization for professional dance in Washington, DC; Executive Director for The Mesa, an arts & humanities residency center in southern Utah; Executive Director for the statewide service organization Minnesota Dance Alliance; and Director of Special Events at New York’s Brooklyn Academy of Music. Kim has served extensively as a site visitor and panelist for several regional, state and national organizations. She holds a BA in Art History and Theatre from George Washington University in Washington, DC, and a dual MFA in Arts Administration and Theatre Direction from Brooklyn College/City University of NY.