BOARD AND STAFF MEMBERS

Julie is new to Allegany County and moved with her family from the D.C. metro area in 2017. Julie began her association career in 2003 with the Edison Electric Institute, and has since managed domestic and international conferences for the Color Marketing Group, served as Administrator for several large commercial real estate organizations, and traveled extensively with high-profile politicians, where she managed travel, press and security logistics. Julie studied Hospitality Management at the University of Louisville and State University of New York, has her real estate license, and has spent a lifetime enjoying the fruits of the arts in her family. She is particularly passionate about art as therapy for mental health disorders. In her free time, she enjoys interior design, furniture painting and volunteering.

Samantha is a mother, yogi, teacher, and aspiring children’s author. She grew up in Shepherdstown, WV, where she attended Shepherd University. She holds a B.A. in English Literature with a minor in Women’s Studies, completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training certification in 2014 at Jala Yoga, and obtained certification as a Montessori elementary teacher in 2016 through The Center for Guided Montessori Studies. Samantha settled in the Cumberland area in 2010 with her family after living on the Eastern Shore of Maryland for two years. She is passionate about children’s programming and is excited to bring that zeal to the Allegany Arts Council.

Desiree is a long-time Cumberland resident. Born in Dayton, Ohio, she lived in Ohio, California, and Southern Maryland before her family settled in Mountain Maryland. In 2010, she received her B.S. in English with a concentration in Professional Writing from Frostburg State University. As an undergraduate, she also studied Journalism and Public Relations. Later she returned to FSU for graduate school and received a Master’s in Business Administration in 2017.

Courtney grew up in Cumberland and has a BA in Arts Business from Messiah College. She also works for the Allegany Museum and the C. Williams Museum of the Arts, and she is currently working on her Masters in Business Administration at Frostburg State University. She has experience in collections management, exhibition management, volunteer coordinating and education within museums. In her spare time, Courtney teaches yoga and loves to cook.

Robin Vereen has been working with the Arts Council since 2008 when we moved into our current space. During the first four years she was a gallery assistant, managed our Community Room (now the Schwab Mountain Maryland Gallery) and managed our Arts Bus programs. In fact, she was known as the Arts Bus Lady among many of our elementary school students. In the last two years she has moved into the position of Bookkeeper; keeping an eye on the budget for all of us. She loves art and is actively involved in local theatre.

Tama worked and traveled as a Certified Travel Counselor for many years, and now helps run her family's leasing business. She has been involved with several artistic ventures in the area, including the Western Maryland Symphony and the American Red Cross Symphony Under the Stars. She and her husband, Nick, are also involved in many community activities. They currently reside in Cumberland with their two children Leah and Victor.

Ann grew up in the military, moving around the United States until her family finally landed in Cumberland in the 1960s. Although not a native of Allegany County, she has grown to love this area, and now proudly refers to Cumberland as her "hometown." Ann has been involved with the Allegany Arts Council since 1996, and has been the organizer of one of the Saville Gallery's signature exhibitions, the annual Will's Creek Survey. She is also an accomplished visual artist and has won awards both locally and regionally for her photography and graphic design. Ann holds a degree in graphic design and is the Director of Publications in the Office of Communications & Media Relations at Frostburg State University.

John is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors. He is a native of Allegany County and he and his wife, Karen, have lived in the county for 26 years. John is delighted to witness the cultural renaissance occurring in the region. As members of the Cumberland Theatre and the Allegany Arts Council they have become true arts enthusiasts, as have their three children. Appreciation of the arts has no boundaries, and provides enduring rewards. John seeks opportunities to give back to the community that has been so generous to himself and his family.

Scott serves as Associate Dean of Institutional Effectiveness, Research, and Planning at Allegany College of Maryland. He holds Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Spanish Language & Literature from Frostburg State University and a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Pittsburgh focusing in Policy Research and Analysis. Scott lives in Cumberland with his wife Rose and son Charlie. He views arts and their application as a way to improve the quality of life for residents of Allegany County, drive economic innovation, and transcend cultural differences.

Andréa is the Marketing Coordinator for CareVentures Inc., a healthcare management firm that oversees several companies all dedicated to providing quality, customer-focused healthcare and rehabilitation services. She provides assistance with all brand positioning, creative development, marketing campaigns, advertisements, and market research, for over six companies in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Andréa has recently lent her marketing skills to the political arena, having served as a city council campaign co-manager and the secretary of Change Annapolis, a new political action committee. Born and raised in Cumberland, Maryland, and a graduate of Frostburg State University, Andréa has been involved with many organizations in Western Maryland. She currently acts as the Director of the Bishop Walsh Spartan Theatre and was head Cheer Coach at the school for a number of years. She continues to serve with many community organizations, including the local Jaycees and the Western Maryland Health System Auxiliary. She recently participated in Leadership Allegany, a program designed to help identify regional issues within Mountain Maryland and across the State.

Keith Broome is a local community pharmacist with nearly 25 years of experience. He is a part of the PharmaCare Network of pharmacies serving Cumberland, Frostburg, and parts of Garrett and Mineral counties. He is a native of Allegany County and a lifelong resident of the Cumberland area. Keith graduated from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy and elected to continue his education locally, earning an MBA from Frostburg State University several years later. He was initially attracted to the local arts community several years ago while providing housing for out of town artists during the annual Plein Air event. Getting to know these artists personally has made a positive influence on his understanding of the value and importance of different styles of art. His goal is to help perpetuate the growth of the local arts community in hopes of establishing Allegany County as a visitor destination.

Griffin is a 2005 graduate of Bishop Walsh School, and a 2010 graduate of Frostburg State University where he majored in accounting. He is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in the state of Maryland. He currently serves as the Fiscal Director of Archway Station, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation located in Cumberland, MD. Since 2015, Griffin has also helped produce several short films in the Baltimore film community, one of which he also wrote and directed.His other hobbies include basketball, golf, and hanging out with his wife their 2 year old Doxle, Barney.

Mary Kay Finan is a Professor Emeritus of Frostburg State University where she was on the Education faculty for twenty years. She was the Coordinator of the Elementary and Early Childhood programs. Mary Kay taught elementary school for 13 years in Allegany County before joining the faculty at Frostburg. She has been a member of the Maryland State Board of Education since 2007. Over the years, she and her husband Tom have enjoyed the creative process of filling their home with an extensive collection of art, artifacts, and furnishings primarily from the local art community.

Marion S. Leonard was a professor at Frostburg State University teaching leadership, communication, human resource development and accounting and courses to her MBA students. Prior to her university teaching career, she was successful in the business world in both retail management and as a financial planner.
Now retired as Professor Emeritus, she is also a Certified Yoga Teacher, and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program instructor. Marion integrates her academic background in management, psychology, yoga and meditation with her business experience in facilitating leadership training, personal growth workshops and stress reduction classes in educational and organizational settings. Her passion is to help people discover how to integrate mind, body, and heart connections into one’s life choices and well being.
Marion has also served on the boards of Family Crisis Resource Center, First Peoples Community Credit Union, Allegany Arts Council, and continues to serve as Vice President of the Community Trust Foundation serving Allegany, Garrett and Mineral Counties, Frostburg State University’s Foundation Board of Trustees, Chair of the steering committee for the Imagination Library of Allegany County, MD. , Advisory Board of MPT, and Board Chair of the Community Wellness Coalition.

In 1980, at the age of 20, Kelly Mackie opened her first business, Opposite Genders Salon, Inc. She has spent her career studying in New York and training throughout the country with top artists in her field, all the while striving for balance as a career mom to five children and husband Tim. Kelly is a Certified Master Colorist and has dedicated her career to teaching and mentoring other young artists while developing their skills and talent. The arts have played an integral role in Kelly’s life- through her daily work in the salon, as well as her travels to many foreign countries in search of inspiration. Sharing the experience of other cultures and how it unites all of us as artist is something Kelly feels passionate about. As a native of Allegany County and a witness to the transitions it has endured in recent decades, she believes it is most important to give back to the community that has supported her and her company for over 36 years.

Dave is in equal measure artist and technologist. Originally from Califormia, Dave has lived in various parts of the country including Seattle, Washington and Portland, Maine. Though the majority of his adult life was spent as an electronics engineer and strategic marketing executive in the semiconductor industry, his camera was never far from reach especially during his travels abroad. In pursuit of this other passion, he gradually embarked on a second career as a commercial and fine art photographer. When it became clear that this “night job” could be nurtured and transformed into a full time pursuit Dave, and his wife Meg, put together a plan to escape “Corporate America”. In 2003 they moved to Cumberland, purchased and renovated their living and working space in one of the grand old buildings “on the bricks” in the heart of Cumberland’s Towne Centre. Dave’s fine art photography has been in numerous solo and group exhibitions and has won several awards. The commercial side of his studio is focused on providing web design, videography, and photographic services to businesses, universities, and artists.

Jon Stroup is the Director of Operations for Hunter Douglas Fabrication Division’s Cumberland, Maryland facility. Jon and his wife Miriam and their youngest daughter, Finian, relocated to Cumberland in February 2016. Their eldest daughter, Makenzie, is currently attending Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA. Jon came to Hunter Douglas bringing extensive operations leadership experience, which includes international experience as European Operations Director, overseeing the operations of 24 culturally diverse factories in 10 European Countries, while living in England.While Jon has traveled, worked, and lived abroad during his life, he has roots and a heart for a smaller town life where he and his family can enjoy participating in and contributing to the community in which they live. The career opportunity to direct Hunter Douglas’s largest facility and live in Allegany County, MD offered precisely the right fit for Jon and his family.Jon grew up in Selinsgrove, PA. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Operations Management and Human Resources from Susquehanna University. Jon is also a veteran having served as a member of the Pennsylvania ARMY National Guard. Jon, Miriam, and Finian have wasted no time getting involved in our community – supporting and participating in the Arts is a Stroup Family Affair. Jon is also a Board Member of the Cumberland YMCA.

Pamela Twigg is a native of Cumberland, having returned to the area in 2013 after living nearly 25 years abroad. She holds a Master’s Degree in History from the University of Amsterdam and a Bachelor’s Degree in Modern Languages from Clarion University. Most of her career has been in an international corporate environment in the Netherlands and in the U.S., focused in the ICT sector. Her current position is with BT Americas as a business manager for the Unilever account, one of BT’s largest clients. She is interested in people, languages and cultures, and how cultural differences affect global events. This interest resulted in her learning three languages. She is passionate about being part of the Arts Council, which she feels plays a vital role in helping people in Allegany County broaden their horizons. Pamela is also a member of the Cumberland Rotary Club, Bridges to Opportunity (Youth Engagement), the National Association of Professional Women, and Leadership Allegany.

Download Allegany Arts Council Bylaws pdf document