Ames Community Arts Council Board, February 2017 (l-r): Sara Merritt, Jennifer Brockpahler, Stan Rabe, Marla Martens, Jennifer Drinkwater, Reed Siems, Kerry Gibson
Missing from photo: Sarah Schendel
Missing from photo: Sarah Schendel
May we introduce ourselves?
Staff
Ames Community Arts Council Director - Jennifer Brockpahler
After graduating with a degree in interdisciplinary studies (music, education, business) from Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska, Jennifer went on to earn a master's degree in Community Arts Management with a non-profit emphasis from the University of Illinois -Springfield. Jen spent over 10 years at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire as the Arts/Special Events Coordinator, where she was instrumental in numerous projects that were intended to build audiences and strengthen community. Upon re-locating to Ames to be closer to her family, she is thrilled to put her passion for community building, outreach, and creative collaboration to work for the community and the artists of Ames.
In addition to serving as the Ames Community Arts Council Director, Jennifer works for the Critical Materials Institute of The Ames Laboratory.
After graduating with a degree in interdisciplinary studies (music, education, business) from Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska, Jennifer went on to earn a master's degree in Community Arts Management with a non-profit emphasis from the University of Illinois -Springfield. Jen spent over 10 years at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire as the Arts/Special Events Coordinator, where she was instrumental in numerous projects that were intended to build audiences and strengthen community. Upon re-locating to Ames to be closer to her family, she is thrilled to put her passion for community building, outreach, and creative collaboration to work for the community and the artists of Ames.
In addition to serving as the Ames Community Arts Council Director, Jennifer works for the Critical Materials Institute of The Ames Laboratory.
Officers of the Board of Directors
The Arts Council Board of Directors includes artists, business and community leaders, and other supporters of the arts. Board members serve three year terms and may serve up to two consecutive terms. For more information about serving on the Arts Council Board of Directors, please contact the President. If you would like to talk with any of the current board members, please use the contact form.
President - Tammy Koolbeck
Tammy Koolbeck began as Executive Director of the Iowa State Center in August 2015 and currently serves as Executive Director for Stephens Auditorium. She is only the 5th Director to lead the organization since the venues opened in 1969. She works for the Ames- based company, VenuWorks and has worked in the venue management industry for over 25 years. Prior to coming to Ames, she served as Chief Marketing Officer/Senior Vice President for the VenuWorks corporate office overseeing several venues across the country. She lives in north Ames with her husband, Mike. Their son, Tyler is a 2017 Iowa State graduate. Family vacations keep her sane and she loves a good road trip whether it’s for a concert, national park or baseball game.
Tammy Koolbeck began as Executive Director of the Iowa State Center in August 2015 and currently serves as Executive Director for Stephens Auditorium. She is only the 5th Director to lead the organization since the venues opened in 1969. She works for the Ames- based company, VenuWorks and has worked in the venue management industry for over 25 years. Prior to coming to Ames, she served as Chief Marketing Officer/Senior Vice President for the VenuWorks corporate office overseeing several venues across the country. She lives in north Ames with her husband, Mike. Their son, Tyler is a 2017 Iowa State graduate. Family vacations keep her sane and she loves a good road trip whether it’s for a concert, national park or baseball game.
Vice-President - Nadav Mer
Nadav Mer is serving as our vice president and owns and operates Morning Bell Coffee Roasters on Main Street in Ames. He's been self-employed since 2006, and is a serial entrepreneur who has started, grown and sold several small businesses. Nadav holds an MBA from the University of Rhode Island.
Nadav Mer is serving as our vice president and owns and operates Morning Bell Coffee Roasters on Main Street in Ames. He's been self-employed since 2006, and is a serial entrepreneur who has started, grown and sold several small businesses. Nadav holds an MBA from the University of Rhode Island.
Treasurer - Sara Compton
Sara Compton is a former K-12 music teacher, music copyist, church choir musician, and Outreach Manager at the Iowa State Center. She is currently Ensembles and Administrative Assistant in the Department of Music and Theatre. She advocates and supports students and adults – whether their interest is in participating or enjoyment of the performing arts – through her work and volunteer activities wherever and whenever she can.
Sara Compton is a former K-12 music teacher, music copyist, church choir musician, and Outreach Manager at the Iowa State Center. She is currently Ensembles and Administrative Assistant in the Department of Music and Theatre. She advocates and supports students and adults – whether their interest is in participating or enjoyment of the performing arts – through her work and volunteer activities wherever and whenever she can.
Additional Board Members
These Board Members provide crucial support and much needed skills!
Maureen Burke is an encaustic painter. She received her BFA from Iowa State University in 2009. She is a member of the Creative Artists’ Studios of Ames (CASA), where she has a painting studio and has been a past member of the board. She and her husband have lived in Ames for 20 years and they have three grown sons.
Lynn McElrath has been employed at Pyle & Associates since 1998 and is also employed part-time at Reiman Gardens. For the past eight years Lynn has served on the board of directors at ACTORS and while her ACTORS board membership has expired, she continues to be involved with the organization. Lynn is also a die-hard Cyclones fan. She received her love of the arts from her mother and her love of sports from her father. She is looking forward to being on the Ames Community Arts Council board of directors and working with the other arts organizations here in Ames.
Jacqueline Venner Senske is a nonprofit professional with 15 years' experience in public horticulture and aligned areas. Forging connections has been a centerpiece of her work, particularly as related to the arts. From facilitating connections between the public and an exhibition to forging relationships between partnering organizations, she has continually sought to bring people together. Jacqueline has worked at organizations in North Carolina, Michigan, and Iowa at both front-line and leadership levels. Projects have include activating international sculpture exhibitions at public gardens through programming and interpretation, producing outdoor theatre performances, connecting local artists with local food producers and middle-school students in community-based projects, engaging the arts community in public programming through public lectures and project-based education, and more. She is excited to contribute to the future of the arts in the Ames community through her role with the Ames Community Arts Council.
Daniel Marks is an artist who has been painting professionally for over 30 years. He received his BFA from Columbia College in Columbia, MO in 1991, majoring in drawing and painting. Dan has participated in the Ames Art Festival regularly, the Ames Art Walk, and the Iowa State Fair. He’s also served as a board member for the Octagon Center for the Arts. His work has been exhibited in many galleries including The Sydney Larson Gallery, Columbia, MO Sager Braudis Gallery, Columbia, MO, The Chait Galleries Downtown, Iowa City, IA, and the Harvard University Loeb House, Cambridge, MA. Dan also has work in a permanent collection at the Ashby Hodge Gallery of American Art, Fayette, MO.
Kyle Renell is a visual artist, living and working in Ames, IA, since 2013, when she re-located from the Twin Cities to pursue a Post-Baccalaureate certificate in Integrated Studio Arts. While in Ames, Kyle has served as the Artist in Residence and Director of the ISU Design on Main Galley and as a board member of the Ames Community Arts Council since 2019. Kyle’s previous work history includes 20 years in law enforcement on both the federal and state levels. Immediately prior to relocating to Ames, Kyle served as a staff attorney with the Minnesota Department of Health where she wrote the Body Art Law and implemented the Minnesota licensure program for body artists and establishments.
Lee Anne Willson has lived in Ames since 1973. She retired from the faculty at Iowa State University in 2014 as University Professor Emerita in Physics and Astronomy. She has been involved in the arts in Ames since 1976, taking classes at the Octagon and helping launch Creative Artists Studios of Ames (CASA) in 2000. She served as founding president of CASA, and also as secretary and most recently treasurer for CASA. She also served as board member and as president for the Octagon Center for the Arts. Her work as an artist involves photography, folded paper, and fabric.
Would you like to join us? The Arts Council is always looking for new Board or Committee members.
If you're interested, just drop us a line at info@amesart.org.
If you're interested, just drop us a line at info@amesart.org.
Internship Positions
The Arts Council is pleased to offer internships to capable, interested students. These unpaid positions provide experience in marketing (including social media) and event management. Click here to see a position description. Contact Jennifer Brockpahler at director@amesart.org for an interview.
The Arts Council is pleased to offer internships to capable, interested students. These unpaid positions provide experience in marketing (including social media) and event management. Click here to see a position description. Contact Jennifer Brockpahler at director@amesart.org for an interview.
