COMMITTEES

Dedicated to advancing WAA’s mission to serve the performing arts.

OVERVIEW

WAA recognizes the importance of leadership in anticipating the future needs of the field, and so committee work is vital to the governance and direction of Western Arts Alliance. Each committee member is dedicated to WAA’s mission and to the advancement of the performing arts field through innovative thinking and ground-breaking initiatives. WAA’s strategic plan helps inform the work that each committee undertakes every year, and includes both planning and implementing short- and long-range goals. 

Committees are chaired or co-chaired by members of the WAA board, and all members of WAA are eligible to serve on committees (although WAA membership is not a requirement for committee members). Committee chairs work closely with the WAA president and staff to compose committees that represent the diverse membership of WAA and the performing arts field, balancing experience with fresh perspectives by taking each committee member’s specialty, type of employment, location, and diversity in both ethnicity and opinion into consideration.

It is WAA’s intention to involve as many members as possible in committee activities (without sacrificing continuity), and to continually promote the introduction of new members to the volunteer experience. All committee members are held to the same standard as the WAA Board of Directors regarding commitment, ethics, and accountability to Western Arts Alliance and its work.

Committee terms generally begin and end the week after the WAA Conference. If you are interested in serving on a committee, please submit a letter of interest and current resume to staff@westarts.org. Below are the committees for the 2022 - 2023 conference cycle.

COMMITTEES

Advancing Indigenous Performance

The role of the AIP Committee is to provide oversight and direction to the program. They represent a variety of roles in the performing arts: production, performance, management, choreography, arts administration, and philanthropy

Stephen Qacung Blanchett, Chair (Yup'ik Inuit & African American)
Cultural Heritage & Education Manager
Tlingit & Haida Tribes of Alaska

Delbert Anderson
Delbert Anderson Trio / DDAT

Christopher K. Morgan
Malashock Dance

Quita Sullivan (Montaukett/Shinnecock)
Senior Program Director, Theater
New England Foundation for the Arts

Tanaya Winder (Duckwater Shoshone, Pyramid Lake Paiute and Southern Ute)
Artist/Founder
Dream Warriors Management

DeLesslin George-Warren (Catawba)
Eco-Cultural Weaver
Manu Wi Ila, Catawba Nation

Raven Chacon (Diné)
Composer
Albuquerque, NM


Conexiones: Latino Arts @ WAA

The Conexiones: Latino Arts @ WAA is WAA's new interest group dedicated to advancing Latino engagement, participation, and programming at Western Arts Alliance and in your communities.

Tony Gomez, Chair
Tacoma Arts Live

Leah Keith
Rhythm of the Arts


Executive

The executive committee is responsible for working in support of, or occasionally in place of, the full board.

Antonio Gómez, President
Tacoma Arts Live

Joseph Copley-Venturo Díaz, Vice-President
ODC/Dance

Rob Tocalino, Secretary/Treasurer
UC Davis, Mondavi Center

Pamela Green, Director
PMG Arts Management

Joe Mclalwain, Immediate Past President
Edmonds Center for the Arts


Governance

The governance committee is responsible for ongoing review and recommendations to enhance the quality and future viability of the board.

Joe McIalwain
Edmonds Center for the Arts

Robin Pomerance
Manchester Music Festival

Tamica Washington-Miller
Lula Washington Dance Theatre

Molly B. Clark
Cal Poly

Ron DeStefano
EPIC Arts Management

Sandy Garcia
Pentacle


Hyphen + Asian

WAA's affinity group for API identities.

Nadhi Thekkek, Co-chair
Nava Dance Theater

Courtney Ozaki, Co-chair
Japanese Arts Network

Karen Fischer
Pacifika Artists Network

Kathy Hsieh
City of Seattle, Office of Arts & Culture

Meena Malik
Magpie Cultural Strategies

Achinta McDaniel
Blue13 Dance

Christopher Morgan
Malashock Dance

Michael Sakamoto
UMass Amherst

Ova Saopeng
TeAda Productions

Marie-Reine Velez
USC Visions and Voices


Membership & Communications

The goal of the Membership Committee is to recruit and retain performing arts professionals as active members of Western Arts Alliance. Goal 1: To increase the association's membership and improve member retention. Goal 2: To identify the needs of the membership; ensure that the board is made aware of these needs; and implement, facilitate, and support initiatives to meet these needs.

The committee also organizes and reviews the nominations for the awards program and selects winners under the policies and procedures established by the board of directors.

Nadhi Thekkek, Chair
Nava Dance Theatre

Meghan Bush
UCSB Arts & Lectures

Graham Cole
White Bird

Anna Cross
City of Tracy, Grand Theatre

James Fredrick
Onstage Ogden

Thia Knowlton
IMG Artists

Lindsay Kratz
Opus 3 Artists

Rob Tocalino
Mondavi Center, UC Davis


Professional Development

The professional development committee is charged with overseeing the scope, quality, and delivery of WAA's education and professional development activities. The committee shall ensure that WAA’s professional development programs meet the needs of the staff of presenting organizations, artists, producing companies, artist representatives, and other interested professionals.

Joseph Copley-Venturo Díaz, Chair
ODC Dance

Gustavo "Tavo" Alcoser
Jarabe Mexicano

Dori Bosnyak
Texas Tech University

Lynn Fisher
Frontera Arts Management

Rafael Gonzalez
Grand Performances

Jason Hodges
Anchorage Concert Association

Spring Karlo
Holden Arts & Associates

Eileen May

Joe McNalley
Hutchins Consort

Christopher Nicholas
Ensemble Mik Nawooj

Claudia Norman
Mexico Now Festival

Charlie Robin
Capitol Theatre

Jack Rogers
The Lincoln Center, Fort Collins, CO

Tamica Washington-Miller
Lula Washington Dance Theatre

Marie-Reine Velez
USC Visions and Voices


Strategic Planning

The Strategic Planning Committee gathers every two years to plan and prioritize WAA's goals for the future of the organization. Next meeting: 2023.

Robin Pomerance, Chair
Manchester Music Festival

Courtney Ozaki
Japanese Arts Network

Joseph Copley-Venturo Díaz
ODC/Dance

Rob Tocalino
UC Davis, Mondavi Center

Black Arts @ WAA Committee

Stephen Qacung Blanchett, Co-chair
Tlingit & Haida Tribes of Alaska

Pamela Green, Co-chair
PMG Arts Management

Tamica Washington-Miller, Co Chair
Lula Washington Dance Theatre


Conference

The conference committee oversees the planning and program design of the WAA Annual Conference and ensures that conference goals and strategies, as established by the board, are met. The committee is responsible for leadership, program and resource development, community building, and ensuring WAA's success as a marketplace.

Joseph Copley-Venturo Díaz, Chair
ODC/Dance

Delbert Anderson
Delbert Anderson Trio / DDAT

Marcelo Aviles
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival

Tara Bailey
Bailiwick Booking Agency

Gail Boyd
Gail Boyd Artist Management

Wendi Hassan
Cache Arts

Brian Kendall
City of Henderson

Jeeyoon Kim
Namus Classics

Marian Liebowitz
Marian Liebowitz Artist Management

Christopher K. Morgan
Malashock Dance

Robin Pomerance
Manchester Music Festival

Charlie Robin
Capitol Theatre

Leah Rosenthal
La Jolla Music Society

Tamica Washington-Miller
Lula Washington Dance Theatre

Robert Zucker
AMAZ Entertainment


Finance

The finance committee is responsible for assisting the board in ensuring the organization is in good fiscal health.

Rob Tocalino, Chair
UC Davis, Mondavi Center

Tony Gomez, Honorary
Tacoma Arts Live

Anna Cross
City of Tracy, Grand Theatre

Pamela Green
PMG Arts Management

Jason Hodges
Anchorage Concert Association

Randall Vogel
Mesa Arts Center


Host Subcommittee, San Diego

The host subcommittee is an adjunct of the conference committee. The subcommittee is responsible for enhancing local connections with the annual conference especially local and regional outreach, development, and resource expertise.

Leah Keith, Co-Chair
Rhythm of the Arts

Leah Rosenthal, Co-Chair
La Jolla Music Society

Gustavo "Tavo" Alcoser
Jarabe Mexicano

Cindy Bowers
San Diego Theatres

Liz Bradshaw
ArtPower at UC San Diego

Molly Clark
Cal Poly Arts

Lynn Fisher
Frontera Arts Management

Tony Gomez
Tacoma Arts Live / Trio Guadalevin

Jeeyoon Kim
Namus Classics

Joe McNalley
Hutchins Consort

Christopher K. Morgan
Malashock Dance

Claudia Norman
Mexico Now Festival

Colleen Kollar Smith
UC San Diego Campus Performances and Events

Cristina Vazquez
Contenidos Aristicos


QWAA

QWAA, formed in 2021, is WAA's affinity group for queer identities.

Joseph Copley-Venturo Díaz, Co-Chair
ODC/Dance
San Francisco, CA

David Mack, Co-Chair
The African American Art & Culture Complex
San Francisco, CA


Showcase

The Showcase Subcommittee is an adjunct of the Conference Committee. The primary responsibility of the subcommittee is to adjudicate the juried showcase that takes place at the annual conference. The committee is also responsible for informing WAA's long-term showcase strategy.

Rafael Gonzalez, Chair
Grand Performances

Marcelo Aviles
Yerba Buena Gardens Festival

Lisa Conlon
Paul Taylor Dance Company

Anna Cross
City of Tracy, Grand Theatre

Ron DeStefano
Epic Arts Management

Greg Garcia
Independent Talent Buyer

Ally Haynes-Hamblen
Eisenmann Center for the Performing Arts

Michelle Mac Lennan
Chandler Center for the Arts

Claudia Norman
Mexico Now Festival

Cristina Vazquez
Contenidos Artisticos



 CODA

CODA has been established by the WAA Board as the advisory council of Western Arts Alliance, in accordance with WAA’s most recent strategic plan.  CODA’s purpose is to further WAA’s interests by helping provide for the organization’s financial stability, providing advice and service to the Executive Director and the Board, and establishing a forum within which former directors and officers may continue to serve WAA and its members.  The experience, institutional memory, and commitment of ‘retired’ directors and officers constitute a powerful resource for WAA; CODA will provide the framework within which these forces can be leveraged. 

2021 Council

CODA’s purpose is to further WAA’s interests by helping provide for the organization’s financial stability, providing advice and service to the Executive Director and the Board, and establishing a forum within which former directors and officers may continue to serve WAA and its members. CODA members will also serve as mentors to early and mid-career members of WAA. For information on CODA membership, please contact staff@westarts.org.

Joe McIalwain, Board Liaison

Julia Glawe, Chair
Milwaukee Ballet

Michael Blachly
University of Florida, Performing Arts

David Fischer
Broadway Center for the Arts

John Haynes
Bard Arts Consulting

Irene Namkung
Traditional Arts Services

Stephen Seifert

Rena Shagan
Rena Shagan Associates

Martin Wollesen
Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center

Relationship to the Board of Directors 

The Board is the governing body of WAA.  CODA is a volunteer group, accountable to the Board and committed to helping realize the Board’s goals.  The Immediate Past President will serve as the liaison between CODA and the Board. 

CODA Member Eligibility

All former members of the Board of Directors who have completed their terms in good standing are eligible.  Members of WAA who have not served on the Board, but who have distinguished themselves through extraordinary commitment and committee service may invited to participate upon recommendation of the WAA Executive Committee and Executive Director.

To Join

Eligible individuals may join CODA with a minimum gift of $100 a year. Please download the CODA Donation Form, make your gift, and submit to WAA. 

Term Limits

There are no term limits attached to membership in CODA.  Members are expected to make an annual financial commitment (see below) and to assist as needed in the realization of CODA’s programs and projects.  Members may resign at any time if they choose to become inactive. Members in good standing may serve indefinitely. There are no minimum or maximum number of members allowed to serve CODA.

Leadership and Governance

A small and nimble leadership team has been established: the CODA Council, consisting initially of Aaron Egigian, David Fischer, Julia Glawe, and John Haynes.  Additional eligible members will be encouraged to join the Council by consensus of the current Council, WAA’s Executive Committee, and Executive Director.  The Council will select one of its members to act informally as chair, with the responsibility to convene meetings, coordinate activities, and ensure communication among its members as needed.  The Immediate Past President, however, shall not serve as chair of the Coda Council.  The Council will always work in collaboration and maintain clear communications with the WAA Board. Council terms of service will run concurrently with the planning & execution of WAA’s biennial The WAA Institute.  Every two years, the CODA Council will ask the WAA Board for endorsement of its leadership team.

Annual Financial Commitment

Members are expected to make an annual financial commitment to WAA, through CODA, that meets two criteria: (1) is a thoughtful donation that is meaningful in the context of the member’s financial capacity, and (2) compares favorably with the upper range of the member’s other charitable donations.  There is no minimum expectation; CODA’s members will represent a wide range of ability.  Many of CODA’s members may be retired or nearing retirement.  No hierarchy of influence or reputation will be established according to the size of member donations, all of which will be received and recorded discreetly by WAA staff.  Member’s gifts are tax deductible to the extent of the law.  Members are encouraged to either give or pledge during the first quarter of WAA’s fiscal year (July 1 – September 30.)

Allocation of CODA donations

Initially, 50% of the total of annual CODA donations will be designated as general operations funding for WAA. CODA donations will not be budgeted as projected income by the Board, however; they are intended to create an operating cash reserve and a cushion against deficit.  Over time, it is hoped that CODA donations and CODA fundraising initiatives will grow to make a significant impact on WAA’s finances and, consequently, on WAA’s ability to serve its members.  The remaining 50% of the total of annual contributed income will be placed in a designated fund, to be allocated to Board-approved initiatives by mutual agreement of the Coda Council and the Executive Committee of WAA’s Board of Directors. 

Principle Activities of CODA

CODA will take the lead in establishing a new manifestation of the dormant WAA Institute.  The WAA INSTITUTE is a joint program of CODA and WAA’s NextGen, and is planned as a biennial leadership retreat organized around the principles of intergenerational mentoring and collaborative learning toward ensuring that the Performing Arts stays relevant to the communities we serve.  The WAA Institute’s goal is to explore and embrace emergent realities, to provide the resources necessary for understanding their challenges and opportunities, and to create a space where trust, insight, openness, and change can thrive.  CODA’s members will have the opportunity to participate in the planning of WAA Institute’s biennial retreats. 

CODA will also leverage its member’s skills and relationships to support the creation of a successful, ongoing development program for WAA.  The lack of an organized effort to raise funds from “outside the family” has limited WAA’s ability to add and improve services and programs for its members without also increasing their transactional costs.  Like any nonprofit, WAA can only add value by increasing revenue, which means either adding cost or increasing fundraising. 

Other Member Commitments:  CODA members should be willing to commit to service on a periodic basis, including, for example:

  • Attendance at the Annual Members Meeting, if attending the conference

  • Offering advice and counsel to the Board and staff, when asked

  • Assisting staff with special projects

  • Acting as an advocate for WAA, especially to lapsed members

  • Acting as a mentor to early and mid-career members

  • Participating in CODA initiatives